Not Asking For Directions

How do reach the lost when they do not know they are lost?

It is so much easier to give directions to the person who is asking; the one who has pen and paper in hand ready to jot down all the knowledge that you will impart on how they can get from where they are to where they want to be. These seekers are looking for information, they want answers, they are willing to listen with open ears to what you are saying. Sure, they may not agree, but they are willing to listen because they are want to learn, they want to change. It is easier to tell these people, 'follow me and I will show you where to go.' They will follow...willingly. They want to go.
So what about the people that are heading in the wrong direction and refuse to heed the warnings? No matter how gently you tell them that the road they are traveling on ends with a drop off into nothingness they press on forward. There is no convincing these people that they are heading the wrong way, that the bridge is out, that they are on the wide road but it is the one that leads nowhere. You can not say to these people, 'follow me and I will show you where to go' because these people say 'I know where I am going! Why should I follow you? There is nothing better about your way then there is about mine!' You can not take these people by the hand and gently guide them in the other direction. They dig in their heels and stubbornly refuse to go. How do you lead those people?

How do you lead those that are truly lost to see the Way, the Truth and the Light?

It's A Different Season

It's a different season and I'm okay with that.

I was noticing today that on the first blog that I had, the list of 'Must Reads' were pretty much all ladies that scrapbooked and then there were a few random ones from family and friends. This time the majority of the 'Must Reads' are Christian women and a couple of family and friends.

What a good place to be, where what I read the most is encouraging, positive and uplifting, but also thought provoking and challenging.

It is a good season to be in. I am thankful God has brought me here.

God is Good

Have I mentioned lately just how good god is?!? No? Well I should!

Sunday morning my husband went to church with me...not because I whined and cried and begged and pleaded, but because he chose to go. Granted, he says he is only going 'for me' and Sunday morning I believe he slept through the majority of the message, but it has been two years since my husband has stepped foot in church. I'll take a sleeping husband in church for now. I know that God is big enough and powerful enough to open his ears, even while he sleeps. Of course he didn't sleep through the entire message because he misunderstood something that was said and was pretty riled up over it. It was ironic how passionate he was about something 'he doesn't care about'.
Monday I asked him for his overall impression, giving it a day or so to sink in. He said it wasn't that bad. He did ask for ear plugs so he wouldn't have to listen to the music. I almost laughed when he said it was too loud. (This coming from the guy who listens to Pantera and the like at decibels that could make your ears bleed) But other then that he said it was OK.
And he's coming again next week. God is good!!!!

Praise & Prayer

I just realized that it's been almost a month since I've posted anything here. Not on purpose mind you, I have actually been working on two posts about Living and Giving Generously, but I can't seem to put my rambling thoughts about the subjects into coherent sentences. It irritates me when that happens.

So what else have I been up to? Well, the last (almost) two weeks, I've been having gall bladder (or peptic ulcer) issues. I went to the doctor yesterday and have an ultrasound and upper GI scheduled for the 19th (that was the earliest I could get in). So I won't know anything conclusive until after that.
The way I figure, by the time the radiologist gets around to looking at my films and making a determination that it is indeed my gall bladder and then writes up his/her report to send to my new wonderful doctor and she gets a chance to look at it and have the front office staff call me to arrange for surgery or a follow-up appointment or whatever comes next, it'll be mid-May. Actually I am hoping that maybe they can have the results and set the surgery up for May 11th. I have plans for the weekend before (the symphony & a women's luncheon) so I'd hate to miss out on those and I don't have any big plans for Mother's Day. We'll see. Maybe I'll be surprised and it won't be my gall bladder at all.

I have great news! My husband is going to come with me to church on Sunday!!! I am absolutely estatic! He says he is only going because he knows it'll make me happy and he is not going to listen or be 'brainwashed', but I know that we serve a great, big God who can do mighty and miraculous things! Including opening the ears and heart of a man who has taken the first step but is stubbornly refusing to go farther.
Pray! Pray for him; that his ears be opened and his heart be softened. Pray! Pray for me; that I get out of the way and let God work and trust that He is, even if I can not see it.
Did I mention how absolutely, positively excited I am that my husband is coming to church?!?
God is doing great things in and through the ladies in the Bible study on Sunday nights. I truly had no idea why God placed the burden on my heart to lead it. Leading the study terrified me, truly scared me out of my socks, but I am so glad that I listened to that still small Voice of Truth instead of the hollering shouts of doubt! I know that relationships have been formed and friendships have been developed and strengthed. I have seen prayers answered and that is awesome! Absolutely awesome! The ladies have been angels of strength to me when I needed it most. How thankful I am for each of them. How thankful I am that God has blessed my life with them. So thankful in fact, that we are going to do another study once this one is over. Continue to pray for me, that I listen closely to the still small Voice of Truth and shut my ears to the hollering shouts of doubt.

I will try to catch up more later...today or tomorrow. Hopefully, sooner then another month.

Have an awesome day!