We're deep in throws of back to school. Our first day of homeschooling was yesterday, co-op starts Thursday, and Big Sis goes back in a couple of weeks.
Yesterday was a bad day, a day from the dark side as I tend to call them. You know when five kiddos flee to their rooms when they hear Jamie pull in, it's not been a day to write home about.
I was reading this morning in Acts 26: 15- 18, regarding the calling of Saul/Paul:
“Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
To be completely honest, I wish after a day like yesterday, I had a face to face with God to fall back on, to remind me we haven't lost our minds in this lifestyle, whether it be raising our boys to be Godly men, being real with each other in a our marriage, homeschooling, pursuing the hearts of others, serving, rejoicing when its not easy, or loving the fatherless. I want the experience.
But then, I read in Colossians 1: 28 and 29, as one of Paul's many responses to his calling.
"We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all HIS energy, which SO POWERFULLY works in me."
I haven't had the audible voice, but daily I am given a fresh supply of HIS energy, and it's not just his energy, but it's energy that works powerfully! That's something to rejoice about. That's something to be firm in the calling He has given me.
The long lost thankful list:
6. My beautiful friend Mary Grace Melick at co-op, and the amazing grace of God in her healing and life
7. Excelsior Homeschool Cooperative. Enough said.
8. Bad, bad days that bring me to my knees in repentance and faith and help me to remember it is HIS power working in me.
9. The most amazing neighbors in the world, and the prayer God answered so long ago when we were trying to move for neighbors who would walk with us.
10. Daniel in the Ninja Robber costume.
Wishing you a day where you see HIM working powerfully through you,
Catie
HI Catie! Loved this post. I get this. I totally had that same experience on Sunday. It was the day our church plant particularized (became and independent church in the presbytery). I went into the service overwhelmed and excited, but crying from the hard of ministry. There was bitterness in my heart. Bitterness that God had given me too much, too much work and left nothing for me but exhaustion. Only God can grant conviction of sin and then repentance. I wanted to be free of this bitterness. During the service, he totally washed me cleaned. It was all of HIm. It was an amazing slice of Heaven here on earth. I knew my repentance was real and my acceptance complete. Praying of you in the hard of ministry. Jennifer (Lily and Kate's momma)
ReplyDeleteJennifer, we covered you all in prayer! We're so excited about all God has done and where He is growing you! We're so proud of HIM in you!
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