New Every Morning

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

                       Lamentations 3:22-23




I am certainly thankful for God's great love and compassion for us, aren't you?  They are new every morning.  His grace sustains us another day. 

It's amazing what a day will do.  Yesterday I was down, lonely, almost depressed like.  Today, after spending time with the Lord, I feel refreshed and new.  I feel hopeful and excited for what lies ahead.  This life is such a roller coaster of circumstances and emotions.  Separating the two is never easy.  But I have found when my emotions are out of whack - I go back to what I KNOW is true and focus on that.  Then my emotions usually fall in line where they need to be.

I have a lot going on in my heart and mind right now.  Many things to pray about and trust God with.  It can easily become overwhelming - especially if answers are not coming as quickly as I think they should.  I am so impatient.

But God already knows this about me.  He loves me anyway and He is patient with me as I go through my "humanness."  I am so thankful for that.  He is faithful.  He began a work in me over 30 years ago.  He is continuing that work and will carry it on to completion. (Phil 1:6)

I'm still here - He still has GREAT purpose for me.  I am truly humbled, amazed and honored to be chosen for the task.  May He find me willing and obedient in all things so that I might one day hear him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

It's very easy to walk away from a trip like mine and question your purpose.  To become discontent with your life.  Especially here in America where everything comes so much easier for us.  Shelley mentioned while I was in Haiti that she probably wouldn't come back to the U.S. - what would she do here?  She has such purpose everyday in Haiti.  She is doing important things EVERY day.  Although she has days that are monotonous and difficult, times where she questions why she is doing what she is doing - as an outsider looking in - I can see how far she has come and what a difference she is making.  It's truly a God thing!

And then I come back to my simple life in America - to my husband - my children - my calligraphy business and wonder if I have purpose.  Oh!  How Satan loves to get in our heads and cause doubt!

I love my life.  I have always known that I was called to be a wife and a mom.  God provided my business so I could stay at home and focus on that ministry.  Being a pastor's wife means that I am a support to my husband.  That I keep things orderly and on schedule here at home so he has a place to come to and "turn off" his brain.  A sweet friend reminded me yesterday that my husband and my children are priority and that I am coming into the busiest time of my life over the next 10 years...so I need to pray that the Lord shows me how to love and support my husband and prepare my children for leaving the nest...

Wow - she is so right.  My kids are at a pretty easy stage right now.  But Jarod enters Jr. High in the fall and I think time on my knees is going to greatly increase.  Anne has her own pressures just because she is a girl and is affected so easily by things around her.  Russell needs me focused so that I can be a support and encouragement to him.

Did I mention that I love my life?  I do.  I know that I have purpose here.  I know that God has a plan for me - for my family.  I have a job to do that is important to His kingdom.  And in the middle of all of this, I get to work with ApParent Project too!  I had the wonderful privilege of going there and meeting everyone.  Now I come home and continue to incorporate that into my purpose. Only now with a greater understanding of all that goes into that.   With the confirmation from the Lord that I am doing the right thing.  That is important to me.

So as I begin my day today, I am thankful for God's grace, for His love, for His direction in my life.  I am thankful that I have a job to do and I pray that I do it well.  I am thankful that He finds me worthy of adding ApParent Project to my calling and I am thankful that I have kingdom work to do.

If we are doing exactly what God has called us to do - we have no right to say how big or small the work is.  It's His work - that's all that matters.  We stand before Him one day - no one else.  He sees the whole picture, we don't.  We are only called to be obedient.  May He find me so.

Until next time......