As I'm leaving to join my husband in another state, there was one last person I wanted to see before I left. She called this morning to cancel our time together because she had mistaken when a doctor appoinment was.
I'm disappoined not to see her again before I leave. She has been a wonderful inspiration to me and others as well. Her story is like many others. Her connection to God was the last thing she was thinking of as she grew up in a home with two alcholic parents. She had taken charge of running her world without them. Then they sobered up and she had to give up her control. She continued, after entering the world, to be in charge of her life. Funny thing is she found out being in charge of her own llife was leading her to disaster in every part of life.
One day she finally fell to the floor to seek God's help and began to pray. I met her shortly after that happened and we have been on the journey together for four years. She is an amazing witness for God's forgiveness and love. She was like a sponge ready to soak up any drop of water that would draw her closer to God. i provided resources and we had many long talks, but it was God doing the work. We were connected by God's love for us and God used us to bless one another.
When we find these special relationships we want to hold on, but they are like holding sand as it passes through your fingers. We will always have the gift of that special connection, but we move on to allow God to connect and use us in the lives of others.
God knows our need for connectedness. I wonder who he will bring into my life as I plunge into the unknown waters of a new community. God is always before me blessing me before I can know.
God is always before you blessing you as you go. Why not get connected!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
April 22, 2008
I'm coming to the end of a chapter in my life and await a new beginning on my journey. The past four years I have served as Pastor of spiritual formation at a large church in the Metropolitan area of Indianapolis. Due to changes in my husband's job, and uncertainty of what comes next for us, I took a three month leave of absence and have resigned that position since we are still unable to make a commiment about where we will be.
On Sunday, the church held a reception for me. It was wonderful to hear that I had been missed. Many expressed their appreciation for my service. Many said, " I will never forget when you...."
Then I came home and opened card after card with similar comments.
A wonderful day! It was sort of like being at your funeral; except I woke up on Monday with the blank page of a new chapter staring me in the face. I look forward to traveling back to Florida this week to be with my husband. I've been cleaning out my office, seeing old friends, and my grandchildren. I'm ready to be back with my husband.
My husband will retire from the Air Force in June. We are not entirely ready to retire permanently. He'd like to work a few more years and I really want to continue to serve in ministry. The question is how and where. I continue to pose those questions to God and I feel like I'm holding with music palying in my ear. A pleasant sound, unless what you really want is an answer as to where I go from here.
I'm coming to the end of a chapter in my life and await a new beginning on my journey. The past four years I have served as Pastor of spiritual formation at a large church in the Metropolitan area of Indianapolis. Due to changes in my husband's job, and uncertainty of what comes next for us, I took a three month leave of absence and have resigned that position since we are still unable to make a commiment about where we will be.
On Sunday, the church held a reception for me. It was wonderful to hear that I had been missed. Many expressed their appreciation for my service. Many said, " I will never forget when you...."
Then I came home and opened card after card with similar comments.
A wonderful day! It was sort of like being at your funeral; except I woke up on Monday with the blank page of a new chapter staring me in the face. I look forward to traveling back to Florida this week to be with my husband. I've been cleaning out my office, seeing old friends, and my grandchildren. I'm ready to be back with my husband.
My husband will retire from the Air Force in June. We are not entirely ready to retire permanently. He'd like to work a few more years and I really want to continue to serve in ministry. The question is how and where. I continue to pose those questions to God and I feel like I'm holding with music palying in my ear. A pleasant sound, unless what you really want is an answer as to where I go from here.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Beginning a new journey in blogging
I'm visiting my son this week and enjoying time with his family, especially my youngest grandchild. My son has shown me a new style of communicating through blogging.
I find sharing ideas continues to stimulate my thinking and understanding of the world. I look forward to expressing my thoughts and hearing feedback from other bloggers who are interested in the same topics as me.
I have always enjoyed the journey of learning. I was a teacher for 23 years, then I unexpectedly felt called to ministry at the age of 50. The call initially was to deepen my own relationship with God. But, as I observed what other church goers were doing, it did not seem they were on a similar path to mine. Even people teaching Sunday School were more interested in the convenience of rotating teachers rather than building relationships with children for their growth in the Christian walk. I saw the need for adults in the church to deepen their relationship with God so that our children may have dedicated spiritually formed adults guiding them and leading them in this early part of their journey.
That began my journey to seminary about ten years ago. I received a Masters in Spiritual Formation and Evangelism at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.
I find sharing ideas continues to stimulate my thinking and understanding of the world. I look forward to expressing my thoughts and hearing feedback from other bloggers who are interested in the same topics as me.
I have always enjoyed the journey of learning. I was a teacher for 23 years, then I unexpectedly felt called to ministry at the age of 50. The call initially was to deepen my own relationship with God. But, as I observed what other church goers were doing, it did not seem they were on a similar path to mine. Even people teaching Sunday School were more interested in the convenience of rotating teachers rather than building relationships with children for their growth in the Christian walk. I saw the need for adults in the church to deepen their relationship with God so that our children may have dedicated spiritually formed adults guiding them and leading them in this early part of their journey.
That began my journey to seminary about ten years ago. I received a Masters in Spiritual Formation and Evangelism at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.
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