Temporary Troubles??

For the past week or so, I have been mulling over a few verses for 2 Corinthians 4. The last three verses: 16-18. God has simply not allowed me to put these verses behind me so there must be a reason I keep being reminded of them.

"Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed every day. " (lets stop here a moment... outwardly, the part the the worlds sees, we are wasting away; yet, inwardly, the part that only God sees, we are being renewed EVERY DAY, even on those days that we may not feel it on the outside or maybe even on the inside. God has promised that he is indeed renewing us.)

OK, lets go on..."For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." (just a minute I am thinking: Who says that my troubles are light?? Who says that they are momentary?? They have been going on for weeks or even years...BUT here is the good news. These temporary troubles that are weighing us down are getting us ready for the Eternal Glory. This is a promise with hope. The Eternal Glory will FAR outweigh any of these temporary troubles...and this is what makes them light. The will not last forever, they are temporary, they are light when compared with the Light of Eternal Glory.)

So how do we get our focus off our temporary troubles? "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal." (We just need to change the location of our focus. We need to fix our eyes on the eternal, the big picture, on Jesus the light of Eternal Glory. Get you eyes off of your temporary troubles, and focus on Jesus, he can handle all your troubles.)

when all you can do is pray

I came to a revelation today. I know this is probably not news to a lot of you, but when your child goes off to college, and she is a thousand miles away, all you can do is pray...

To me this thought was both a reason for panic and a comfort. Let me explain. Every mom and dad throughout history will understand. After 18+ years of watching over and taking care of a child, suddenly, that child is no longer within our reach. We cannot rush to their side and "help" them. All we can do is pray...

But this initial feeling of panic is actually replaced by a feeling of comfort. Because really since the beginning, all we could do was pray. Our child has been in the palm of God's hand since day one. We were just under the illusion that we were there protecting them from the "bad things" that might happen to them. But really it has been God all along watching over them, protecting them, helping them.

So I am reassured that even though all I can do is pray, that will be sufficient because God can do so much more than that, in fact, He has been doing the parent thing for us all along, we just were not as aware of it as we are now that our child does not sleep in our house and eat at our table.

So, I challenge you (and myself) to become more aware of God's presence in our lives and in our children's lives. Lamentations 2:19 says: "Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children." Claim this verse with me; pour out your hearts, lift your hands, and TRUST GOD to take care of your child, family, friend, etc. Change the title of my post to "YOU CAN PRAY"

Bits of news

We attended a block party in Dalhart tonight. Music, food, and people.

Dave's installation as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Dalhart will be next Sunday, Sept. 27. My parents will be here visiting for the weekend. It will be great to show them around.

Vicki spent last weekend in DeMotte with my parents. She was glad for some good home cooked food and some time with family.

We are still getting to know people here and trying to figure out where and how God wants us to serve this community.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support. Keep in touch

Shannon

Back to school week

Well both kids are back to school. Vicki and I flew back to Illinois last weekend. She moved into her dorm at Olivet Nazarene Univ. in Kanakaee, IL on Saturday. Craig started school here in Dalhart on Monday. Both seem to be doing well. God is faithful. He always gives us the strength we need for each new day and each new experience that he places in our lives.

Dave is getting settled into the church and getting to know people. We are settled into our house and are so thankful that God has provided for our family in so many wonderful ways.

May God bless you and yours

Shannon

Cake without eggs is dead...

This could also be called REST, part 2. Yesterday, I made a cake, a chocolate cake. To those who know our family. That is the best cake that there is. However, there seemed to be a problem, it didn't rise as much as usual. And when I went to cut and serve it, it fell apart. I wondered what could be wrong, so I checked the egg carton to see if I put in three eggs or if I accidently just put in two. Well, I found out that I didn't put in any eggs at all. And believe me I learned the hard way that you need to put eggs in you cake.

So back to yesterday's post, REST. I obviously need to slow down, take it easy and rest. Because just as my hurrying and scurrying ruined my cake. So will my hurrying and neglecting myself and my time with God cause my life to fall into ruin.

So I am going to try with God's help to get back to focusing on God and his desires for me. I am going to BE STILL...and know that He is God.

Rest

I am sitting here looking at our cat, Sunny, who is sleeping peacefully, and it occurred to me that I need to learn to relax and rest like a cat.

It has been a very busy month with all the packing and moving and unpacking and now all the work of getting all the paperwork and such done. Vicki leaves for college on Wednesday, Craig starts school on Aug 24. My table is buried in a mountain of paperwork. I go to bed at night and lay there thinking of all the things that need to be done. Yet lying in bed thinking does not get things done, it just gets me more anxious.

I need to remember Phil 4:6. Do not be anxious about anythings but in everything with prayer and thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. I need to stop and rest. I need to pray and let go. God has it all under control. So I don't have to worry. Right? I'm still working on that. I know it is true; but is harder to live it out day to day.

Tomorrow is Sunday, a day of rest. I plan to take the day off from my busyness and I pray that you will too.

Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest...Matt 11:28

New phone number

Friends, we have a new home phone number 806-884-4102. We may be getting new cell phone numbers in the future. Also, our address is 1818 Chestnut AVE (not Street). But basically the mail will get here either way. Keep in touch.

Shannon