Wow. Life is definitely what happens while you are busy making other plans.
The Josiah novel I mentioned a year or so ago still sits on its virtual shelf waiting to be worked on. Since I last wrote God has continued to bless me and to hone me for that day when I see Him face to face, and you all know how that happens - by living in this world as one of His and dealing daily with everything that comes your way. Between caring for my elderly mother who is dealing with dementia, shepherding and helping to raise my granddaughter, my work at the historic site, assisting with my husband's consignment shop, repairing dolls, teaching, and about a dozen other things, writing has taken its place on a very far back burner. (Art too!) I don't despair. I have given all to the Lord and it will come back in its season. Of course, if you are reading this blog most likely you are familiar with Solomon's words of wisdom. I remember them often.
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
a time for war and a time for peace.
'A time to scatter stones and to gather them'. Are you like me? Do you often feel like you are scattering stones and that those pesky stones just keep skittering across the ground, bouncing away from you, remaining just out of reach? We spend so much of our lives running, running, running. What was that other thing Solomon said?
I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are
meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 1:14
Our lives are only meaningless, of course, if we spend them chasing after vain things that turn to dust, or rust, or fade under the sun. If, however, we seek the eternal and hunger after God and a relationship with His only begotten Son, then we have found our meaning. As I learn and grow, as I surrender my will more daily to Christ and seek to become like Him, as I pray earnestly to BE Christ's hands and to walk in His footsteps, I find not only purpose but peace. Years ago I watched the BBC comedy/drama The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. In it, after chasing the wind for a season (through the galaxy and beyond) Arthur Dent finds out from some cavemen that the meaning of life is '42'. In other words, meaningless. Chasing after Christ brings something quite different - that is, true meaning to one's life. The meaning of life, one finds in the end, is to bring glory and honor to God's name.
So, I have found myself for a time without much self-expression as far as writing, art, etc. That's okay. I told the Lord to send me where He would and guess what? I ended up taking a Nouthetic counseling course I finished part one and am about to embark on the second session. And what is Nouthetic Counseling you ask? It is counseling that believes the Bible is all sufficient and able to give us every answer we need to the human condition. As it says in Romans 15:14:
"I myself am convinced about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and competent to counsel one another."
Nouthetic counseling is all about not leaning on our own understanding, but surrendering to the ONE who has authority over all since He created all. And isn't that a wonder - the God of the entire universe knows I exist and is using me to further His kingdom.
Wow! What more could anyone ask?
Anyhow, I plan on getting back to blogging a little more regularly. I was amazed to see over 2000 people out there had read my meager ramblings. I pray the Lord uses them in a mighty way to advance His kingdom.
After all, that is ALL that counts.
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