Friday, March 10, 2006

She Knows How to Run Them

Well, I'm going to try and sneak a little time to write...I'm really enjoying a time of rest and reflection...I'm meeting with God in His word and am really finding that right now He has me reading where I am for a purpose. I received an email from my Pastor earlier this week and during our cyber-discussion, he made the following comment: our first ministries are to our partner and our family. I've been pondering this comment the last few days and taken it to heart throughout this week of trying to regain my health and also helping to nurse my kids back to health. I think sometimes in this life, I want to serve alongside people, but I'm blind to the fact that serving my husband and my kids is a powerful ministry as well. It shouldn't be looked upon as work or a burden, it should be looked upon as a blessing from God.

I really thought hard on this comment this afternoon, as I worked to get my youngest daughter's temperature down...she ran a fever of 104.5 and it took forever to get down. Those are real faith times as a parent...when you can only do what you know in terms of human knowledge and then really have to place your child in God's hands and look to him to guide you and give direction. I'm so thankful that through everything, he's always there...I couldn't imagine going through this life and some of the trials and hardships I've faced and not having Him to turn to...that would honestly put me into a huge pit of despair. There's so much reassurance in knowing you can turn to Him no matter what the time, no matter what the problem...He's there waiting and willing to listen and help (never too busy for you), not going to cast judgement on you and not there to give you just one way of doing something. I truly believe that He might have an eventual down the road plan in circumstances, but He's a God of choices and will usually have more than one route. Some routes may be a whole lot easier than others, but sometimes we go down a not so easy road for a purpose. I haven't always chosen the easy road to getting where I'm supposed to go, but I believe that my experiences have really made me who I am and to have done that differently wouldn't have been what should happen...I think my trials and imperfections, as well as my blessings, triumphs and "good" traits all work together as a package deal to create me!

Time to finish making supper and to check on our little miss, as her fever is starting to go back up. Tonight is our in-house date night...we're making steak and potatoes (our favorite) and are then going to cuddle up on the couch and watch "Walk the Line" (I've wanted to see this for so long and finally get to!). We'll probably have little miss with us, so we can keep an eye on her, but it'll be a good time...my pastor was so true with his comment...we need to give our attention to all our ministries and our first ones need to be to our partner and our family...God handpicked our mates and our kids are creations of our love...we need to treat them with the love, respect and devotion they truly deserve to have!

I'm reading in Isaiah right now and this passage spoke mountains to me today, so I'm going to close with it! I pray you'll all have a blessed weekend, full of His love and blessings.

Isaiah 43:1-4 (The Message)
When You're Between a Rock and a Hard Place

But now, GOD's Message,
the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,
the One who got you started, Israel:
"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.
I've called your name. You're mine.

When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
it won't be a dead end--

Because I am GOD, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!

That's how much you mean to me!
That's how much I love you!
I'd sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you.

9 comments:

Corry said...

I pray "little miss" is getting well soon:-)

I think you have a very good pastor. It's so true, it all starts at home. When that foundation is not good, nothing is.

Glad you snuck in for a post and kept us updated:-) God bless you and yours.

God's Grace.

Kc said...

Cinder you're pastor is so right and I fear we loose sight of this so easily. May God bless your daughter with health and continue to bless your family and ministry.

Patti said...

Cinder,
You are so right. Your family is your first place of ministry. I am also learning that.

Jackie said...

I truly believe that when it comes right down to it all we have is our family. We have to take care of each other!
Enjoy your movie.

Cinder said...

Hey there everyone...thanks for stopping by :)! I have to admit in the last week that I've been "lurking" a lot, but not leaving comments very much. My head has been pretty boggled and creatively just not really there!

Corry~"Little Miss" is finally starting to be back to herself and feel better...I thought we were going to be making a trip to the ER on Friday, but in the end, we didn't have to. We have been so blessed with a great pastoral staff and they all are very lead in making sure you are giving adequate time to your family and not doing ministry at their expense. I pray you'll have a good week...we'll talk later...God Bless!

Kc~My pastor was very right...it's so easy to lose sight of what our first ministry is...I was very glad that he reminded me of this last week! Our family's health is finally starting to return...hopefully by the end of the week, we'll all be well on the road to recovery. I pray God will continue to bless your family and ministry as well!

Patti~I think life is a continual learning process. I have just came out of a "season" of life where I was so ministry driven, that I sometimes put my family on the back burner. Then when we made our move this fall, I made a decision to focus on my family and not allow ministry to overtake my first responsibilities...my Pastor knows that and is very good about reminding you of these things! I pray you'll have a good week...thanks for stopping by...God Bless!

Jackie~Thanks for dropping by...I enjoy hearing from you! It's so true that no matter life may lead us...we have God and we have our family...those are the two absolutes and we need to take care of each other because of that fact. Even though there were ups and downs with our move, I have so enjoyed all the time with my family and am more aware of making sure I have enough time with them, despite what other things I might have on the go! We did enjoy the movie...I enjoyed it so much, that I'm thinking of purchasing it...like Doc Hollywood, which I've almost wore out, because I watched it so much, I think this is one I would just pop in to watch again and again. Have a great week...I hope your first day of school goes well...we'll talk soon...God Bless!

audrey` said...

I'm so glad to know that "Little Miss" is feeling better now.
It's so awful to be sick.

Please take care, Cinder :)

Jenny said...

Thank you so much for posting this. It means much after the day I had yesterday.

audrey` said...

Hey Cinder!
How are you?
I'm thinking about you :)
Please take care.

Unknown said...

Hi Cinder. I noticed in Technorati that you'd been to visit...that's why I'm here...checkin' you out. Hee Hee. Great site.