The love of my life...

Once upon a time, a young girl fell in love. 

And though she was completely unaware at the time,

 God was giving her a very special gift.

This guy is....

the love of my life,

the most Christ-centered, 

Christ-like person I know,

patient,

gentle,

passionate,

loving,

committed,

and genuine. 

His heart for his Savior and his family set him apart from all the rest.

This is what a godly man looks like.

I am blessed to call him mine. 

Thank you, Lord for a man that loves You and

 me and the children You've given us. 

I am one blessed lady.

Heather

Ponderings...

I've felt so incredibly blessed lately.


This time last year I was Swaziland, Africa being the hands and feet of Christ to children in great need. Part of me longs to be there now. Life is lived at a different pace there, and so many of the believers we met understand that life is not about living in ease. It's about living in a grace that is sufficient for every situation, every circumstance, every moment of every day. 


It isn't an American christianity to be sure. 


So, this week as I've been through my day to day routine as mama, homeschooler, pastor's wife I've just been a little more thankful than usual that I do indeed live such a blessed life. My life isn't blessed because it's always easy, stress free and doesn't require hard decisions, but because it's full of the really important things in life. 


A loving, personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe whom I can speak to anytime, anywhere. 


I have a beautiful family, built by God, Himself. 


I have the privilege to serve alongside my husband at an awesome church.


I am able to stay at home with my children and still have a roof over my head, food on the table and a car to drive. 


I am so very, very blessed. 


And I am so thankful. 


But I'm also convicted. 


I'm convicted that sometimes I let these blessing lure me into a comfort zone and a routine that allows me to disengage from the culture around me.  I don't have to come in contact with people that I don't know well, who believe differently from me, or who are needy unless I make that choice.


And I'm not sure that's always the road my Heavenly Father would have me walk. 


Recently, I've had the opportunity to be in several public schools. 


Malachi is attending a preschool for special needs children through the public school system. 


Our church has been feeding one of our local football teams prior to games, and the reverend husband has had the opportunity to share a message with the team after these meals...in the public school. 


I mean, in the cafeteria, in the public school. Preaching the gospel. In the name of Jesus. Unashamedly. (But that's another post!)


But each time I'm in one of these schools, I feel absolutely at home. 


At peace. 


Like I belong. 


Not sure what that means. Maybe nothing. Maybe it's just familiarity because I tagged along with my school teacher dad at his school from the time I was small and then taught high school myself for a while before Samuel was born. Or maybe it's because I loved everyday I spent going to a public school (except for the whole sixth grade). 


But I haven't been in a school in 8 years, and I still feel at home there. Truthfully, part of me misses it. 


And as I was driving away from the school today after feeding the team, I passed a mom driving onto campus, presumably to pick up her high school student. 


The look on her face nearly stopped me in my tracks. She looked absolutely lost. She had dull, dead, hopeless, lifeless eyes and and wore an empty expression. 


And I begin to think how different her day to day life must look from mine. And I began to think about how, if I'm honest, I pass any number of women like her on a regular basis. 


And what am I doing to make sure this woman, and those like her, have the chance to hear the glorious, hope-filled gospel of Jesus Christ? Who does she come in contact with that shows her that there is abundant life in a relationship with Christ even when everything going on around us stinks?


She doesn't come in contact with me because, I'm busy living my very sheltered, blessed life. 


It's a real dilemma for me. It probably has been for going on close to a year now. 


I'm not sure what the answer is. 


I have some inklings, but none of the changes I may be asked to make come without a great deal of personal risk. Risks I have been afraid to assume because taking them leaves me largely out of control. 


And I have control issues. 


Don't we all? 


But the wind is a blowin'. And Aslan may be on the move. 


Heather