Mother of Seven + 2

Worship. That was the answer he gave me. I was struggling in a relationship. I had done all I could. Nothing else was left to do, and things were still awry. Turning to a godly mentor, I expected to hear a tangible list of options. His answer was "worship." I was taken aback. However, I had nothing else I could do. So I focused on worship....Worship of the one and only Creator...Worship of the Almighty and All-powerful God...Worship of the One who holds all things in his hands. In that time I discovered that I had become wrapped up in self. I was focused on my human abilities to fix a problem. I had lost sight of God. Worship didn't fix the human relationship where I was struggling. However, worship righted my relationship with God that had become out of focus amidst the strain of human struggle. Much of the Old Testament is focused around worship, I realize. The Israelites either worshipped God or they worshipped idols. I often shake my head at th...

Right or wrong?  I'm not sure.  It's what I had to do.  Mentally I couldn't deal with it every day. I had prayed for our son, Troy, daily when he left us.  The sadness would overwhelm me each time.  The pain. The grief. The anger.  It would all come rushing in.  I didn't have the strength to deal with it.  I finally laid it before God.  I told him how deeply I loved our son.  I told him I cared, but that I was entrusting Troy to him to remember each moment and each day.  And then I asked him to tell me when he did need me to pray.  I laid it there, and I literally left it there. I haven't prayed for Troy daily for a couple years.  Sometimes I've felt guilty.  I've wondered what kind of mom I am.  However, I would remember that my God is bigger then my weaknesses and failures.  I found comfort there. I woke up October 30 with Troy heavy on my heart.  I realized God was telling me to pray.  I a...

Change.  It's not something I embrace easily.  I like knowing what to expect.  I take comfort in the familiar.  The unknown is formidable. It scares me.  My sense of adventure consists of rearranging my furniture once every five years. When my husband began feeling the Spirit's prompting to move, it was a struggle for me.  I can't say I made it easy for him.  I dug my heels in and pulled back hard.  It wasn't exactly the picture of a submissive wife.  However, it did lead to much prayer and soul searching on both our parts.  My husband loves and cherishes me.  He fasted and prayed, begging God to bring him to where I was if that was His will.  Instead God brought me to a point of peace and submission. I have been contemplating what I want to say to a church family who has loved us for almost 23 years.  How do I even begin to have the words to say as we face change together... and yet separate? It's the separate part ...