Everything has its Season....

I have to admit a sense of dread has fallen upon me over the past few days as I am realizing that Fall is here and Summer is gone. Oh, how I enjoy the rich bold colors of Fall. I would have to say that Fall is one of my favorite seasons. It is during this time that I am able to actually sit upon my deck and enjoy the rockers and bask in the perfect temperatures of our peaceful sunny days. To see the wonder of the leaves as they are beginning to change into their vibrant reds, oranges and browns. To appreciate the cool crisp mornings and evenings that make you enjoy that morning cup of coffee or that late evening hot cocoa or steaming hot cider. Yet, inside, there is still a sense of dread, as I see the beautiful flowers on my deck and realize another season has come and gone and they soon will be fading away. Slipping from their rich and showy greens, yellows, purples and reds to simply gone...nothingness.

This reminds me of what the Word of God says in the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3. The heart of Ecclesiastes is the fact that only in God does life have meaning and true enjoyment. Without God in our lives really can anything satisfy us? Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter, each season is beautifully put in place by God's hand and design. Each color, shape and detail was placed there by our sovereign God. God has given us everything for a reason and that reason is to bring glory to Him!

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven..."

When we realize we have very little control over the times and changes that may happen in our lives or on this earth and it is God who will determine all of life's activities, it tends to ease that sense of dread. After all, this world is not our home, it is only a temporary opportunity for us to show his glory (a season), just like the rest of his creation. Regardless of what season we may be experiencing in creation around us or what season we may be experiencing in our own lives

"I know that what God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing can be taken away from it. God does it so that men will revere him." Ecc. 3:14

So, I guess it will be up to me to just slow down and enjoy this new season. "As the green grass withers and the beautiful flowers fade; the Word of God will stand forever". Isaiah 40:7 The Word also says in Ecclesiastes chapter 3, " He has made everything beautiful in its time". There is a time for everything and everything has its season.........

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,

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..... ECC 3: 2-9

I hope today you can enjoy the beautiful Fall season that God has so graciously given to us. I also hope the you will take time in whatever season you may be in with your own life to let someone else see the beauty of the Lord in you!

LETS MAKE THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING!

IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE I HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WHAT IS GOING ON HERE AT THE MISSION. I MUST SAY IT HAS BEEN A VERY BUSY AND STRESSFUL PAST YEAR. WHEN YOU DO THE TYPE OF MINISTRY THAT WE ARE DOING ( LONG TERM MINISTRY TO WOMEN OFF THE STREETS). YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS GOING TO BE COMING YOUR WAY. WHEN WE BEGAN THIS MINISTRY, WE ASK THE LORD TO BRING ONLY THOSE HE WANTED TO BE HERE. SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, WE FAILED TO HEAR (LISTEN) TO GOD AND ALLOWED SEVERAL WOMEN INTO THE MISSION THAT I BELIEVE WERE PLANTED BY THE ENEMY (SATAN) TO TRY AND TEAR DOWN AND TO WEAR US OUT.

WE HAVE LEARNED A LESSON ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING TIME TO LISTEN TO GOD. SO OFTEN WE ALLOW OUR BUSY LIVES TAKE CENTER STAGE AND WE MISS WHAT GOD IS TRYING TO SHOW US. THEREFORE, WE SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR BAD DECISIONS AND BELIEVE YOU ME, IT IS NOT AN EASY THING. WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS MINISTRY AROUND 10 YEARS 24/7 WITH FEW BREAKS OR REST. I CAN ALSO SAY THAT DOING, DOING AND MORE DOING ( EVEN DOING GOOD) CAN ALSO WEAR US DOWN. SATAN LOVES TO SEE US EXHAUSTED AND WORN DOWN.. MANY TIMES WE CAN GET MUCH TO BUSY DOING WHAT WE CALL A "GOD" WORK AND FAIL TO LISTEN, SEEK GOD. THIS IS A PRIME OPPORTUNITY FOR SATAN TO GET IN AND START HAVOC AND WE MISS JUST WHAT GOD HAD FOR US. AS THE WORD SAYS "OBEDIENCE IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE", BUT SATAN IS REALLY GOOD AT MAKING US BELIEVE THAT SACRIFICING OUR TIME FOR OTHERS IS MUCH BETTER THAN BEING OBEDIENT. AFTER ALL, OBEDIENCE SOUNDS LIKE GRADE SCHOOL. I WOULD RATHER SACRIFICE! OFTEN SACRIFICE GETS US TO BE VERY BUSY AND WE LET GO OF ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS: OUR DAILY, PERSONAL, GET ALL BY YOURSELF TIME WITH GOD. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT STUDYING YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON OR A 6-12 WEEK STUDY YOU ARE DOING. JUST LIKE WE NEED "OUR TIME" TO DO WHAT WE WANT JUST FOR OURSELVES. GOD WANTS THAT TIME WITH US TOO. A TIME WHEN WE TAKE THE BIBLE- HIS WORD IN OUR LAP; READ,STOP AND BE STILL AND WAIT ........UPON GOD.

DO NOT GET ME WRONG, WE NEED TO STUDY ANYTIME WE TEACH OR SHARE THE WORD. BUT WE ALSO NEED TO BE FAITHFUL THAT WE ARE SEEKING THE WORD JUST TO KNOW GOD MORE. TO TAKE THE TIME JUST TO SIT AT HIS FEET AND BASK IN HIS LOVE. WHY IS IT SO VERY HARD FOR US TO TAKE TIME TO DO THIS?

TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT; MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE HAD TO REPENT FROM PUTTING OTHER THINGS IN FRONT OF GOD.......EVEN THE MINISTRY THAT GOD GAVE US! WE ARE NOW TAKING A FEW MONTHS OFF TO SEEK THE LORD, AND REGAIN STRENGTH. THE WORD GOD HAS GIVEN US FOR THIS DAY "IN REPENTANCE (RETURNING) AND REST IS YOUR SALVATION, IN QUIETNESS AND TRUST IS YOUR STRENGTH". SOOOOOOOOO......FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WE WILL NOT TAKE IN RESIDENTS AND SPEND SOME MUCH NEEDED TIME ALONE WITH GOD AND REST........WE WILL ALSO BE SEEKING GOD AS TO WHAT HIS NEXT JOURNEY IN LIFE IS FOR US WILL BE. WE HAVE LEARN ONE IMPORTANT THING; IT IS TIME TO MAKE THE MAIN THING ,THE MAIN THING................. AND TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP IT THAT WAY!

DO YOU NOT KNOW? HAVE YOU NOT HEARD? THE LORD IS THE

EVERLASTING GOD, THE CREATOR OF THE ENDS OF THE EARTH,

HE WILL NOT GROW TIRED OR WEARY, AND HIS UNDERSTANDING

NO ONE CAN FATHOM. HE GIVES STRENGTH TO THE WEARY AND

INCREASES THE POWER OF THE WEAK. EVEN YOUTHS GROW TIRED

AND WEARY. AND YOUNG MEN STUMBLE AND FALL; BUT THOSE

WHO HOPE IN THE LORD WILL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH, THEY

WILL SOAR ON WINGS LIKE EAGLES; THEY WILL RUN AND NOT GROW

WEARY, THEY WILL WALK AND NOT BE FAINT. ISAIAH 40:28-31

Good things happen to those who Wait!

The beautiful picture on the left is of one of the women who came through the mission and is now helping us minister. She has a precious little 4 year old daughter. They have endured much and by the grace of God overcame! How wonderful it is to see the marvelous work that God can do for those of us who are willing to wait upon Him. It has not always been easy for Michelle, but she fought hard. It was through salvation and honestly seeking the Word of God and listening to Godly and wise counsel that she is where she is today. Only four years ago, she was living day by day just trying to keep a high. There was nothing she would not do to get her fix. Today, she realizes that God has plan and purpose for her other than getting high. She now lives her days out seeking God through His Word and patiently waiting for His direction for her life. She is definitely a new creation. As the book of Ecclesiastes says "He has made everything beautiful in its time." 3:10b and it also says in verse 14 "I know that everything God does will endure forever". By the way, the wonderful man standing next to Michelle is Robert, the father to her 4 year daughter. God does give good things to those that wait!