Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice,
Blessed are all who wait for him!
Isaiah 30:18
THIS VERSE IS SUCH A WONDERFUL REMINDER OF THE FAITHFULNESS OF THE LORD TO HIS PEOPLE. ISAIAH IS YET, ONCE AGAIN, TELLING THE PEOPLE THAT AFTER PUNISHING ISRAEL, (for yet wrong choices, again). GOD WILL ONCE AGAIN BLESS THEM........HOW SAD IT IS WHEN THERE ARE TIMES OF PUNISHMENT IN OUR LIVES FROM THE LORD, MAINLY DUE OUR CHOICES. OVER THE PAST YEAR I HAVE SOMEWHAT FELT THAT TIME OF "PUNISHMENT" AND I REALIZE IT WAS NO ONES FAULT BUT MY OWN!
IN THE GOOD OLE WEBSTERS, PUNISHMENT IS DESCRIBES AS, "THE STATE OR FACT OF PUNISHMENT" OR "THE PENALTY FOR A FAULT OR CRIME," THE SECOND PART OF THAT DEFINITION DESCRIBES EXACTLY HOW THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN FOR ME. LET ME EXPLAIN:
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, MY HUSBAND AND I RAN A RESCUE MISSION THAT DEALT SPECIFICALLY WITH WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH "LIFE CONTROLLING" ISSUES. MOST OF THEM WERE COMING FROM A WORLD OF ABUSE AND ADDICTION. WE ESTABLISHED THE NON-PROFIT MINISTRY AND FORMED A BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHO HAD A HEART AND COMPASSION FOR HURTING PEOPLE.
I STARTED OPENING MY HOME UP TO WOMEN WHO HAD NO PLACE TO GO AND NEEDED HELP. THAT LED TO MY HUSBAND LEAVING HIS JOB AND THE SELLING OUR HOME. WE THEN PURCHASED A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT ALLOWED US TO HOUSE AND HELP WOMEN FULL-TIME. IT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS WE HAVE DONE, YET ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING.
IN THE GOOD OLE WEBSTERS, PUNISHMENT IS DESCRIBES AS, "THE STATE OR FACT OF PUNISHMENT" OR "THE PENALTY FOR A FAULT OR CRIME," THE SECOND PART OF THAT DEFINITION DESCRIBES EXACTLY HOW THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN FOR ME. LET ME EXPLAIN:
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, MY HUSBAND AND I RAN A RESCUE MISSION THAT DEALT SPECIFICALLY WITH WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH "LIFE CONTROLLING" ISSUES. MOST OF THEM WERE COMING FROM A WORLD OF ABUSE AND ADDICTION. WE ESTABLISHED THE NON-PROFIT MINISTRY AND FORMED A BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHO HAD A HEART AND COMPASSION FOR HURTING PEOPLE.
I STARTED OPENING MY HOME UP TO WOMEN WHO HAD NO PLACE TO GO AND NEEDED HELP. THAT LED TO MY HUSBAND LEAVING HIS JOB AND THE SELLING OUR HOME. WE THEN PURCHASED A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT ALLOWED US TO HOUSE AND HELP WOMEN FULL-TIME. IT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS WE HAVE DONE, YET ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING.
WE CALLED IT THE LIGHTHOUSE IN THE MOUNTAINS RESCUE MISSION.
NOW TO GET BACK TO THE SUBJECT. AFTER MANY YEARS OF HELPING AND SERVING AT THIS MINISTRY 24-7, WE BEGIN TO WEAR DOWN. GOD WAS SO FAITHFUL. WE WERE ABLE TO MINISTER TO WOMEN, HOUSE THEM AND HELP THEM SEEK A NEW LIFE THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AT NO EXPENSE TO THEM OR THEIR FAMILY. EVERYTHING WAS PROVIDED......CLOTHES, FOOD, TOILETRIES.....EVERYTHING! IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE GOD WORK. THE WOMEN COULD VISIT WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY CONNECTION TO THEIR FAMILY WHILE GETTING CLEAN AND SEEKING THE LORD.
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| THIS IS A GROUP OF THE WOMEN WITH SOME WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS FROM LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE (in Kentucky). WHO HELPED US BY DOING SOME MAJOR LABOR DURING SPRING BREAK. |
IT WAS WONDERFUL, BUT AGAIN, VERY DIFFICULT. IT BECAME HARD AND WE BECAME VERY TIRED AND OVERWORKED. MUCH DUE TO LACK OF HELP PHYSICALLY. WE HAD LOTS OF HELP FINANCIALLY BUT LACKED HELP(LABOR) ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS. SOON, THAT BEGIN TO TAKE A TOLL ON OUR LIVES. IT BECAME MORE THAN WE COULD TAKE. WHEN YOU DEAL WITH ADDICTION AND ALL THE ISSUES THAT FOLLOW....IT IS NOT SOOOOO EASY, BUT I HAVE LEARNED, WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE LORD AND LOOK TO THE WORLD YOUR VISION GETS VERY CLOUDED.
WE ALSO HAVE AN ENEMY WHO WANTS TO MAKE SURE WE DO NOT SEE THINGS AS GOD SEES THEM. HOW QUICKLY SATAN CAN MESS THINGS UP.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
I Peter 5: 8-9
SATAN IS VERY CLEVER AT GETTING US TO LOOK AWAY FROM GOD AND AT THE WORLD.
WE BEGAN TO DO JUST THAT. FORGETTING THE WONDERFUL SCRIPTURE ABOVE. WE THOUGHT WE WERE THE ONLY ONES SUFFERING WITH SUCH A DIFFICULT MINISTRY. THE OLD, "WHY US GOD" AND "WE ARE ALL ALONE"? PETER REMINDS US, THIS IS NOT TRUE. THERE ARE OTHERS WHO "ARE UNDERGOING THE SAME KINDS OF SUFFERINGS". NO, SATAN WANTS US LOOK AT THOSE WHO ARE FOCUSED ON THE PROCESS OF THIS WORLD. NOT A GOOD THING TO DO---- IN SUCH A BUSY AND TOUGH MINISTRY. IT CAUSES YOU TO BECOME SELFISH AND WANT THINGS YOUR WAY. WE BEGIN TO LOOK FOR EASIER OPTIONS.
IN SEPTEMBER 2010 WE DECIDED TO WALK AWAY FROM THE RESCUE MISSION AND GO BACK INTO THE PASTORATE. FORGETTING ALL THAT WE KNEW TO BE TRUE. WE ENDED UP IN EASTERN KENTUCKY-DEEP INTO THE MOUNTAINS. OH, WE HAVE GOTTEN EVERYTHING WE ASKED FOR...........MORE TIME FOR OURSELVES, A BIGGER HOUSE- ALL TO OURSELVES, AN EASIER MINISTRY.........OR SO, YOU WOULD THINK EASIER. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR OR ASK FOR!
IT CAN BE A LONG LONELY ROAD. SO TODAY I AM REMINDED GOD IS STILL GOD REGARDLESS OF OUR "QUICK" AND NOT ALWAYS "RIGHT" DECISIONS!
YES, TODAY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE OF OUR CHOICES. SADLY, BECAUSE WE WERE JUST PLAIN WORE OUT! THE CHOICES WE MAKE IN LIFE ALWAYS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!!!!! ALWAYS!!!!!!!
I HAVE LEARNED:
"IT IS NOT ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE".
"DO NOT MAKE MAJOR DECISIONS WHEN YOU ARE TIRED"
"GOD NEVER GROWS TIRED OR WEARY" ISAIAH 40:28
"I AND MY HUSBAND ARE PEOPLE WHO ENJOY A CHALLENGE".
"FAITH IS LIVING LIFE REALIZING ONLY GOD HOLDS TOMORROW-NOT US"
"GOD CALLS ALL OF US TO A CERTAIN NATION OF PEOPLE AND THAT IS WHERE YOU NEED TO SERVE"
"GOD HAS A PLACE FOR EVERYONE AND THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THAT PLACE!"
"I LOVE A BIBLE STUDY WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE "REAL" AND THE PROBLEMS ARE "REAL" AND GOD HAS THE "REAL" ANSWER"
"WE HAVE A GRACIOUS GOD-WHO LONGS TO LAVISH HIS GRACE UPON US"
HE "RISES" TO SHOW HIS COMPASSION TO US" ISAIAH 30:18
AND BECAUSE OF THAT.............
WE ARE A TRULY BLESSED PEOPLE!
THANK YOU LORD, THAT IN SPITE OF OUR CHOICES, YOU STILL CARE AND ARE WAITING TO DELIVER US!
TODAY, I AM TRULY BLESSED AND ANXIOUSLY AWAITING FOR WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE!
BE BLESSED AND HAVE JOYOUS DAY!
