Lessons

Since Joanne had her stroke over a week ago,  God is teaching those of us praying for her many lessons.

Of course, I can only speak for myself but one thing God has spoken a few times to me is about how short life is. Life is but a breath.  As I have been thinking on life, prayer, how quick things can change,  I am learning that I waste to much time doing other things than I do about the things God wants me accomplish for his Kingdom.

These things aren't bad but when they take the place of God's call on my life then I need to get my priorities in order.

We only have a brief time to complete the things God has asked us to do.  I want to walk in obedience and I want to lay or store up treasures in heaven. Those are the only things that will last.

I have been in a place for a few years where I am seeking God's direction or next direction for my life. One thing we are all called to do is seek Him, praise Him, exalt Him.  

I go through times where I struggle with my prayer time and Bible reading and study.  

This may sound strange but for a month God has led me clean or straighten the house, closets, drawers etc.. I have changed the furniture around and I am throwing more things away.  After going through our season of losing our home, salary cut in half, loss of friends, living in some hard places,  loss of a lot of possessions, I am still going through things and throwing them away or giving them away. I am appreciative of our smaller home but the truth is, 5 of us are living in a 2 bedroom home. Have been for over a year now.  We are waiting for God to show us the next house he has for us. Until, then, happy to have a roof over our heads.  

I think the lesson is to continue to simplify our lives. 

With all this snow that we rarely see in the south I believe God is teaching us to slow down. Enjoy family and friends. Concentrate more fully on Him.  We all work and go and do but how much do we truly enjoy our homes and family?  When it snows here we basically shut down. lol  I look at it as God giving us a chance to stay home and enjoy our time with our families. 

I was reading a blog today and then heard on our local news that food prices are going up more than ever before. There is going to be a food shortage like never before. People are not as well off as they used to be. We are going to continue to go through hard times but here is the other lesson God has taught us this month:  He is our Provider, Our Resource.  In our family, one of us works as a server and when the snow shuts the restaurant down, we aren't making money.  

To be honest, we have taken a hit with all this snow, but God has always come through.  Our bills have been paid and there has been food to eat. Praise God! 

For a few days we were in panic mode when we lost money due to the weather. Being honest, we were worrying to the point of forgetting who really provides for us.

I heard so many people panicking over the snow and how they would get to work, losing money etc... two years ago that was the lesson God taught my family. To remember who our security is supposed to be in, God.  We had drifted away from that.  

To sum this all up: Since Joanne's stroke, I have been pondering.....a lot.   Even as that sweet, beautiful woman lays in a coma, she is teaching us all.  God is using her mightily.