Empty Nesting

What happened?

This place used to be bustling all the time.  Quiet moments were few and far between, if found at all.  But now the kids have grown and gone to college and the house is too quiet.  I need to find out how other moms
have navigated these waters.  Sometimes my living room is a lonely room. It is strange indeed. 

Today at Bible Study, the  little children came up from their classes to sing us some songs.  It brought me back to when my little ones did the same.  We have it on video somewhere.  I remember it like it was just yesterday.  But it was a long time ago!  How I love and miss them.  I look forward to enjoying their little ones some day!!

The seasons teach us that there is always change ahead.  I remind myself that the goal was for my kids to grow up, after all!  I am happy that they are all well and forging ahead in God's good plans for their lives.  I just miss the good old days.  I miss the noise, the laughter, the playing, yes, even the fighting a little bit!  I just miss them.  I am thankful they're all close by and come home regularly.  I'm very thankful they'll all be home next week for Thanksgiving!

How I thank God for each one.  For their personalities, gifts and weaknesses.  I pray for them to know and love God through all the blessings and challenges life brings their way.  I pray for godly spouses and children for them.  I pray they'd all be close to home so we can enjoy them!  But with that I add that 'not my will but Thine be done!'

And I pray for grace to ride the wave of this new season of my life.  To make the most of all the opportunities God gives to me.  Making wise use of my days and evenings.  I love to cuddle with my honey when he's home, enjoy hospitality more than ever, and  am even trying my hand at some sales opportunities with the bakery.  I continue to volunteer at the Pregnancy Care Center which is chuck full of divine appointments.  I want to be a useful tool in my Master's hands, making His great gospel known to others through my words and deeds.

  Isa. 46:4  "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."

Don't Stumble Unawares

"We're not unaware of the enemy's schemes." 2Cor. 2:11b

Or are we?  If we are unaware of his schemes, we may be unwitting instruments used in his schemes.  Something to ponder. 

The context of  this verse is Paul's urging the church to forgive someone who had caused grief.  You see, the enemy's schemes are often quite simple and repetitious:  divide and conquer.  Sowing seeds of distrust and disdain. The disunity of the Body of Christ renders us weak and ineffective.  Our witness to the gospel is undermined by this scheme of the devil.  Remember Jesus said that all men would come to know Him by our love for one another?

We must put on humility, forgiving where necessary, asking forgiveness when we give offense.  Offering comfort and love.

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness , and patience, bearing with one another and,if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." Colossians 3:12-13