Preaching to Myself

     One of the things I have the honor of doing at my church is taking notes on my pastor's sermon each Sunday morning and turning them into a study guide for mid-week groups that meet to discuss, study, and pray together.  As I write a summary of what he has taught, I write questions for discussion that the group leaders can use to get people talking about how the sermon applies to their own lives.
     This afternoon as I finished up the notes, I looked at a discussion question that I had written and realized that I probably wrote it for myself.  This was the quote:

"Sometimes we think that a life in Christ means that we should be immune from heartache and difficulties.  Jesus knew the pain that his crucifixion was causing his mother and his disciples, but he also knew what was being accomplished there and the greater joy that would follow.  Can we trust God that a season of difficulty may be in preparation for something greater in our lives?"

 

     After an exciting move to Virginia last November where things worked out beautifully, almost effortlessly, I'm now struggling with problems with my husband's deteriorating health and some financial challenges.  Though I'm an "eternal optimist" and usually make a point of thinking positive, sometimes I have felt like God was absent in my situation.

What a Difference a Year Makes!

     My last blog post was over a year ago.  That's a great track record for someone who wanted to discipline herself to write on a regular basis!   The last post I wrote is also the reason for the lack of subsequent posts.  I wanted to move to Abingdon, VA to live closer to my son and his wife and I spent the spring months of 2012 pursuing a job there.  When I failed to find a job by the time the 2012-2013 school year began, I put the whole project on the back burner and decided to settle in for the school year and try again the next spring.

     God, however, had other plans.