The past two days have been filled with a variety of emotion…fear, peace, anxiety, commitment, love, joy and thankfulness. My prayer throughout the procedure was, “Lord, I have only begun to serve You and Your ways, and to walk in the path You have ordained for me. I want to be your servant. I give you my future and my life. May the meditations of my heart, the may the steps I take, be pleasing to you..”
I am so excited about the future. I know He has much in store for me. Spring semester for seminary began this past Monday, and I’m already behind and needing to catch up. But that will happen. In a few weeks John and I will travel back to Billings for a ministry assessment with the denomination we’ve been ministering with. I don’t think they entirely know what to do with a woman who is called to ministry leadership outside of children’s ministries. We’ll walk the road together, and together expand our understanding of the vast God of the universe we love and serve. February is also the month for my next scheduled speaking engagement – this time in Oregon. I’m busy praying and seeking God’s heart for the message He would have me share with these lovely women. And of course there will be Face-to-Face class time in Portland for seminary. It seems so long since our cohort family has been together in October. And then there is the excitement about being able to engage once again with the amazing family God has knit together for us. The past four weeks I’ve been quite absent from the family as I’ve rested in bed, and now I look forward to more fully enjoying each one of them.
So many things to look forward to. The future does indeed look very bright. Through all of this, John and I have been so amazed by how much we are loved and supported. It blows us away. We know how blessed we are by friends and family who love us dearly. You all have been the hands and feet of Christ, and been a shining example of loving like Jesus. And for that I’m beyond-words thankful.
And so tonight I close with the beautiful words of David in Psalm 19 that have been echoing in my heart especially the past two days:
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
