Too Much

I am desperate to break this blog drought I've been going through. I would say that I have nothing to write about, but the truth is that I actually have TOO much to blog about. Too much going on. Too much on my  mind. Too much on my heart. And most of it are things that I'm willing to bet wouldn't be the least bit interesting to an audience. Except my audience of One. My Heavenly Father who has played spectator to a Gladiator style battle going on inside of me. I say He's played spectator, but perhaps it is more like a referee, stepping in to weed out sinful thoughts and feelings, a coach directing me in how to think and speak or a cheerleader encouraging me to keep on keepin' on.

Deep down I feel like I am not allowed another season like this. How many of these seasons am I going to go through, anyway? Shouldn't I have learned all the important lessons of life and have it all together by now? I'm a preacher's wife for crying out loud. I am supposed to be like a pillar of strength and spirituality. Yeah. right.

And so, 30 years of life, 10 years of marriage (almost!), 3 kids, and 5 years of ministry later, these are the lessons I'm learning. Relearning?

* It is okay if people don't like me. (For some reason I feel like when I write my "I'm turning 75" blog, this will continue to be a lesson learned.)

* Loving people isn't always pretty. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes speaking the truth in love to them is the hardest thing you ever have to do.

* I can't be everything for everybody. Only God can. He gives us each our own gifts and strengths to minister with and He leads us to the people we are meant to minister to.

* Sometimes God's answers to our prayers look very different from what we are expecting, but they are exactly what we need.

*One of the most important things in our lives is learning who the people are that matter. The ones who will be there when no one else is. The ones who are worth the time and effort it takes to maintain a relationship.

* God didn't create me to be glorified, but to glorify Him. Even He didn't come to be served, but to serve.

* Be careful when you pray for more of a servant heart. The life courses in this lesson are unending!!!! :)

* There is only One I can turn to when life is too much. Only He has the answers and the power to change. Nothing is too much for Him!