November 7, 2005

• I remember my mom often saying, 'the hurried-er I go, the behind-er I get'. I think I'm beginning to understand what she meant! Seems like my list keeps getting longer and as soon as I manage to mark something off, I need to add at least two more things to it. I struggle to balance my priorities; to be the wife and mom I should be, to be the teacher and mentor I should be, to take care of all the urgent things, as well as the important things, and to 'be still' before the Father so I can soak in His presence and experience His peace. I am far from being the 'Proverbial' woman let alone being the ideal missionary woman but I am definitely in constant motion.

  
  

  We've had a great couple of weeks. We've seen a wonderful increase in attendance in our ladies class and it seems that God is blessing the young women's 'Far Above Rubies' class, as well. Our FAR lessons have been focusing on virtue and inner beauty. This past week we got to spend a little time talking about letting our inner beauty show in our countenance and making the most of what God has made uniquely ours. It seemed only natural to indulge in a little pampering ... a facial and some play time with make-up. It's just fun to do 'girlie' things every now and then.

  
  

  Girlie time ... that's exactly what I was blessed with just a couple of weekends ago. Deb, Alice and I got to take a special time of retreat in Tallinn.  This time was a special honoring for women who are serving on cross-cultural mission fields and those who sponsored it made us feel absolutely honored. There were 50 women there from 9 different countries. We enjoyed pampering, studying, praising, fellowshipping, and laughing together. Only those who have experienced life on the mission field could fully appreciate the joy we felt at bringing home little treats like ranch dressing mix, those little Almond Joy/Baby Ruth candy bars, Hershey's Kisses (with Caramel - yum!) and brown sugar. We played that gift exchange game that is always so popular around the holidays. This time, though, the prizes were of the utmost importance and there was some serious stealing happening when bags containing Lucky Charms, Pop-Tarts, cake mixes, macaroni/ cheese and Bisquick were opened for all to see. One of the bags even contained a 'Pilates' DVD. Of course, I told those ladies that those exercise videos are absolutely useless .. I have watched them several times and so far they haven't done me ANY good. 

  
  

  Made me think of the scripture that says ...

  
  

  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it -- he will be blessed in what he does.       James 1:22-25

  
  

  God's law is perfect and His blessings are bountiful for those who are doers of the Word! I pray I can be a better 'doer' of the Word. I pray that He will continue to give me guidance in the things that I do ... as I strive to be all that He asks me to be ... to fulfill the roles He has for me to fill ... and to 'be still' in His presence.

  
  

  May He bless you with the same.

  • 7:37 am
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