Proving I Came by my Gray Hair Honestly

Today is my birthday - I'm 48 years old!  It's the kind of age where less than half the people you know think you're still young (including my husband), and more than half think you're sliding down the other side of the hill!

I was thinking too seriously this morning, as is often my habit, and reflecting on what has happened in my life.  Like what I thought was meaningful and what I didn't.  Things I regret and things I definitely don't.  For whatever it means to you, here is a sampling.  Sorry, you don't get to hear everything that went through my mind, but some things you really don't need to know! :-)

Things I do not regret:
1) Being raised in a godly home by Reimar and Marcia Schultze!! :-)
2) Hearing godly preachers through my life as my dad, Edgar Martin, Bro. Helm....
3) Marrying my husband, Don!!
4) Having four children by birth and one by adoption (and Jasmine!)
5) Investing my life and training in these children
6) Homeschooling
7) I do not regret taking a stand and doing things differently as God called me to than even the Christian world around me did .  Yes, there were times of fear and questioning, but it has proven to be right.
8) I do not regret letting Morgan marry Andrew, Jacob marry Naomi and Jordan marry the 'other' Naomi!
9) Following the leadership of the Holy Spirit ( this is TOTALLY a not regret item)  LIFE has been in it.
10) Loving the unnoticed saints and forgotten ones around me.
11) Separating myself more from the world in the areas of dress, entertainment and motivation.  Soo do not regret keeping worldly, and fiction romance, violence, etc out of my children's lives and my life.
12) Moving to Fort Wayne!!  Love these people.
13) Being a part of the Body of Christ.  Enjoying the Bible Methodist and others!
14)I do not regret putting money into the Kingdom via a church, mission organization or the needy
15) Opening our home to children/youth/friends

Regrets:
1) That I went to public school as a child
2) My strong materialistic mindset/heart as a young person
3) Trying too hard to look cute and appealing to the world
4) Not appreciating my family more as a youth
5) Not having more birth children, and letting the world within and without of the church influence me not to.
6) That I ever let peers influence me to compromise my conscience or to question what I knew was biblical. 7) That I ever doubted that God would lead and that His leadings would have good things in them.
8) Money I've spent on unnecessary items

There's a start.  When I think of my goals as a young person of making some serious money...ummm, you really see that God spared me despite myself and my regrets and 'not regrets' show that it hasn't mattered in the long haul.

I am thankful for God's mercies.  I wonder....when I'm 84, instead of 48, what this list will look like!!  Hmmm....God isn't done yet!  More adventure in the next episode.....

:-)

Report from Portsmouth, Ohio

I'm not in Portsmouth, but Morgan and her family are - as well as Mikah.  They are helping at a youth camp there.  Their main responsibility is to conduct a missions service each morning for the youth.  They also have done some music and intermingling with the youth.
God has been helping them!  The staff have told them that this is the first time in years that the youth have had positive comments about the mission service.  Andrew has been used of the Lord with his teaching and discipling gifts.  Praise the Lord.  Mikah gave her report on China one of the mornings, and the youth responded well to that with comments and questions.
Andrew challenged the young men to meet him for devotions in the mornings...and several have.
How great of a privilege is it to be able to share with formable young people the great commission?  Could it be that one or more of them will choose to serve the Lord in this way?
The camp evangelist is Matthew Blankenship - he is about Andrew's age.  Mikah and Morgan have both told me how impressed they are with him.  They state that he has a burden for souls and a heart which is tender for the Lord.  Mikah mentioned that he was in a staff prayer meeting weeping for the young people there.  Bro. Blankenship's road has not been easy as when he chose to go for God, his wife chose another way of heartbreak.  However, he continues to press on...knowing that he is not called to remarry as long as his wife still lives. He also ministers in Pakistan and can draw a crowd of thousands there.  May the Lord be with him.
Tonight is the last night of the camp meeting.  Please pray that youth that have been holding back will respond to God's call.
Tomorrow we will join them in Charlotte, NC for a week of pro-life events.

Blazing for the Lord

Yesterday we went to an event hosted by the McIntosh family.  They were celebrating their oldest child, Charles' graduation from high school, as well as a Bat Barakah for their two oldest daughters, Hannah and Grace.  A Bat Barakah means daughter of blessing and it is a Christian version of a Hebrew rite of passage into womanhood.
Family and friends were gathered and after the ceremonies, there was a huge meal in the church basement.
I don't know if I've been to a family event with God all over it more than this one.  As you know, once you've been where the Holy Spirit is working heavily, it is impossible to put it into words.
Anyone (almost) can have a 'Christian' event that is pleasant and has some meaning.  However, when there are lives that have taken steps of obedience which cost them something, you can feel God moving in your heart when they speak of their love for God and for each other.
There were tears from the parents, tears from the children, tears from grandparents, an aunt and tears from friends.  Parents spoke highly of their children, and rightly so.  The parents willingly opened the door for greater responsibility for the children.  The children vowed with authenticity their desire to still consult with their parents with the major decisions of life.  And, so much love flowing over and around!
As Don said in his sharing, these children are going out as a blaze for God!  We are anticipating with joy what God will yet do through these three young adults and the seven other children in this family.
When I looked in the faces of others in the sanctuary, I saw some who were resonating with what was happening in the spiritual realm, and were drinking it all in with joy.  Others had an evident skepticism and holding back.  That familiar:  "That's nice...I'm happy for them...but I'm not so bad a person...and that kind of life is not for me."  Oooohhh my!  How I have seen that attitude before!  What are we letting ourselves be robbed of for that unwillingness to 'give it ALL'?  How robbed are our children? our grandchildren?  And each generation afterward?  What about all the souls around us we/they are called to encourage through our life of full surrender?  Is mediocrity and worldliness acceptable to the Lord?  And, oh my, what joy and love and pleasures of God are we sidestepping!!  With such pictures right before us, how will we be held accountable?
As you can see, I was stirred...and blessed...and challenged.  May the Lord continue to move through His people and do things that man in all his well intentioned attempts cannot duplicate!!

God Moments

I've had an aching in my heart for a number of days now which is not physical, but spiritual in nature.  I haven't been able to pinpoint what it is about exactly.  Tonight, as I watched the tail end of a Lottie Moon play, I located some of what it consists of.  On Lottie's deathbed, she said there are so many souls that have not heard.  At that point, it registered with me that my burden was for souls...and more specifically for the souls that  our children are to reach.  I then felt the familiar urgency to pray.  As Ariana and I traveled home in the car, she was excited about the cast party we had just been to and I was trying to be pleasant, but crying out in my heart for souls.  I felt prompted to pray aloud, but was feeling fought that Ariana would think I was being a wet blanket on her fun evening (silly me).  At last, I told her I felt I needed to pray and began to cry out for these souls and that our children would be prepared...and other workers would be called to the harvest.  As soon as I finished, Ariana took off and prayed along the same lines and prayed on for other things like orphans and addicts, and that she would be willing to lose her life for others.  I think she prayed longer than I did.
By the time we got home, she was much more focused on our prayer time than any of the 'fun' she had had earlier.  It was a God moment.  A Holy Spirit moment.  It's something a child can stand on.
I thank the Lord for the consistency our family has in personal devotions, family devotions, church attendance.  It is good and it is helpful.  What an extra blessing it is though when the Holy Spirit moves in a fresh way and leads in a specific way to stir our hearts and to forward the Kingdom.
I remember having times like that with all our children.  I wish we would have had more.  How great it is that
God is granting them now with Ariana as well...and trusting for even more with Jasmine.
These God moments are what family time is supposed to be about...it's about more than human relationship...it's about God breathed moments...together.
He is worthy, and His ways are great.

An Imperfect World

I was in court yesterday.  There was a group of people there who had broken the law and were to report their plea of guilty or not guilty, or to receive sentencing or an extension.  Each one had their own story.  One couldn't make car payments so he set fire to his car to collect insurance to pay off his car.  One stole a bag of items from Menards worth under $100.  There was a child molester.  There was an alcoholic who was caught again for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.   The experience only gave me a small view of the justice system, but it certainly got my thoughts going.
Of course, I thought about their souls...and their childhood.  I wondered about the pain in their lives...and even about the repeated resistance to their consciences.  Wishing I could step into each of their lives and try to offer Christ.  Aware though, of how inadequate any of my own efforts could be.  Thankful that in our county, the jails are overwhelmed with offers from churches to come in and do chapel services.  That gave me hope.
I noticed how kind and respectful the judge was to each of the men and women.  Calling them, "Mr. ___, or Miss ___"  He was gentle and would smile.  He would make sure they understood.
I also noticed that there weren't any 'political prisoners' there or people accused of evangelizing for Christ.  Everyone there had broken a very reasonable law, and many even were willing to admit it.
I contrast this to our friend, Narendra, in India who has been jailed for maybe 8 months now on false charges.  When he has gone in for trial, the judge might be sick or at a wedding.  Or the attorney may be out of town.  This makes me thankful for the good in our system.
There are things that are disturbing.  Like how long we had to wait to get this trial completed...several years.  It is interesting to know that 8 years is the maximum for the abuse of a child. Abuse of a child affects the child emotionally for life and is an intentional act.  Other things, which are unintentional, can get even more devastating consequences.  Like last year when I was interviewed for jury duty, a couple was suing a lady who had inadvertently caused an accident with them.  They were suing for millions above what the insurance company paid.  I don't believe in suing, but if I would sue a child abuser for millions, would I be laughed away?
All this is a good reminder that this is an imperfect world.  Our justice system may be better than most, but it is not perfect at all.  God's justice system is perfect.  At the end of the day, the RIGHT thing will be done.  God knows what that is...and it will be done.  Hallelujah!  Our efforts at justice are imperfect and temporary.

Grandmothers and Abortion

Mom came up to sew for the girls this week!  She got a lot more sewing done than I did!  Hopefully, she's still is glad she came.  She has sewn for my daughters for years now, and it's a big blessing!  I've attached two pictures of dresses for Jasmine.  The second one is made using a pillowcase pattern.  She left yesterday.

In contrast, I saw another grandmother today.  I was at the abortion clinic.  A nice, clean black car pulled into the parking lot and three women got out.  By their appearance, I would be fairly certain they were a daughter, mother and grandmother.  The security guard stood by them as they got out, protecting them from those of us standing outside who are trying to protect they little baby growing inside the daughter.  So, really it was a baby, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  The young mother rushed into the clinic first...then the grandmother.  The great-grandmother couldn't move as fast.  She walked with a cane and very slowly made her away across the parking lot while the others waited inside.  I don't suppose nurturing is fully rounded in this family.  The picture looked crystal clear.  They weren't going to help the great-grandmother across the parking lot to protect her from falling, and even leaving her vulnerable to the 'dangerous' pro-lifers outside.  They weren't going to protect the new baby inside the womb of the young mother.  However...they probably felt very nurturing toward the young mother (and themselves) in protecting everyone from having to inconvenience themselves to go through with this pregnancy.

As I watched the great grandmother slowly limp her way in, my heart was so sad.  The deception was clear.  I couldn't help wondering if this lady attended church in her nice car.  I wondered if there had been other abortions in the family.  I wondered if there were any men in the family who knew how to be real men.

I wanted to show them a picture that I'm very familiar with.  A picture of mothers and grandmothers who have seen the love and provision of God and who know how to nurture, make clothes for and raise beautiful people.  A picture of strong men of God who take responsibility for their families and who love them with all their hearts.

Our world needs Jesus.

Changing Diapers and Doing Dishes

I suppose I've been told all my life that being a homemaker is a valuable thing.  I must admit, though, that there have been times when it was hard for me to catch a vision of it.  Of course, there were the 'more spiritual' things I could be doing if it didn't take so much time to keep these kids dressed, cleaned and fed...not to mention the house cleaned and organized.  Then there were the more financially rewarding things I could have been doing to make our lives more comfortable.  

In some ways, I'm in that stage again of the home and children taking most of my time.  It occurred to me today that it really is God's plan for domestic duties to take time!  God would have been perfectly able to cause human children to be born able to take care of themselves within a short time as many animals are able to do.  God could have caused our bodies to only need to eat once a week rather than several times a day!  Think about how much more time we would have for 'spiritual' things if He had done so!! :-)  Awww...aren't we so wise?  Do we know better than God?  He has ordained and organized for the nurturing and domestic duties to be time consuming...perhaps why He mentioned in His Word that women are to be 'keepers at home'.  

Now, I'm not suggesting that women shouldn't have any outreach in their lives.  I actually believe they should!  I am only addressing our attitude toward our family and homes and I am justifying the value of investing in these things!

Resonating with Ogden Nash...dedicated to my 'flying' parents... :-)

No, You be a Lone Eagle by Ogden Nash

I find it very hard to be fair-minded 
About people who go around being air-minded. 
I just can't see any fun 
In soaring up up up into the sun 
When the chances are still a fresh cool orchid to a paper geranium 
That you'll unsoar down down down onto your (to you) invaluable 
cranium. 
I know the constant refrain 
About how safer up in God's trafficless heaven than in an automobile 
or a train 
But ... 
My God, have you ever taken a good look at a strut? 
Then that one about how you're in Boston before you can say antidis- 
establishmentarianism 
So that preferring to take five hours by rail is a pernicious example of 
antiquarianism. 
At least when I get on the Boston train I have a good chance of landing 
in the South Station 
And not in that part of the daily press which is reserved for victims of 
aviation. 
Then, despite the assurance that aeroplanes are terribly comfortable I 
notice that when you are railroading or automobiling 
You don't have to take a paper bag along just in case of a funny feeling. 
It seems to me that no kind of depravity 
Brings such speedy retribution as ignoring the law of gravity. 
Therefore nobody could possibly indict me for perjury 
When I swear that I wish the Wright brothers had gone in for silver 
fox farming or tree surgery. 

Family Ties

Our family ties are strong.  We understand each other on a spiritual level, and that's important to all of us.  We also get together regularly for holidays...and other times when we can.
But, we are spreading out and getting farther apart.  It hasn't been easy for me since the first days when the kids started leaving the house.  I enjoy them and value their company!
I was expressing to Don the other day how one of the children was saying how hard it would be to move away from family and miss the get togethers....I felt the same way.  Don answered something like,"We need to put the family ties aside and put the Kingdom first."  This statement could be taken as insensitive or a 'guy' thing to say.  But, the Holy Spirit started working with me about that as the statement kept running through my head.
I could feel the Lord causing my heart to begin to let go of my feelings of anxiety about my children moving far away.  A few days later, the Lord took it even further and told me, "You're going to be with them for eternity, you know."  I had to answer in gratefulness, "Yes, Lord.  How could I be so selfish?  I will always have eternity to look forward to.  Why wouldn't I want them to labor here for a few years?"  They are not mine, and I must not forget it, but keep them in an open hand for the work of the Kingdom.
God is good and helping in my weakness.