A time for everything….Ecclesiastes 3:1 says “for everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. ” The next verse says “A time to be born and a time to die.”…..Tears well up as I ponder those words because  we just learned that a father from our new church has gone home to be with the Lord. He was a husband and father of 2 teenage children. We had only met him once, but had learned from many others that he was a strong man of   faith and a friend and light to all who met him.We wish we could have had the time to get to know him better, but the Lord had  other plans for Dale.  A time for everything…..

It makes me think of a dear friend that helped me along my journey to know Christ. She was a bright light to all who knew her as she shared the love of Christ to all she met. She was a woman who loved God with all her heart and lived to encourage and support others along their journey to know the Lord and to live for Him.  She went home to be with the Lord almost one year ago. Her name was Lynn and she also left behind a husband and 3 beautiful children. There was a quote, from Lynn, that her family shared as they celebrated her life…”We are to love each other as Jesus loved us, and he loved us enought to give his life for us. We may not have to die for someone, but there are other ways to practice sacrificial love: listening, helping, encouraging, giving. Think of someone in particular who needs this kind of love today. Give all the love you can, and then give a little more.”….Lynn

Why does the Lord take those who are such a light for us? Why can’t we spend more time with them? Everything is in God’s timing and we don’t always understand. As a matter of fact, we rarely understand….we question all the time. Death brings so much sorrow to our hearts and brings great mourning and grieving. But it also brings Hope as we look towards the promise of Everlasting Life! Tonight as I read Ecclesiastes 3 God spoke many things to my heart. First of all, if you look at Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 you will see that all the experiences listed are a part of our lives. Even more though, you will see that each of the circumstances are on opposite spectrums…plant/harvest, tear down/build up, cry/laugh, grieve/dance… and as I mentioned earlier,even Grieving and Hope! Our lives are full of highs and lows, ups and downs, times of rest and times of full speed ahead. It’s like we live on a roller coaster !!It reminds me of the Big Dipper…..never knowing what is around the next corner or if you are going to be lifted off your seat on the next dip! Are you laughing with joy or fearing for your life? ….it’s tough! But when we keep our eyes on Jesus we are able to see the promises that He reveals to us…..light instead of darkness, hope instead of despair, joy instead of sorrow, life in place of death! There is a time for everything….

This doesn’t make it any easier to understand, but we need to remember what verses 11 and 12 say…”Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” To truly know that God has made everything beautiful for it’s own time and that we do not see the whole scope of His plan brings a little peace to our hearts. We know that His plans are perfect and that even through the valleys, God will reveal His glory to all who seek Him. Why do we have all the difficult seasons in our lives? I don’t think we have the answer to that question…but I do know that God Will bring us to the other side…and as we journey there, we will grow in our trust and in our faith as we see God working in our lives. I pray that the families and friends of Dale and Lynn will see God working in their lives even through the valley and that above all  God will pull them closer and shelter them and carry them through the difficult times ahead.

Psalm 62:8 brings comfort as we place our trust in Him and know with all our heart that He is our refuge and strong tower.  Psalm 61:1-8 can guide and comfort as you cry out to Him to hear your prayers  and know and trust that you are safe beneath the shelter of His wings and that his unfailing love and faithfulness surround you.

Remember too….The story of Lazarus when Jesus saw Mary weeping and the other people wailing with her. Jesus too was deeply troubled  and empathized with their grief. Remember that Jesus cares enough for us to weep with us in our sorrow. He wants us to reveal our true feelings to him, for He too understands sorrow and loss. Our Lord is full of compassion and understanding. He will bring healing and comfort in time. For there is a time for everything…..

Well, I have heard that some ladies laughed at my latest blog because  they could totally relate to the scenerio in my household that morning, but my husband was not laughing!!:( So to do him justice in this situation I must say that I have had coffee everymorning since my last blog!:) He also emptied the dishwasher!:) I also want to point out ,due  to my great training from day 1 of our marriage, that he does the dishes after dinner! Now ladies, don’t be jealous of your neighbor as the Lord tells us not to envy each other!:) He is truly a wonderful husband that has put up with alot from me and who tries very hard to see where he can help out when I get overwhelmed. He has grown over the years and recognizes the fact that we need to be a team with Christ in the center.  I have been blessed by a man with a loving heart and caring spirit!  So, no more blogs about him…unless I stop getting my coffee!!:) I love you honey! (Hey, but it did work! Next time I’ll just ask!)

Okay ladies….I know you can all relate to this one! Too much to do, not enough time! The last 2 weeks have been crazy here! It all started with Brooke turning 8! Here is my list for the last 2 weeks!

1. Planning Brooke’s Party! (even though I said I quit with the party thing!)…I must say it was a blast! Ten kids full of energy as they participated in a pie eating contest, water balloon fight (though Jeff was the only one getting pegged…I planned it that way!), obstacle course, 3 legged race, potatoe sack races, and the best water fight at the end (even though I was being pelted in the face and ears constantly!)

2. Brooke getting sick! (on her Birthday)…must of been too much fun at her party the day before!

3. Coaching Brooke’s Soccer Team

4. Running Ally to soccer 2 times /week

5. Piano and voice lessons for all kids

6. Preschool Year End Planning/Teaching (Crazy)

7. Visiting the Art Show for Ally

8. Recital for all three kids

9. Planting my garden

10. Cleaning 2 houses plus my own

11. Having a Tastefully Simple Party

12. Going to soccer games 2-3 times per week

13. Oh, and all the normal stuff like laundry, cooking, homework, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc.

One morning this week I was so tired and just overwhelmed by the day already. I went downstairs and Jeff was about to leave for work. I was jealous as he just spent 45 minutes in quiet for himself, ate breakfast, had a cup of coffee and off to work down the yellow brick road! As he was leaving, I looked at the dishwasher which was clean but yet still full. Of course I didn’t say anything, but made a grunt of a noise. “What’s wrong”, he said. Ladies, I know you know what was going on in my head!! So, he left and I mumbled to myself for a few moments  and then reached for a coffee cup as I was starting to make the kids lunches. Guess what….NO coffee left!  All I said as I stood the kitchen was “You have got to be kidding me!”

Have you ever had days like that? Have you ever felt like the list just keeps going and you are never going to catch up? That has been my life ( and I am sure many of yours as well!) for the last few weeks! I could put many more things on that list but I think you get the point!  Our lives are full of “to do” lists!  Things that we enjoy doing. Things that we aren’t too fond of! Things that just have to get done! But ladies, where have we placed God? Where does He fit?

 If you haven’t noticed ,I have not blogged lately! I haven’t had any TIME! I am convicted though as I write this because it is not suppose to be like this! This is probably what God dislikes most of all…when we do not spend time with him. Yes, I have been praying! It is the one thing that calms my soul. But I have not been in the Word. The last two weeks have been full of to do lists…even the smallest things  add up! I have not spent time in His Word and I can feel myself getting further away from Him! If I have learned anything over the last year, it has been that I need to seek Him and spend time with Him in order to truly know Him and sense His presence in my life. When we fill our lives with other things and don’t take time for Him…we miss out on the closeness that He desires for us.  I am going to go now as I hear Him say “Get off that computer and come spend some time with me!” What about you? Where is your time spent? Go spend some time with Him!!

Oh, by the way…Jeff made the kids lunches today!! Things are looking up:)….No coffee yet though!!