Think with me for a moment. Do you live a life of blessings or complaint? It is so easy to grumble. It is so easy to find fault. It is so easy to be discontent. It is so easy to find things that are less than you want them to be. It is so easy to be irritated and impatient. It is so easy to groan and moan about the difficulties of life. It is so easy to be dissatisfied.
At street level, it is tempting to live a God-forgetful me-istic existence. If you put yourself in the center of your world, you will find plenty of things to complain about. Paul Tripp
Moving or huge change brings out of me all the things the quote talks about. I know I am not alone in this, I don't like my nest being messed with.
This process has been going on for over a month and in that month I have had a couple of meltdowns that shows my wanting to have things my way. I tell you , God is so gracious to me. Despite my bad attitudes at times He has brought blessing after blessing into this stirring of the nest.
A few days after we helped move our son stuff, Ace woke about 2 am one morning struggling with his heart. It got bad enough he called the ambulance and they took him off to nearest hospital thinking he could be having a heart attack. They left me at home alone to wait this out. He already has one bypass, five stints and a difibulator in him to help his damaged heart. After a angiogram and several other test, they rules out another heart attack, no more new blockage. The doctor adjusted his difibulator and put him on a stronger med for the racing of his heart and told him to go live. HUGE PRAISE
We were in the middle of looking for newer vehicle too since our old Buick, 2005, 2 hundred thousand miles was going to cost more then it was worth to fix for travel.
Because of a huge gift toward another vehicle we purchase a 2017 Toyota Highlander SUV, capable of pulling a lightweight RV for our ministry. HUGE PRAISE.
Because our kids are worried about their Dad driving to Mn. God has provided someone to go with us and help with the driving. PRAISE THE LORD.
I think the buying the SUV was the most nerve racking. We have not bought a car from a dealer since the 70's or been in debt for one since then. My husband likes for me to go with him to look, but after looking for days and a number of truck then SUV's I was not a happy wife. My, just get it done now, personality wanted to quit looking after the third one. Thank God Ace loves to look and as a result he found a great vehicle, good price with very low mileage.
I think the buying the SUV was the most nerve racking. We have not bought a car from a dealer since the 70's or been in debt for one since then. My husband likes for me to go with him to look, but after looking for days and a number of truck then SUV's I was not a happy wife. My, just get it done now, personality wanted to quit looking after the third one. Thank God Ace loves to look and as a result he found a great vehicle, good price with very low mileage.
Today is the day we start loading the Uhaul Box...it's about 93 degrees outside.
Ok, lets get to the nitty gritty. We see God all over this move, all over the heart issue, all over the car issue, all over not enough help, all over it all. Yet...even with Him all over it, we have had our tense moments. It frustrating and humbling to have so much good happening in such stressful time and I so want to act grateful and humble. To get bent out of shape over some "stuff" not going to fit in the Uhaul box sounds so petty in light of all we have been blessed with. And on top of that, we have moved over 30 times, wouldn't you think we would have it nailed down and all would be easy as butter? Since I started this blog we have moved five times, this will be the 6th.
Here is the bottom line...WE ALL ARE STILL DYING TO SELF. And it is painful to be made aware of the frailities in our charecter. That the ME-ISTIC is alive and well in me. Here is the best part, God still loves me and so does my family and Ace and I are not getting a divorce.
We will get moved and soon I will be writing most of my blogs from Minnesota or on the road. I would like to end this post with another quote from Paul Tripp. It's my prayer for this quote to be active in my life.
If you have quit being defensive and are now willingly and humbly approachable, you know that transforming grace has visited you. Paul Tripp
We will get moved and soon I will be writing most of my blogs from Minnesota or on the road. I would like to end this post with another quote from Paul Tripp. It's my prayer for this quote to be active in my life.
If you have quit being defensive and are now willingly and humbly approachable, you know that transforming grace has visited you. Paul Tripp
it takes a humble person to admit 1) you are still growing and 2) that you can be a "pain." LOL i sure am glad I never get impatient with God or things. (yeah right). But, as you say, you see God all over this move. Having your "own" place, even though it is in Minnesota (you can always visit friends from December through March) will be a great thing. Plus, now your daughter gets to share you. I pray for a God-time for both of you and for your ministry.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bill, there is nothing I hate more then my flesh. Some say, I can't wait for Jesus to come and end this old sinful world and I look forward to that too. But, to not carry around that old man in me that wants to destroy my life here on earth, oh to have it gone, that is heaven to me. It's hard to say I'm sorry when I think I am right but when I do, it's easy to say, will you forgive me?
ReplyDeleteOur daughter is so excited, they have been trying to get us up there for years. She tell her brother, it's our turn now. We are so grateful our children love us but more important want to be with us and our grandchildren do too.
I am super excited that we will have our own place again, no sharing of the kitchen.
As for our ministry, we did zoom meeting the other day and was told it is official that they are taking the regional our of our Member Care title. We are just Member Care Reps and where ever our feet land we will be activity doing it. Our younger missionaries are into zoom calls so there is so many we will not even have to travel to. We have been doing zoom debrief for the last couple of months with those who had to come home because of the health crisis. I got to listen to about 1/3 of your message this morning then I had to get up and pack some more. Glad it's on facebook, I can finish it wherever and whenever. We may be in Ky. in Oct. and if time allows I want to come visit you one Sunday morning. Thank you for the prayers and they encouragement brother.
of stress too,
Betty, I so appreciate your candor and honesty about your feelings at these moments of upheaval. No, it's not easy, and God knows this! We can all fall prey to the "Me-isms" from time to time. After all, aren't we humans? We so need our Savior to set our sails and set us straight, and I know you will lean on Him to direct you in the days to come.
ReplyDeleteAnd so thankful Ace is okay!!! Danny has a pacemaker, too, and we've learned to celebrate every day God gives us as precious.
Blessings!
Ace had a massive heart attack at 26 that damaged his heart. They had just started doing bypasses as a way to treat blockage, 1973. Through the years they put stints when new blockage came. With his difibulator it's truly is a gift since it will shock his heart if it gets to racing and he passes out. Like you and Danny, we have learned each day is a gift so we intentionally live it to the fullest. We are 73 and not ready to retire, but we have and sill slow down a lot more. Ace needs to pace himself when it comes to physical work and being stressed. This move will help because it is a slower pace at our daughters then it is living with our son. And we will have our own place and that alone will lesson the stress. Not looking forward to cold winter months in Mn. I have ask my son in law to put a big window in the living room so I can look in the woods. Plan to have some kind of seating arrangements close to that window and the small wood stove we will to enjoy God in all His beauty through the winter. I have lived in the corn fields of Illinois, where I was raised, the blue grass of Kentucky, the desert of Nevada, the mountains of southern California, on the ocean of Papua New Guinea, the wilderness of Bolivia, SA and now I get to live in the land of lakes. Actually I just realized how blessed I have been as I type that out and I may write a post on it. I just met a friend at a park and we ate our lunch and talk for three hours, it was great. She is my bible friend, our hearts are knitted together by the Word and how it sharpens us through all our struggles. I will miss, thank God for face time. Thanks you Martha for your encouragement...love that I will be able to keep up with you through blogging.
DeleteOh, Betty, you are so endearing to me. Thank you for being an "open book" for others to read and learn from. I love the term "me-isms". Thank you for this post. It is causing me to mediate on me and my "isms"...May God continue to strengthen you for this another grand move in your life. I hope it will be the last one. And may He keep you and Ace strong and healthy. I love you, Betty.
ReplyDeleteI lunch at a park with a friend today and she ask me what was excited about the most in this move. Living next to our daughter is the greatest thing I can think of now. But I know God has never allow a move without allowing me to be involved in some kind of side ministry, women's ministry. Having my own place gives me a thrill, I have been on Pinterest a lot looking a small wood corner stoves. How would you like to visit the land of the Lakes, Minnesota? I think we ight be house sitting in Ky in Oct. and if so we will plan again to get together. Love you my blog friend.
DeleteYes, although change hurts it can also be a blessing. This sounds like God was orchestrating this all along. Be happy and enjoy your daughter for a season.
ReplyDeleteThanks Hazel for the encouragement. I love that you are so active in ministry, you are a light to all of us women. Blessings.
DeleteGod be with you when you travel sister Betty. I'm glad your hubby was ok. Even if you didn't capitalize "HUGE PRAISE", that's all I'm reading...sensing... discerning... That God is with you both wherever you go, whatever you need and whatever you both do. We, believers, will choose to live by faith not in fear!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's another thing I heard... how sad that when one gets sick, he/she goes through it alone in the hospital, whether it's the virus or something else. I can't imagine the sick person's heart's worries. I know it's easier said than done when I said we live by faith. When the trials seem overwhelming, our spiritual enemy just knows what dart to target one's believer with. But I will concentrate on the Lord's power. I know. Because I had witnessed how powerful His Name Jesus is!!!
God bless, protect, guide you and provide for all of your needs. With the technology nowadays, it's nice we can use it to be in touch...Hugs and prayers sister Betty.
So glad He does not require me to feel Him for Him to be with me. It was a strange feeling to see Ace go off in the ambulance and not get in my car and be at the hospital with him. It's major stress. I stayed busy packing, watching tv, talking on the phone, packing, eating, packing. It was only two days and night but it seemed so much longer. We both are looking forward to taking off in our new SUV toward the next season of our life. I look forward to blogging about it. Thanks for your encouraging words. blessings
DeleteMy dear friend,
ReplyDeleteI’m so happy for you and Ace. You are loved by your family - and so many others! MN will be a big change from CA, but the sweetness of having family in both places is such an added blessing.
I love you and am so thankful for the many years of friendship we share. I’ll be praying for you and Ace as you travel and adjust to life in MN.
Thanks you for commenting on my site. You are so right Mn is a huge change from southern Ca. I have taught it is not the location of our body that brings contentment but the location of our heart. I must focus on Him more and then the location of my body is not so important.
DeleteI surely understand the stirring of the nest and also being very resistant to change. I trust the Lord will continue to make a way for you and make things bearable. Many blessings to you in this new adventure!
ReplyDeleteDear Cheryl, it is a new adventure and it is finally getting to be a little fun. The packing and moving is over and we are settled into our rv which I love. In a few months we will move into a cabin our family is redoing for us. God has been so very good to us. Blessings my friend.
DeleteOh Betty ... so much change, so many decisions, so many life-altering events stacked on top of each other.
ReplyDeleteI hope Ace is feeling stronger and that you are finding grace for each new day. I am praying for you even as we speak.
Bless you, friend ...
Ace is feeling stronger and we are now residing in northern Mn for a few months. He, my son in law and a few others will be working on a cabin on their property for us to have permanent dwelling. We sold our house in 1980 when we went to the mission field and have not had a place to call our own since then. I am excited to decorate, sit by the fireplace and watch the snow fall for most of the winter. We will probably spend half of it in California in an rv or house sit for someone. That part is still up in the air, or I should say in God's plan He has not revealed yet. Thanks Linda for your prayers and comments, it means a lot because I know you understand the ups and downs of full time ministry.
DeleteWhat an encouraging post! Thank you for sharing from your heart, as it does bless and encourage others. I pray that all goes well there in MN. Looking forward to reading more here. Thanks for visiting my blog and your kind comment. ~ FlowerLady
ReplyDeleteI am still going back and reading previous posts here so I can get better acquainted with you and understand why you are now in MN, restoring a cabin to live in up in the frigid north after living in the warm southwest. Praying that God will be with you in all of your endeavors and that He will keep you warm and pliable as you minister in that new place. He has gone before you and prepared the way...and He will still be there with you when you settle in for the long haul. What a blessing to know Jesus! It certainly makes all the difference in the world, doesn't it? I am excited for you in this new adventure!!
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