Changing Seasons & Spiritual Encouragement

We are going through a lot of changes. As a result, you may not see me here as often. I’ll be writing as the Lord leads.

Changes

Changes in Marriage: My hubby retired this year, so we are getting to know each other 24/7. It is a blessing. We have coffee together every morning on the porch as we watch the sunrise,  he cooks breakfast daily, helps with the children, and even does the grocery shopping! (Before you have to repent of coveting, he also has enough time on his hands to suggest how I can load the dishwasher more efficiently.)

Changes in Home Life: This year we moved into our dream home – 20 acres in TN. I call it our Garden of Eden with a few weeds. We had 3 mini-horses and now added to our menagerie: 2 Great Pyrenees,  2 miniature goats, 3 barn cats, 5 hummingbirds, and last week 2 new house kittens.  I love our animals. It is a joy and reward to teach our children the responsibilities of a being a good shepherd. It’s been said that a test of our Christian walk is handling our daily domestic responsibilities. The more animals the merrier: more companionship, more love, but also more work and less time for writing.

Changes in Health: It has been a physicality challenging year (surgeries, close calls, etc) . But, I am doing well–thanks be to God–I am healing and growing stronger daily. God is teaching me to guard my heart, slow down, and rest in Him.

The Change: I am a changing state of matter, a mid-life metamorphosis with hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, memory loss, concentration problems, mood swings, etc. I know there is a spiritual lesson in here somewhere…what was I saying? Oh yeah, menopause, it’s quite a change. Check out these book titles: “MentalPause,”“The Heat is On,” “Magical Menopause,” “Laughing through Hot Flashes and Hormones, ” and “Laugh Your Way Through Menopause.”  Waking up at 4 a.m. drenched is no laughing matter to me. But hey, it’s probably just me, I’m not a morning person at 4 a.m.

Changes in Homeschool Scheduling: Because of the above we now have regular school breaks so Mom can stand in front of the fan with a cold washrag on her neck until reaching a temperature under 100 degrees. In between fan trips, I have really buckled down for some serious homeschooling to make up for many missed days we lost due to health problems last year.

Changes in Weight: Yeah right, like I’m going there. Hah.  Have you noticed how quick clothing shrinks? Must be something in the laundry detergent.

Changing Seasons: It is almost time for the Prophetic Fall Holy Days. Can you believe summer is over? [insert your hot flash pun here] I just completed the annual clothing switch-a-roo (packed away all the summer clothes and unpacked the fall clothes for my Tuesday Tackle). Hubby is closing the pool before the leaves fall. The air is brisk and I’m looking forward to watching God work in all our new seasons.

So this explains why you may not hear much from me in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, I leave you with lots of encouragement from the archive (see list below).

You’ll find a common theme if your browse a few posts:  We are all sinners, we have all been hurt, we all go through trials, victories, and failures but, no matter what, God is waiting to meet you where you are with open, loving arms. When we surrender to God, He will change us from what we are to what we can become in Him. Some of life’s lessons come from the hardest situations. Do as Corrie Ten Boom suggested, “Nestle don’t wrestle.”

Jonathan Edwards describes sanctification, “In efficacious grace we are not merely passive, nor yet does God do some and we do the rest. But God does all, and we do all. God produces all, we act all. For that is what produces, viz. our own acts. God is the only proper author and fountain; we only are the proper actors. We are in different respects, wholly passive and wholly active. ”

50 Posts for Your Spiritual Encouragement

1. A Love Letter from Our Father 12/29/07
2. A Proverbs 31 Woman 9/16/07
3. Allowing God to Chart Your Course 6/09/08
4. An Easy Way to Make Homeschool Decisions 8/09/07
5. Another Lesson from My Sweet Grandmother 5/08/06
6. Are You Interpreting the Bible Correctly? 1/16/08
7. Are You Prepared for Self Control? 5/11/07
8. Are You Seeking Religion or Relationship? 2/08/08
9. Blogging Addictions? Blogging Balance? 9/03/07
10. Brick Walls Are There for a Reason 6/02/08
11. Coffee with God 1/04/08
12. Creating Reminders for Our Children 4/23/07
13. Daisy Petal Christianity 6/20/08
14. Dealing with Stress, Pride, Forgiveness, etc. 10/09/07
15. Disgrace or God’s Grace 6/05/07
16. Do You Harbor Anger, Resentment, Bitterness, Hurt Feelings? 6/06/08
17. Expectations and Legalism? 5/29/07
18. Faith Turns Weakness to Strength 6/12/07
19. Feeling Worthy When We Aren’t 5/22/07
20. Five Sure-Fire Ways to Spiritual Growth 1/07/07
21. Giving God the Reins 6/30/08
22. Go With the Strength You Have 8/27/08
23. God Has a Plan for Your Homeschool 5/24/07
24. Having Sight But No Vision 3/04/08
25. Hearing God 8/10/07
26. How to Read the Bible: Ignore the Old Testament! 9/30/07
27. In His Presence: That’s Where I am Strong 5/17/08
28. Is Your Yoke Pleasant? 8/21/08
29. Lord, I Have a Problem 4/25/08
30. Making Homeschool Decisions? 8/03/08
31. My Family is a Dysfunctional Mess 11/21/07
32. No, No , No, It’s Amazing Grace! 5/14/08
33. O What Needless Pain We Bear 7/23/08
34. Object Lesson from a SCARY Close Call 8/19/08
35. Patiently Waiting for Patience 1/11/08
36. Rooted and Grounded in Love -9/19/08
37. Running Out of Gas? 7/07/08
38. Seek First the Kingdom and His Righteousness 5/27/08
39. Self-Esteem and Self-Discipline or Spirit-Control 6/15/08
40. Spiritual Mountain Climbing 7/04/08
41. Taking Every Though Captive 9/04/08
42. The Secret to Producing Spiritual Fruit 10/03/07
43. The Woman with the Issue of Blood 5/12/08
44. The Worst Part of Religious Thinking 7/25/08
45. Understanding God’s Love 7/12/08
46. Unloved and Unwanted 7/29/08
47. We Can Rejoice in Weakness 9/26/07
48. What is Your Cardboard Testimony? 6/26/08
49. Working Harder is Not the Answer! 7/21/08
50. When Trials Come, Rejoice! 12/10/07

Tackle it Tuesday is a blog meme to motivate you to tackle a project each week. Works for Me Wednesday. is posting  a tip you’ve learned on any topic–anything that has “worked for you.”