Reader Email Eaten By Computer

One of you terrific readers recently sent me an email, expressing interest in learning more about a college class I taught a few years back - Christian Women In History.  Thank you for your interest!



When I received your email I was out of town helping my parents, and I was unable to respond immediately.  I was planning to write back when I got home a couple days later.



Unfortunately, my email wouldn't work when I got home.  My dear husband tried and tried to get it to work, but ended up having to rebuild our computer.  Sadly, many emails were lost ... including yours. :( 



I am so sorry!  Could you please email me again (click "email me" button to your right)?  Thank you for your patience!



Joyfully His,

Sara

In Her Shoes - In Honor of Mom

"Every wise woman builds her house; but the foolish pulls it down with her hands."  Proverbs 14:1

Our all-wise and gracious God created mothers.  One of the greatest blessings in life is a loving, godly mother.  I am blessed with such a mother.  If your mother doesn't fit this description, please don't stop reading.  God wants to comfort you and help you.  The God of resurrection can take past patterns of pain and turn them into paths of peace. 



This month we have the privilege to walk in the shoes of two special moms through the tributes of their grateful daughters.  May God use these examples to encourage and challenge us.  And most of all, may we have hope for the future - because with God's strength, it is possible to bless our families and honor Him in this adventure called Motherhood.

.  .  .  .  .

"My mom and I have an amazing
relationship, I do not take it for granted as I’m keenly aware there are many
mother-daughter relationships that are highly strained. 



I am blessed to have a mom
who sacrificed her time for me.  One of
my fondest memories is that she would always be awake when I came home late
from a youth activity, friend’s house or sporting event.  We would sit in the kitchen talking into the
wee hours of the night.  I am the
youngest of three kids and I’m certain her first full night of sleep came the
day after I got married!



Not only did my mom sacrifice
for me, but she modeled what it looked like to sacrifice her time and talents
for others.  She was always baking
goodies for others and doing little acts of kindness for people on the
sly.  I learned from her that there is
great joy in giving to others even when no one else is looking.



My mom taught me that her
faith and relationship to God was important. Nearly every morning, my mom would
be sitting in her favorite chair reading her Bible.  She was never showy in her walk with God, but
I always knew her faith was very important to her.



My mom showed me how to live
a life of simplicity.  She is an incredibly
organized person, thrifty in using what she has and never complained or
compared her status with others.



Overall, my mom taught me her
life motto, which has become mine – “Love God and serve others”, which
basically summaries everything that stand out most to me about my mom.



Because of the time my mom
invested in my life, I can wholeheartedly say that next to my husband she is my
best friend."

- Jennifer, Minnesota

.  .  .  .  . 

"I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by, so here are
the top five things my mom has taught me.  It was hard to narrow it down to just five :-) ! 



1.  My mom taught me that the Bible and my relationship
with Jesus Christ are the most important things in life.  She always took us to
church and we studied the Bible together after supper.  Over the years, she
taught children in Good News Clubs, Sunday School, and also in Vacation
Bible School and most recently in our church's AWANA club.  She is a great
storyteller and each generation of kids loves to hear her missionary stories. 
But more importantly, she showed her Christianity in her daily walk with
God.



2.  My mom's nickname is "Sunny" and she lives up to that
name.  She's never met a stranger, but is always striking up a conversation with
the waitress, a health care worker at my aunt's nursing home, or someone at the
gym.  She's very friendly and upbeat.



3.  She is very generous and wants to do whatever she can
to meet someone's need.  When they needed someone to lead the children's choir,
she stepped up.  When they needed someone to teach English to international
students, she said, "I can do that." When we needed a place to live, she opened
up her home to us.  Years later, when my son needed a place to live, she said,
"Sure, Justin can live with us until he gets married!" If she could, she would
give you "the shirt off her back"!



4.  She's always ready and willing to learn something new
or do something fun.  She took on a project to scan all her family's old photos
and make digital albums for each family.  She loves playing word games like
"Take Two" with Scrabble tiles or Quiddler with whoever will take her on.  (She
usually wins!)



5.  Whatever happens to her in life, she takes it as from
the Lord.  When I had a traumatic event of a job loss happen in my life, I went
on crying jags and acted like it was the end of the world.  In contrast, Mom was
recently diagnosed with terminal cancer (leukemia) and her reaction was totally
different.  She didn't rant or rave, but found appropriate Scripture verses to
share with the doctors and nurses who have been treating her.  Even though she
tires easily (a new concept for her!), she still keeps up with her five kids,
twelve grandkids, and five great-grandchildren plus her husband, Rod, of 61
years!



Thanks for giving me this opportunity to brag about my
mom.  We treasure our time with her and it's been fun to condense what she's
taught me in five short points!"



- Cindy Albertson, Iowa

"Her children rise up and call her blessed ... charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates."  

Proverbs 31: 28a, 30, 31

Abba Loves Me When I'm Tired

 

Do you ever have days ... weeks ... months when you're tired?  The past two weeks I've been waiting for my energy to arrive.  Still waiting.



I've been exercising, eating right, getting sun, working, sleeping well ... why, Lord?  It's easy to get discouraged when life isn't going the way I plan!  As I wait on Him and learn to accept with thankfulness my temporary weariness, I can rest in the One Who made me, saved me, loves me, and keeps me. 



I treasure this picture of my Dad and me (above).  Whenever I am with him, I feel loved, safe, and encouraged.  In an infinitely greater way, my heavenly Father loves me, and His power is infinite - while ministering to me at my level.  Oh, the wonder of it!



I invite you to join me in praising the all-loving One, Who knows and cares.  We can rest in Him!



To weary Moses, God said (and forevermore promises to stay with all of His children):

"My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'”  Exodus 33:14

 

 

With the overwhelmed King David (the man after God's own heart) we can pray:

 

"Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.  From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy." Psalm 61:1-3

 

 

"My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Psalm 73:26

 

 

The prophet Isaiah declared to Israel, and to us:

"Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.  His understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

 

 

Jesus promises:

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

 

 

The writer of Hebrews found refreshment and courage to continue on, by focusing on the unchanging character of our wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ.  We can, too, because:

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16

 

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10