She says, “Are those kids all yours”?

I say, “Yes”.

She says, “Where does your husband work”?

I say, “He is a Pastor of local church”.

She says, “Do you work”?

I say,”Ummm…no…yes”? Thinking: of course I work…who feeds, cleans after, loves, teaches, and clothes these children?

She says, “I mean an outside job!”

I say, “No” Thinking: “I can’t afford an outside job. Yes, I to have a Bachelor’s degree…in Nursing. I could make three times my husband's salary, but I choose to stay home”.

She says, “Must be nice, how lucky you are”.

I say, “I guess…” Thinking: “Lucky? Why, because I choose not to have a second income? Yes! I am lucky…my husband lets me stay home, so I can rear our children for the Lord”. I wish all husbands loved their wives as much as mine loves me.

She says, “I don’t know how you do it; my two drive me crazy.”

I say, “We have a lot of fun, I enjoy my children!” Thinking: “Sometimes they do drive me crazy, but how much I would miss ours if I did have one of them! “I am sorry you are not happy…”

She says, “You look so happy! “

I say, “My joy comes from within…not from the things around me. Can I leave you something that can show you how to have that same joy ?”  Thinking: If only she or her family could know the jo of Christ…

She says, “Thank you. Here is your receipt.”

Thinking: “Thank you Lord for my Salvation, my children, my husband, my church, my family, and all that I have been given. My heart is broken for all those that do not have the privilege to have all that I have in Christ!”

About 4 years ago I planted purple and pink creeping phlox in my front flower beds: one on the right and one on the left. About two weeks ago as I was weeding my front beds, I looked at the right flower beds where the phlox was just starting to green up. I noticed that not only was the phlox starting to green but tightly intertwined throughout the plant was clover. It was so tight, in fact, that there was no way I could pull it out without pulling up the flowers.

The only way to not have the clover spread to the other plants was to get the shovel and dig the entire plant up…weeds and all.

 As I was standing there, with Autumn at my side, we got to talking about the phlox and clover.

Those flowers and clover is so much like our lives. Just a little sin we let slide, just a little time away from God, just a little bit of irritation, just a little bit of watching, reading, thinking on the wrong things, just a little disobedience: these do not seem like much.

Yet, if we do not pull the weeds of sin quickly, it can grow until it is too painful to clean out all that sin. Before we know it the beauty is choked and the whole plant is needs to be pulled.

In the one flower bed is an empty space. In the other bed: Beautiful pink and purple flowers cascade over the rocks bring a joy for all to see God’s beauty.

May I keep my weeds pulled in my heart!

Hebrews 6:17-20

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose,

He guaranteed it with an oath,

So that by two unchangeable things, in which

It is impossible for God to lie,

We who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul,

A hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,

Where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

The key to a hope in my Christian life is the Anchor of my soul. Thinking on truth...I have a refuge to a strong encouragement so I can hold fast to the hope or confident expectation that is set before me. A hope where Jesus has already gone on my behalf.

I may not always see the anchor, but He gives me the chain to look at!

Was it providential that a sweet young friend from a former church would have called me 3 months ago and asked to come to visit for a week during her spring break? The very week my little Zachariah was called home to Glory? What a comfort to have her when I was physically weak!

Was it providential that we had Tom and Caren Fuller to preach for our Bible conference? The very Sunday after the Lord took Zachariah home? What a comfort to have friends to show comfort from the word of God and to take Michael's place in the pulpit?

Was it providential for my parents to be able to find a helpers for Grandma and for dad to not be too busy to come and help officiate our little service?

When I see the chain that is attached to the Anchor, and I think on Truth...God's Word...I am reminded of God's love for me and the strong Anchor He is in the time of trouble!

Lamentations 3:19-24

Remember my affliction and my wanderings,
The wormwood and the gall!

My soul continually remembers it
And is bowed down within me.

But this I call to mind,
Therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness.

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I will hope in him."

Throughout my short life, the Lord has allowed me to see Him and His Love more and more through the different events He has placed in my life.Life, because of sin, can be difficult, hard, and sometimes overwhelming; yet, because of Christ, His birth, death, and resurrection, we can have a life full of peace and comfort from an Almighty, God.

Many people could share their own experiences of heartbreak and sorrow. In this human form, we can be overwhelmed by trial and tribulations in our lives. I am so thankful for a God who cares about the lilies of the valley, the birds of the air, and me. He loved me so much that he made a way for me to have victory over sin, death, and Hell! How can I reject a God who has done so much for me…offering me eternal life.

My heart goes out to those without the hope and comfort of my God, Saviour, and Lord!
Lamentations is so true:

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness! “