I’m sorry it’s been so long since I updated my blog. We’ve had quite a couple of weeks!! After quickly packing up the essentials, we’ve moved to a little town in southern Montana to serve as interim pastors to a wonderful church that’s gone through some difficult times.
To be honest, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I’m smack-dab in the middle of a writing deadline and we are still waiting on the Lord as to where He would have us go more permanently, but God began stirring our hearts after our district leadership asked us to consider this short-term position.
My husband, John, has some pretty special ties to this area. The church was actually birthed out of a home Bible study his father started over 30 years ago. As a teenager, John helped build the old log facility, and each year he and his dad make the trip southward to hunt in the mountains just outside this community.
One of the things I asked from the Lord was a fully-furnished house to rent. I knew I couldn’t move my entire house and still write. But God knew all that better than I and provided a beautiful home just blocks from the church. What a wonderful Father we serve!
Sunday was our first service at the church. The presence of the Lord was so sweet, and the people so kind as they opened their arms to us. We feel very blessed to be entrusted with this new chapter in their lives and our own.
Would you pray for me if the Lord brings me to mind? I really need to focus and get back to work on my new book. God has graciously provided me an office in our new home, but I struggle with distractions. When I’m writing, I feel like I need to be taking care of the house. When I’m taking care of the house, I feel like I should be writing.
As one friend tells me, “you need to stop ‘shoulding’ yourself.” What about you? Do you beat yourself up for all you are or aren’t, for what you do or don’t do?
I’m so glad our heavenly Father doesn’t weigh us down with expectations like the ones we pile on ourselves. Instead, He offers His own power to help us do what we need to do and the strong arm of His Holy Spirit to come alongside and under and around us. Lifting us and carrying us through our day as we surrender our lives to Him.
May you feel that strong arm today and the loving encouragement of your Father saying, “You can! You are enough! For my Son pronounced His work’ finished,’ and that work was entirely about you!”
All my love on this beautiful Montana autumn morning…