January 2014
Vol.1, Issue 6
For This Day
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7
Our days are filled with conflicting moments, changes, agendas, and events. When we react to each, is God glorified? “End of Construction. Thank you for your patience” is a unique perspective on how to look at each moment. Ginger Pelletier shares her thoughts concerning this concept in her life.
When the car is void of chattering children, I tune in to my favorite talk radio station and am hopeful to catch a sermon from a familiar voice. It was in the car that I heard the Pastor on the radio say something like this: “As I drove through a construction zone recently, the sign at the end caught my attention: “End of Construction, Thank You for Your Patience”. I’d like that to be on my tombstone.”
Driving through a construction zone is more often than not a test of anyone’s sanity. Isn’t it the same with our time on this earth? We are all on a sanctification journey and we’ll be on this journey until we meet Jesus. Being sanctified is as much a test to my sanity as it is to be the ones that have to put up with me! There are days that I’d love to tell my husband, my friends, and even my children that the Lord is once again working selfishness out of me. It’s a painful parting…can you serve me up a big ole heap of grace today? It’s easy for me to recognize the need for grace and mercy in my own life. I expect those inconvenienced by my sanctification journey to meet me with understanding and sympathy. But how quickly am I to recognize the Lord’s loving hands bearing down on my husband and children?
I prefer to label the inconvenience they impose on me anything but sanctification. If I label them work-a-holic, disobedient, lazy, and the such; then I get to take an active role in making the behavior go away. If I were to admit that the Lord is working, then my approach would have to change. My words would have to edify. I would have to pray and wait for the Lord to give me words to speak before opening my mouth. I would have to take responsibility for my own frustration and impatience. I might lose. I picture myself standing before Jesus on either the last day of my life or on the day He returns. He may say, “Ginger, I entrusted these most precious children of mine, Jeff, Justin, Maegan, and Ryan, to your influence. Let’s take an account of how you assisted Me in their journey on earth.” For each day He allows me to spend with these precious creations of His, I submit my will to His will. My agenda for His agenda. My eyes for His eyes. I have to say…living with eternity in mind each day has made math homework not so daunting, disappointments not so catastrophic, disobedience not so personal…you get the picture!
Moms in Prayer Where: Chapel at Harte House for M/W Moms and the Gazebo for T/Th Moms Contact individuals below for information M/W contact: Leah Clark T/Th contact: Tessa Nownes Coram Deo Café “Encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thess. 5:11) Where: Fireside Room, Grammar Building When: 8:30-9:30am Feb 3 & 4 and March 30 & April 1. Contact information: M/W contact: Jacque Younger T/Th contact: Donna Rector Morning Prayer, Scripture Reading & Bible Studies Scripture Reading and Prayer Contact: Jon Jordan Where: Room 113, grammar school building When: Monday and Tuesday, 7:40-7:50am Who: Parents, students, and faculty are all welcome. 6th & 7th grade Girls Bible Study of James Who: CDA students, 6th and 7th grade girls and friends Where: Jeff and Alicia Roy’s home Contact: Alicia Roy Logic School Boys Bible Study When : Every Other Monday 7:00-8:00pm Where: Jeff and Shelley Vosburg’s home Contact: Rodney Ashby
photograph on cover courtesy of flickr user Martin Cathrae