Be Still

Picture taken by Holly Banff

Well, it has been 3 months since I've come to my blog.  I would think about it often and tell myself I should be writing this down but I just let my business take over.  In that 3 months I was blessed with my woman's Bible study that was held every Monday night, weekends full of tilling, pulling, building fences and raised gardens with my husband.  My work schedule has been beyond busy and important decisions at home are being made.  Two weeks ago, I was finally able to "Be Still" on a woman's retreat with 35 other sister's in Christ at the shore.  I finally was at a slow.  No busy schedules.  No one needed to be driven anywhere, I didn't have to worry about what we were going to eat or how I was going to find time to do this or that.  I roomed with 3 other ladies that all have busy lives like me.  We laughed the entire weekend.  I didn't realize how much I needed that laugh.  We went to bed laughing and when our alarm went off at 5:30 am we woke up laughing.  We took long walks and jogged on the beach, watched sunrises, rested by the pool and had our own quiet time with Lord.  Our speaker Janice, one of my dearest sister's in Christ, led us with a wonderful lesson on waiting on God's timing.  It was such a refreshment and a it gave me a recharge for these past two weeks.   

Our friend Mary, who has only known the Lord for 2 years went home to heaven two weeks ago too.  Though I'm rejoicing for her, I'm aching for the loss of my friend and also for the pain that her children are going through.  I was honored to be part of her testimony. I watched her grow and grow in the Lord.  She called the church office two years ago to get service times and I invited her over to show her around.  She was so excited and I could tell she was really hungry for Him.  I invited her to our Sunday School class and not too long after that I got her to come to our Thursday morning Life group.  I had the honor of escorting her up the steps to the baptismal and hugging her when she came out.  I will miss her randomly stopping in the office to share things with me and her phone calls when she had questions about the Bible or just requesting prayer for her family.  I was so blessed to be part of all that.  Now, she's getting all her answers.  

So, here I am.  All the gardens are ready to be planted, all the business at work was completed yesterday, we finally made the decision to enroll our children in a private school,(we have really been praying on this because of finances) and though I wasn't "Still" during these ordeals...I was in constant "go" but my heart and my soul was "Still".  Through all of this, I was relying on the Lord.  Soaking it all in.  Thanking him through the sweat and pain that I get to do this yard work.  That I have my husband to share this time with.  That I have this opportunity to teach my children about the Lord in our home.  Thankful for the ministry in the church office...I never know who God will send though that office door.  Thankful for the opportunity to lead a Bible study in my own house with such sweet ladies.  Thankful that I can rest at Jesus' feet everyday.  He will give me that refreshment and recharge that I need to keep going.