Ramblings…

How are you?

Although rest and recovery are vital, I do miss the madness of the right project when it comes along. When we are not in action, I long for the clarity; the sense of purpose; the feeling God’s hand guiding and directing and the unshakeable faith it brings.

Weaved throughout the years of service are moments of tremendous faith. Times when I could encourage the team because I knew God had us in the palm of His hand.

It is hard, sometimes, to transfer that faith to the dailiness of life.

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Addiction

Friends of mine around the country are struggling–both in person and on social media.

I am the child of a recovering alcoholic. My mother has been an active member of AA for decades. The language and reality of recovery is in the fibre of who I am.

Can I be honest? We all need recovery from something.

But we all don’t do the work to get better.

I have beloved friends in every stage…denial, difficulty of learning a new way, joyous new life…I have areas of my own life in each stage as well…

If you are somewhere between the denial and the baby steps of change, can I just encourage you that recovery IS available. There IS life on the other side of addictions. You can stop running and running and let God carry you.

The statistics are very clear. SOMEONE out there relies on pain reliever far more than it was ever intended for; doesn’t want people to really know how many empty bottles are in their trash can; ate too much and purged in guilt and shame; bought one more thing to numb the ache of an unfulfilled dream…SOMEONE, who serves right along side other people, is aching and needs healing.

If that is you, know that I am praying for you.

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The Bible

I have been in a bit of a funk. I am praying that God’s word comes ALIVE to me again.

I don’t like dry spells.

I am chipping away at SEAMLESS by Angie Smith. I am taking a car full of friends to see her speak in Fresno next month. Sometimes I have to act like the dry spell is already over, and do the things I love to do when I am saturated.

If you are in such a stage yourself, I encourage you to fake it until you make it.

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Perspective

This election season is brutal. But it is also incredibly eye opening.

I am increasingly convinced that we, as people, decide what we want to believe and then interpret things in a way that supports our pre decided perspective.

Many times this week, someone has posted something on social media mocking someone…and I watch the very same clip and admire the person they are mocking.

Or like even less the person they are praising.

Another time someone claimed that certain public figures are held to a higher standard than the rest, and I would say (of that same person) that the rules don’t apply to them.

Sometimes I feel called to take a deeply held belief and wipe the slate clean…then read the Bible or another perspective and try to rethink how I feel. There have been moments when my chest pounds and my stomach churns because the notion of thinking differently can be uncomfortable. But I still think it is valuable.

If you are ever interested, I can now explain to you why I support what the media refers to as funding abortions in third world nations. I am still staunchly pro-life, but I have learned some new things that change my perspective.

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Summer

I love summer. My ramblings ^^^ feel a bit gloomy, but that is really not how I am feeling. My Bible dry spell is not one of the empty dark places I have been in before, just a bit lackluster…in part because I am busy.

There has been no lack of vitamin D for my kiddos. The water park and our pool have been used and used.

My teenager is enjoying her busiest social life ever, which is a direct answer to prayer. She is hopping on a plane with a group of kids–no adults–and flying to Colorado for two weeks to attend a Bible Conference with an emphasis on Biblical World Views. It is such a great adventure. She is also taking flying lessons, which makes her Daddy very, very happy.

My son, who lives much too far from his Mom, is working 6 days a week. It is hard to believe that is the same guy that as a teenager would stay in his room 20 hours a day.

I have a tutor coming to work with my precious little peanut, and have her on a waiting list for a new speech therapist.

I am forcing encouraging the entire family to clean and organize together twice a week for specified, limited times. It is helping to create better habits.

Summer is good.

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Rest

The ministry is enjoying this season of rest.

We will begin to pray for the next project soon…

Meanwhile, Connect the Dots  is still brewing my brain. A few churches have done apologetics classes as a result of the conference. I am praying about doing another conference in the Fall of 2017. In order to do that, I need a strong leadership team, so if Biblical World Views or Apologetics are something you are passionate about, let me know.

Thank you for being a part of this journey…

Much love…

ROBIN