Every Idle Word...

As I had the little break these past few days from blogland, I really began to weigh whether what I wanted to post was worth the energy and effort. (Being sick and all makes one choose a little more selectively where one will expend what little energy one has!) Continuing on!

The worthiness of my spent time and energy was then put under the Spiritual microscope, and the battle began! I know I will give an account of my resources. How I spent and used what I was given.

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

So does this responsibility apply to this blog? Of course it does. In the grand scheme of things, I cannot see this past time of mine changing the Earth's orbital spin, but I do know a few of the people that read it. People I really respect and look up to in the faith. I realize, on their part, it is a means to gain content for their prayer life (as I need much prayer!) but still their time is spent as well, and out of respect for them (of which I have a great deal!) I need to make this all worth it somehow!

So where am I going with this? Just that I try to let the Lord lead what will be posted. My goal is to make a lasting journal for our family, and invite you all to enjoy it with us. And Thank you for the support!

Enter widget land with all these neat applications, and flickr, and google, all sorts of ways that people I have never and may never meet can stumble on in. What about those poor souls that don't have the benefit (?) of actually knowing me in order to understand so much of the silliness they experience here? Should I put a warning on the top of the page? "Enter at your own risk!" kind of thing?

I have a readership that extends to Mauritius, Kenya, Australia and Thailand! (I even had to look up where Mauritius was!)

HELLO TO YOU ALL!!

To realize there are people out there in the world that may use the internet as a means to have church! I cannot imagine the persecution they face on a day to day basis because of their stand for Christ while living in a Muslim or Hindu steeped country. Thank the Lord for the opportunity they have to have "fellowship" -though not traditional is for sure!- but to be able to have a connectedness to the body of Christ that they might not otherwise have. There is a lot of cyber-junk out there! May this blog serve as a little equal time!

So while I may use this blog to document the steps of our family, I fully realize there is a greater goal here. If this blog can lift up the name of Jesus, He will draw men to himself! In this day of technology truly anyone can "go" to a mission field, a far, far away one, as well as the one outside their front door.

The Future

I remember as a kid thinking I would never get to the point of marriage, having children or seeing them through school- surely the Lord would return before all of that. I didn't have a terrible feeling of loss in those thoughts, just fairly confident it was a very imminent event.

Here I am 25 years later, and almost all has occurred. (Except the "through school" part. O. however, will be a junior in high school this year. Not much longer!)

All this brings me to thinking about what may yet happen before the sweet return of my Lord. What will the future bring? In our preparations as a family to minister in Zambia, I think of the possible dangers a place like Africa holds. God is so gracious, but what will be allowed? I think of the Persecuted Church that manages to thrive in closed countries. The many who meet in China, or in closed up homes in so many Islamic nations. What are they enduring before the return of Christ? 2Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: Powerful passage of scripture.

I then think of our own nation. We are sinking lower and lower and so many don't even see the steady decline. What will we face here, on American soil? We are discouraged to pray Jesus name. Pastors are being threatened of jail for preaching against homosexuality. Pornography is rampant among men and youth, church goers are some of the worst offenders. Surely some would see this as suffering? I think not! This is a state of moral bankruptcy and social apathy. When parent can forget their child in a hot car to die a cruel and painful death, mothers leave them in the care of known pedefiles and CPS says they have the right to do it. How do I prepare my children to grow up in a society where occurances like this are becoming commonplace.

Martyrs. I have to prepare them for that.

We are facing a day in the not so distant future where we will have to agree with the government (or those that are in power!), or face the consequences many of our forefathers of the faith have faced. There will be a choice to make between following Christ, or watching horrible things happen. Foxes book of Martyrs does a fine job telling all of the details, I need not go into it here. But just think, will my child stay strong and not deny Christ in the face of my death? Will I be able to stand firm on my trust and faith if "they" are going to shoot (or Worse!) my children or husband unless I denounce it? God help me to strengthen my faith every day. I think, "how much Bible would I have in my head if they were all confiscated and burned? " Could I survive spiritually on what I have put to memory?

In reading the book "Tortured for Christ", so many thoughts that I would never really entertain begin swirling in my brain. If the Lord tarries, what will we face? How long do we have to live in freedom? I pray I can live every day looking for that Glorious Appearing, and at the same time effectively run the course that is set before me.