September 16, 2006

A New Path

God and I have been having a discussion lately about why I started blogging, and how I'm blogging now. Well, HE's been talking & I've been listening. While I think meme's are fun & I LOVE Shannon's Works for Me Wednesday, that's not where He wants my focus. Long story short...I'm letting my blogging addiction get in the way of His purpose for my blog.

I'll still participate in those things when I can, but this is an extremely busy time of year for my Southern Living business, and we have those season football tickets. So, there's not much extra time. And I've got to be faithful to what He wants me to do. So, here goes.

I've mentioned before, R & I have started a new Sunday School class for young marrieds in our church. It was SUCH a God-thing! Last summer, I felt Him leading in that direction. I talked with our pastor about it, and was ready to leave the current class I was teaching to start the much-needed class for newly married couples. Shortly thereafter, my marriage was under full assault from the enemy. I'm not going into details about that, other than to say it was tremendous warfare that the Lord alone brought us through. I knew in my heart that I could not teach a class to encourage others in their marriages at that time. So, I pushed it to the back burner.

This spring, I started feeling that same leading. God had healed my own hurts, and gave me a burning passion for these young married folks. He led me to another woman in our church and I asked her & her husband to pray about assisting us with this class. This woman, D., had felt the same leading for a new class! Our prayers quickly confirmed that the four of us were to start this class. So, we did just that on Labor Day weekend. We're so excited about this opportunity (even though CJ asked WHY we were teaching the young marrieds class when we're not young! ouch!). This couple we're teaching with are wonderful, and a little older than us. I know R & I can learn a lot from them, and I'm looking forward to that. I pray that we can minister to the needs of these couples, most of whom have only been married for a couple of years. It was a long time ago that we were in their shoes, but I know God has prepared us for this time. I pray we can be obedient as He leads us, because I know He has a very specific purpose for our class. It's such a praise that He worked all of this out...the circumstances clearly demonstrate that it's HIS doing & not man's.

Right now, we're studying Joshua. God has been speaking volumes to me. Louder & clearer than any time I can remember in recent history. He's asking me to write about what He's been teaching me. And I will very soon. I wanted to give you some of the background first, because it's important to understanding what He's been speaking to me. And it may be that He's just having me write this out for me. If so, that's okay. But I hope it will encourage a few readers, too.

Have a blessed Sunday!

2 comments:

Sarah said...

May the Lord continue to bless you and guide you in this new endeavor. I'll be eager to hear about what the Lord is speaking to you, and how the class is going.

Jennifer said...

How wonderful! I know the Lord will use all of you in powerful ways! As a young married woman myself, I appreciate so much those who are a little more seasoned in marriage stepping up to assist us in this crucial time. God bless all that you do with this group. I look forward to hearing what you're learning.