A New Creation

A New Creation

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

Last week, we traveled with the Thommarsons in “Z” Region to visit three of the pastors serving in our region. They invited us into their homes, and we had worship services in each place. While at Deacon Sasha’s home in Town “D”, having a meal together, Sasha’s wife, Lena began telling us to pray for her upstairs neighbor, Dzhenya, age 23, who had just days before killed her drunk husband in self defense, as he almost beat her to death. She is now a widow and has three children. As we were eating, Lena invited her down to visit. She sat with us and ate and we fed her children. Then Sasha and everyone shared Christ with her. She was so scared and really wanted God’s forgiveness in her life. Sasha led her to pray and she repented. She now has a new life in Christ. Pray that God will remove her fear, and that she will begin going to church with Sasha and his family. (photo attached Dzhenya is third from the right)

"Wherever you are be all there" Jim Elliot

One of my favorite quotes is "Wherever you are be all there." by missionary Jim Elliot. It has meant so much to me over the past 11 years especially in our journey of serving overseas. It is something I have told my husband, my children and myself countless times. I have posted it in emails and on facebook, and shared it with friends. We have even had to remember this in the states when we wanted to be back on the field.

Somedays are just easier to say that and practice that than others, like today.

I am just pure "feeling" guilty today.

...because we are so far away from our boys at this wonderful exciting times in their lives.

...because we are not there to celebrate Bryan's 21st birthday.

... our parents are getting older and we are nowhere near them.

...because I am not there for decoration Sunday at my family cemetery this weekend.

...because we are not going to see our mothers on Mother's day, or getting to celebrate Michael's parents 50th anniversary next weekend.

...because we will not be at the Puckett family reunion at my mother's or extended one the end of may, not there for new births, graduations, weddings other special extended family events.

and the worst feeling of guilt of all: Guilty because I feel this way, when I know I am right where the Lord wants me and I need to be "all here", and I am just not feeling it today.

The good news, my life has never been, is not and will never be based on "my feelings". Praising Him that His mercies are new every morning, and trusting/believing I feel better tomorrow :) :)

Feelings flow
Feelings come and go
Feelings lie
Feelings die
what matters most is WHO and what I know

1 Corinthians 13:12-13 "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love."