For a while Chris and I took turns going to church with Alex while the other
stayed home with Ivan. It's just what we needed to do.
On Tuesday, April 30, 2019, 10:30:53 AM CDT, Carrie Hub
<carriehub060300@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Renee, I don't feel obligated, but I do feel like I need to validate your
feelings. They are very normal. And something that I've had to learn is that
there are seasons in my life, and I only stretch so far. I am not God and
cannot be in every place. I am not God and cannot take care of everyone. So I
need to look at what He puts in front of me and serve there, whatever that is.
It may seem menial at the time, but if it's what God has given me, it's not. It
may seem impossible, but if He has given it to me, it isn't. He can give
strength. He can give wisdom. And friends can understand seasons, too. Hugs,
friend, I know this season is tough, but I promise it passes. Before you know
you will be in a new season trying to figure that out and being surprised that
the last one is over. :)
By the way, I know a lot of moms with young ones at church who don't do much in
church when they have a young one. It's ok. Sometimes they get together and
encourage each other when their nap schedules line up! More and more I respect
the parents to step back to take care of their kids (those God has put directly
in front of them!). I've also seen some good parent take kids along to serve.
My boys are on our church set up crew with Brian. Many girls work with their
moms in nursery. Some moms serve with a kid in a carrier on their chest.
Different personalities of parents and kids. A varied Body striving together to
serve one another in love. It doesn't have to look a certain way.
Will pray that God will give wisdom! Ha! I rambled back! :)
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On Fri, Apr 26, 2019 at 9:45 AM Renee O'Leske <larsen.renee@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Oh, and we had a very good visit with our head pastor on Wednesday. My respect
for him has grown. As Craig observed he seems to have a real humility about
him. The pastoral staff will follow-up in a few weeks. We left with some
things to think about... and the Pastor of care and connections will probably
meet with us next to see how God is leading us to be connected and involved in
the church (they do have a small church plant in a town near us that he just
asked us to consider to see if God would lead us that way...).
I don't know how you all have done it, but we find getting to church and
joining an evening "small group" study / missions group / etc... to be very
challenging with small children. She still takes two naps a day and goes to
bed by or before 7:30pm... How do you balance that with being involved at
church?? I only have about 2 or maybe 3 hours in a day to be out and about
with Kayla... and that is usually around lunch hour or late afternoon/early
evening... not normal church times. I now understand why my aunt and uncle (who
were married a little older as well), traded off Sundays when the boys were
young! And I don't know how my Mom did it with 4! She was AMAZING!!!
Hopefully the pastoral staff will have some good insight for us when we meet
again. :)
Craig and I (especially me) are also having a hard time letting go of our old
relationships in order to make new ones... We still live "in the area" and
have life-long friendships (and I have a BIG family). But we have to
intentionally get together with friends and family in the area b/c their lives
do not intersect with each other or with ours regularly. Losing this capacity
(for my precious relationships!!!) has been the most challenging thing in
marriage and in having a little baby and in moving forward with a new church
and new relationships. I need God's grace and wisdom in this... b/c the
reality is I cannot maintain the relationships I have had during this next
season of my life. That hurts so much... I don't know how to process it or
handle it. Write to my friends and tell them I probably won't see them for
the next several years...??? Friends since like 3rd grade!!!
Okay, I should stop rambling... please don't feel obligated to respond to
this! :)
On Fri, Apr 26, 2019 at 9:27 AM Renee O'Leske <larsen.renee@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I agree with Kristi and Liz and Carrie... Wow, Pam, how scary! But it sounds
like Geoff did handle it wisely and with faith which is so great!
As Craig and I take care of Kayla we have to remind ourselves of Psalm 127...
b/c we can go mad trying our best to do everything right to care for her and
protect her, etc... I just read it again and it just calms my heart... Except
the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD
keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Carrie, thank you for your encouragement!! Thank you all for sharing your
thoughts and struggles!! I have been reminded in our recent Tr 5 emails that
(as Liz put it to me when she was staying at my condo) "There's a reason we're
friends." 😊 I am sooo blessed to have you all in my life. I feel so
comfortable with you all... I feel at home! What encouragement you have
provided to me the last 19 years of my life! You somehow got me through
college... and have encouraged and carried me through other times of my life.
Thank you! (Boy, I miss seeing you all! I loved visiting many of you and
loved having you at my condo / parent's home!!)
PS. Kristi, thanks for the article. Super interesting read. Good insights.
Craig and I read it the other morning together. PPS. Carrie, the book sounds
good! Wish I had more time to read these days...
On Fri, Apr 26, 2019 at 3:27 AM K. Jeanne Colas <kristi.colas@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Oh Pam, what a very scary time for you guys. I'm really thankful for how wisely
Geoff handled the situation. And I know the Lord will give you grace to endure
this. May He cover you with His wings.
Carrie, I've read her other two but not that one. I'm sure it's
excellent!Kristi Jeanne Colas
11 rue Henri Dunant95410 Groslay, France
Le mer. 24 avr. 2019 à 23:33, Carrie Hub <carriehub060300@xxxxxxxxx> a écrit :
So scary, Pam! And definitely one of those times you have to trust and be wise.
How is school?
Will pray!
Have any of you read Made for More by Hannah Anderson? It is about living in
God's image. I feel like I am crying every page or two as she speaks truth
about Who God is and who He has made me to be. Definitely is helping change
some misconceptions and giving Joy and hope.
On Wed, Apr 24, 2019, 4:08 PM Elizabeth Lovelace <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Wow, Pam! That is scary. So glad he was admitted. Mental health is no joke.
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
On Wed, Apr 24, 2019 at 2:22 PM, Pamela Smith<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote: Good thoughts, Carrie! Regarding sharing your faith, we're doing a
study at church about how sharing should be conversational. We talk about our
family/friends because they are a part of our lives. When God is a part of our
lives, it should/will be more natural in mentioning. It's been good to go
through because the Gospel isn't a "presentation" but a lifestyle, and viewing
it that way allows me to feel "confident" in sharing more. Also, if I don't
know something, I'm more than happy to say I don't know, but I'll look into it.
I think people appreciate that.
Regarding faith, I was talking a little about this with one of the kids. I
asked if when they climbed on their bed if they wondered if it would hold them.
When we walk around at home, are we tapping the floor before taking each step
b/c we aren't sure if it will stay solid. I think when we "confidently" walk or
sit or lie down in the physical realm, we are resting. There's a lack of worry,
and I desire to have that rest in God.
This week has been a doozy that's testing me. Many years ago, a church member
recommended his unsaved neighbor to talk to Geoff regarding marriage issues.
Through time and work, they stayed together and eventually accepted Christ as
their Savior. They've had ups and downs with finances, possibly losing their
farm, more marriage issues, etc. The two men were talking last week, and the
one with issues said some dark things regarding hurting himself and others. The
older church member couldn't sleep because he wasn't sure what to do with that
info, so he called Geoff at 4 am. Geoff went over and talked to the man who by
then was in a better state of mind, but Geoff still suggested to the older
member that police should probably be involved due to what was said. The wife
had not realized all that was said, and she and her 5 kids are living with
other family members and the neighbor is in a mental facility now being
evaluated. I'm off googling guard dogs and locking doors we don't usually lock
during the day because we aren't sure if what he said will keep him away for
very long. Geoff reminded me that if God wants us alive, we'll be alive - of
course, we need to use our minds, but that ultimately He's in control. Wasn't
really resting, but dang, some days it's hard to not try and grab the wheel to
be in charge.ps
On Wednesday, April 24, 2019, 1:28:29 PM EDT, Carrie Hub
<carriehub060300@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Renee, the boys and I are studying through 1 Corinthians. I've thought of our
time in the Trailer talking through this particular book. :) Such sweet days!
Anyway, today we hit Chapter 12 which goes through the spiritual gifts. It was
such a good reminder that in many ways those who make up the Body will not look
the same. We have different gifts. We have different struggles. We are not
meant to be the same or compare ourselves to each other. We are meant to
continue to grow together, and we're different so that we will grow and
encourage one another to love and good works.
You encourage me to think, Renee, to not rush ahead but to be okay taking time
to process and savor. You push me to be a more true Believer, not just doing
what I know I should, but believing Truth down in my soul and making that
change me. You see things that others don't, and you share them in such
picturesque ways.
I don't have the confidence you speak of, but I see it in other believers and
it kicks me in the butt a bit to be more outspoken. What is fear of man, what
is being careful of other's feelings, what is being wise in my timing of saying
something, and honestly, how much have prayed about it (not enough, for sure)?
I think this is something that I will probably spend my life trying to learn. I
think it's worth learning. But I think it's good to remember that even those we
think look like they have it figured out, don't. They have weak spots, too,
that's why we need each other. That's why we weren't left on our own, praise
the Lord!
On Wed, Apr 24, 2019 at 9:35 AM Renee O'Leske <larsen.renee@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Thank you for sharing, Friends! :) Thank you.
On Tue, Apr 23, 2019 at 11:27 AM Carrie Hub <carriehub060300@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I doubt that there are any of us that don't face this at some point. Some of us
more than others and some of us more at certain seasons of our lives. The
reality that I've seen in my own life is that there will come a day that my
faith will be shaken and that it is only Christ holding on to me and sending
help that has brought me through. In fact, I feel like God has repeatedly
brought times that have brought me to places where I have to answer the, "Do I
really believe in God, in what He is doing, in His love for me (this one
especially)?" question. I feel like my walk of faith has been more of a
stumbling forward (as my pastor put it). So glad that my faith is a gift and
that it's not dependent on me!
By the way, I check doors, redo things, go back into the house for the thing I
forgot, over and over and over, and I know from friends that I am not alone.
Whether it's a time of life, woman, mommy, whatever thing, I don't know, but
it's common! :) I live by my white board on my fridge and the reminders I put
on it.
On Tue, Apr 23, 2019 at 10:24 AM Elizabeth Lovelace
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I second guess myself about a lot of stuff. Also wonder if I locked or turned
off something. 🤔😂When it comes to sharing opinions, I think the older I get the
more I feel less sure about everything, so I don't feel strongly enough to
share an opinion. I also struggle with faith. I don't know that I have an
answer for you. But you're not alone.
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
On Tue, Apr 23, 2019 at 10:11 AM, Renee O'Leske<larsen.renee@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote: So... just a very random question I keep thinking about... Have any
of you struggled with "confidence"?
Confidence as in struggling to know and articulate your own thoughts and
opinions and convictions... especially when someone who you may respect has a
differing opinion or thought or conviction. Or, as in, never being sure that
you did all you could do, or were right in your actions, etc... (this has
played out in my life with my struggle with assurance of my salvation - I never
could know if I was TRULY committed or TRULY and FULLY believed... I could
never answer this question. After 8 years or so of grace based, Christ focused
preaching, I finally realized my faith rests in CHRIST and not my own faith.
But I could just never answer those preachers who would ask "Are you 100% sure
you have placed your faith in Christ?" I could never say YES with 100%
certainty in my OWN faith.)
I heard the passage again where Paul says to Timothy "I have finished the
course, I have kept the faith..." I find this confidence interesting and
encouraging...
Anyway, not sure if this is clear... but just throwing it out there. I
continue to find myself struggling with self-doubt over big and little things
(like, am I 100% sure I locked the door... um, I'll check it again...LOL).
Just wondering if any sisters have had similar struggles and what truths may
have helped you.
:)
I think this is why I find the truth of God's SOVEREIGN GRACE so appealing. It
is my only hope...
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