I get myself in so much trouble or just let me say I cause undo stress because of my expectations. I will use Christmas as an example. I always want a “Hallmark Christmas”. Oh, don’t act like you don’t know what I am talking about! The snow is falling outside, the house is beautifully decorated, ALL the children and grandchildren show up and ALL are thrilled to be there. You might notice that I capitalized ALL. We are blessed with three children, two sons-in-laws, one daughter-in-law, three biological grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, three grand dogs and a partridge in a pear tree! Well this year was particularly stressful in that one of our daughters had surgery two days before Christmas, in laws had other commitments at Christmas, one of our daughters and her husband own their own business(can’t just close the doors because Mom wants us all together, I personally didn’t see a problem with that!), and 5 of the grandchildren have parents who are divorced so there are obligations on the other side of the family. Having said all of that I seriously considered going to Bora Bora and just sending them all a card. However,……. when we all finally were able to be together and I looked around the dining table I realized what a selfish, ungrateful person I had been. All our children and grandchildren are healthy. All are “upstanding citizens”. All are Jesus followers and I could go on and on. So many times, we fail to thank Him for the many blessings that we have. The positives! Sure, there are going to be frustrations and struggles but as our pastor says many times.
Faith Not Fear!
January 6 was my first time to be back in the office since the first week in December. When I was here in December, I will have to say the anxiety overtook the faith. I was looking at year end totals and I will be honest I was hoping for more. I wasn’t focusing on how much God had blessed us already.
I just wanted that “Hallmark Christmas”. Well now here it is January 16 and I have some wonderful things to share with you.
1.
2018 designated giving was $30,000, 2019 designated giving was
$51, 821,66!
2.
2018 ABC offering was $1700, 2019 ABC offering was (at the time of this
writing) $13,878. We still have churches that have not sent their money in,
so I fully expect that amount to go up. This amount will go toward Hispanic
Outreach/Church Construction.
3.
Our actual income compared to what we budgeted for is up by 10%
My daughter-in-law gave me a wonderful devotion book for Christmas
and in that book was a devotion centering on thankfulness. In that devotion
it said, “Are we quick to recognize what we have or consumed with what
we don’t have?”. And this next quote really got to me. “Why am I so quick
to thank the cashier at the grocery store for finding a coupon but so slow
to thank God for giving me the air that I breathe, the family that I love, and
the life that is so much more than I deserve?
(Melanie Shankle-
Every Day Holy
).
So, I would like to personally take this opportunity to state how thankful I am for all that He has done for me and Women’s Ministries and thank you all for the part that you have played in that. Let’s continually thank Him and never forget that
“He’s Got This!”
