I am completely wiped out! We took a quick day and overnight trip to the beach, Thursday and Friday, to participate in a family reunion on my dad’s side. Once again, Karis decided not to sleep well, but all in all we had a wonderful time of fellowship with our family. Most of them are not walking with the Lord, so it provided a sweet opportunity to extend the love of Christ to them. The beach, sun, lots of talking, two late nights (one driving home late), etc. has put me down for the day. I was amazed how exhausted my body was after returning home.
In all the years past of family reunions, it was a real chore to attend and hang out with my relatives, due to the vast differences of families and the way we were raised. We have alot of family weaknesses and challenges that run in the family (depression, obsession with appearance and body figure among the girls, desire to be successful, etc). The Lord changed my heart this time around and we were able to come with a real heart of compassion and love this time…and I am amazed at the difference in experiences. Praise the Lord!
Now we look forward to our week long mission outreach to our city this next week with other families (young and old alike). We will be serving Monday-Saturday at different local ministries. Serving the homeless, cleaning up local park, completing service projects for widows, etc. With this in mind, I am not sure how much time I will be able to devote to blogging this week, but we would greatly appreciate your prayers for our team.
Please pray for:
- team unity
- servant’s hearts
- protection as we travel around the city
- opportunities to speak His name!
- that God may be glorified over all!
Thank you so much! Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!
I’m a little confused. Is a desire to be successful wrong? That’s a God-given desire, I certainly can’t say it’s from the devil.
Maybe I’m misunderstanding you.
Yes, I guess I was not too clear in that point. It is more like “success” can often become more like an idol in my family. If someone isn’t successful it has often lead to depression. That is where the desire for success can go wrong…when it becomes an idol.
Successful in the world’s eyes is also very different from a Biblical perspective of success in God’s eyes where it results from living a self-sacrificing life for the Savior, storing up treasures in heaven and being faithful with the gifts, talents and resources God has entrusted to our care.
I hope that clarifies my point.
We can allow anything to become a god in our life. Rather it be success, shopping, eating, etc. If any activity consumes our thinking and our time – that is our god. I understand the frustration and sadness in dealing with family like this. All of my family is backsliders. My husband and I are about the only ones in our family that lives for God. We get a lot of “input” from family members about how we are cheating our children. But through consistent prayer and church fellowship – God has never led us wrong and He never will!
Gotcha! I know exactly what you mean! I have some UNDERachievers in my family. Well specifically my brother in law. He’d rather get drunk and have someone work ffor him (my sister has a business that they co-own, and would be successful if they worked).
I can definitely see what you mean tho. Thanks for
clarifying.
Ooh…conviction. There was a reunion in my family that my fiancee and I attended last weekend; we came away disheartened by my family’s behaviors and attitudes and distance from the Lord, and we found ourselves getting very angry over it. Maybe we need a little change of heart…
It’s encouraging to hear that things in your family went well this go-around; praise God!
I really have been enjoying your blog. When you can please drop by my blog and check out the award I gave you!
I am so excited for the Season of Service Mission next week! And I am blessed by your Christ-like perspective you have toward your unsaved family members. I pray you will be able to see your extended family saved. What a beautiful thing it would be see.
Blessings!