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God has brought a great blessing to my life in the form of a friend named Missy. Missy is the receptionist at the office where my husband works. She's been working at the agency for several years but it wasn't until two years ago that I got to know her personally. It was at that time when her husband of 14 years left her for someone else. She was completely devastated, embarassed, and financially stricken. DH and I reached out to her during that period in any way we could think. We were able to give her some furniture and a computer, and we invited her to church. She began coming to church, something she had never done in her life. We also encouraged her with scripture when the opportunities came. We talked to her about putting her hope and strength in the Lord. She had not been raised in church and had never owned a bible. Within a few months, her heart begin to turn to the Lord. On Easter of 2006, she gave her heart to Christ. Since that time, she's made Christ the Lord of her life and not just her Savior. When she first began coming to church she would have to hand me her bible when the pastor called out the scripture passage for his sermon because she had no idea where to find anything. Now, however, she's tackling her first Beth Moore study and doing all of her homework. She just last week got back from one of our church's mission trips. She came home so filled up that she wasn't quite sure what to do with all of her emotions. She had never spent so much time with a group of christian people. She told me last week that she only listens to christian music and she's immersing herself in godly books instead of secular ones. All of these changes come from the heart, not from my prodding. :))) Missy would tell you how thankful she is for my friendship and for God bringing me into her life. I, however, am the one that's been blessed. I'm writing this because I often struggle with the fact that I "only" stay home my with children. I often think that I might be missing out on other quality "projects" that the Lord wants me to be a part of because I'm putting my children and family first! Don't get me wrong, I know in my heart that my place is at home with my children, training them and teaching them. I truly wouldn't trade this role. But God sent Missy for those fleeting moments that I think that I must be going on a mission trip to Romania or Africa in order to "make a difference." Maybe all my plate can handle outside my home and family is one friend in which to invest my time for the glory of God. I can't go to lunch with people often. I can't spend time on the phone with five different people who need an encouraging word. I can't financially help 10 others in a great way. The Lord knew, however, that I could do those things for one. I'm so thankful that He allowed me this priviledge. Maybe your plate can handle 10 people. Maybe you're in a different season of life, one free from preschoolers, that allows you a little more time away from home to minister to others. Whatever the season, Missy is evidence to me that God provides opportunities to lead others to Christ or to take part in His Kingdom without taking time away from our first priority.....the mission field that He placed in our home......our children. My children have been greatly influenced by my friendship with Missy and they've come to love her, too. What a great example the Lord provided for them, as well. |
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