Overlooking Old Town in Tallinn, Estonia

March is almost over. Interestingly April is right around the corner. Our family traveled to Tallinn, Estonia, last week. We had to exit and reenter Russia for registration purposes. The children finished another grading period in school, and we were able to take a spring break, even though it still seems like winter here. We received a new blanket of snow last night. Oh, how I am ready to see a few flowers pop up! There is hope for April, though, as Luke and Amielle noticed some buds on the oak and birch trees near home.

We thank the Lord that we had a great trip in Estonia as we traveled by bus for eight hours across the border. Even though the ride was a long one, our family had a great time together. We took the kids swimming at an indoor water park, watched satellite TV in English, had coffee at a few European cafés and just hung out together.

Thanks for your prayers as we are on our last grading period for the homeschool year. Buck continues to travel, so please keep me in your prayers as I guide my little ones while Daddy is away. Actually notice Ashlyn in the picture. She is not so little anymore, and the rest are catching up with her.

Also, please be in prayer as our family is involved in teaching English as an open door to witness and disciple others at our local church. We meet on Wednesday nights. The entire family is participating in this outreach. We thank the Lord for His faithfulness and your faithfulness to remember us as we partner to share the Gospel to those that the Lord brings near. God bless you, and we pray that you had a great Easter. We will observe this wonderful holiday next month in our churches.

Do you find yourself doing what you do well to relieve your grief?

I jotted down a passage that relates to this question: As soon as they landed, they saw a campfire with fish cooking and some bread. Jesus said, “Come and eat.” None of the disciples dared ask “who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. -John 21:9, 12

Peter had just denied Christ. Therefore, Peter, possibly hoping to relieve his grief, did one of the things he knew how to do well. He fished. Yet he toiled.

We may think our ministry comes natural for us. We have great results. Generally we do our jobs well. However, there are times when we strongly struggle in our work or times when we work in vain. I have felt this way often. In this scripture reference Peter fished all night. Sometimes we try to “do” a great deal for God in the ministry. Maybe the Holy Spirit pleads for our attention, and we are just too busy to listen. He may already have prepared for us a huge catch. If Peter had been paying attention, he would have known that all the fish he needed was waiting for him.

I find myself often reverting to what comes natural. I teach. I write. These things we do are even good things, but sometimes God is calling us just to listen and see what He has for us. Unfortunately sometimes I busy myself with good works when God is calling my attention to be on Him. He is the only one that can help me with my grief. And, look he has a huge catch already prepared!

Please comment if you desire and share your thoughts with others. Just click below. Do you find yourself doing what you do well to relieve your grief?

Devotion of the Month- "Nurturing"

Read Isaiah 55
Key Passage: In the same way that the rain falls, like snow from heaven, and doesn’t go up without watering the earth and making it produce growth to provide seeds for the farmer and bread for the table, my Word will also go from my mouth. It won’t return to me without accomplishing what I want, and it will meet with success wherever I send it. -Isaiah 55:10-11

During the nurturing process of winter, I watch and wait in order to see what the land will produce in the spring. Through the long winter months, I look out my bedroom window and see a beautiful blanket of snow covering the ground. Contemplating the process of nature, I patiently wait to see what is to be revealed in the next season as the ground is being nourished underneath the snow. Autumn left many, fallen leaves to die and decay. As winter fades, the snow and leaves become water and nutrients replenishing the soil.

The same can be compared to our spiritual lives. Just as the process of nature continues and the various seasons appear, so does various seasons of our lives. With much prayer and meditation, God’s Word can provide the nutrition we need as the Word infiltrates our lives. During moments of our missionary journeys, we may feel drained and stripped of everything. But God’s Word replenishes our soul as the leaves do the soil. God makes us ready and prepared to work in the harvest fields.

Path Application: Let us pray that when people see our lives that they see purified and cleansed fields as white as snow because of Jesus. Pray for your field of service no matter the stage of harvest. Stay in the Word so that you stay in season.

Walk Farther:
1. How often do you spend time in God’s Word? How could you deepen that time?
2. How could you compare your own spiritual life to nature’s seasons?
3. What are some ways you could be an encouragement to someone experiencing winter in their spiritual walk?
-L.Burch, A Woman’s Path to God, path 42