“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”              Ecclesiastes 3:1

This blog has been a long time in the making.  God has been tugging on my heart—throughout the last nineteen months since He took my husband home to heaven, the previous four and a half years of a cancer journey we never would have expected, throughout our marriage, through caring for my elderly parents, in my single life and even my younger years.  It’s amazing when we look back and see God’s grace and sovereignty played out when we don’t recognize His presence at the time.

As I reflect on the promptings the Holy Spirit has put within me, I recall random comments from friends and acquaintances about my writings and how they appreciate my honesty and writing from my heart.  A dear brother in Christ also shared wise advice for when we receive callings from God which applies aptly to my writing.  “God never calls someone before He is ready to use them. If you are called ‘Abraham’, best to say yes!”  

Then there is the parable Jesus told of the talents given out to servants.  The two wise servants used their talents and multiplied their return so that the Master was pleased when he returned.  The foolish servant buried his talent because he knew the Master was a harsh taskmaster. His reward was to be cast out into darkness where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Yikes!  That’s pretty convincing.

My friend Lynn recently shared with me an image that she uses in her discipling of young women and men.  She draws a small dot on a piece of paper followed by a line as long as the paper is wide.  Above the line she writes “heaven” and below “hell”.   The dot represents our life here on earth.  It is just a small speck in light of eternity.  However, it’s in that speck that we decide where we will spend eternity—in heaven or in hell.  And the only thing we can take with us after this life is the people God allows us to lead to Him.

Wow.  I’m so awed that God gives each of us this enormous responsibility and privilege.  And not only does He give it to us, like everything He asks of us, He gives us the power and tools to accomplish it!

Looking back at the past eight years or so, I also see God has been working in my heart helping me to understand more and more that this life is not mine.  Nothing I have is mine, but a “talent” on loan from Him.  My reward is life after this life, forever, with Him and my beloved husband in heaven.  My life here is about bringing others to Jesus and giving Him glory.

So why start this blog now?  Two reasons—the promise and the command.

Throughout our journey and at the end of his life here on earth, I promised Tom that I would share our story.  It’s time for that promise to begin to be fulfilled.

And the command is from Jesus.  Before He left this earth Jesus said to His followers “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”   Mark 16:15

In this world, so many people are hurting and walking in darkness without really knowing Jesus.  I can’t reach everyone, but like the little girl walking on the beach throwing starfish back after a storm, I can make a difference to that one!

But, really, it’s not about me.  It’s not about us.  It’s all about God and His great love and grace that is more than sufficient for our every moment here on this earth.

I invite you to share this blog with your friends.  My goal is to write at least one post every week.  You can sign up for notifications when a new entry is posted.

I’m off to the Holy Land next week (June 11) and will be posting about my travels in the land where Jesus walked!

Thank you for your interest and your support.  God bless you all!

Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace and mercy and patience with us. Thank you for the talents You have loaned us. Help each one of us be obedient to use those talents in every area of our life to bring glory to You.  In Jesus name, Amen.