Blessed to Be Stretched

Have you ever felt that you were being stretched?

Friends, I have to tell you that God has taken me totally out of my comfort zone and is stretching me this season. I encouraged my daughter to remove my grandson from the public school system and allow Jon and I to home school him. Today, the following definition describes me well, especially the second one.

The Online Dictionary by Farlex defines “stretched”
1. To lengthen, widen, or distend: stretched the sweater out of shape.
2. To cause to extend from one place to another or across a given space: stretched the banner between two poles.
3. To make taut; tighten: stretched the tarpaulin until it ripped.
4. To reach or put forth; extend: stretched out his hand.

Until September of 2010, Jon and I lived separated from our kids and only grandson. God took us by surprise when He led us to move to this small town in the desert of California where he had already gathered all of them to live and work.That move in itself was a step of faith even though I knew it would be a blessing to be near my children.

Now God is stretching me from a speaking ministry to ministering to a wonderful young man who has a champion residing within. It is indeed a challenge for me but it is also a blessing. My free time is mostly gone. My schedule is tighter than ever and the activities of my day do not allow time for much “me” activities.

Yet what a blessing it is to be challenged in this way. What a privilege to have the opportunity to build a relationship with Alex and pour into him the things God has poured into us so that he can take them to the next generation. And what lessons and knowledge God is and will be teaching Jon and I through Alex.

I have always admired and highly respected the home school moms. I thought my season had passed for such a privilege. Isn’t it just like God to surprise us in these ways?

Proverbs 22:6 GW
Train a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not turn away from it.

We Like the Light – But Which Light?

Yesterday, my husband, Jon, and I jumped into the car and headed to Las Vegas, Nevada, approximately a 4-hour road trip. Yeah, I know, Las Vegas has the nickname “sin city”, but Jon’s beautiful and compassionate sister invited us to join her and Jon’s eighty-six year old mother for a couple days at the Rio Hotel on her! We were ready for a mini-vacation so this was perfect timing and a great gift to us! Besides, how could we pass up the opportunity to visit with them when they were so nearby? Kathy, Jon’s sister lives in Washington, D.C. and his mother lives in Minnesota making it difficult to visit often. Our time together thus far, has been blessed and I thank God for arranging it.
I love the way God speaks to us in so many various ways to include the activities we find ourselves engaged in. Last night I stood at our hotel room window and enjoyed the magnificent view of the well-lit city. I marveled at the beautiful lights and their bright colors and I thought, “Isn’t it strange how man, even in his unredeemed nature, is drawn to light. Man built a city for the purpose of indulging man in the sinful pleasures of the world but instead of making it a dark place, he has lit it up like nothing else I have ever seen.” God spoke to me in my spirit and said, “Sarah, man is drawn to the light because at the core of his being, He is in search of Me. Satan uses light as a counterfeit of the true Light (Me- 1 John 1:9) but instead of leading men to life, he leads them to death. There is always a resemblance of light and truth in all that he does but his light will go out.” Job 18:5 says, “Indeed, the light of the wicked goes out, and the flame of his fire gives no light.” How important it is for us to examine the light that we walk in. Is it the light of the wicked or the light of the LORD (Isaiah 2:5)?”