Sowing in Tears ~ Reaping With Shouts of Joy!

"When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, our mouths were filled with laughter then, and our tongues with shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord had done great things for us; we were joyful. Restore our fortunes. Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. Though one goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed, he will surely come back with shouts of joy, carrying his sheaves."

Psalm 126 (HCSB)

Just yesterday tears were flowing from my eyes without my ability to control them...was it because I could not get Fall season memories of my mother, that is now with Jesus, off of my heart...was it because I had just been through a huge opportunity of trusting Jesus with all my heart...or was it because I had the joy of sharing my testimony with a nurse that was serving me that caused me to think about all of the people that are facing tough times and may be without Jesus in their life?

The truth is that the tears flowed from my eyes because of ALL of the above at the same time!! As I cried I was reminded of Psalm 126 (that I have written out above) and John 11:35 "Jesus Wept"! Through my tears I thanked God that He has given me the ability to cry out to Him when I need nurturing, when I am afraid, and when my heart breaks for the lost of our world that need Jesus!

What greater calling could we have than a season of tears that all lead back to "Jesus Wept"! We are in good company my friend when we have tender hearts that weep with those that weep and rejoice with those that rejoice. What greater opportunity we have as "The Lord's Gifted2Go Witness" to walk in the sensitivity and compassion of Jesus that cares about those that are needing Him! There is no greater JOY than to be willing to enter a lost person's world to share the HOPE that they are searching for desperately! Will You Go With Us?!

Weeping may last for a night (season) but Joy comes in the morning! Don't hold back or push down those tears that water the seeds that are sown for Jesus...water makes seeds GROW!!:-) As gifted2go witnesses for Christ keep sowing those seeds by faith and at times watering them with tears of sorrow or joy. Don't loose heart God will cause there to be a Joyful Harvest as we have the privilege of "carry His sheaves" because of the tears we have sown for His Glory!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlmYxZAgrGI (our life is in His Hands!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GsTKEPqe8Q (joy comes in the morning~choose Joy!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ervcj18qeyg (Psalm 23!)

Remembering the Season

In the last week, both my parents celebrated their 80th birthdays and it was a joy for my sister and family, Dad's two sisters, and my family to get to be with them to join in on all the fun. There is so much I could tell you but as I reflect back on it, I am remembering the importance of seasons in one's life and learning to accept where you are.

Take my parents for example, both have had full lives and now have retired in Florida. They still are active helping and serving in their community. They have time to enjoy the scenery as well as take off from the daily routine when they want to. My aunts both find themselves in still another season with grown kids and spouses who are no longer around. They travel (or don't) as they can and can golf or sit and read knowing that it is their choice. My sisters and I are both in the sandwich generation of Boomers with aging parents and children who still need us (and trust me, we want to be needed). We are both insanely busy with ministry and family and seldom have a second to spare. Our husbands are crazy busy at professional jobs and concerned about retirement and what we are all going to live on. My daughter and nieces are finishing those college years and in the crazy 20's where all the major decisions of life are made.

Serving the Lord in our season is very important. Even as we share Christ and take on new challenges at church, we need to remember what season we are in. As a college student, I was free to travel on mission trips and stay up late working with youth ministries. As a young married, I had to devote some of my time to my husband so my time at church had to be adjusted. Talking all night on the phone to the girls just wasn't going to cut it. When I became a mom, I still volunteered at church, but I did things that Kelli could do with me or that I could do when she was at Mother's day out. The older she got, the more things changed. Kelli being in college brought more changes to our home as she moved in and out. Now as she heads to Southern Seminary in Louisville, the huge truck outside the house is a reminder that we are about to enter still another season of life for us all.

So what the point of all this reflection? The point is: Remember your season and serve in it. Don't try to rush things. Enjoy the babies, be patient with that teenager, and keep serving the Lord no matter what. Adapt to your season and rejoice in it. Look for ways to share Christ that fit you and your lifestyle. As YOU go, share the good news of Jesus Christ.

"He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows when to set" (HCSB, Psalm 104:19).