Monday, December 31, 2012

Closing 2012


Romans 8:31-32
"31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"
As the year comes to a close, I run across these verses. I ask myself: What exactly was this year about? I have watched as my friends have gone through seemingly devastating things: death of a child, cancer diagnosis, even jail for some loved ones. I prayed with and for them and am continuing to lift them up in prayer, and I watch as each one has looked to the cross and grown closer to the Lord. Victory! Praise The Lord!
The elections were a blow to us, for sure. To watch some of my children really begin to feel the weight of what they will be dealing with over the years was sad to witness. Though, at least one of our kids is not willing to take this laying down. The above verses say that God is for us, so these distresses in life that are going to keep coming, will work to sanctify us and are part of the sinful world we live in. I like what the Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary assures:

" God having manifested his love in giving his own Son for us, can we think that any thing should turn aside or do away that love? Troubles neither cause nor show any abatement of his love. Whatever believers may be separated from, enough remains. None can take Christ from the believer: none can take the believer from Him; and that is enough. All other hazards signify nothing. Alas, poor sinners! though you abound with the possessions of this world, what vain things are they! Can you say of any of them, Who shall separate us? You may be removed from pleasant dwellings, and friends, and estates. You may even live to see and seek your parting. At last you must part, for you must die. Then farewell, all this world accounts most valuable. And what hast thou left, poor soul, who hast not Christ, but that which thou wouldest gladly part with, and canst not; the condemning guilt of all thy sins! But the soul that is in Christ, when other things are pulled away, cleaves to Christ, and these separations pain him not. Yea, when death comes, that breaks all other unions, even that of the soul and body, it carries the believer's soul into the nearest union with its beloved Lord Jesus, and the full enjoyment of him for ever."

Oh, how I love my savior more and more each day. How much He has taught me this year about trusting Him! I know it has been a rather quiet year for our personal family, here, but I think it has been a building year. By observing those we love have victory in the trenches of life, I believe I have gained a higher threshold of trust that I will be able to draw on sometime in the future. I also have loved loving other people more! To be able to support others in prayer etc. really has been a blessing. So, to each of you that have shared your burdens, thank you.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, “ My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Welcome

Hello and welcome to my blog! I am here to encourage ladies of all ages to live fully for Christ our Savior. I have been happily married to the love of my life, Pastor David Eddy, for twenty- one years, with whom we have ten wonderful children. My husband is the senior pastor at Manchester Community Church, and that makes me "The Preacher's Wife".

Some would ask if we are trying for a baseball team, but we are raising an army. The Lord's Army. To help us in our vision, we have felt God's leading to home educate. At first, many friends and relatives wondered if we intended to keep our kiddos home past the elementary years. Then they were asking about Junior High and High school. Well, when we began home schooling, we new it was for the long hall. Little did we know then, however, that we would actually home educate through college! That's right! Our first two children have their bachelors degree, from home, through on line college. Now, this doesn't mean that we are never going to let our young people leave the nest! Of course, we haven't done anything if they can't fly in the end, but our grads are only 19 and 17 years old. In fact, our 19 year old is planning a 5 month mission trip to Indonesia this summer. I expect that to change many aspects of our relationship with him. After that, his plan is to GO to seminary to study towards being a church planter. He is excited to get out there and make a difference for the Kingdom. Praise God!

Some of my passions are: homeschooling ( of course), babies and the care of, modesty, mentoring other women, health, and (new this month) essential oils and their uses. I also enjoy eating healthy and trying to feed my family healthfully, although, we don't get supper strict about it, as I have found that to steal our joy. We don't have any known allergies or anything, so we have never had to do anything drastic, though the kids would beg to differ.

My hope on this blog is to be an encouragement to friends, family and strangers. I will post pictures for our loved ones far away, funny stories to lighten our days, and serious things too, maybe sometimes making you squirm, but I pray that in the end, all will cause you to look inward or upward.