Do you know anyone that acts foolishly? They may be a family member, co-worker, or neighbor. How is a person to respond to foolish actions? Is it possible to live with someone who has this kind of character? The ladies of Boones Creek Bible Church are invited to join a Bible story about Abigail and Nabal that will be beginning in July. From this story we will learn:

• how to distinguish the characteristics of a fool,
• how to avoid having those attributes in our own life
• how to deal with those in our lives that act foolishly.

Our first study will be on Wednesday, July 1st. Be sure to sign up on the sheet that is posted on the bulletin board so I’ll have enough books for everyone to use. This is such a practical study, and one I think that will be a great help to us all. I’ll hope to see you then!

This was a memory making weekend. On Friday our younger daughter, Allison officially graduated from the Academy of Home Education at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC. For me it was emotional – happy over our completion of school, sad at that close of this phase of our lives. Happy over this phase of our lives, sad at the changes that are pressing in on us. It was a roller coaster! But we all pay to ride them, and this was a good one.

The picture above is of the two sisters together the morning of graduation. They’re thicker than molasses and closer than I could’ve hoped for with seven years between them. Big sister Whitney was always the mother hen watching out for Allison, bossing her around, and busting out laughing at all Allison’s antics. Time has changed that a bit – now they tell each other how to dress, who to hang with, or how to handle a situation. They respect one another enough to heed the counsel that’s given.

This picture is a bit blurry, but it was taken over the Internet by my sister. The ceremony was posted over the web site of the university, so my family who were unable to attend were able to watch and participate with us! Each graduate and their family was asked to stand while they were introduced to the crowd. A paragraph describing each student was read while they stood.

Allison also had the privilege of playing the piano during the ceremony. She played, “All Glory Laud and Honor”, a fitting piece for a home school graduation. All glory goes to the Lord for helping us to reach this momentous occasion. He kept us going, kept me encouraged, and provided for the books and materials each year.

The parents – do we look stressed? Remember the roller coaster analogy! No, really this wasn’t a stressful day, it was a day for celebrating and that we did!

If I’d had a hat I would’ve thrown it too! Woo-hoo! We did it…we’re finished!

No more lesson plans, grade books, teacher’s curriculum, text books, or standard achievement tests! I won’t let myself go to the sad note of all the other things that I’ll miss next fall when Allison’s gone. Just as God’s grace has been sufficient for these last 13 years of her schooling, it will be sufficient for the empty nest. My husband’s calling it, “The Love Nest” – now that sounds pretty good! Praise the Lord for a loving husband who has understood my roller coaster moods and has soothed and comforted me. I am blessed.

When was the last time you called your doctor’s office, insurance agent, computer tech, customer service department, bank, or even your sister and actually got to talk to a real, live person? Most times a message line picks up the call and you listen to a set of instructions that leaves your head spinning so badly you can’t remember your own telephone number so you can leave a message. One message that tickles me is, “When you have finished you may hang up…” Oh, thank you! I can hang up! Otherwise I may have sat here with the phone in my hand all afternoon waiting for the next set of instructions. It can be very frustrating, can’t it, when you just want to ask a simple question and all you get is a machine?

In light of this, how sweet Jeremiah 33:3 is – Call unto me and I will answer thee... The God of heaven, our Creator is not too big to answer our call! Can you imagine calling the computer tech and having Bill Gates pick up on the first ring to help you with your request? No way! How about calling your doctor’s office and hearing his voice greet you? Don’t think so! But when I call out to my Father in heaven, He not only hears me but He answers. That is amazing. That is wondrous love. That is our God!

The next time you make a call and you hear a recording instead of the person’s voice you wanted to talk to, remind yourself of the sweet blessing of God answering you each time you call Him. Maybe you won’t find yourself quite as frustrated when you hang up the phone.

You can click out of this blog now. Sorry! Couldn’t resist! =)

A sparkling jar of strawberry freezer jam. A lightening bug flickering in the yard. Eating breakfast outside on the deck. A game of badminton in the backyard. A morning dove’s coo. Fresh strawberry pie. Flower boxes laden with blooms. Fresh corn on the cob. The smell of the grill. Daylight at 8:45 in the evening. Picnics. Watching the boats skim across the lake. Driving with the windows down. Baseball. Warm weather. The ice cream truck’s bell jingling in the neighborhood. Dew on the morning grass.

Yesterday as I shared the wonder of what God did in our service, and rejoiced in the fact that there were many men who were willing to rise up for the Lord, I was very mindful of women that would read this blog and wonder why their husband couldn’t be numbered among that group. One dear reader left a comment about this very thing. You may have a husband that is saved, yet there is no real fruit in his life. You’d love for him to be the spiritual leader of your home, but that is not the case. What is a woman to do in this situation?

1. Let God fill our expectations. Only then will we never be disappointed!
2. Let the Lord build our house. Lay down the hammer. Even if you’re just gently tapping with it, you’re still trying to do the building. Lay it down.

As I encouraged the reader who left a comment yesterday, the best thing to do is pray Scripture for our husbands. Colossians 1:9-12 is a favorite of mine, but there are plenty of other wonderful passages that you could call out for your man *(see below). After praying you quietly live out a godly life before him while you love him with all your heart and being (I Peter 3:1-6) Then wait and watch God work in ways you never could. I’ve seen God do wonderful things in my own marriage, only after I stepped aside. Could I also encourage you not to compare your husband with other men while you’re waiting? Would you want to be compared to another woman who appears to have it all together? It’s unfair to imprison our husband with those kind of expectations. (II Corinthians 10:12) Perhaps right now the Lord is wanting to show you that “when you get to the place where there’s nothing left but God, you will find that He is enough.”

Take heart, Friend. God is even more concerned about your husband than you are. He will do the work in your husband’s life, and you will find that He will meet your expectations while you wait on Him.

*Other passages to pray: Psalm 1, II Thessalonians 1:11-12, Ephesians 3:13-19, Philippians 1:9-11, I Thessalonians 3:10-13