In order to state where I am, I must first talk about where I was. Over the past 3 years God has attempted to get my attention and has continuously asked me to be closer to Him and to be a better wife. At the time, I was too busy to listen and I really didn't want to change. As Linda Dillow puts it in her book, "What is it Like to be Married to Me?"life was like a treadmill and I was afraid to get off, because I would have to look in the mirror and I REALLY didn't want to see my faults and shortcomings. In the back of my mind, I knew what they were but I did not want to face them, come to grips with them or change.
In March of 2011, I was forced to get off the treadmill. Like King Nebuchanezzar in Daniel 3, I was living my life for my glory praising myself for all of my accomplishments. Of course I would give God some of the glory and honor, but mostly I was out to make myself look good. In March that all changed. At the time I felt like my whole life was crashing around me. Who was I if I was not a School Counselor?
The scariest part of all of it was the fact that I had made the job my life and had put God, my husband and my child on the back burner. I was so mixed with emotions, frustrated, afraid, angry, hurt, lost, confused and most of all humbled.
In Daniel 3, King Nebuchanezzar starts off praising himself and boasting about his kingdom and splendor. In a dream (my paraphrase) God showed Nebuchanezzar that because of his pride and unwillingness to give God the glory for his riches, kingdom and spendor, Neb would be forced away from his people and kingdom and become like the beasts even eating grass as the oxen. In the dream it was revealed that Neb would be separated this way for 7 years and at the end of the 7 years he would give honor and glory to God and claim Him as the Most Holy God, being reinstated as King. Of course, Neb didn't know the meaning of the dream as stated above, but Daniel (Balshazzar) was given the gift of interpretation by the Holy God and was able to tell Neb the meaning of the dream. Even then, Daniel urged King Neb to repent and claim God as sovreign and the Lord most High thus it might stop what was to happen. Neb did not heed the warning and continued with his merry life until one day he again became boastful and full of pride expressing how great he was and how he created his kingdom. At that very moment the dream became reality! After the 7 years, Neb believed and worshiped the Most High God and was reinstated as king and his kingdom was even richer than before. Neb died praising God Almighty.
As I was reading this (which I was only reading because Jonah and I were doing a bible study on Daniel and I wanted to be prepared to talk with him about it that evening) I felt like I had walked into an empty room full of silence except for a voice saying, "Do you get it now?". At that moment I did get it. God had planted many seeds expressing his desire for me to be a Godly Wife who puts God and her husband above all, but I consistently turned my head and walked the other direction, claiming that my career and others needed me more. I kept myself so busy and so concerned about being the best counselor that I had turned from God.
Now, I did a lot of lip service and sometimes I felt God tugging and I would make promises that I wouldn't keep, but overall, I knew I wasn't happy, but I wasn't ready to get off the treadmill. So, like Neb, God forced me to see His will by removing the distractions for me since I would not choose them myself.
When I've spoke with others about getting reprimanded by God for not heeding His call of me, many think I mean staying at home and being a mom. However, I don't believe that is God's true intention in my life, at least it wasn't. I believe He gave me the desire to serve and help others through counseling, but He wanted me to keep my job in perspective, a way to pay the bills and provide for my family, and He wanted me to focus on being a Godly Wife and mother. I failed. I put my job first, making it a career and my life at the detriment of my family and relationship with Christ.
I'm just beginning the journey of learning how to be the Godly wife he wants me to be, but I believe if I keep my eyes on Him and do not sway to the left or right, keep my pride in check and approach each moment and day with humble servanthood to God, He will show me how to be the Godly woman He has intended all along.
With all of that said, this is why I have begun this blog. I am embarking on a new journey and chapter in my life and I want it docuemented. I'm also hoping that through this blog others will see God's glory and unconditional love for us and others may come to Christ. My prayer is that this blog will not be a "pat on the back" for me as I take this journey, but a place where you can find hope and encouragement as you embark on the journey God has designed for you to serve Him and glorify Him, bringing others into His loving arms.
God Bless,
Melinda
In March of 2011, I was forced to get off the treadmill. Like King Nebuchanezzar in Daniel 3, I was living my life for my glory praising myself for all of my accomplishments. Of course I would give God some of the glory and honor, but mostly I was out to make myself look good. In March that all changed. At the time I felt like my whole life was crashing around me. Who was I if I was not a School Counselor?
The scariest part of all of it was the fact that I had made the job my life and had put God, my husband and my child on the back burner. I was so mixed with emotions, frustrated, afraid, angry, hurt, lost, confused and most of all humbled.
In Daniel 3, King Nebuchanezzar starts off praising himself and boasting about his kingdom and splendor. In a dream (my paraphrase) God showed Nebuchanezzar that because of his pride and unwillingness to give God the glory for his riches, kingdom and spendor, Neb would be forced away from his people and kingdom and become like the beasts even eating grass as the oxen. In the dream it was revealed that Neb would be separated this way for 7 years and at the end of the 7 years he would give honor and glory to God and claim Him as the Most Holy God, being reinstated as King. Of course, Neb didn't know the meaning of the dream as stated above, but Daniel (Balshazzar) was given the gift of interpretation by the Holy God and was able to tell Neb the meaning of the dream. Even then, Daniel urged King Neb to repent and claim God as sovreign and the Lord most High thus it might stop what was to happen. Neb did not heed the warning and continued with his merry life until one day he again became boastful and full of pride expressing how great he was and how he created his kingdom. At that very moment the dream became reality! After the 7 years, Neb believed and worshiped the Most High God and was reinstated as king and his kingdom was even richer than before. Neb died praising God Almighty.
As I was reading this (which I was only reading because Jonah and I were doing a bible study on Daniel and I wanted to be prepared to talk with him about it that evening) I felt like I had walked into an empty room full of silence except for a voice saying, "Do you get it now?". At that moment I did get it. God had planted many seeds expressing his desire for me to be a Godly Wife who puts God and her husband above all, but I consistently turned my head and walked the other direction, claiming that my career and others needed me more. I kept myself so busy and so concerned about being the best counselor that I had turned from God.
Now, I did a lot of lip service and sometimes I felt God tugging and I would make promises that I wouldn't keep, but overall, I knew I wasn't happy, but I wasn't ready to get off the treadmill. So, like Neb, God forced me to see His will by removing the distractions for me since I would not choose them myself.
When I've spoke with others about getting reprimanded by God for not heeding His call of me, many think I mean staying at home and being a mom. However, I don't believe that is God's true intention in my life, at least it wasn't. I believe He gave me the desire to serve and help others through counseling, but He wanted me to keep my job in perspective, a way to pay the bills and provide for my family, and He wanted me to focus on being a Godly Wife and mother. I failed. I put my job first, making it a career and my life at the detriment of my family and relationship with Christ.
I'm just beginning the journey of learning how to be the Godly wife he wants me to be, but I believe if I keep my eyes on Him and do not sway to the left or right, keep my pride in check and approach each moment and day with humble servanthood to God, He will show me how to be the Godly woman He has intended all along.
With all of that said, this is why I have begun this blog. I am embarking on a new journey and chapter in my life and I want it docuemented. I'm also hoping that through this blog others will see God's glory and unconditional love for us and others may come to Christ. My prayer is that this blog will not be a "pat on the back" for me as I take this journey, but a place where you can find hope and encouragement as you embark on the journey God has designed for you to serve Him and glorify Him, bringing others into His loving arms.
God Bless,
Melinda
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