Hay or Gold

The past few weeks have kept our family pretty busy. The normal stuff - Army life, homeschooling, friends - are enough on a regular day. However, we have been truly living the calling our blog refers to of encouraging fellow beleivers and shepherding lost souls. It brings such a sense of fulfillment amid the mental and emotional exhaustion at times, to know that the interactions we are having in people's lives aren't just busyness. We have been talking about the rewards God has for his children in heaven for the work they do for him here on earth. God has repeatedly brought to mind the passage in I Corinthians 3:12-15 where we are told that are works will be tested by fire and if those works survive the fire then we receive a reward. Well obviously if we are doing things that don't really make any eternal difference then the fire is just going to disintegrate them like a haystack. The things we invest our time in here that truly can make an eternal difference are what will stand the fire and shine as pure gold. I certainly don't want to be watching all my life's work going up in smoke!! There have been quite a few nights recently where we collapse on a couch or the bed and look at each other totally wiped out with little energy left, but knowing that despite our desire to shake people into doing the right thing, we have planted a seed in their lives by the time we spent with them.
It has been encouraging, in particular, to watch a young couple that has been seeking our advice, begin to make small but important changes in order to save their marriage from the brink of divorce. It was great to be able to answer them as I Peter 3:15 - gently sharing the reason for the hope we have. The husband told us at one point, on a tough night- "you know you two are the only ones telling us not to give up, right?!" We just looked at each other and smiled. "Yes we know", we said, but that's because we have something they don't. We take our vows seriously. For better or worse, didn't come with a description of what qualifies as too bad. (Obviously, in cases of abuse, there is no question that it is right to get out and get help) That said, sometimes worse is really bad and better is just pure ecstasy. The hard part is learning how to live in the balanced in between.

We are both excited to see what God has in store for our family as we keep trying to live each so that people ask why?!?