God has overwhelmed me yet again! He is amazing at overwhelming us isn't He? We took our students to a D-Now hosted by a sister church close to us! We have come to love our fellow partner in the ministry there so much. We have joked for several months now...that he is Scott's lost twin brother that was born 10 years late!
I have found myself thinking, praying and even blogging about all the regrets in my life...and while it is true...I have many...many regrets in my life...many things that, if I had the opportunity to do I'd attempt it again! God has been gracious over the times I've failed and messed up so completely...and because of His grace and mercy I am able to get out of bed and face a new and fresh day!
However, with all that said...my blog today is NOT about the things a regret but rather those things in my life that I can stand and say...some of them were amazing and others were very difficult BUT I do NOT regret them...they...much like my failures and trials have been what God has used in my past to help me face the future...
Things I do NOT regret...
1. I do NOT regret my salvation...I do NOT feel like I have given up anything to be a Christ follower but rather I have gain everything...it has cost me nothing but given me everything needed in life...it is the power to sustain me...and I thank YOU JESUS for calling my name...
2. I do NOT regret marrying Scott Griffith...not for one second of one day...he has driven me crazy and has loved me more than I could have ever deserved or hoped for...he is my rock...and my best friend...we have grown together in this thing we call life and he is the perfect one just for me...!
3. I do NOT regret our choice to have children so soon...or for having 3 of them so close together...I can still close my eyes and see them playing together...that first year with Michael was trying at times but secretly I loved it that besides his maw maw I was the most important person in his life and he let that be known!!! The fact that Cassie and Heather came so close together...the days were difficult at times...but the joy was more...I do NOT regret I didn't do something permanent when Michael came like I planned (that was NOT Scott's plan)...because 4 years later...we were completed...and while I am thankful for Katie...I also do NOT regret waiting that 4 years to play catch up just a bit!
4. I do not share this next one to hurt or cause anger in anyone but it is so much the truth...I do NOT regret that we became a part of Emmanuel Baptist Church...because of the people God used in and through that church He radically touched not only my life but the life of my husband and the lives of my children...we are forever changed because my husband obeyed the Lord when he knew he would hurt people he loved the most in his live...He has led us in example...what a life lived obediently and sacrificially is looks like and for that I cannot have regret!
5. I am never proud of my past but I do NOT regret sharing it when the Lord asks me too...when He calls me to share the ugliest parts of me so people are able to see the greatness and hope of Him...I do not regret it...
6. I do NOT regret staying home with my children and now making the choice to work from home so I can stay home with my grand babies...from the worlds perspective it has cost Scott and I a great deal...but in our eyes (at least 98% of the time) I am thankful for the time I can't get back with them...just wish I had appreciated it more then...and I do try to appreciate it more now with the grandkiddos...
7. I do NOT regret that we have opened our home to 4 exchange students now...and with the doors of our home opening up to them so did the doors of our hearts for them each one...
8. I do NOT regret one bible study I've set through...one opportunity to hear the Word preached...
9. I do NOT regret working with students for 30 years now...honored that God allows us to continue in this ministry...
10. I do NOT regret my life...10 years ago I couldn't say that...but I know that God has a much larger picture than I can even comprehend and I am learning to trust that and understand that each triumph, victory and mistake and failure...He knows will come...He knows me...better than I know me...He created me...and I will follow Him...
I have found myself thinking, praying and even blogging about all the regrets in my life...and while it is true...I have many...many regrets in my life...many things that, if I had the opportunity to do I'd attempt it again! God has been gracious over the times I've failed and messed up so completely...and because of His grace and mercy I am able to get out of bed and face a new and fresh day!
However, with all that said...my blog today is NOT about the things a regret but rather those things in my life that I can stand and say...some of them were amazing and others were very difficult BUT I do NOT regret them...they...much like my failures and trials have been what God has used in my past to help me face the future...
Things I do NOT regret...
1. I do NOT regret my salvation...I do NOT feel like I have given up anything to be a Christ follower but rather I have gain everything...it has cost me nothing but given me everything needed in life...it is the power to sustain me...and I thank YOU JESUS for calling my name...
2. I do NOT regret marrying Scott Griffith...not for one second of one day...he has driven me crazy and has loved me more than I could have ever deserved or hoped for...he is my rock...and my best friend...we have grown together in this thing we call life and he is the perfect one just for me...!
3. I do NOT regret our choice to have children so soon...or for having 3 of them so close together...I can still close my eyes and see them playing together...that first year with Michael was trying at times but secretly I loved it that besides his maw maw I was the most important person in his life and he let that be known!!! The fact that Cassie and Heather came so close together...the days were difficult at times...but the joy was more...I do NOT regret I didn't do something permanent when Michael came like I planned (that was NOT Scott's plan)...because 4 years later...we were completed...and while I am thankful for Katie...I also do NOT regret waiting that 4 years to play catch up just a bit!
4. I do not share this next one to hurt or cause anger in anyone but it is so much the truth...I do NOT regret that we became a part of Emmanuel Baptist Church...because of the people God used in and through that church He radically touched not only my life but the life of my husband and the lives of my children...we are forever changed because my husband obeyed the Lord when he knew he would hurt people he loved the most in his live...He has led us in example...what a life lived obediently and sacrificially is looks like and for that I cannot have regret!
5. I am never proud of my past but I do NOT regret sharing it when the Lord asks me too...when He calls me to share the ugliest parts of me so people are able to see the greatness and hope of Him...I do not regret it...
6. I do NOT regret staying home with my children and now making the choice to work from home so I can stay home with my grand babies...from the worlds perspective it has cost Scott and I a great deal...but in our eyes (at least 98% of the time) I am thankful for the time I can't get back with them...just wish I had appreciated it more then...and I do try to appreciate it more now with the grandkiddos...
7. I do NOT regret that we have opened our home to 4 exchange students now...and with the doors of our home opening up to them so did the doors of our hearts for them each one...
8. I do NOT regret one bible study I've set through...one opportunity to hear the Word preached...
9. I do NOT regret working with students for 30 years now...honored that God allows us to continue in this ministry...
10. I do NOT regret my life...10 years ago I couldn't say that...but I know that God has a much larger picture than I can even comprehend and I am learning to trust that and understand that each triumph, victory and mistake and failure...He knows will come...He knows me...better than I know me...He created me...and I will follow Him...
