We’ve had a great time lately, enjoying visiting with family while having some meetings in the Central PA area. It’s been fairly uneventful (no fires, breakdowns, etc.) so I actually feel a little bored… Kenya imagine?? I’ve been able to read a bit, throw ball with the kids, sit around, etc. What a blessing!
I read something fairly interesting the other day that I will pass along to you. Actually, it’s a compilation of about three different, unrelated things, but they are very related, if you know what I mean.
One thing I found in Grammy’s basement was the textbook Understanding People, for a course I had completely forgotten about. (I know it is mine, because my writing is in the margin of the book! Other than that, it’s all new material to meJ.)
Reading a book about the spiritual, physical, and mental development of children that I had studied before having children takes on a whole new meaning after having raised half my family. I have three and a half children grown (Sharon is fourteen; doesn’t that count as half??), and three more yet very impressionable kiddos.
Everything I read in that book is very true and helpful, but one thing stood out to me as a very important reminder:
Speaking of the early teen years, the authors wrote:
“He needs a special kind of adult with whom he can relate. The adults close to him must be loving, patient, and understanding. Those who work with young teen must use this unique opportunity to disciple them for Christ. Parents or teachers can do this if they:
Keep open the channels of communication
Multiply the teens’ interests
Guide by counsel and give direction
Provide companionship”
It is so easy to get busy in the entanglements of life and miss some of the greatest opportunities in existence. Every electronic gadget has its allure which will easily lull us to lethargy, lest we hear our own childrens’ seemingly incessant bids for our attention. We miss the forest for the trees.
H. Clay Trumbull, in Hints on Child Training, says this:
“There is little danger that any parent will give too much study to the question of his child’s specific needs, or have too many helps to a wise conclusion on that point. There is a great danger that the whole subject will be neglected or undervalued by a parent.” (emphasis mine)
Have we become so “wired” that our focus is on gadgets than on people? Have we become so internet savvy that we value internet relationships more than those in our own home, than those who have come from our own bodies?? We Facebook, we Twitter, and a myriad of other internet-based activities (we blog!), but are we neglecting a primary purpose for our lives, that of raising godly children?
I speak of myself, as well. How easy it is to turn to a screen than to read a book to a child! Or to IM someone than to play a board game! Time is passing through my fingers, days are flashing by, and children are growing up, and I sit mesmerized by the screen. Lord, help us!
If there is any hope in this world of having a Jeremiah, or an Elijah come from our ranks, it must start with me!
I remember reading about committing my life to God and my family. That was twenty-five years ago. It was also today.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Scary! But God is Always in Control!
It’s been a busy time here at the Rolling Raub Ranch. We are rolling our way across the USA pretty quickly, so we’re not gathering any moss, I hope.
We’ve had our share of adventures this week already so far, with the breakdown on Sunday night, and the fire on Tuesday. Yesterday was fairly uneventful, though we drove about 4 hours. That’s the way I like it.
Tuesday’s adventure actually occurred while my husband and I were out to lunch. Sharon was preparing lunch for the kids when she accidentally bumped the knob on the stove, causing it to turn on without her knowing it. Unfortunately, there was lunch-makins on the stove, which promptly caught fire. Even more unfortunately, she panicked and turned the propane higher instead of off! By this time, the flames were about a foot high, and Sharon finally turned the gas off and threw water all over the stove. Thank God the fire went out before it got any further!!
It was at this point that My Beloved and I pulled up. Little kids came running out saying incomprehensible things very excitedly, so we decided to go in and find out what was going on. I went in and found Sharon all quivery and nervous, and I figured it must have been pretty scary! Praise God that He watches over our little ones when we can’t.
I find it amazing that, when we follow God, though the difficulties are supremely difficult, the blessings are “out of this world!” I realize many times I write of the difficulties, and I really shouldn’t do that, at least not at the exclusion of the blessings. However, I think we’ve been an encouragement to several folks, and that in itself is a blessing. My desire is to pour out the oil, and let God refill me and use me as He sees fit.
Please pray that the Lord will put His Hand on the making of some Military Missions Training DVDs that my husband is recording this week. Time is short, and there is much to be done!
By the way, if you want more gorey or juicy details about the fire or the breakdown, Sharon's blog is very good!
We’ve had our share of adventures this week already so far, with the breakdown on Sunday night, and the fire on Tuesday. Yesterday was fairly uneventful, though we drove about 4 hours. That’s the way I like it.
Tuesday’s adventure actually occurred while my husband and I were out to lunch. Sharon was preparing lunch for the kids when she accidentally bumped the knob on the stove, causing it to turn on without her knowing it. Unfortunately, there was lunch-makins on the stove, which promptly caught fire. Even more unfortunately, she panicked and turned the propane higher instead of off! By this time, the flames were about a foot high, and Sharon finally turned the gas off and threw water all over the stove. Thank God the fire went out before it got any further!!
It was at this point that My Beloved and I pulled up. Little kids came running out saying incomprehensible things very excitedly, so we decided to go in and find out what was going on. I went in and found Sharon all quivery and nervous, and I figured it must have been pretty scary! Praise God that He watches over our little ones when we can’t.
I find it amazing that, when we follow God, though the difficulties are supremely difficult, the blessings are “out of this world!” I realize many times I write of the difficulties, and I really shouldn’t do that, at least not at the exclusion of the blessings. However, I think we’ve been an encouragement to several folks, and that in itself is a blessing. My desire is to pour out the oil, and let God refill me and use me as He sees fit.
Please pray that the Lord will put His Hand on the making of some Military Missions Training DVDs that my husband is recording this week. Time is short, and there is much to be done!
By the way, if you want more gorey or juicy details about the fire or the breakdown, Sharon's blog is very good!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Do I have it all?
I may not "have it all," but I have truly been blessed. Just in this brief trip through Colorado, I see how good I have it.
The views are fantastic, the family time has been great, the fellowship in churches has been good, and the Lord has used it to show me some very important things.
First of all, if you want to see our trip in pictures, see Sharon's blog. She's done an EXCELLENT job in capturing our trip mile by mile, adventure by adventure. I think it's great.
Until I can learn more about pictures, however, you are all stuck with words here!
I suppose the most important thing the Lord is teaching me right now is THANKFULNESS. It is always so easy to look on the dark side of things, when things go wrong (as they often do while we travel), and not to be thankful for the good things we DO have and for the opportunities we DO have. I can even be thankful when things go wrong, because the Lord can use it in my life to help me be a testimony of His goodness.
Many times, it is only when we meet someone who has less than we do, has it harder than we do, or struggles more than we do, that we come to understand how good we really have it. That has been the case with me lately.
Having spent the week in a very poor county in Colorado, where many people don't even have electricity or running water, I see how very blessed I am. My shower may run cold half the time, but I do have a shower! My air conditioner may not keep up with the heat very well, but I do have a/c! And I may not always have instant access to the people I love, but I do have a very loving family. God has been SO GOOD to me!
I pray that the Lord will help me always be content with such things as I have, for God is with me...
The views are fantastic, the family time has been great, the fellowship in churches has been good, and the Lord has used it to show me some very important things.
First of all, if you want to see our trip in pictures, see Sharon's blog. She's done an EXCELLENT job in capturing our trip mile by mile, adventure by adventure. I think it's great.
Until I can learn more about pictures, however, you are all stuck with words here!
I suppose the most important thing the Lord is teaching me right now is THANKFULNESS. It is always so easy to look on the dark side of things, when things go wrong (as they often do while we travel), and not to be thankful for the good things we DO have and for the opportunities we DO have. I can even be thankful when things go wrong, because the Lord can use it in my life to help me be a testimony of His goodness.
Many times, it is only when we meet someone who has less than we do, has it harder than we do, or struggles more than we do, that we come to understand how good we really have it. That has been the case with me lately.
Having spent the week in a very poor county in Colorado, where many people don't even have electricity or running water, I see how very blessed I am. My shower may run cold half the time, but I do have a shower! My air conditioner may not keep up with the heat very well, but I do have a/c! And I may not always have instant access to the people I love, but I do have a very loving family. God has been SO GOOD to me!
I pray that the Lord will help me always be content with such things as I have, for God is with me...
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Blowouts, Bedlam, and Being Blessed
Yesterday we had a trailer tire blow out on us as we were driving to Big Spring. After Kev checked it out, he came in and said, “OK, this is what we do in this situation. Since we have three more tires on the trailer, we will take off the Expedition and the bad tire and drive the rest of the way separately.” Soooo… I finished up making dinner while he took the tire off and then drove the Expedition the 35 miles into Big Spring (which, by the way, was Big SpringS at one time until the government decided to try to harness the springs and ended up blocking all but one…)
We got in to the church at 6:15, and discovered two very important things: 1) they had no suitable hookup, and 2) it was actually a MEETING!! By this time, it was 6:35, and they very kindly took us out to an RV park 9 minutes away from the church, and some of us weren’t even dressed yet! Needless to say, panic and bedlam ensued, but my husband did a great job of presenting the ministry and preaching. We sang “I’m blessed,” and “What Love.” It all was a bit hollow without the boys, though.
Anyway, my husband is on his way back from getting 4 new load-range E tires for the trailer. he Lord has been so good to us, to take care of us as He does.
I’ve spent most of today prepping and staining the door frames to the shower and toilet room. They look really nice, except…. Some of the stain got under the masking tape I put on the wallpaper! Ugh! I don’t know what I’m going to do about that. We'll hafta see.
Tomorrow we are planning on polyurethaning. I have several volunteers!
We got in to the church at 6:15, and discovered two very important things: 1) they had no suitable hookup, and 2) it was actually a MEETING!! By this time, it was 6:35, and they very kindly took us out to an RV park 9 minutes away from the church, and some of us weren’t even dressed yet! Needless to say, panic and bedlam ensued, but my husband did a great job of presenting the ministry and preaching. We sang “I’m blessed,” and “What Love.” It all was a bit hollow without the boys, though.
Anyway, my husband is on his way back from getting 4 new load-range E tires for the trailer. he Lord has been so good to us, to take care of us as He does.
I’ve spent most of today prepping and staining the door frames to the shower and toilet room. They look really nice, except…. Some of the stain got under the masking tape I put on the wallpaper! Ugh! I don’t know what I’m going to do about that. We'll hafta see.
Tomorrow we are planning on polyurethaning. I have several volunteers!
Monday, May 11, 2009
We're Off!
Well, we headed out on Saturday! We had some good services Sunday, and then Sunday night…
Jonathan called us at about midnight to say that he forgot his passport! He was leaving in the morning to go to Germany, and would we meet him halfway with it he wanted to know.
So Sharon and I saddled up and drove 1 1/2 hours to Brady TX, where we did NOT meet Jonathan! He had gotten a flat tire! Though there is a big blank area of no cell phone service, he had not entered it yet…but I did, and there was no way they could contact me to tell me! So I wandered around Brady for awhile looking for him, unsuccessfully.
Finally at around 2 am I went back to the original meeting place and parked.
“What should we do now?” Sharon asked.
“I really don’t know,” I replied. “There is no Plan B.”
“Why don’t we pray!” she suggested.
I know this doesn’t sound very spiritual, but I didn’t see how that could help (silly me! Sorry, Lord!) “Sure, I guess,” I said. We bowed our heads and began to pray that the Lord would show us what to do now, and to keep Jonathan safe.
“Mom, someone’s walking up to the car!” Sharon exclaimed. “He wants to talk to us!”
Who would be walking through a dimly lit parking lot at 2 am? I looked to see a man smiling, and I put the window down just a bit, enough to hear.
“Are you the folks who are supposed to meet your son? Well, he’s not coming. He got a flat tire. You’re supposed to call your husband.” With that, he handed his cell phone in to Sharon.
To make a long story short, within about 15 minutes, we found Jonathan, and gave him his much-needed passport! After bidding them goodbye – again – we headed back to the bus in San Angelo, arriving at about 3:45 am.
Did I mention that I am tired???
We sure know how to start a trip with excitement!
Please pray for the guys as they fly over to Germany. I hear it is a wicked place, especially the airports. Pray that the Lord will strengthen them and use them!
Thank you!
BTW, Jonathan, Stephen, and Sharon have the BEST blogs!! They are FULL of pics and videos, polls and neat stuff that I never have time to even think about, let alone post. Head on over to jonathanraub.blogspot.com, thebackporchview.blogspot.com, and mydelightfuldiary.blogspot.com. to find neat stuff!
Jonathan called us at about midnight to say that he forgot his passport! He was leaving in the morning to go to Germany, and would we meet him halfway with it he wanted to know.
So Sharon and I saddled up and drove 1 1/2 hours to Brady TX, where we did NOT meet Jonathan! He had gotten a flat tire! Though there is a big blank area of no cell phone service, he had not entered it yet…but I did, and there was no way they could contact me to tell me! So I wandered around Brady for awhile looking for him, unsuccessfully.
Finally at around 2 am I went back to the original meeting place and parked.
“What should we do now?” Sharon asked.
“I really don’t know,” I replied. “There is no Plan B.”
“Why don’t we pray!” she suggested.
I know this doesn’t sound very spiritual, but I didn’t see how that could help (silly me! Sorry, Lord!) “Sure, I guess,” I said. We bowed our heads and began to pray that the Lord would show us what to do now, and to keep Jonathan safe.
“Mom, someone’s walking up to the car!” Sharon exclaimed. “He wants to talk to us!”
Who would be walking through a dimly lit parking lot at 2 am? I looked to see a man smiling, and I put the window down just a bit, enough to hear.
“Are you the folks who are supposed to meet your son? Well, he’s not coming. He got a flat tire. You’re supposed to call your husband.” With that, he handed his cell phone in to Sharon.
To make a long story short, within about 15 minutes, we found Jonathan, and gave him his much-needed passport! After bidding them goodbye – again – we headed back to the bus in San Angelo, arriving at about 3:45 am.
Did I mention that I am tired???
We sure know how to start a trip with excitement!
Please pray for the guys as they fly over to Germany. I hear it is a wicked place, especially the airports. Pray that the Lord will strengthen them and use them!
Thank you!
BTW, Jonathan, Stephen, and Sharon have the BEST blogs!! They are FULL of pics and videos, polls and neat stuff that I never have time to even think about, let alone post. Head on over to jonathanraub.blogspot.com, thebackporchview.blogspot.com, and mydelightfuldiary.blogspot.com. to find neat stuff!
Friday, May 1, 2009
COUNTDOWN
We are planning on leaving for our next ministry trip on May 9th, after a week of tent meetings and the church picnic. We’re planning on taking the bus to the church on the 8th, so that means we need to be in the bus by the 7th, since we’ll need to wrap up some last minute things here at home to prepare for being gone for 6 months or so.
It is coming up so fast! I have TONS of things to do, as I’m sure you can imagine. I should be making lists, lists, and more lists, if I can only get them started. Today I spent some time cleaning the bus, which I will do for the rest of the week. Next week we move in, hopefully piece by piece, and pull out the end of the week.
So, if you don’t hear from me until sometime after the 12th or so, you’ll know why!
*Please pray for us for the tent meetings, the strength to prepare for the trip, and for our first stop in stop in San Angelo on the 10th!
Thanks*
It is coming up so fast! I have TONS of things to do, as I’m sure you can imagine. I should be making lists, lists, and more lists, if I can only get them started. Today I spent some time cleaning the bus, which I will do for the rest of the week. Next week we move in, hopefully piece by piece, and pull out the end of the week.
So, if you don’t hear from me until sometime after the 12th or so, you’ll know why!
*Please pray for us for the tent meetings, the strength to prepare for the trip, and for our first stop in stop in San Angelo on the 10th!
Thanks*
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Back again...
I finally found my way back onto my blog! I had to reset my password, and now I’m back in business.
We’ve been working to get as many school days in before we leave on our next ministry trip, and getting the bus ready to go. I’ll write more about that later, I’m sure, but for now, rest assured that I will try to post again sooner than last time!
We’ve been working to get as many school days in before we leave on our next ministry trip, and getting the bus ready to go. I’ll write more about that later, I’m sure, but for now, rest assured that I will try to post again sooner than last time!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Twenty-Three Years Ago Today...
I was waddling around the third floor of the Polyclinic Medical Center in Harrisburg, Pa, waiting for our firstborn child. I had no idea whether it would be a boy or a girl, but I knew for certain that the Lord, in His kindness, blessed my husband and I with someone special.
Many times, even now, my mind goes back to the first time I found out I was pregnant with my firstborn. I was working at a bank at the time, and it was Friday. Since the bank was open until 8:00pm on Fridays, I had an hour for dinner as well as my half-hour lunch break. Usually I brown-bagged it twice on Fridays, but for this special day, I decided to go to Godfather’s Pizza and get a personal pizza.
While waiting for my food at the restaurant, I stared at the mosaic in the table. I absentmindedly traced the grout between the tiles, thinking how very blessed I was. To think, I mused, God has actually blessed ME with a baby! Oh Lord, I prayed, please help me to be the mother You would have me be.
Just a few minutes before midnight on March 31, 1986, our lovely little girl, Kathryn Elizabeth, was born. I was thankful for her then, and I am thankful for her now.
Now she is a grown young lady with two children of her own, serving the Lord alongside her preacher husband in a church in Michigan. She has been one of the greatest blessings of my life, and I thank the Lord for her!
Love you, Kath!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Our Amarillo Trip
Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written anything. Last week I was sick for most of the week, with The Five Day Sickness. I was awful to be sick while on a trip. I worked really hard the Friday and Saturday before, trying to get all ready to go, and then once we got on the road the illness hit me full force. I was in bed from Sunday to Wednesday, all during the Missions Conference we were scheduled for in Dallas. Everybody said it went great, so that’s good.
Wednesday night we went to a church in Oklahoma, and then pulled out on Friday and went to Amarillo. On Saturday we discovered that the bus wouldn’t start again. With some testing, we discovered that we needed two new batteries. Now, these aren’t regular batteries, mind you, they’re monster batteries, weighing about 150 pounds each and costing that much in dollars!
Well, the Lord provided them both through a man at the church there in Amarillo. Thank You, Lord, and bless that man in a special way.
On Sunday we went to a large church and sang before a crowd of about 500 or so people. Unfortunately, I still had junk in my throat from the sickness, so my part was a little strange. Other than that, everything went well.
Sunday night after church Jonathan, Stephen and Sharon left to go to Pastor’s School in upper Indiana. They drove all night and most of Monday to get there, arriving safely at around 3pm. We left Sunday night as well, and drove until about 2am and then started out again at 6:30am. We got home at around 10:30 in the morning!
It was really good to be home, but boy, did I have a lot of work to do. My hubby had injured his back, so it was just the little kids and I unloading the bus. I just finished up today. I’m also washing up all the bedding and towels today, too. It’s a big job, but I’m glad to have the bus when we travel.
Well, there you have it, Ladies and Gentlemen. Maybe you’ll hear from me again sooner next time!
Wednesday night we went to a church in Oklahoma, and then pulled out on Friday and went to Amarillo. On Saturday we discovered that the bus wouldn’t start again. With some testing, we discovered that we needed two new batteries. Now, these aren’t regular batteries, mind you, they’re monster batteries, weighing about 150 pounds each and costing that much in dollars!
Well, the Lord provided them both through a man at the church there in Amarillo. Thank You, Lord, and bless that man in a special way.
On Sunday we went to a large church and sang before a crowd of about 500 or so people. Unfortunately, I still had junk in my throat from the sickness, so my part was a little strange. Other than that, everything went well.
Sunday night after church Jonathan, Stephen and Sharon left to go to Pastor’s School in upper Indiana. They drove all night and most of Monday to get there, arriving safely at around 3pm. We left Sunday night as well, and drove until about 2am and then started out again at 6:30am. We got home at around 10:30 in the morning!
It was really good to be home, but boy, did I have a lot of work to do. My hubby had injured his back, so it was just the little kids and I unloading the bus. I just finished up today. I’m also washing up all the bedding and towels today, too. It’s a big job, but I’m glad to have the bus when we travel.
Well, there you have it, Ladies and Gentlemen. Maybe you’ll hear from me again sooner next time!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
What “Giving My Life to Christ” Means to Me
When I gave my life to the Lord, I took Him as my Master, and I became a servant. As a servant of the Master, I relinquished all my rights to have things my way, and committed myself to doing things His Way.
That means several things. First, it means that I will always have something meaningful to do. I will always have a work for the Lord to do that will have eternal results. My life here on this earth is not meaningless; it is full of purpose, for I am a servant to the King! He gives me something to do that will benefit myself and others around me, perhaps even an entire generation. Truly, working for God is a big thing.
Second, being His servant means that He will provide my needs. Just like an earthly master would give his servants jobs to do and meet their needs, my heavenly Master will meet my needs as well. The benefits of being a servant are things like good co-workers, good work environment, a “retirement plan” that’s out of this world, and health benefits. As I serve Him, I don’t have time, nor can I afford to have bitterness and its corresponding health problems.
There are some things I need to understand, however. Being a servant means that I have relinquished all rights to have things my way. I live in the home of God’s choosing, which right now happens to be a motor home. I live in the place of God’s choosing. My needs are provided as He wills, not necessarily as I will. My meals may not be steak and potatoes, but if He provides beans and rice, that is good for me, for I am His servant.
I realize that I relinquish the right to be treated the way I think I deserve. That means that, as a servant, I don’t have special privileges.
I also further realize that anything the Master sends my way is for my benefit and edification, even the trials and testing. Health problems, setbacks, financial straights, and breakdowns are all part of His plan. I am His servant, He can do with me what He Will and mold me into a better servant for Him as He sees fit.
Many times God uses offenders as agents of His Will, who, like sandpaper, rub off my rough edges. These people are those who I don’t understand, who I can’t seem to get along with, and who rub me the wrong way. God sends them to me for that express purpose, not that I would get mad at them and bitter, but that I would see them as His messenger to teach me some very valuable lessons of life.
I don’t have to worry when I get treated poorly, for I am a servant, and who treats servants like kings? My Master, however, blesses me abundantly. The richness of His love are poured out to me through His treasures of mercy. I am blessed beyond all measure! I have the best of His Plan for me, and I know I can enjoy His smile, which is brighter than the sunshine in my heart. Many times I feel like He loves me like I way His only child!
Why? Because I am His servant. I am His, and He is mine.
That means several things. First, it means that I will always have something meaningful to do. I will always have a work for the Lord to do that will have eternal results. My life here on this earth is not meaningless; it is full of purpose, for I am a servant to the King! He gives me something to do that will benefit myself and others around me, perhaps even an entire generation. Truly, working for God is a big thing.
Second, being His servant means that He will provide my needs. Just like an earthly master would give his servants jobs to do and meet their needs, my heavenly Master will meet my needs as well. The benefits of being a servant are things like good co-workers, good work environment, a “retirement plan” that’s out of this world, and health benefits. As I serve Him, I don’t have time, nor can I afford to have bitterness and its corresponding health problems.
There are some things I need to understand, however. Being a servant means that I have relinquished all rights to have things my way. I live in the home of God’s choosing, which right now happens to be a motor home. I live in the place of God’s choosing. My needs are provided as He wills, not necessarily as I will. My meals may not be steak and potatoes, but if He provides beans and rice, that is good for me, for I am His servant.
I realize that I relinquish the right to be treated the way I think I deserve. That means that, as a servant, I don’t have special privileges.
I also further realize that anything the Master sends my way is for my benefit and edification, even the trials and testing. Health problems, setbacks, financial straights, and breakdowns are all part of His plan. I am His servant, He can do with me what He Will and mold me into a better servant for Him as He sees fit.
Many times God uses offenders as agents of His Will, who, like sandpaper, rub off my rough edges. These people are those who I don’t understand, who I can’t seem to get along with, and who rub me the wrong way. God sends them to me for that express purpose, not that I would get mad at them and bitter, but that I would see them as His messenger to teach me some very valuable lessons of life.
I don’t have to worry when I get treated poorly, for I am a servant, and who treats servants like kings? My Master, however, blesses me abundantly. The richness of His love are poured out to me through His treasures of mercy. I am blessed beyond all measure! I have the best of His Plan for me, and I know I can enjoy His smile, which is brighter than the sunshine in my heart. Many times I feel like He loves me like I way His only child!
Why? Because I am His servant. I am His, and He is mine.
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