Best Friends

After a fierce game of UNOAttack (my children are addicted to all UNO games), I walked back in the den to find the two competitors snuggled up together. I took a moment to thank God for the friends that Jake and Nati Grace are to each other. They are truly concerned for the other's well-being and happiness (unless they are playing UNO) and when asked, claim each other as their best friend!

My prayer is that their friendship remains, grows stronger in the Lord, and will be a witness to the world of the love of Christ!

"A friend loves at all times..." ~Proverbs 17:17

A Few Things I've Learned

Nati Grace has regrettably been a sick little one over the last few weeks. Although we still have a few tests left to be done, we believe she is back to normal and we are trusting that the doctors will let us know of any concerns that we should have. For now, we are praising God that life in the Auton house has returned to life as usual.

I am convinced more and more that God chooses to refine me when I am least expecting it and through circumstances that are not necessarily spiritual in nature. Most of my spiritual growth has come not from formal Bible Study (although God has prepared me through Bible Study) but from everyday life experiences where the realization comes clear that ultimately God cares about the little things and the major times of struggle in my life. Truly, unless I give ALL of it to him, nothing will become of me and I cannot give Him the glory He deserves.

After 2 weeks of Nati Grace struggling to stay healthy, her pediatrician advised me to stay at home with her for at least a week to allow her immune system time to heal and become ready to face the world again.

Refinement Lesson #1: I am replaceable, God is not. Yes, all the ministry areas that I lead or help in at the church can be done by someone else. The world can go on. I was forced to stay at home for a whole week and the world continued just fine without me. Things may not have been done the way I would have done them, but they were done. I am NOT the ultimate in "my" areas of ministry... Jesus is! What did I learn? If something in the ministries that I participate in does not bring glory to Jesus Christ, it need not be done! I need to be more sensitive to the ideas of others and allow others to join in the leadership of ministries and allow the implementation of their ideas to bring glory to God! This should be my first priority in word and deed... to bring glory to Jesus Christ alone!

Refinement Lesson #2: The way that I can most glorify Christ is by loving and caring for my family. Now, I have known this for a very long time. The issue is that sometimes we need correction from God that it does not need to be just a priority by statement but also a priority through action. What did I learn? I am SO blessed by God with an amazing family. I truly love them more than any other human, any possession, and/or any personal goals or aspirations. I need to humble my own personal dreams and live the dream that God has called to be my second priority: to love my family by serving and to humble myself to meet their needs above my own.

Refinement Lesson #3: Personal Pride is useless! How did God remind me of this one? Two words for you: Stool Samples! Not only was I reminded that a mother will do anything for her children, but I was also reminded that I am not above anyone or any duty that is placed before me. What did I learn? Pride is useless. God is all. No task is too menial for me to complete.

Refinement Lesson #4: God cares for my needs and the needs of my family. God was not shocked by how my heart would feel. He was very aware that for me staying at home for 7 days straight was going to be a challenge. He was very aware that my love for my children would cause me to do whatever it takes, with His help, to take care of them. What did I learn? God is sufficient for the big problems in life, for the menial tasks, and even for the lonely times. God is SUFFICIENT!
"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." ~2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Times... They are A-Changin'!

Hmmm... what can happen in 3 months? Surely, not much has changed in the 3 measly months that I have taken a hiatus from blogging. Hmph! It seems that everyday brings great changes. So... let me play the catch up game really quickly! Let's see... our sweet Jake accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior and we rejoice in his relationship with God, Jake turned 7 (my heart aches!), Nati Grace performed as a little pig in her Preschool Christmas Program, our church began a new contemporary service, we celebrated the birth of Christ with my parents and my dad's cousin, we brought in the New Year in North Carolina with Jamie's parents, my last living grandparent passed away, my duties as the Georgia Baptist Ministers' Wives President continued during the Winter Retreat, we were reunited with a precious friend, Jamie is pre-applying to begin his Doctorate of Ministry Degree, and Nati Grace has been sick for a little over 2 weeks (more on that at a later time).


Oh yes, things change quickly! Life continues when we are not looking. And yet, one thing remains constant. Even as a swarm of changes, good and bad, continued to happen, God granted me constant peace and encouragement that HE never changes. HE is ever loving, just, kind, gracious, full of mercy, and forgiving. HE is always perfect, all-knowing, and always present!


Jake Celebrating His Birthday at His Over Night Party!

Can you find our little piglet?

Christmas Eve!

The Whole Clan trying out Jake's new video game!


New Year's with the all the Autons!