Ministry Update and How We Have Been Doing

Take my life and let it be

Consecrated Lord to Thee

Take my moments and my days

Let them flow in ceaseless praise

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

~Frances Ridley Havergal

I noticed this sweet little bunny sitting near my laundry basket of clothing that I had taken off the clothesline. :-)

Dear Friends, 

I wanted to update you all on how we have been doing since we moved recently and how the Lord has been working in our lives. For those of you who have been following the updates about our ministry, you know that we recently moved into the home and property that we eventually would like to convert into a place of rest for the Lord's people. For those of you who haven't been following these updates or who are new here, you may read more about how the Lord has been working in and through our lives in the following blog posts if you would like to--

Flying to A Summer Land
The Gift of Quietness
Grace in the Midwest Wilderness
When you Just Can't Do It
An Impossible Prayer Request
Midwest Ministry update

Please continue to pray for our family as we prepare this property for ministry and especially, as the Lord prepares our hearts for ministry . . . this week, the words of my middle school teacher came to my mind--"Keep the main thing the main thing." Those words have been upon my heart because I have realized afresh how easy it is to get caught up in the details and forget about the most important thing --bringing glory to the Father through a life of submission and trust in Him. 

There is so much to do--so much physical work, and yet, I need to remember that my main focus needs to be upon Jesus Christ--it is easy for me to get busy in the work and forget about Him. And ultimately, my main work is prayer; the outflow of that will be direction in what I need to do moment by moment. Please pray that my focus would be continually upon Him. 

And now, let me share with you a little about how we have been! :-) We have been doing a lot of "clean-up" work in the house and outside. Just a few days ago, I finally finished unpacking boxes and now my husband and I are hoping to begin painting the rooms in the house. 

The attic floor needed to be reinforced and so we had the pleasure of my brother -in-law (who works for an Amish construction company) and two of the brothers who work for the company reinforce the floor with a beautiful wooden beam. I am glad that I no longer need to worry about falling through the floor! :-) This is a great relief to me. :-)

We have also been working outside doing a great deal of raking, weeding and cleanup. It has been so wonderful as the spring came to see the various plants that are breaking through the beautiful soil--my Mom gave me a love for perennials, and so I am enjoying seeing the many perennial flowers that have been planted by the previous person who lived in the house coming up. 

I noticed this little toad while I was working outside. 

We are trying to maintain some wide paths on the property as well; my husband has been working on that and we hope to neaten up the field next to the house a little bit more once the animals are done with their nesting; we'll probably do this in the late Fall. 

And speaking of animals, I have just been amazed by all the little creatures who live "with" us here! Oh, I love it! Sweet little bunnies and toads and all different sorts of beautiful birds and deer and who knows what else! It is so precious to experience the Lord's creation in such a close way and to hear the birds singing at night and in the morning. 

I found this bunny nest in one of the plants in the garden--right near our backdoor! I think that the clothesline bunny may have been born here. 

I have thought on several occasions--if it is so beautiful in this place, imagine how glorious Heaven and the New Earth will be. 

I feel close to the Lord here in the sense that His creation draws me to think about Him and to marvel at His works. Our neighbors have a large field behind our barn and I love to walk along the path with my children and smell the fresh spring air and hear the birds bringing glory to the Father. I have to admit, sometimes, especially when I am wearing my grey woolen sweater, I am tempted to imagine that I am Anne of Green Gables, watching Martin bring in the cows! ;-). Oh, the Lord has been so kind to allow me to taste His beauty in these ways. 

And we want to share this with the Lord's people . . . I am so excited to see how the Lord will work in and through this place. I look back and see His perfect provision for me and for my family throughout my life --and how He used trials and very difficult times to draw me closer to Himself. 

And I know that He is with me here and that He will sustain me. 

Another little bunny peeks out from between these two rocks near the potting shed; he also likes to hide under the rhubarb! :-)

I am also just so grateful to be closer to our church and our precious family in the Lord there. I was reminded again of how thankful I am to the Lord for this church as my little daughter and I recently went to a Mother Daughter Tea that the church held. It was so wonderful to fellowship with the ladies there! Our family has also just been so blessed by the Pastor's sermons and his Spirit-filled emphasis upon the Gospel and love for the lost. We are so thankful to the Lord for His leading us to the church. 

And one more update--we have designated one of the outbuildings on the property the "missionary house"---we are hoping to repair the roof and fix up the inside in the coming years. It is already structurally sound--it just needs to be converted into a place where people can stay. We are very excited about working on that in the near future and I have been collecting things to furnish it, etc. 

I will just leave you with this quote, one that the Lord pressed upon my heart so heavily when I left my beloved New England. And now I see His mercy here and the beauty that He prepared for me --beauty from ashes--

God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours.

~ David Livingstone

Please remember me and my family in your prayers, beloved friends. And please let me know if there is anything that I may pray about for you! 

Even Mr. Pinch, my sister and brother-in-law's elderly pug is enjoying visiting here! :-) Here he is, taking a bath in our kitchen sink. :-)

You might find me on these link-ups:


Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Mom's Morning Coffee, Raising Homemakers, Classical Homemaking, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage,  Graced Simplicity, Imparting Grace, Thought Provoking Thursday, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Counting My Blessings, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, TGI Saturdays Blog Hop, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday, Living Proverbs 31, Sharing His Beauty Blog Linkup, Coffee For Your Heart Weekly LinkUp, You're the Star Blog Hop, Homesteader Hop, Fresh Market Friday, Heart Encouragement Thursday , Sitting Among Friends Blog Party, Fabulous Warm Heart Party, Oh My Heartsie Girls Wonderful Wednesday Linkup