The Path of Greater Resistance

Every day we have choices to make. That is one sure thing about life. The first choice in the morning when you wake up is, "should I get out of bed or sleep for a few more minutes."

Some choices are black and white. You know the ones. The consequences of those choices are clear. It's good or bad, right or wrong, cut and dry. But then there are those other choices, the ones that are not so simple. If you choose one over the other it might just be a choice between good and good, or bad and bad, or maybe you can't even ascribe good or bad to the consequences.

The simple solution is just to pick the path of least resistance. It's easier to hit the snooze then drag you weary bottom out of bed. But, of course simple is not always best. Easy is not always worth more. Sometimes you just have to grit you teeth, dig in and choose the path of greater resistance.

Yesterday afternoon I was resting. I was weary physically and emotionally. Then I was faced with a decision. It was forced upon me as a result of temptation that often comes to a person when they are weary. The decision or the temptation was simply put "quit." Oh, but it came in a more elaborate form. I mean I have invested far too much of myself to jump at the first bold, and blatant thought of just quitting. But this is how it looked yesterday. I'm tired, I'm scared because I have some potentially life threatening health problems, and my plans for dealing with these problems aren't getting me anywhere. I have big dreams for life and ministry but they are way out of my reach right now because of my health issues. So, these thoughts are swarming through my exhausted mind and then I conveniently remember my father's offer. When I first started really struggling with my health, my dad invited me to just come home and live with him and mom. They would take care of me. I thought of the joy it would be to be home again, to let myself be a child and let my parents care for me.

Here in lies the problem. The decision to go home would make things good for a while, but I would have to start certain process over in regards to getting medical help. And then there are the hopes and dreams of my life and ministry out here. If I went home I would be walking away from what God is doing now. I would be walking away from the character that God is building in me and the promises that He has given me about now and about ministry here.

So maybe I have found myself relating to Esau in that I am tired and hungry from hunting. I have been hunting down my dreams and passions. But, now I am faced with a decision do I give up my birth right for a bowl of soup or to hold on to what I know has been promised. I'm not saying that going home will never be an option, or that it is wrong to choose that. But now is not that time. Not yet. Right now the decision is about holding on to what God is saying to me or letting go and quitting.

So choose wisely and don't let your guard down. For me, now is the time to press on. It's not quite time for me to leave the back side of a desert.

Rambelings of a Preacher Woman

Tonight while I was driving home from a Chinese restaurant I had this brilliant idea. I was thinking about life, specifically mine. I'm a 30 something female pastor. Sometimes the female thing is a problem, sometimes the pastor thing is a problem, and sometimes both are when it comes to relating with people. So back to my brilliant idea, yesterday I created a blog for my family (mom, Dad, Brother and his family, and sister). So, I thought why not create a separate one where I can just ramble about what God is doing in my life or about what it's like being a 30 something female preacher, or simply put, being me.

So here it is. The adventure begins. Will anyone read this? Will there be any comments? Will I bore to death anyone who stumbles upon this site?

We shall see.

By the way, the Chinese food was great