Feeling His Pleasure

In the famous movie, "Chariots of Fire", Scottish runner and future missionary to China, Eric Liddel, takes the hand of his sister, who has voiced her fears that he has become too encumbered with running to give proper thought to the Lord's work, and he says,

"I believe God made me for a purpose, for China, but He also made me fast, and when I run I feel His pleasure. To give it up would be to hold Him in contempt. You were right, it's not just fun. To win is to honor Him."

I want to be able to "feel HIS pleasure" about every activity, every moment spent, every conversation held, every show of love offered, every secret thought, and every task undertaken. My heart's desire would be that I would do nothing that would cause His face to be turned away in shame of my choices, but that I would only feel the sunshine of His pleasure in my spirit. To "win" in the daily, minute tasks that are done for the cause of Christ, is to honor Him and we can delight in His pleasure shining upon us. 

God calls some to more overt ministries, to serve Him in the spotlight of other men, but for most of us, He offers us the ministry of serving Him in secret places. These daily ministrations, however, if done in the pursuit of the heart of our Lord, honor Him no differently. So let us go forth, anticipating the satisfaction of living in the light of His countenance and delighting in the opportunities to bring our Heavenly Father pleasure.  

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24

"Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you." 1 Samuel 12:24

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58

*I am not necessarily recommending the movie "Chariots of Fire". Unfortunately, as it covers more than the life of Eric Liddel, it includes some immodesty as well as irreverent language.  

He Can't Use It Until He Breaks It

I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, my heart emptied of the many tears that had poured forth earlier that day. I had been wounded like I had never been before and I was alone. In grief, I mentally looked at the pieces of the situation that now lay at my feet, shattered and scattered. 

              

                 I felt broken. 

                         I was broken. 

As I lay there, going over this trail of thought, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the story of the woman who broke her precious, expensive alabaster box of ointment to anoint Jesus. 

"After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread...And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on His head...And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me." 

Mark 14:1,3,6  (KJV)

Then a whisper came to my aching heart that I have never forgotten: 

"I can't use it until I break it"

So simple and so true. The valuable box of ointment was useless living inside the sealed box, though I am sure it was a lovely box to look at, however, there was no practical purpose for it. There was a sweetness in the knowledge that the case held value and hope (It has been thought that the value of the box was to be the woman's dowery), but the ointment itself, held no purpose held out of sight in the canister. It was not until the box was broken and the ointment allowed to be poured out, that the real purpose for the precious spikenard was able to be accomplished. 

Laying there that night, what a comfort this was to my bleeding heart. There was purpose in this breaking and through it was going to bring forth fruit that would not have been borne had I stayed "inside the box". There was hope amid the pain; there is always hope! Again and again, in the scriptures, the Lord promises to heal the broken, bind up wounds, be close to the sorrowful, and comfort those that are hurting. 

"For He maketh sore, and bindeth up: He woundeth, and His hands make whole."

Job 5:18

"I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him."

Isaiah 57:18-19

"O Lord my God, I cried unto Thee, and Thou hast healed me."

Psalm 30:2

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."

Psalm 147:3

"Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." 

2 Corinthians 1:4

"As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted..."

Isaiah 66:13

"The Lord is night unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." 

Psalm 34:18

"I, even I, am He that comforteth you..."

Isaiah 51:12a

"Come, let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up."

Hosea 6:1

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound...to comfort all that mourn..."

Isaiah 61:1, 2b

Over the last little while, the lines from a hymn have replayed themselves through my mind.

"All I have needed Thy hand hath provided-"

~Great Is Thy Faithfulnes~

What a sovereign Father we have! The pain has a purpose! It is good and it is beautiful in His sight. He has allowed it with intent and that intent is only for our good! Such a precious truth to rest upon. He has promised to use the heartache, the bleeding heart, and the broken piece. Each thread of grief is used to make the weaving of our life more complete, and Lord willing, to mold us more into the image of Christ Himself. 

            "The Weaver"            

by Grant Colfax Tuller

My life is but a weaving betwixt the Lord and me,

I do not choose the color-He worketh steadily.

Oftimes He weaveth sorrow and I in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside.

Not till the look is silent, and the shuttle cease to fly

Shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful in the Weaver's skillful hand

As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern

He has planned.

The Arrival of Baby Seaford!

On July 22nd, we received the call from Emma in North Carolina that her contractions remained consistent (she had had prodromal labor for several days) and that we needed to make our way east. Mom and I gathered our things and got them and ourselves in the car and began the long trip, hoping we would make the birth. We would not have been worried if we had been able to look into the next few days!

We made good time on the road and arrived at Emma and Stephen's house safely, but unfortunately, the contractions were not as strong and consistent as we would have hoped for a more speedy delivery. We went to bed anticipating a trip to the birthing center in the middle of the night, but no call came.

Saturday morning found Emma still having contractions, but no significant progression. Emma and I took a walk to try to help labor progress and we spent the rest of the day and most of Sunday, watching movies, pressing pressure points, resting, keeping everyone fed, and applying (and diffusing) essential oils. 

Sunday night the contractions suddenly intensified and after calling a midwife, we were advised to head on to the birthing center. It wasn't quite as chaotic as the scene in "I Love Lucy" when Lucy goes to the hospital, but it was a close rival! =) Mom, Stephen, and I were flying around trying to gather water, keys, electrolytes, a baby carrier, purses, food, etc.

After arriving and getting checked in, the contractions had once again eased up and we began the night watch, continuing to press pressure points and helping Emma change positions to keep labor moving. 

After 4 hours, Emma had not progressed any further than when she had been checked in, and legally the birthing center could not keep her any longer. So after receiving a muscle relaxer, we headed home around 3am to try to get some rest. 

Did I eat ice cream for breakfast? Yes, I did.

Monday morning, after just a few hours of sleep, we began the circuit again. Birthing ball and a movie, essential oils, and another walk. 

I kept the laundry moving. Routine is a good thing in stressful times. 

Around 11:30, Emma and Stephen headed back to the birthing center followed by Mom and me about an hour later. She had progressed further than the night before and was officially admitted into the center. 

"Fueling" for the night ahead at Dunkin!

At 11:22pm after many prayers, tears, perseverance from Emma, and the intervention of the Lord, James Elliot Seaford entered the world!

We watched God work so mightily on our behalf! Birth is such a miracle and I would not have missed being there for a great deal! 

Mom with her first grandchild!

Getting his first bath.

Skyping with the siblings at home. 

Family Life - Summer 2022

It is August ya'll! Absolutely crazy! June and July flew by on wings of speed, and here we are, already beginning to think about the fall, that is fast approaching. June and July were busy months, full of farm work, a family wedding, another prison trip, home responsibilities, and more.

Welcome to a glimpse of life in the Smith household over the past few months!

My cousin, Matthew (right) got married in June. I stopped
by a few days before the expected wedding to say "goodbye"
to my single cousin. Another of my wonderful cousins, Chase,
joined us in the picture. 

We loaded cattle to ship north on the 10th of June. 

"Peaches" was an adorable spectator of the active scene... 

...as was "Ladybug".

Joel is such a hard worker!

Olivia and I attempt to keep track of the paperwork.

Washing bench seats from the van.

We had the joy of traveling to North Carolina for my cousin's 
wedding! Matthew and I have been close since we were little
children, being only 10 months apart in age, and getting to know
Katie has been a lovely delight. 

Always cousins, forever friends!

All 6 of us sisters!

I flew directly from North Carolina to Florida for a week
of prison ministry! As usual, my friend and I were so
glad to walk through another week of ministry together. 
So thankful for this girl! 

Spending a lovely few days with my grandma. 

Some friends from church came up to the farm to 
go blackberry picking. Here is Joel, armed in the 
case of meeting up with any snakes. 

Snoopy, taking in his daily dose of vitamin K.

On July 25th a very happy event took place, but that will receive a post of its own! =)