tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193225017879543369.post1223546352491597671..comments2023-09-20T07:06:19.249-05:00Comments on Seeking Faithfulness: Discerning God's Will for our LivesHollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419728761742443893noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193225017879543369.post-72760050199674381782011-08-11T17:15:56.583-05:002011-08-11T17:15:56.583-05:00Sometimes I think "leaders" think they&#...Sometimes I think "leaders" think they're doing us a favor in pushing us in a direction we don't want to go, thinking that something else might open up for us. Once in a while that happens, but I think more often, we tend to know what we like and don't, where are strengths are and are not. <br /><br />Exploited the most - what an interesting way to look at it! I'll certainly have to give that some thought. :)DarcsFalconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01757804686134389853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193225017879543369.post-72229281602323220652011-08-01T11:57:03.913-05:002011-08-01T11:57:03.913-05:00Jill, thank you. I am becoming ever more aware of...Jill, thank you. I am becoming ever more aware of the need to help my children "know themselves." I don't think I realized that, really, until the last few years.<br /><br />Andrea, thank you sweet friend!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193225017879543369.post-71090074792430978682011-08-01T11:55:41.657-05:002011-08-01T11:55:41.657-05:00Yeah, I always enjoy Jennifer's posts! :) Lo...Yeah, I always enjoy Jennifer's posts! :) Love her!<br /><br />I find that I don't disagree! For example, Jennifer is a wife and mom first, but she also has a unique voice in that she was an atheist who converted to Catholicism - she has a passion for writing and God is using her in many ways. She gave some great advice, makes me wish that I had a spiritual advisor! :)<br /><br />I think that my main role in God's Kingdom is raising this family that God graciously gave to Jeff and me. Sometimes I think about all of the different things I could have done with my life, but I've never regretted working within my vocation. (Translation....being a mom and a wife and helping people who need help, such as my parents and other elderly people and neighbor kids, etc.) I used to think I'd be a career woman working in the newspaper world, then I thought I'd be a nurse (and I think I'd have done well with either of those things.) I have found, though, that there are elements of each of those things within mothering - God uses it all! Nothing is wasted....<br /><br />Sometimes I'm amazed when I think of all of the roles that being a mother encompasses: teaching, organizing, cooking, spiritual direction (Ha!), goodness...so many things that I can't even list. I'm even good at fileting fish and working on lawn mowers. :)<br /><br />I'm glad I'm a wife and a mom. I'm glad that's my primary (and all-consuming) job at this point! I'm glad that's what He's called me to do. Of course, even within our primary vocations God still has gifted us and we should try to discern what these are and what we are to do with them. (I believe, anyway...)<br /><br />I was writing, primarily, with young people in mind - those who are still developing and exploring and understanding themselves in light of the gifts God has given them. They do not have established vocation yet - though you (via Jennifer's post) brought some good things to think about to mind! Sometimes we *do* miss the obvious, such as, "have you prayed about that?" That should be a "duh" statement, but I'm sorry to say that I sometimes still have to stop and remind myself of first things first. Pray! Always! :)<br /><br />Thanks, Sara! :)<br /><br />HollyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193225017879543369.post-47067955619454545442011-08-01T09:27:23.418-05:002011-08-01T09:27:23.418-05:00I don't know if this would be in line with wha...I don't know if this would be in line with what you believe about this (I think it is), but Jen at Conversion Diary wrote about about the very same thing this week and I thought it was pretty good. Here's the link:<br /><br />http://www.conversiondiary.com/2011/08/6-questions-my-spiritual-director-would-ask.htmlsarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05372272007182679464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193225017879543369.post-31421627142118133152011-07-31T12:35:38.905-05:002011-07-31T12:35:38.905-05:00Couldn't have said it better, Holly. wise word...Couldn't have said it better, Holly. wise words.Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247035131903329580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193225017879543369.post-47880755515710442622011-07-31T09:04:18.497-05:002011-07-31T09:04:18.497-05:00Great post, Holly! Made me think of a recent inter...Great post, Holly! Made me think of a recent interpretation of Isaiah 58:10 that I read: "and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday" (NIV). We become who we are intended by God to be (that is, we SHINE and so, the Lord shines through us)when we SPEND ourselves, and through the guidance of the Spirit, we can only spend what we have been uniquely blessed with--our gifts and talents. It seems there are an infinite number of these, many more than the handful the world generally values. Sorry, in a way, that your kids had to face the challenge they did from inside the church. But I say "in a way" because it's obvious they've come out of it with an even better sense of themselves! :DJillWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193225017879543369.post-8325168423460150992011-07-31T08:27:48.277-05:002011-07-31T08:27:48.277-05:00Rachel, your daughter sounds amazing. It is so in...Rachel, your daughter sounds amazing. It is so interesting to watch as the little ones begin to develop and to learn just who they are. I know that you are an awesome mama. :)<br /><br />Some of my children have not realized their passions nor interests until they have hit the teenaged years. Even then, they are still discovering new areas along the way. I often wonder about my youngest ones. Who will they be?Hollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10419728761742443893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193225017879543369.post-82667360302004006422011-07-31T05:37:36.403-05:002011-07-31T05:37:36.403-05:00My daughter is an extremely talented artist. I te...My daughter is an extremely talented artist. I tell her all the time she has a God given talent. She is also legally blind. I feel this just makes her talent even more amazing. I top that off with the fact she is training for horse jumping and dressage. She is amazing, but she wants to hide her disability and deny she has it. I am trying to encourage her to embrace it and allow God to use it for His glory. <br /><br />My two year old also has the same eye condition. I am anxious to see what talents He gives her. She already has a beautiful voice and loves to sing. <br /><br />As a mother of five, I try hard to encourage my kids to find something they enjoy.Rachel E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06029197864979891111noreply@blogger.com