This has been a good week. Well, under the circumstances of being broke, yeah it’s been a great week. I mentioned in an earlier post that I went to a job interview. Well, the update is that I didn’t get that job. But, a few days later I did go to another job interview and I did get that other job. Yesterday was my first day of giving conversational English to Spanish speaking kids. I used music as a tool and it was the best decision I made. Kids made great comments to their parents and the lady owner of the school was happy about it and she let me know.
Also, during this last week I started giving voice lessons to church goers on Monday night. There’s something about teaching others that makes me feel that I’m doing God’s will. When God gives you a talent, the best thing you can do is use it to bless others.
So, I was very busy making plans, looking online for ideas to spice up the lessons for my students so that they could have fun while they learn when I made the mistake of reading the news. Suddenly I saw the photograph of a tall man dressed completely in black. His face was completely covered except for his eyes. His left hand held a knife while another man dressed in orange kneeled beside him with a sad face seemingly accepting the unavoidable fate of his demise. Suddenly, I felt distressed.
There I was feeling good about myself and enjoying my life while others suffer. Am I wicked when I make plans for a blessed future for my daughter and myself while others are being battered, murdered, tortured and even massacred?
“So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 2:17
This morning I prayed. I prayed for the persecuted churches in North Korea, China, Iraq, Afghanistan, Mexico, Africa, Indonesia, Pakistan and all other countries where women are being mistreated or enslaved, kids are being massacred, men are being jailed or executed. I prayed for those parents forced to endure the pain of watching helplessly as their adored offspring are being beheaded for reasons they don’t even care for. I prayed for God to fight for His people, the innocent, the hurting, the lowly…. I prayed for peace that passes understanding.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
And I pray for us, that we appreciate the time that we can share with our families, that we learn to put our plans into God’s hands; that we learn to listen to His voice and obey Him. I pray that all of those who read this post are loved, blessed, protected, touched by His hand and that may we never lose hope…
Lauriann's Search 
Thanks for sharing the wonderful Word of God. It’s the comfort we need in times of doubt. Your comments are always a blessing. God Bless You
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How wonderful Lauriann you are enjoying your work and the Children are enjoying you, God knew where He wanted you.
A time to Laugh, a time to Dance, a time to be Proud of what we do in the Lords name (see below) both for Him and for others, if Jesus is our focus what we do for them, we are doing for Him when motivated by our heart. Jesus said we will always have the poor and yes we will always have those who are suffering, those who persecuted and those who are Martyred, they could be us one day. No we don’t laugh at suffering and if we can help those in need we do so willingly but we also don’t become dead to the Joy we can have too. God has given us beauty in His creation, He gives us wonderful gifts to use for Him and not to waste in despair and He also gives us enjoyment in those things.
Ecclesiastes 5:19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. (KJV)
1 Timothy 6:17-18 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;(KJV)
Galatians 6: 4 Each one should understand their own actions. Then they can take Pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to others.
2 Corinthians 8:24 show these men the proof of your Love and the reason for our Pride in you, so that the Churches can see it.
2 Corinthians 5:11-12 We are giving you an opportunity to take Pride in us not trying to commend ourselves again to you , so that you have an answer for those who take Pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.
Romans 11:13b I take Pride in my Ministry.
Christian Love from us both – Anne
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