Women’s Ministry Minute
June 17, 2020
With Gloria Shasteen
2 Samuel 17:10 Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt in fear, for all Israel knows that your Father is a fighter and that those with Him are brave.
We are all brave sometimes and fearful in other times but what’s important is to realize that we are not alone in our battles. On April 4, 2019 I lost my husband, Bob, and my world changed forever.
To share a little background, Bob and I got married when I was just 16 years old and he was 22. Up until that time my parents made all my decisions. After we were married, Bob was in control. I stayed in high school to finish my education and now instead of my parents signing off on my report cards - Bob was! At that time report cards were sent home and had to be signed and returned. Anyone who knew Bob can probably imagine how much he enjoyed giving me static if I didn’t have straight A’s! I went from my parents being in charge to Bob being in charge.
When Bob passed, we had been married 60 years! Now that Bob was gone, I was on my own to make decisions. Don’t get me wrong, Bob had already given me directions on what I was supposed to do at his death. He had laid it all out: 1) have an auction, 2) sell the farm, and 3) move to Champaign. The steps were clear but doing it was another thing. For years I had been struggling with knee pain and the thought of lifting boxes or going up and down stairs to clear the basement sounded beyond what I could handle. “God,” I prayed, “what am I going to do?” Well God answered! He said “Stop complaining; you are a strong, smart woman and I am with you! Begin by making a list.”
So I made a list, called an auctioneer, scheduled an auction date, checked out places to live in Champaign, collected boxes, and called a realtor to have the farm valued to set the price. Meanwhile, the neighbors on both sides of the farm called to see if I was selling and both offered to buy! One offered to pay the exact price and the other made an offer much less than asking. Of course I took the full price offer! Next, my family group of girls came and helped with packing and filling boxes. I set out looking and found an apartment in Champaign (located right by another family from our small group). Then my family group of guys came to the farm and set everything up for the auction. What a job that was!! The campus students also helped out by loading the moving truck and finally the day after church services on June 29th, twenty-six people from church helped to unload and move me into my new place!
John 15:12-13 My command is this; Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Through this I realized that without God I couldn’t do this, but with His help and His peoples help I could! I learned not to fear but to be brave and pray and God would take care of me. Through it all God showed me how much He loved me and that He would never let me down.
Psalm 144:2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues people under me.
Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.