Do Not Worry

I've mentioned in previous posts my struggle with worry. Recently my worry has been focused on health issues first with Landon and now with myself. There is one area of worry that continues to haunt me since becoming a stay at home mom--money. As we all know, living off one income is extremely difficult. While it is something that is very important to our family and we know that is where God wants us to be, it is still very challenging to trust that our finances will work out. All of this has been hitting me hard here lately as our medical debt rises over the past few weeks.

Thankfully, God's word continues to remind me of what my attitude and mindset should be. God promises to provide, but there is a condition. I overlooked part of this for a long time, until I read the passage in context. There are several verses here, but please read it because I know it will be a blessing to you:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34

Notice that Jesus promises that if we seek first the kingdom of God, He will provide our clothes, food, drink, etc. If we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and doing His will, everything we need will be provided for us.

I must confess that since I began staying home, God has continued to provide for us and bless us abundantly. As we struggled with this decision while I was pregnant, we would look at our budget and just think there was no way possible to do it. Thankfully we serve the God of the impossible!

Who Am I To Question?

Yesterday I faced some continued complications with my health. I was given some potentially scary news and my immediate emotional reaction was worry. I think when anything bad happens to us we begin to question God and His motives (which is exactly what the enemy desires). My immediate reaction was to feel sorry for myself and think "why me?!"

Fortunately, God didn't allow this thinking to last too long, however. I was immediately reminded of the story of Job found in the Old Testament. Satan gains permission from God to test Job's faith. Job loses everyone and everything and eventually begins to suffer physically. Job and his friends question God and God's response puts things into perspective. It puts things in perspective for me too!

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.

Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?

On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone-

while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?" Job 38:4-7

When I question God in these ways, He reminds me that He alone is God. He alone created the universe. When I doubt or question Him, His response can be, "Oh, I'm sorry Ms. Know-it-all. Since you know so much, where were you when I spun the earth into motion? Where were you when I created man?" Ah, how humbling. Even in the most horrible circumstances--God is in control. He has a plan and a purpose (Jeremiah 29:11).

There is one thing I must remember daily. My life isn't going to be perfect. My life isn't even going to probably usually be close to perfect!! BUT, I have one purpose. My purpose is to glorify God in all that I do (1 Corinthians 10:31). What a challenge. I must fall on my knees daily before Him and pray that He will help me do that. I know I can't do it on my own!

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will..." Ephesians 1:11

Those close to me know that over the past few weeks I have gone through a very horrible experience. And also if you know me, you will know that I am not a very private person. I am almost always eager to share what is going on or has happened. My husband and I are very opposite in this regard. I feel like everything that I go through God can use to encourage someone else--so why not share it!

So back to my point, a few weeks ago I lost the sweet baby I was carrying. I was seven weeks pregnant and, unfortunately, had an ectopic pregnancy. I had to have emergency surgery and through God's mercy I am alive and healthy. I feel as though I should be sorrowful and mourning, but God has overshadowed any grief with a spirit full of thanksgiving. I am so grateful for how He has worked through the situation. So many blessings have come through the awful ordeal that I can't help but praise Him and thank Him. The above verse reminds me that He is in complete control and will work even the bad and ugly out in His will. Ahh, I'm so glad He is in control. I don't know why this happened, but PRAISE Him because He knows!!

I could be angry. I could be hurt. I could be questioning. But by God's mercy He reminds me of what His will is for me. His will is for me to be thankful in ALL situations:

"give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I know bad things may happen in the future and I may not have this perspective then. But I must give God all the praise and glory right now because He has given me His perspective in this situation. I can only pray that He would continue to give me this perspective in the future when things are hard. So when people ask me how I am doing, I can only say--I am doing better than I deserve!! Praise Jesus!

Itchy Ears

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Do you think the above verses could ever apply more than today? In a society where truth is relative, it is easy to see we are living in the time the above verses warned about. There are so many who listen to teaching that makes them feel good, that makes them comfortable, and challenges them in no way. The Bible warns us from following such false teaching. Even though God's Word can make us uncomfortable at times, even though it often convicts us, and even though it doesn't always make for warm and fuzzy conversation--it is truth. Sound doctrine does not waver in relativism. In a society where tolerance has taken on a new meaning, it is easy to see Paul's warning being lived out.

Feast of Trumpets

"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

Trumpet blasts are blown for the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, known as the Feast of Trumpets. Somehow I had never learned this until recently, but many believe the Rapture will happen on the last trumpet blast during the Feast of Trumpets. These individuals believe that is the trumpet blast Paul was speaking of in the above verse. Of course, we are told we don't know when Jesus will rapture believers to heaven. He said of that day and hour no one knows, but we are to watch for the signs. What is interesting is that the Feast of Trumpets is also known as "No one knows the day or hour" to the Jewish people. The reason for this being that it was celebrated at the appearing of the new moon--which they had to wait to watch for.

While we aren't to set dates, we are to watch for signs. Could September's Feast of Trumpets be it? I'm waiting anxiously to find out! We might not have much time left!!