Two Passages that Give me Comfort

Galatians 6

Doing Good to All

 ¹ Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. ² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. ³ If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. ⁴ Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, ⁵ for each one should carry their own load. ⁶ Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

 ⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

This passage has become one of my favorites over the passed few months.  It gives me comfort when I think my actions and efforts in my ministry are futile and not appreciated.  It has also comforted me when I feel I can’t carry on, because usually in those times a good friend comes to the rescue and gives me the encouragement I need, and all I can say is Thank you to God.  For he always knows when my spirit is weary and He reminds me that my work for his kingdom is good work and that it matters to him, that I am important to Him.  Verses 9-10 are my theme as I think I am either too tired or too pregnant to do all the things that I want to. 

I know that my life is not my own and that the time that I spend in doing the things for the Lord, my harvest will one day be great.  And even when I think the kids on Wednesday nights can’t scream louder and they always do, I think back to this verse and many others for the drive to continue to offer a safe environment for them.  Surprisingly enough after each session of 10-12 weeks, I find that the process of running the program and implementing each night becomes smoother and smoother.  I know this is God’s hand, we as the leaders were faithful and didn’t throw in the towel, so God is faithful as always.  I will be sad when April comes, I have to say good bye to the kids and the program for awhile.  It is for good reason, and even in my joy of becoming a mommy and teaching a new child in the ways of the Lord, I will miss my Wednesday nights kids.

Luke 12

Do Not Worry

 ²² Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life^[b]? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

I often worry.  I know, I shouldn’t and have probably written on this subject many times before.  I worry more and more now that I am getting closer and closer to becoming a mom (11weeks and 2 days, but who is counting).  I worry that there will be something wrong with my child or that I will be terrible at breastfeeding or a million other things.  The passage above calms my fears, because Jesus was right (as always), I cannot add a single hour to my life by worrying.  Instead, now I pray harder than I think I ever have.  I pray for the health, happiness, and safety of my child, I pray for the adjustment period our family is about to embark on, I pray that God will have his hand on every thing that happens, and that He will be my shelter and shoulder to lean on.

All my life I wanted what was normal, but then I ask myself what is normal? Normal by the world’s standards has never given me the comfort and security that I have sought.  It is only the narrow that Jesus laid out that has given me comfort and security in life. When I have been on the path less traveled by, the one not easily taken has been when my life has been the most satisfying and rewarding.  I will cling to this as I embark on motherhood and try to embrace all the new challenges, fears, and worries that come with it.  For, I trust that my God is faithful and he always comes through even if I can’t always see it right away.

Just this past week, I was so worried about a particular situation that I couldn’t sleep.  I tossed and turned and for me right now that is very uncomfortable.  All my friends said not to worry or lose sleep, but I couldn’t help it.  I prayed with all my might that God would take the situation, and you know what.  He DID!  The next day it seemed everything had worked out without me, God had paved the way for my anxiety to go away.  I believe it was his subtle way of telling me “Just trust in me.”

I can’t say that I will stop worrying completely but I am striving to learn this principle and apply it.  You are probably thinking that this is the worst time to implement something so hard, when your worries are going to increase 100fold soon.  But, I look at it as God’s way for preparing me for motherhood and to chill me out, so I can enjoy the experience and not worry the time away and miss it.

The Love Day

Today is Valentine's Day or to single people looking for that special someone "Singles Awareness Day."

I used to be one of those single people that dreaded Valentine's Day, because I always felt lonely or left out.  I thought that if I met my sweety right then those days would be behind me, and I would get what all those chick flicks talk about.  Well, I have news for you, when I got married I still was without a Valentine on the love day.  My husband travels and it seems like every year he has to be gone on Valentine's day.  Now, I know that he is still my Valentine, and I love him dearly, plus we don't really do the stereotypical Valentine's plans anyway.  But all my single days, I thought I was going to get this fairy tale, story book, Valentine's day, and I didn't.  I got something better.

Better, you say, is a relative term and if you wanted the "storybook" deal why are you writing this, you ask.  Well I will tell you.  The storybook romance isn't real.  It is, in part, in the beginning of a relationship when you still wear makeup everywhere because you want him to think you naturally look like that all the time.  But, relationships are work, HARD WORK.  Not work that is bad, but work that is rewarding, and fulfilling, and worth it if the other person works just as hard as you.

Our pastor delivered a message on Sunday about Love, and sharing love with everyone on Valentine's Day.  God's love.  I believe that my Love Days are special because we don't just make grand gestures on specials days like Valentine's Day, Anniversaries, Birthdays, etc. We try to make every day special.  We do this because we love each other, and we love God.  God loves us every day, so we love each other every day.  Therefore, on random days, we do special things for one another.  The hubby buys me just cause presents, like the other day.  My tea strainer broke and I was very upset because I have tea leaves and it is hard to drink tea with them floating to the top of your mug.  He brought one home because he knew I needed a new one, so now every time I have a cup of tea, I think about my honey bunny.  Or me...I do the majority of the grocery shopping, and sometimes when I feel he needs a pick me up, I will buy him a surprise at the store, something that he likes, but I don't normally buy.  Example: those frosted sugar cookies with the colored icing.  Those cookies make my teeth hurt just looking at them, but he enjoys them.  I don't like him to have them very often because they are really bad for you, but sometimes you just have to let them enjoy!

Here are a few verses of what God says about love:

1 John 4:7
[ God’s Love and Ours ] Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:21
And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

John 13:34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
1 Peter 1:22
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
These are just a few verses of so many that our creator speaks about love.  I can't even say that I up hold one of these truths all the time.  So instead of focusing on what we don't get for Valentine's day or what our Valentine's day isn't, I am going to try to love like these verses and so many others teach.

I want to love my husband, and my future child as much as God loves us. God commands that we love.  Love isn't a bad thing, it is something to devote oneself too.  God loved us first, so we can love...that kind of love is amazing.  To be loved by another human like that is a great thing.  That is what I want to strive for this Valentine's day, to love like Christ Loved! (He loved with his very life).

Worries!

I find myself constantly having panic attacks these days.  I have read in my pregnancy books that this is a common thing, but didn't think it would happen to me.  The hubs thinks that I am freaking out for nothing, and it is hard to explain to him my fears.

My first fear was that I wasn't really pregnant but just getting super fat; almost as if I had a giant tumor growing in my abdomen.  Here is the point where my mother would give me a dirty look and say not to call her grand baby that, but I really felt this way.  I was super excited on my first and second ultrasound to see the critter as I call him, look like he should.  So first fear subsided but didn't go away totally.  It just went into the back of my brain replaced by fear number 2.

Fear number 2 was that my baby would be damaged because of my job.  I am a research chemist, and have taken all kinds of precautionary measures to guard myself and baby.  But then you hear the stories.  Stories about how they knew someone with my job and their kid got autism...great I think because not only do I have that job, but I am having a boy.  And boys are 4 times more likely than girls to get it.  I rationalize to myself that autism doesn't run in my family, but then the fear of they don't know what causes autism creeps up.  So now every time I do something in the lab at work, I pray God keep my baby safe.  Again the hubby thinks I have lost it and that baby boy will be just fine, but I can't help the panic attacks.

Fear number 3 was that my life is going to change and I am going to have no friends and no life.  Besides the fact that I think that my baby is going to have a disability, I think that I am going to be trapped at home with no relief.  People have even questioned my decsion to come back to work and put my kid in daycare.  They say "You aren't going to want to leave that baby" or "You won't be doing that once the baby comes."  Come on people give me a break...I already think those things.  I don't need to be reminded.  I second guess every decsion we have made regarding junior here.  Even though we have picked and have a spot at one of the best daycares in the city, I still ask the hubsand if we made the right choice.  I just think that if I were to be a stay at home mom, I woud feel trapped and resentful.  Now, I am glad I have the option if I change my mind, and I am glad that their are people out there that choose that and succeed.  I just don't see myself as one of them.

Fear number 4 was fear of being a terrible mother.  I have these wonderful ideas of parenting, but I wonder if they are wonderful or harmful.  They line up with parenting books ideas, and it isn't like I haven't been around kids, taught kids, and run kids programs.  But, I don't want to screw up my kids life.  To that people say "It doesn't matter you are going to anyway." Well thanks, that sort of gives me the confidence booster I need.  I am grateful for those who tell me I am going to be a great mom, but I really want to ask them how they know.  Because I don't???  I want to be a fun mommy who cares, is there for and supports my child.

Probably my biggest fear of them all is Fear number 5.  The fear of losing control.  I know right, me a control freak, who would have guessed that?  It was hard when I gave my control of my life to God, but that was the greatest decision I ever made.  Granted it was well after I had accepted Christ, I just had to be reminded that my life is not my own.  The question remains, can I do the same when it comes to my child?  Can I give God the control and seek his wisdom and listen and do what he speaks?  I worry that I won't be able to, and that my child will suffer because I didn't listen, I didn't obey, and I didn't have enough faith.

I find comfort from these:

Psalm 68:19
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Philippians 4:6-7
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus

1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.