Just Have Faith.

Note:  This post is about my faith in Jesus and thoughts about prayer.  I debated for awhile about writing this, but I feel like it's something that's pressing on my heart.  If it offends you, I'm sorry.  Maybe you should get to know my Jesus a little better so it doesn't. :)

A man in my Sunday school class posed this question this week:  Why pray to God for him to change things if bad things are still going to happen to good people?

At first, I was shocked that someone would be so open about their doubts that the Lord answers prayers during a church's Sunday school class.  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized....haven't we all been there?  Haven't we thought, after losing a loved one: "Where were you God?  Why didn't you save my loved one?  Why did you take them?"  Haven't we thought, after watching a random act of terror happen in our country:  "Where were you God?  Why would you allow something like that to happen??"  After all, don't we, as Christians face the question all the time:  "If God existed, why is there suffering in the world?"  If you're like me, I've struggled to answer that question.  How do you tell an atheist that you just believe.  I don't have to have reasons for everything, I just know He's there.  I know what He's done in my life and that's proof enough for me.  Does that mean my life is easy?  Far from it.  I've had my share of hard times and grief.  God NEVER promised that life as a Christian would be easy.  Think about it:  if God had promised that, if you became a Christian, life would be without suffering or hardships or grief....don't you think more people would be flocking to Jesus??  A God that promises an easy life with no suffering?  Sign me up!  No, I don't know why He works the way He does.  I don't know why He gives Satan so much power sometimes and allows for bad things to happen.  I just have faith.  I have faith that God has reasons for everything He does.  And that it's not for me to understand everything He has planned.  Maybe he took that little girl from this world so another person could watch her bravely fight and come to know Him through her battle.  Who am I to question?

As much as I don't know and question God, I do know this:

---Prayer changes things.
"Ask, and it will be given to you.  Seek and you will find."  {Matthew 7:7}

Does that mean that God is going to give you exactly what you're praying for?  I saw a perfect quote on Pinterest:

"God always answers prayers with 3 answers:  1. Yes  2. Not yet  3. I have something better in mind"

We, as His followers, just have to trust that God is working for your best interests.  Yes, sometimes that means letting bad things happen to you.  No, I can't explain why.

---We all die.  Does that mean that your death will be easy?  No.  You could get cancer, have a heart attack, be in a car wreck.  It may not be pleasant.  But stop and think about what's on the other side of death.  Jesus.  He's waiting for you.  I would gladly suffer my last months on Earth, knowing that my Savior is on the other side, waiting with open arms.


I was really stewing about writing this post, because the question in Sunday school really got me thinking.  And then this song played on my Pandora station and I knew it was a sign.  Whatever you're going through, my friend....He's there.  You may feel like He's not listening or He's abandoned you, but He's right by your side.

Do you wonder why you have to,
Feel the things that hurt you,
If there's a God who loves you,
Where is He now?

Maybe, there are things you can't see
And all those things are happening
To bring a better ending
Some day, some how, you'll see, you'll see

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
That you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
Can't compare to the joy that's coming

So hold on, you got to wait for the light
Press on, just fight the good fight
Because the pain you've been feeling, 
It's just the dark before the morning

My friend, you know how this all ends
And you know where you're going,
You just don't know how you get there
So just say a prayer.
And hold on, cause there's good who love God,
Life is not a snapshot, it might take a little time,
But you'll see the bigger picture

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
That you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
Can't compare to the joy that's coming

So hold on, you got to wait for the light
Press on, just fight the good fight
Because the pain you've been feeling, 
It's just the dark before the morning
Yeah, yeah,
Before the morning,
Yeah, yeah

Once you feel the way of glory,
All your pain will fade to memory
Once you feel the way of glory,
All your pain will fade to memory
Memory, memory, yeah

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
That you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
Can't compare to the joy that's coming

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
That you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
Can't compare to the joy that's coming

C'mon, you got to wait for the light
Press on, just fight the good fight
Because the pain you've been feeling,
It's just the hurt before the healing
The pain you've been feeling,
Just the dark before the morning
Before the morning, yeah, yeah
Before the morning

The Proverbs 31 Project

Recently, I finished reading a book called "My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 wife" for a church book club (nevermind that the club met back last winter and I'm just now finishing the book....that's completely irrelevant) and it had a profound impact on my view of my status as a wife and mother. 
Basically, the book is about one woman's journey to be the perfect "Proverbs 31" wife.  In the book of Proverbs in the Bible, in chapter 31, is a description of a wife of noble character--the wife we are all supposed to strive to be on a daily basis:

^{10 [b]}A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

 

Seriously?  Who are you kidding, book of Proverbs??  "She gets up while it is still night and provides food for her family"??  "She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands"??  Where's the verse about the husband rising up at night to see to the affairs of the household?  Or the husband doing his part to raise a family?  Why is it all about the woman's duties and things she should be doing?  When I first analyzed this verse, I was really miffed...to be completely honest.  I didn't see why it all fell on the woman's shoulders to keep the family fed, clothed, clean and happy.  This is the 21st century, for goodness sake!!  But after my self-rightous thoughts subsided, I was ashamed.  Does my husband "rise up and call me blessed and praise me?"  Do I always "speak with wisdom with faithful instruction on my tongue?"  Unfortunately, I know the answer without having to dig very deep.  So that inspired me to start my own "Proverbs 31 Project" to become the wife, mother, homemaker and daughter of God that I am supposed to be--that I NEED to be.  I have got to get out of this lazy mindset that the wash can wait until tomorrow and that it won't kill us to eat fast food just one more day this week until I can make it to the grocery.  Today, I'm going to start striving to be a "Proverbs 31" wife of the 21st century and I'm going to show you how you can too.  It doesn't mean that we have to make our family's clothing from scratch or wake up in the morning before the sun rises to ensure we get everything done.  It is about taking responsibility and realizing that the home and our family's happiness does depend on us--like it or not.  I don't expect to become June Cleaver by the end of this project, but I do expect to be a darn good wife, mother and Christian when it's over.  So......day 1 initiated.  

 



Blog posts...written by God?

Do you ever hear God talking and you just ignore it, blaming it on concidence or your own thoughts leading you to a conclusion that you're looking for?  Not so, my friend.  God speaks, it's your choice whether or not you want to stop trying to control everything and listen to Him.  Unfortunately, for too long I've tried to do everything myself.  Avery doesn't sleep--I read parenting books for solutions, listen to the advice of other moms, let her cry it out, give her cereal before bed, let her sleep on the couch with her daddy, read some more parenting books.  My house is a wreck--I get mad, I blame it on Marty, I make excuses and that I'm too exhausted from working my daytime job and dealing with Avery, I complain that I shouldn't be the only one to handle all the homemaking.  Things happen that are out of my control--I ask "Why me?,"  I panic, I plan, I over-think and over-analyze.   Not once is my first reaction to stop and pray.  To ask God to ease my burden and help me through my problem.  I'm not embarassed to tell you this because I'm finally admitting that I'm not a Supermommy.  No matter how hard I try, I cannot control everything in my life and make things completely perfect.  I have a Father for that.  A Father who has cared for and loved me from the very moment I was stitched in my mother's womb.  He "knew the plans He had for me" and what was in store for my life.  So, why on earth do I think that I can handle my life  better than He who created all things??  Here lately, I've been feeling so overwhelmed.  Like there's too much going on in my life and, instead of trying to make things positive and look at the brighter side and hope for the best, I want to give it all up.  I want to quit and complain that life is too hard and I shouldn't be expected to handle all that's coming our way.  Do you think it was easy for Jesus to come to earth and die for you?  To be nailed to a cross just so you and I can have eternal life?  So who am I to complain about my 10 month old's lack of sleep or my piles of laundry?  God has been talking to me a lot lately, and I've been ignoring Him.  Whether it's through my Sunday school lesson or an email from my SIL, He's been there.  Like a little child, I've stuck my fingers in my ears and turned away.  Until today.  I found a new blog called Aunt Ruthie's Sugar Pie Farmhouse, which posts about making your home into a Southern farmhouse and being a homemaker.  You wouldn't think that would be the place that God would choose to talk to me...but He did.  I came across this post about finding the motivation to do things that we deem as being "too hard" or not taking care of our homes because we "don't feel like it."  Lord knows I'm all too guilty of that.  I think that I can justify those 6 loads of dirty laundry sitting in the floor because I've had a long day or I have to cook dinner.  The entire post got my attention.  "Be the mama you want to be (even when you don't feel like it)" and "Tending to the hearth and home is a gift of LOVE" were all screaming out like they were written especially for me.  It was a wake-up call to my current attitude.  Unfortunately, the temperature in my house lately has been on too hot, with me being irrational and angry.  Don't I want to create a warm and cozy environment for my family to live in?  It was like God was talking right to me.  He was telling me "Listen.  I'm talking to you.  I've given you a husband, a child, a home.  I've blessed you by making you a wife and a mother.  There are duties that go with these cherished titles.  Do them and be happy while you're at it.  And above all my child, stop complaining."  Nothing like your Heavenly Creator telling you to suck it up and stop whining about things.  I've been terrible to be around lately because I've been so focused on the things that weren't going the way I wanted them to...when all along, they've been going the way He wants.  I heard a quote in our last Sunday school lesson that seems pretty appropriate: "If everyone were to throw their problems out into the middle of the room for all to see, you'd be quick to grab your own problems back."  Im going to stop my complaining and face situations head-on....by getting on my knees and praying about them first.  And to cherish the jobs that the Lord has given me.  Not everyone gets to experience the blessing of marriage or the wonder of motherhood.  I need to cherish the moments that I'm given and treat them with love and joy.  Message received Lord.