Support When You Need It

    Some of you may know that I am expecting a little one this year. It's exciting but it's also been a journey. Those of you who have been pregnant before know what I'm talking about. Being pregnant comes with so many changes, pain, and emotions. Some of these things are considered normal when it comes to pregnancy. But, if you are like me as this is my first child, you don't know what is considered normal. Sure, you can Google your symptoms and see what the Internet says, but sometimes you don't know for sure because the Internet lies sometimes.

   One symptom I've had more recently is crying for no reason. I don't like to cry. I don't like people seeing me cry; and I'm even struggling sharing this with you all right now. But, I've always prided myself on being authentic with others, especially in my writings. And, as usual, there is a lesson in this. 

   On a Saturday, which was a nice relaxing day overall, I began to feel sad. Honestly it began with a thought: am I going to be a good mom? Sure, I've taught and worked with students who are preschool age and up, but it's different when it is your child. You are responsible for them completely. I am happy to say, I cut that thought off and didn't go down that spiral. I began to focus on the good things in my life, or I tried to. Then suddenly I began crying. I didn't think about anything negative but I just kept crying. It began to freak me out, but I tried to rationalize. "This will pass. My husband says this is okay and normal. God will help you through this. Everything is okay." And, just when I thought I was done crying, I would start up again. I was confused and scared. The only thing that stopped it was going to bed.

   I woke up the next day tired. It was Sunday and my husband asked me if I wanted to go to church. My head said "no, I don't want to go. I don't want to risk crying there." But I knew that I was just as likely to cry at home and I would be focused on it instead of God. I also knew that Satan was possiblity trying to get a foothold in my life. He wanted me to isolate so I would feel alone and sad. So, I said I wanted to go to church. 

   We went to church and worship began. I felt the spirit in me a bit but was also trying not to cry so I didn't completely let myself get into worship. Then we had a break in between singing and the message. My husband left to get coffee. The pastor came up to me and asked how I was doing. I said, "okay" because at that point I was. She asked how I was feeling and how the baby was doing. I told her that all the scans from the doctors were good. The pastor nodded and said, "well, we are praying for you." I lost it. Tears trickled down my face. Placing a hand on my shoulder she said, "it's been rough for you hasn't it?" I nodded and she continued, "the Bible tells us that this is only a season and, after the child is born, you will forget about all this and have joy." Then she hugged me and told me that my husband and I would be good parents.

   My husband came back and saw I was crying. He gave me a hug. Then the service continued. After church, we had a fellowship meal. Two more women came up to me, asked how I was doing, I kept it together, I told them the truth, and they both encouraged me and told me that we were going to be good parents. I hadn't told any of these women the thought I had that I wouldn't be a good mom. Yet, they knew exactly what to say. If I would have stayed home, I wouldn't have gotten encouraged or the support they gave me.

   This is why it is so important to have a church family. These people know you and can support you. They love you and will call you out if needed. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us this as well. The verse says, "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Meeting as the body of Christ is important. It shows that we have unity and we can do more together than we can do separately. 

   So, are you part of a body of believers who support you and care for you? How can you support and encourage someone today? 

Peace in Knowing

   One series of movies and shows that most of my family enjoy watching is Star Wars. A while back they had a show originally on Cartoon Network called Star Wars The Clone Wars. My favorite character in this series was Ahsoka Tano. She was a Padawan who was being trained by her master, Anakin Skywalker. Throughout the whole series I was concerned she would die because she was not in any other Star Wars movies or shows. Then, after season 4 the show was taken off Cartoon Network. 

   For years I did not know what happened in season 5 and 6. But a new show came on Disney called Star Wars Rebels. In this show I got the surprise that Ahsoka was in it! How she survived order 66 or being Anakin's padawan I did not know but she was alive! I was so excited.

   Years later Disney+ came out and had seasons 5 and 6 of the Clone Wars on it. I was excited to watch it to find out more about my favorite character. But I was also comforted. See, when the Clone Wars originally came out, I was always concerned that Ahsoka would die. But now that I had seen Star Wars Rebels, I knew she would live. Because of that I had peace.

   Just like I had peace during scary moments in those shows we can have peace too. We know that no matter what we face on earth God is with us. He has told us how the story will end.

   1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says: "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."

   We know Jesus is coming back. He died on the cross for our sins so we can be with him in eternity. That means we do not have to worry about death if we know him as our personal savior. We can have peace in knowing Him.

   So, do you know Jesus as your personal savior? Are you comforted by the fact that you know the end of the story? 

The Love Passage

   Whenever you go to a wedding, which is between Christians, there is one part of the Bible that is usually recited. 1 Corinthians 13 is known as the love passage in the Bible. Why, out of all the passages on love, is this one chosen? Let's delve a little deeper into this passage.
   In the passage verses 1-3 talk about things like people having these great powers. I somewhat picture great prophets like Elijah, Elisha, Samuel, and so on doing all these miracles like healing the sick and creating food out of what seemed like nothing. 
   The verses then say that if these people with these powers don't have love then they have nothing. Think about one of your favorite super heroes. What if that hero did not love others? What if that hero did not care about anyone else? I think that hero would more than likely become a villain. Could that be what happens to those of us who do not love? Think about the villains you know. What happens to most of them because they don't love?

   Verses 4-7 give us a definition of love that is much better than the dictionary, in my opinion. We find what love is and what it is not. Love is patient, kind, rejoices in truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Sounds like a major load to carry, right? Love is not about you, or what you think you can get out of it. Love is about others. When we have choices each day, we should choose love. We know this but do we always do this? When you are driving and cut off by someone will you call them a name or forgive, in love? When you are tired but you promised you would do something for someone do you give into your own needs? Do you choose to love by sacrificing your time, money, etc?
   The last verses (8-13) go back to the beginning of the passage. "Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away" (1 Cor.13.8). Those prophets and heroes will pass away. People may remember their amazing acts of heroism, but most people remember how they acted, who they were, and their character. No matter what powers or gifts you have, if you don't use them to show God's love to others what is the point of being here? 
   That is why love is the greatest of all attributes. If we try to do everything in love then the other character traits we may lack, because of sinful nature, will come. It is just a matter of choice. We must choose to love.
   So, will you choose to be a hero for others or a villain by only doing things for yourself? Will you choose to sacrifice yourself and your possessions to show love to others? Will you choose to love?
   1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Romans 12:9-10, 1 John 4:7

Not My Truth

   One day I was sitting at my previous job working on a project while the children were napping. My co-teacher looked out the window and said, "it's raining." I replied, "no" because I didn't want to stay inside with the children. It's better when we can take the children outside so they can get their energy out. She responded, "yes." I shook my head, "no, that's not my truth." She laughed and we tried to figure out what we were going to do inside that afternoon.

   It was a joke and made us laugh when I said, "that's not my truth" but some people say that even when they are not joking. What I mean is, when I said, "that's not my truth" to the fact that it was raining I knew it was raining. I could see the rain, but I jokingly said, "no, it's not raining." Meanwhile there are people out there who know the truth and have seen signs of it, but they choose not to accept it.

   John 14:6 says, "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." The Bible tells us the truth. We, as Christians, know we are to spread the Gospel to others. We know it is the truth. There are people out there who have heard the message but don't believe it is the truth. But Jesus is the only way to heaven. There is no other truth in the world more important to know than the fact that God loves you. He loves you enough that he sent his Son to die so you can be with him forever. That's the truth worth celebrating and spreading!

   So, what's your truth? Are you following the truth? How can you spread the truth to others?

 

Just One Light

   Have you ever felt led or been asked to do something that was out of your comfort zone? I'm sure you have. Did you do it? The answer you gave depends on if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

   Okay, let's tweak the question. You are asked to do something you know is wrong. Do you do it? Before you answer, let's say you are not just asked by one random person. Let's say you are asked to do it by a group of people you know well. People who you want to impress, or that you like. Would you do it?

   The darkness of this world is strong. There are times when it would be so easy to sin and follow the ways of the world. But is that what we should do?

   Picture that you are in a dark room. You are unable to see anything. Then you see a small flicker of light. The light goes out then comes back. It is almost like a match is being lit. Another small light appears beside it. Then another, and another. More appear until you can see light all around the room.

   Each light in that room was small. But if you add each light together it gets the whole room lit. We live in a world filled with sin. But when we let our lights shine, when we choose to follow God and grow in him, people see us reflecting God's glory. They wonder what is different about us. Then, maybe their light will begin to shine for God.

   So, are you choosing light or darkness? How are you growing in God so your light can shine brighter for him? What can you do to show God's light today?

   John 8:12, John 1:5, Matthew 5:16

 

Be a Caleb

The Israelites were a very interesting group of people. Many times we think about the miracles God performed through them. We also tend to think about how many times they messed up. One time in particular can be found in Numbers 13-14. 

In this passage we see that Moses sent 12 spies into the Promised Land. They saw the land was flowing with milk and honey. But in the same breath, they said the people there were powerful, the cities were fortified, and there were descents of giants there. If you heard that report what would you be thinking? Would you want to put in the work, and maybe be injured or killed, to gain this land? 

Then this one man stands up, tells everyone to be quiet, and says "we can take this land." Caleb was one of two spies who said the land was theirs. He knew that God promised them this land. He knew that with God they could take the land. Would it take work on their part? Yeah, it would. Would it be worth it? Yes, because God works everything together for their good.

If you continue reading that passage you know that the Israelites say no, we cannot take the land. God threatens to kill them all but Moses intervened. Thus the Israelites were forced back into the the wilderness (though some did try to take the land without God on their side, which ends in disaster). 

What's the lesson for us here? We need to be Caleb. When God promises us something we need to believe it will happen. Not only do we need to believe, but we also need to be willing to put in the work. God promised the Israelites the Promised Land but that didn't mean they wouldn't have to work to earn it. They would have to fight and do many other things (like walk around Jericho) in order to claim what God promised. Be like Caleb. Be a person who believes in God's promises and is willing to put in the work.

So, are you like the 10 spies or like Caleb and Joshua in your life? How do you know you can believe God's promises? Where do we find God's promises (and do you have those promises memorized)?

Fabulous

    One movie that I watched when I was younger was High School Musical. In the second High School Musical there is a song called Fabulous. It is sung by the character Sharpay. Sharpay is the daughter of a rich resort owner. She is used to getting her way. Thus, the song “Fabulous” talks about all the things she wants or thinks she deserves.

   The interesting thing is that Sharpay doesn't normally have to work for what she receives. She just gets it because of who her father is. It is the same way with us.

   In the past I have talked about how all we deserve is death. We are blessed with a Father in heaven who cares about us so much that he sent his son to die for us. If we trust in Jesus as our personal savior, the Bible tells us that we will receive rewards in heaven. First off, we will receive eternal life in heaven, which is reward enough as is. 

   We also receive other rewards as well. Matthew 5:12 talks about when people do evil against us. It says we should "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." That verse is something we should keep in mind as we face hard times. Yes, we have heaven as a reward but that doesn't mean our life on earth will be easy. We need to focus on our goal in those hard times and remember we are not alone.

   So, have you received the reward of having Jesus as your advocate? What can you do to spread the good news of the Gospel so others can receive that reward?