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We Need Each Other to Be Who God Wants Us to Be

Today's reflection in Our Daily Bread started with the simple question, "Did you know that we need each other in order to be who God wants us to be?"  For most of us, the answer to this question would be 'yes'.  We've heard this before- something about parts of the body- but do we really 'know' this?  That is do we live in a way that this is true in our lives?

1 Corinthians 12:18-27 reminds us that we are all members of the body, and each part needs the other parts.  And I have to admit that just recently I have come to realize that this 'all' is more expansive than I thought.

¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Yes, once again, it was 5 week old Belle that taught me this lesson.  We tend to think of newborns as needing but not being needed.  But I remember a recent appointment with my midwife Sandy.  I was remarking how hard it had been to continue breastfeeding when I had a fever and was feeling so weak.  I said, "But she needs to eat."  Sandy responded, "Yes, she needs to eat.  But you also need her to nurse, to keep you from getting a bad infection."  In a very real, physical sense, I need this little baby to keep me healthy.  In addition, she's helping to contract my uterus.  Who could imagine that a 5-week old could have such important jobs related to keeping her mommy healthy?  And that's only the physical part of it.

Today when I heard that question, "Did you know that we need each other in order to be who God wants us to be?" struck me... because who God wants me to be right now has changed.  For the past 5 weeks, in addition to other things, God now wants me to be a good Christian mother... and yes, Belle would be absolutely an essential part of that.  God is teaching me greater patience and selflessness and love with every cry, tear, diaper, midnight wake-up, bathtime and almost smile from my little girl.  I need her to become who God wants me to be.

Who is it for you?  Perhaps there is someone small or unexpected that God has put in your life, someone that you need in order to become who God wants you to be.

Praising God in the Trials- Part 2 - Example from David Psalm 109

In yesterday's reflection, I looked at a psalm of David filled with praise and remarked that David praised God even during difficult times, when he was being chased by King Saul... however I think it was a bit unfair that I didn't cite a psalm recounting one of those more difficult moments.  So today let's look at a psalm of a different tune- Psalm 109, one which is often more difficult (especially for pacifists) to read through, and try to understand how David is using this psalm and where his praise is.

According to Matthew Henry's commentary, it is unknown at what particular point of trouble David wrote this psalm (being chased by King Saul, trouble with Absalom, etc), but the trouble is quite clear even from the opening first 5 verses.

My God, whom I praise, 
    do not remain silent, 
² for people who are wicked and deceitful 
    have opened their mouths against me;
    they have spoken against me with lying tongues. 
³ With words of hatred they surround me;
    they attack me without cause. 
⁴ In return for my friendship they accuse me,
    but I am a man of prayer. 
⁵ They repay me evil for good, 
    and hatred for my friendship. (Psalm 109:1-5)


David opens with 'My God whom I praise' which is remarkable in itself in such a time of difficulty as this psalm would suggest David is facing.  Then in the next verses, he recounts the sins that his enemies have committed, which as sinful against God.  In verse 4, despite all of this and all his difficulties, he commits himself to prayer.


The next verses are the ones that are the most difficult to take, and commentary suggests that they refer mostly to one specific enemy and all that he has done, especially what he has done against David.

Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy;
    let an accuser stand at his right hand.
⁷ When he is tried, let him be found guilty, 
    and may his prayers condemn him.
⁸ May his days be few; 
    may another take his place of leadership.
⁹ May his children be fatherless
    and his wife a widow. 
¹⁰ May his children be wandering beggars; 
    may they be driven^[a] from their ruined homes.
¹¹ May a creditor seize all he has;
    may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. 
¹² May no one extend kindness to him
    or take pity on his fatherless children.
¹³ May his descendants be cut off, 
    their names blotted out from the next generation.
¹⁴ May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord;
    may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.
¹⁵ May their sins always remain before the Lord,
    that he may blot out their name from the earth.

¹⁶ For he never thought of doing a kindness,
    but hounded to death the poor
    and the needy and the brokenhearted. 
¹⁷ He loved to pronounce a curse—
    may it come back on him. 
He found no pleasure in blessing—
    may it be far from him.
¹⁸ He wore cursing as his garment;
    it entered into his body like water, 
    into his bones like oil.
¹⁹ May it be like a cloak wrapped about him,
    like a belt tied forever around him.
²⁰ May this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers,
    to those who speak evil of me.

After describing his troubles with this enemy, David remarks about his own needy state, which must've put him in a position from which he could be more easily harmed by these enemies.  He was poor and needy, unsettled (shaken like a locust), and weak... perhaps from fasting (although this may not have been planned and may be merely situational lack of food).

But you, Sovereign Lord,
    help me for your name’s sake; 
    out of the goodness of your love, deliver me. 
²² For I am poor and needy,
    and my heart is wounded within me.
²³ I fade away like an evening shadow; 
    I am shaken off like a locust.
²⁴ My knees give way from fasting; 
    my body is thin and gaunt. 
²⁵ I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
    when they see me, they shake their heads.


Finally, David calls out to God for help and praises God once again, remarking that he will continue to praise God... not only in secret but 'in the great throng of worshipers'.  And he asks God who is a God that stands by the needy to stand by him in his time of trouble.

Help me, Lord my God;
    save me according to your unfailing love.
²⁷ Let them know that it is your hand,
    that you, Lord, have done it.
²⁸ While they curse, may you bless;
    may those who attack me be put to shame,
    but may your servant rejoice. 
²⁹ May my accusers be clothed with disgrace
    and wrapped in shame as in a cloak.

³⁰ With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord;
    in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.
³¹ For he stands at the right hand of the needy,
    to save their lives from those who would condemn them.

I don't know if it helps everyone, but after reading through the entire psalm, understanding its different parts, and remembering the situation in which David finds himself, it helps me to understand what otherwise seems a very harsh psalm wishing evil on David's enemies.  Yes, that does exist... but it helps to remember the very difficult circumstances in which David finds himself.  To me, it is David describing the evils he sees and the injustice, asking God to stretch out his hand and extend justice.  

And even in such difficult times, we can clearly see David praising God for who He is- for His mercy, unfailing love, standing for the needy.  And we can see David committing himself to prayer.

A Cure for Conflict

Brad and I have gone about preparing for the arrival of our new little baby girl in many ways; the very last way being nursery decorating.  (This has been fun, but has earned it's rightful place at the bottom of the to-do list.)


Since we've found out we're pregnant, we began some of the more important preparations- those which are often given very little attention.  So since October, we've been reading through a book entitled "Becoming parents: Strengthening your marriage as your family grows".  Such an extreme (and sudden!) change as becoming parents (24/7) overnight can be a challenge not only individually, but also a challenge to a married couple.  This book has helped us review important strategies for dealing with conflict- strategies both for talking about conflict effectively (like the speaker-listener approach), things to avoid (escalation, projection) and problem solving together (brainstorming, creating a plan, trying it out).  


However, importantly, this book doesn't pretend that after reading it you'll never have difficulties or marital conflict with a new baby.  Instead, it provides some helpful tools for dealing with conflict.


Whether it's a new baby in the family, a meeting a church, or problems at the workplace, so often we look for a 'cure for conflict'.  Sometimes conflict is purposeful and helpful, when dealt with productively.  But 2 Timothy gives us some guidelines:


²³ Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. ²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. ²⁵ Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth... (2 Timothy 2:23-24)


We are instructed first to avoid foolish conflict.  For instance, sometimes conflict may come out of frustration, exhaustion, sadness.  In such instances, it's important to wait until you are able to deal with conflict in a healthy way.  And verses 24-25 remind us to be gentle, patient and humble when dealing with conflict.


I believe that the key to a healthy marriage, friendship, church, etc, is not avoiding conflict but learning to deal with conflict in a healthy way.  It is in this way that we 'make peace', remembering 'the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace' (James 3:18).

But if you try sometimes, you just might find - You Get What You Need

This morning, we could take a lesson from the Rolling Stones and their classic song:

"No, you can't always get what you want,

No, you can't always get what you want,

But if you try sometimes, you just might find

You get what you need."

The problem, however, is that we so often get confused between what is a want and what is a need. And what is it that we truly need. Sarah Young in her devotional for this morning writes, "Your deepest, most constant need is for Jesus' Peace."

As I've reflected on that thought this morning, I must say that it rings true for my life. It is what we need above all else, yet it's so easy to lose sight of this constant need... we stop 'trying' to find God's peace, searching for Him every morning to be filled and awakened and renewed.

But instead of searching after what we need, we spend so much time searching after what we want - and fool ourselves into thinking are 'needs'. After all, we could trust that we have a God who provides for all our needs, and instead seek after Him.

¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Phillipians 4:19)

Today I seek what I really need, my deepest most constant need - Jesus' peace.

Is it always more blessed to give than to receive?

This morning's devotions had me thinking, really considering again the old adage, 'Tis more blessed to give than to receive.'

Sarah Young here suggests that receptivity and attentiveness are two of the most important things we need to truly become closer to God. Young writes, "Receptivity is opening up your innermost being to be filled with My abundant riches. Attentiveness is directing your gaze to Me: searching for Me in all your moments." (p. 91). She further writes that "God searches for people who are able to receive in full measure." (p. 91)

Are we able to receive in full measure all that God is pouring out into our lives? Are we receptive and attentive to Him, or are we closed off and focused on so many other things?

The Bible echoes these sentiments of the importance of receiving God:

"I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Mark 10:15)

and being attentive to God:

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." (Isaiah 26:3)

I wonder whether another appropriate name for devotions could be 'centering'. We come to God in the morning to 'center' our minds and hearts on Him, opening ourselves up to the way He is leading us, expecting to receive in abundance and be led in His direction.

I pray that we may all openly receive and whole-heartedly seek God in this day.

Wait on the Lord: A Design or Living

Hope and wait, used interchangeably in many languages, are also used in different translations for the common phrase 'wait on the Lord' or 'hope in the Lord' that recurs throughout scripture. Of course, it does seem fitting, because waiting on the Lord may be defined as 'directing your attention to God in hopeful anticipation of what God will do.'

My devotional this morning reminds that we are to 'wait on the Lord' and "entrust Him with every fiber of our beings, instead of trying to figure things out ourselves.'

When we approach problems, dilemmas, decisions, every day life in general... it is so tempting to try it on our own, but we are not as effective nor can we possibly feel the full extent of all of God's blessings when we go it alone.

And God has promised us so much if we wait on Him:

²⁵ The LORD is good to those whose hope (wait) is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
²⁶ it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD. (Lamentations 3:25-26)

³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Renewed strength and blessings are just a start. If we walk more closely with God, trusting in Him, we will be surrounded by the joy of His presence.

¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11)

With a new baby coming, Brad and I have lots of decisions to make. For instance, one we are trying to determine right now is what will happen in the Fall. Should I take a leave of absence for the Fall semester while Brad finishes his dissertation? Is this even a financial possibility? But as we go about contemplating this decision over the coming months, we can lift it up to the Lord, waiting on Him- trusting Him to lead and guide us. Instead of living in anxiety, we can choose to live in hopeful expectation of what God will do!

Thankfulness, The Path to Peace

As I continue to reflect on the importance of thanksgiving, today God is bringing me to understand how thankfulness leads to peace and greater trust in the Lord.

Just last week I made the transfer of my medical records from one health care practitioner to another, the Birth & Women's Health Center. While I was waiting for them to approve my records, I was a little nervous - pregnant and without a health care provider. But even though they had stated that it would take 3-5 days. Later that afternoon, they called back to welcome me as their patient. That was indeed an answer to prayer, because I had been praying that God keep me safe and healthy.

And just yesterday I went in for my first appointment, and it was so nice. The philosophy, the kindness, the friendly demeanor, the beautiful birthing rooms. I am so thankful to God that I have the opportunity to be a part of such a lovely practice where I know I will be well taken care of. In fact, when Brad came to pick me up at the end of the day, I said "I am just so thankful!" I had been praising and thanking God all day for the wonderful blessing... smiling and taking a few minutes to thank Him almost hourly.

How different our days would be if we did this each day- pausing each hour to thank God. It is true that yesterday I had special reason to thank Him, but we have reason to thank God every day as the little girls I taught Sunday School to in Brazil used to say, "for one more day of life". There is always a reason to give thanks.

In fact, we should even thank God for our petitions, those things that are causing us struggle, difficulty, strife- as Paul says:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ." (Phillipians 4:4-7)

It's hard to believe that I'm just 2.5 weeks away from my written Comprehensive Exams, and I'm starting to get a bit nervous. Will I pass... or fail? Have I read enough? How will I have enough energy to finish it all in a week? God welcomes me to pray for His help and guidance but also to thank Him for this opportunity to study, to read interesting articles and learn about topics that are so intriguing.

When we remember to be thankful for those little blessings surrounding our petitions, God's peace will guard our hearts.

May we take time throughout the day to thank the Lord ... even for small things. Rejoice in the Lord always!

Giving Thanks - Recognizing the Spirit

Yesterday I reflected on recognizing the spirit within us through our every 'breathe' and mindfully breathing the breathe sounds of God's name. Today my devotions brought me to another way to recognize the Spirit's constant presence in our lives and within us, through thankfulness or 'sacrifices of thanksgiving'.

In the devotional by Sarah Young written from the perspective of God, it is expressed this way:

"I shower blessing on you daily, but sometimes you don't perceive them. When your mind is stuck on a negative focus, see neither Me nor My gifts."

We all know those people, you know, the ones who are always grumbling or complaining about something. Students, exams, jobs, money, etc. And by those people- yes, I mean, myself included, sadly, at times. In fact it's ironic to complain about money, because we all are more blessed than so many I have known. I remember the huge "raise" I got when I came back from my year of BVS. I felt like I had more money than I needed. Then, gradually we get accustomed to our income, we adopt more expensive lifestyle habits, I don't know how exactly it happens... but we forget to be grateful. We forget that compared with so many others, we are so blessed.

The future is often a source of stress and anxiety for many. What will I do next? Which job should I take? Which way should I turn? Should I stay home or not? But having these choices, while sometimes confusing, is itself a blessing. There are so many in this world who do the only thing they can, who are with little options and no decisions, scraping by and wishing they had the opportunities we may have. Instead of grumbling and stressing, how different it would be to thank God for the decisions we are able to make.

Well, there's nothing more of a downer to hear people complaining about their circumstances. But there is something freeing and encouraging about hearing people thankfully recount their blessings. And we are thankful, God is actually able to work through us, perhaps even through our words of thanks to reach out to those who need to remember God's blessing in their lives.

So, let us all give thanks today, throughout the day, recognizing the Spirit that is at work within us.

Breathe - God in Us

Yesterday morning in the second hour after the church service, we watched a Nooma video which has really stuck with me.

The movie mentioned that Yahweh, the name of the Lord, was considered by some too holy to even speak. And some believe that as it is written in the original text, they are a series of 'breathing sounds', unpronounceable. The movie questioned whether it is possible that the name of the Lord is the very sound of a breath, life-giving. It asked, "Is it possible that the first thing when we do when we are born is utter the name of the Lord, in that breathe? And the last thing we do before we die?"

The name of the Lord as a breathe really does bring to mind the presence of God in and among us, a theme that is present throughout scripture, although not always so present in our mind.

"Do you know your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own..." (1 Corinthians 6:19)

"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)

If we dare to believe and understand and fully recognize God as in each of us, how would that make us different? How would we act differently if we understood God as residing in each and every breathe, the very life that keeps us living?

This morning my devotional suggested that we may "pause before responding to people or situations, giving God's spirit space to act through you. Hasty words and actions leave no room for God... who wishes to inhabit all our moments."

That seems quite fitting to me, and an appropriate and important reminder in today's quick-paced society. We often feel that we need to speak, respond, walk, move, get done that to-do list as quickly as possible. But in rushing so much, we forget the presence of the Lord within us and within our every breathe. God wishes to give us abundant, full, complete life. But we sidestep that possibility when we do not leave room for Him.

Perhaps being mindful of our breathe as the breathing sounds that embody the Lord's name... YHWH... (yah, hey, vah, hey)... may be a way to bring ourselves back to recognizing God in us, inviting Him once again to lead, to inhabit all our moments.

Content in God's Abundance

In the past month, Bryce our pastor went through a mini-series prompted by Walter Breuggeman's talk on the narrative of accumulation v. the narrative of abundance. While the world would have us anxiously seek after an accumulation of goods, things, titles, etc., God invites us to rest in His provision, focusing on the abundance of blessings He gives to us.

This morning in reading the scriptures prompted by my devotional, I was again struck by this theme. It certainly is easy to get caught up in the world's competition to do the most, be the best, have/get/buy the best or the most. In fact, it may not just come in the form of consumerism... although that is a part of it. Work-a-holism is a part of our culture which tries to convince is that the world just won't get by without us doing this or that. We convince ourselves of our importance and the need to do this work, instead of trusting that God will provide and allow us to complete our task. We convince ourselves that we need to work more, perhaps to earn more... and we convince ourselves that we need that.

In fact, a few months ago, I started getting nervous about the baby coming. All the propaganda out there does its best to convince us that we need tons of things for a baby. After watching the documentary "Babies", about 4 babies growing up in 4 parts of the world, I realized just how little we need. What babies really need, God has provided - loving parents and breastmilk. All the other extra things are so much appreciated and very nice, but no matter what we do or don't have, we can be so thankful for God's perfect provision.

On top of that, this weekend so many friends and family gathered to shower their very generous gifts on baby. We are so grateful for these many gifts that will certainly make things a lot easier and more manageable, but we first acknowledge that God is the giver and provider of the most necessary gifts.

Paul learned a similar lesson on contentedness:

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13).

I realized as I was reading this verse this morning how often we take the last verse out of context. It's not that I don't think we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength, but here Paul is specifically talking about how he has learned to be content. He repeats this twice in just 3 sentences in fact! First, this suggests that it is something that we can learn. So, we're not lost if we have trouble with it right now - there's hope that we can recognize God's abundance in whatever our situation. And second, this "do everything" in context seems to mean "be content in all circumstances".

Lord, today we ask that you teach us the secret of being content in Your perfect provision and abundant blessings. Open our eyes so that we may see what we truly need and all the overflowing blessings which surround us.

A Break from the World

The art of reflection, solitude, silence is not one that we practice often in today's society. In fact, the world today seems a chaos of noise and commotion and busyness. So much so that it seems it's becoming increasingly difficult to pray - to break apart from the worries of the day, the meandering thoughts, the concerns, the random lists of to-dos that enter our mind.

But this is also precisely why we need to pray. God calls us to lift these concerns to Him, to allow Him to enter our lives and give us strength for the to-dos. After all...

"He will quiet you with his love,

He will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)

I believe we all secretly long for that quiet, that peace. And we need to come to God, to seek time alone with our Father so that He may quiet us and calm our chaotic minds. God is there waiting for us every morning, hoping that we will come seek Him out, and He tells us:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7)

We are encouraged to seek God, but also to ask. I think sometimes 'good upstanding' Christians can fall into the trap of thinking that they 'ought to' pray for this or that. But we are instructed to 'ask' God... and when I think about it, there's good reason to ask. After all, in asking we acknowledge that the ultimate power comes from God... not from ourselves. Asking also invites God to work through us and in us. And asking is a step of faith, because we believe that if it is God's will... it will be given to us.

So even asking is a part of this break from the world. The world would have us believe that it is our own responsibility - that we will only get/achieve something if we work harder or longer with our own power. Asking God takes the focus off of us, and quiets our hearts.

It's Alright to Be Human

"It's alright to be human." So begins the devotional for this morning, and I can't help but believe that God is once again speaking to me exactly where I am.

This past weekend Brad and I babysat on Saturday night for our neighbor's two kids- a 2.5 year old and a 4.5 month old. Everything was going so smoothly - both kids were asleep at 9pm- that we even gave each other a high five! But then, a little over an hour later- at 10pm, the toddler woke up crying and upset. When Brad went with him to get some water, he threw up in the hall. He actually calmed him back to sleep and cleaned up after him, but then a while later he woke up again crying and went into his parents' room to look for them. (Unbeknownst to us, he also threw up while he was in there!) The poor thing! We couldn't help but feel bad for the poor little guy. Unfortunately, he started crying every time Brad went to text his parents and let them know... so they actually came home before we even had time to let them know.

Well, the most important thing is that he is fine now. After he got it all out of his system, he was running around and playing the next morning. But, we still both felt bad about a series of mistakes- not calling his parents right away, possibly letting him get his hands on a bad strawberry (maybe that's what caused it), not knowing he slept with a nightlight. I cried that night and prayed so much for the little boy. And then the next day, even after knowing he was doing fine, I sobbed again... my sorries didn't seem to make up for all the things that had gone wrong, and I wondered if I'll ever be able to be an okay mother. But, maybe it's God's way of preparing us in some way... there will probably be times when we don't know what to do as parents, especially when a child is sick and you feel sad and upset and unsure of what to do.

But none of us are prepared to be perfect parents, I suppose. And that's why we need God. We can't do this huge task on our own. I'm sure we'll make many mistakes, in our own lives and as parents... but we can take heart knowing what God promises us:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

It's okay to be human as long as God is God in our lives, showing His power in our imperfection and guiding us when we feel lost and incapable.

I am leading you...

This morning as I read my devotional I was reminded how it is often easy to forget that God is leading us, especially at those moments when it's tough or difficult or stressful or overwhelming. We think- God would only lead me on an easy, beautiful path, wouldn't He? This must not be Him.

Well, that's not what the Bible says, in fact. The Bible is full of encouragement 'to persevere', not to 'give up', to 'stand up for what you believe in'. If our God-directed paths were meant to be easy as pie, we wouldn't need such encouragement. Instead, we hear:

¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

After all, Moses and the Israelite people must've wondered at the time what was going on. Plague after plague and the result was...

²⁷ But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go. (Exodus 10:27)

At the moment, it may be quite difficult to figure out the why and the what of the descents and ascents on the path where God is leading us. But we can be assured that if we continue to trust and follow Him, all things will work together for His glory and for the good.

Rest in God's Peace

Last night as I read some of the childbirth book from the class we're attending, I couldn't help but begin to get nervous about labor. The pain, the ripping, the tearing... can I really do this? I'm interested in a natural childbirth, but reading and thinking about it sometimes makes me quite nervous about the whole experience. Is it futile even trying? Should I give up right now?

Sarah Young's reflection for today reads "Rehearsing your troubles results in you experiencing them many times where as you are meant to go through them only when they actually occur... Instead, come to me and relax in my peace. I will strengthen you and prepare you for this day, transforming your fear into confident trust."

The books I have been reading echo similar sentiments about childbirth, that the body when relaxed naturally produces endorphins and oxytocin, positive hormones that relax the body... allowing it to work as intended. Anxiety and fear lead to pain which lead to more anxiety and fear which lead to more pain, etc. So, it seems that finding rest, relaxation, finding God and feeling His presence in childbirth is key... although I can only imagine how challenging it could be.

But, this isn't true only of the childbirth process. In our lives, when we are anxious about a certain assignment/job/task, we become fearful, and then it can create 'pain' or 'stress' in our lives. We are focused so on that difficulty that we distance ourselves from God, forgetting His omnipresence in our lives, forgetting about the peace, assurance, rest and relaxation that He longs to bring to us.

It seems that even Joshua faced anxiety about the task that God had placed before him- leading the Israelites, who tended to grumble a lot. He knew this wouldn't be easy. He wondered if He could, and God encouraged him:

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:5,9)

And God was faithful to Joshua, just as He is to all of us. The one who is always with us calls each of us:

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Let me prepare you...

I'm a planner. I admit it. I think one of the things that surprised Brad the most was how I could be thinking 3 years down the road when he has trouble thinking 3 hours ahead.

But I'd even venture to guess that I'm not the only one. Many of us are forced into planning in some way or another, by our society, by our jobs, by our circumstances. For instance, right now Brad and I are planning for our baby to come this June. Brad made a budget to take us through June in case he doesn't get funding this summer. We've signed up for various childbirth classes, and we're investigating various 'methods' to use in order to plan the birth that's right for us.

But planning isn't only something for momentous occasions. In our jobs, we often need a 'planner' of some kind, where we keep track of meetings, schedule deadlines, etc. The first thing handed out at the beginning of the semester is a plan of studies - a syllabus. In fact, we get so accustomed to planning, that we forget that God doesn't work that way.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

We often forget that although God knows His plans for our lives, we aren't 'in' on those plans. It's in vain that we go about planning our existence, because God will equip up for the journey and whatever lies ahead.

Take Joseph, for example. I can hardly believe that after being thrown in a pit and thrown into the dungeon he'd expect this change of luck:

³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. ⁴⁰ You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” (Genesis 41:39-40)

But God calls us to His side, to spend time with Him. Then, we will know that wherever God's path leads us, God will prepare us for the journey. And then we can rest in Him.

¹⁴ The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)

Trust Fund

It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that it's so hard to trust in the Lord, because we don't see Him. Yet, there are many things in this life that we don't see and even things which aren't a physical reality, which we choose to trust.

For example, many people when they get to the stage of their life of 'financial planning' invest in stocks and bonds and other various forms of collecting interest. They choose to believe that they have their money in these places, that this money exists. But in reality, that money may be used up by one purchase or another from the company that will eventually pay them interest.

Banks work a similar way. We believe that all of our money is in a certain place, in a bank account. Yet, as we saw in the stock market crash before the Great Depression, if we suddenly lose our faith, or our trust, in these banks... there is not enough there for everyone to retrieve their money, causing a crisis.

These are just a few financial examples, but thinking about your life, you may realize there are many more social constructs that we choose to believe, to trust, to build our lives based on those agreed upon structures. Yet, ironically, we find is so hard to fully trust in the Lord... to build the Lord into our lives as a given trusted part of the equation.

As Brad & I plan for the baby, it is hard not to feel stressed, nervous, worried at times about finances. Neither of us currently have any funding for the summer, so we're trying to plan a budget that will take us through August- not an easy thing to do on our salaries. And I can't help but think about the families that are in tougher situations than we are.

But, Brad encourages me to remember how God has taken care of us so far... to pray, whenever I feel nervous or worried or afraid... to put my trust in the ultimate trust fund. Though it may not pay off in worldly possessions and bank statements, His is the treasure that "neither moth nor rust destroy and thieves cannot break in to steal" (Matthew 6:20).

³ When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
⁴ In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4)

I Inhabit the Praises of my People

³But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3)

What a beautiful reminder this morning - God not only delights in our praise, but God is present in our praise. Calling out in prayer in a way invites God and invokes His very presence. If we feel lonely, if we feel lost, upset, tired, wanting, the secret is to praise... to feel God's presence.

A similar reminder is presented in Philippians. Even when we are presenting petitions (or prayer requests) to God, it is advised that we do so "with thanksgiving"... in order to avoid "being anxious" about these situations:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)

I have recently started reading books on childbirth that present various techniques for calming, relaxation and coping with the pain of the experience. These include visualization, meditation, art, breathing, etc. And one technique presented is 'gratefulness meditation'. The book reviews the power of gratefulness or "thanksgiving". It refocuses our energy, and presents us with a new perspective and frame of reference.

There is so much to be thankful for, and we cannot thank God too much for all that He has given us.

Praise God ...

for health,

for time with family,

for the coming of a child,

for options and choices,

for holiday celebrations,

for a beautiful, warm, sunny day,

for a loving spouse who shows their affection,

for a nutritious meal on the table when you are hungry,

and for so much more!

Praise God...

the One who inhabits our Praise!