What a Friend

The past few months have definitely been a testing time.  It is a tough pill to swallow when you’ve had people in your life for several years, and you realize that the relationship you thought was there was not.  It is not reciprocal to the level of care or love you have for them.  I realize I’m not the only one this has happened to.  Everyone has had relationships that have ended up broken, and it stinks.  It hurts, and you have a tendency to want to be not very nice about it.  Well, as my mom always told us growing up, “two wrongs don’t make a right”.  We need to move on and be better.  What I cling to, though, is a very dear Friend that will never leave me or forsake me.

The Bible tells us in Psalm 9:10 “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who trust you”.  Isn’t that great news?  If we trust Him, he will never forsake us!  That is so comforting.  Also look in John 15 where Jesus refers to the apostles as his friends.  We have that same ability today – to be Christ’s friend.  If we keep his commandments and read his Word, we are His friend.  What a better friend could one have?

So as you go through the week this week, know that if you trust Him, He will always be with you.  If you haven’t trusted Him as Lord and Savior, why not start today?  It is very simple.  Pray to God admitting you are a sinner and asking forgiveness of your sins.  Then tell Christ you trust Him to be Lord of your life.  That’s all it takes.  After that, find a home church to support you and guide you in your new Christian walk, and take time every day to pray and read your Bible.  After all, you have a new Friend!  You need to really get to know Him!

Have a blessed week!

Contentment

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.  Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11-13

As of Friday morning my cycle was 4 days late.  I knew that if we made it past that day, we could take “The Test” and hopefully after six long years see a miracle arrive in our lives.  By lunch I knew there would be no need to test this month.  I shared with my co-worker that this late cycle for me is like buying a lottery ticket when you hear the prize is $1 billion (it happens about as often).  It’s fun to think about, hope for, even pray for (I can tell you that Indiana would not have to worry about children stuck as wards of the state if I ever did win a billion dollars!), but you know the odds are stacked against you.  It’s simple statistics.  That is how Friday went, so I closed my office door toward the end of the day and cried when I could no longer hold back the sadness.

The most amazing thing always happens though.  I can never cry very long because I think of my husband that loves me, my two adorable cats that are waiting at home for me, my beautiful home that provides shelter, and most importantly, my Savior who died my sinner’s death so I can have eternal life.  My Savior provides contentment in whatever state I am and allows me to do ALL things through Him.

I can tell you that this is not easy and the key to success is in verse 13.  With that, it makes me think of a saying you hear frequently that is completely false, so don’t believe it!  It is, “God won’t give you anything you can’t handle.”  You see, we are weak, sinful humans.  I can honestly tell you that infertility is more than I can handle.  Being downsized from a job I loved is more than I could handle.  Keeping my mouth shut when I’m angry is more than I can handle.  However, here I am; handling all of these things.  How?  Verse 13: I can do ALL things THROUGH CHRIST who strengthens me!  Through Christ’s strength, I can stand and not my own!  When you’re in that valley and you don’t see the end of it, make sure you have invited Christ to walk that valley with you.  His strength will pull you through and even provide you contentment along the way.

When We Just Don't Understand

Jehovah-Shammah, so often we don't understand Your plan.  There are circumstances when we don't see You, but You are there.  There are times when we don't feel Your Presence, but You are there.  There are times when "the plan" really doesn't make sense, but You are there.  Let us praise You anyway because You are the God that is there with us - Jehovah-Shammah.
We also praise You for being the Jehovah-Jireh - the God who provides.  As it says in Philippians 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  We are placing full trust that You will provide our needs.  We are in need of You providing because we cannot do this alone.  In Christ's name we pray, Amen.

We should cling to this prayer daily.  We never know what is around the corner - a friend will disappoint us, people will let us down, we'll hear a devastating diagnosis, we'll lose a loved one.  So often, we don't understand why, but we can cling to the One that does.  He does have a plan, and we'll understand in the Sweet By and By.