Manna

"The unknowns of our future earthly circumstances can threaten to overwhelm us, but the reality for those who are in Christ Jesus is that the future is burgeoning with God’s kingdom that is prepared for us from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34).

Your future includes manna. It will come. There is no sense devising future scenarios now because God will do more than you anticipate. When you understand God's plan to give future grace, you have access to what is arguably God's most potent salve against worry and fear. (Ed Welch, Running Scared)

Who is more willing to help his children than our heavenly Father? His steadfast love is better than life (Psalm 63:3). He turns to us according to his abundant mercy (Psalm 69:16). “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

This kind of love will not let us go.

God’s indomitable, unflinching resolve to love us keeps our hearts anchored in his grace today, tomorrow, and forever."

Gloria Furman

This & That

Read how to shut down gossip in your church in this blog post.
Read the definition of gossip in that blog post.
Remember that we need to stop gossip in its tracks, and we can begin with ourselves.

Healing is in His Hands

"No matter where I am, healing is in Your hands / How deep, How strong / And now by Your grace I stand, healing is in Your hands." From Christy Nockels's Healing is in Your Hands 

Recently, a close friend texted a reminder to me about Christy Nockels's song Healing is in Your Hands to encourage me about the process of healing. Within the week, I joined a new Bible study group where the leader mentioned the subject of healing as well and how there are two ways people react to tragedies. God often teaches me, through circumstances like these, more of His truth. As a result, I've been thinking a lot about the ebbs and flows of the healing process all the while praising God that it is in His hands and not mine.

Life is hard. Tragedies strike suddenly and oftentimes more than once. It's all too much to handle, so people may choose to "fix" themselves themselves. People seek healing by losing or gaining weight, buying new things, divorcing spouses, marrying new spouses, taking pills, drinking drinks, and sleeping with strangers. Not one of these things works. They are all temporal fixes for an eternal problem.

God's healing takes lots of time, seems painful and unfair most of the time, but works! When God heals, He teaches, molds, refines, and reforms us into the creation He wants. Like the song says, it doesn't matter where we are in the healing process, we just have to trust Him to keep healing. His grace gives us the strength to stand when we have it not.

One of the best illustrations I've heard is that tragedy is like a deep cut in the skin. As time passes, the wound scabs over. More time passes, and the wound leaves a scar. Some people would look at this as a bad thing: "There's still a scar. You never completely healed." But underneath that scar lies thick scar tissue making that spot much harder to wound. In other words, God's healing may leave a scar for all to see, but that is the very thing that makes one stronger. The scar says to the world, "I've been hurt, but I am stronger now that God has healed me." It also serves as an invitation to the world: "I know pain, and I survived. I can help you with yours."

The question we all have to answer is this: Will I try to fix myself knowing that failure is guaranteed, or will I seek God--no matter how painful and time-comsuming the process--to heal me? I say, "Show my ugly scars, Lord. Use them as an example. Use my scars to help others. Just please use tragic circumstances I've faced to bring You glory."

What say you?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Same-Sex Marriage: Love the Sinner--Hate the Sin(ner)

It's a hot topic in politics and among young people today. It's so popular that even my young daughter asked me about it recently. What is it?

Same-sex marriage.

Last November, a little girl, who is not much older than my daughter, told my three year old that two girls grew up, kissed, and married each other. She immediately repeated the story to me, sensing a wrong even though we had never addressed such a thing. (Why on earth would I address that issue yet? I'm so naive.) At first, I was shocked. There were no words. I wanted to say, "We don't talk about that!" Thankfully, I didn't, and my husband was nearby. He explained, "Yes, baby, that's true, but it's wrong. The Bible tells us it's a sin. God is not pleased when this happens." 

We do need to talk about it, just as my husband did. As Christians, we often say we should love the sinner and hate the sin. This excuse allows us to hide our true feelings of fearing people who sin in this way. Why do we fear homosexuals? We see ourselves in them. We see what we could be apart from the grace of God in our lives. What should we do instead? We really need to show God's love to homosexuals while teaching them what God's Word says about grace, redemption, and freedom from sin. Christians can't play God in their lives or think bisexuals, lesbians, and/or gays are worse sinners than we. We must understand that they, like many of us, only want to marry the one they love. 

Am I against homosexual marriage? Yes, absolutely. Am I going to die on that hill? No, that will only cause more hatred. I see the hypocrisy in the campaign against it, and I know the bigger fight lies within heterosexual marriages. If we are honest with ourselves, we will see the need to focus on the myriad of problems there. If Christians would mirror healthy, godly marriages, then maybe we wouldn't be facing the same-sex marriage issue right now. Over the last fifty years, however, we've been divorcing each other on a whim. Kids are growing up with one parent or multiple step-parents. Oftentimes, it's a step-parent who sexually abuses young children. I know not every case is the same, but there are often multiple problems within these scenarios. When are we going to fight for stricter divorce laws? When are we going to start praying for divorce to cease? When will we ask God for His supernatural intervention in hurting or failing marriages in our own churches? Our own families? This may seem like a faulty comparison to you, but if we mirror healthy heterosexual marriages, then maybe so many children wouldn't turn to an alternative lifestyle like homosexuality. A stretch? I'll give you that. There's no time here to address all the causes of people's choices to become homo or bi-sexual. Ponder it, if you will.

So, Christians, am I telling you to stop fighting for biblical marriage? No, I am not. Don't misunderstand. I'm asking you to reevaluate why you feel the way you do about same-sex marriage. Is it because you are afraid of homosexuality or hate homosexuals? Is it because you have the same hidden perverted desires? Is it because you want our government to respect our beliefs alone? Or is it because you love homosexuals and want them to come to a saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior? Please reexamine your motives along with me. Then, we all must proceed to love the sinner and hate our own sin.

An In(fertility) Story

My family

When I married in December 2002, my husband and I thought we'd be parents before long. We wanted to wait about a year before we started trying, but we really didn't care if we got pregnant sooner than that. We wanted children so badly. We talked about our future kids even when we were engaged. We always joked that we'd have all girls. We also said we wanted three or four kids, so the best time to get started was while we were young. Those were our plans. God had other plans.

After a year of marriage, we became serious about conceiving a child, yet another year passed slowly. I became concerned and discussed this with my doctor. She assured me that I was fine and that getting pregnant wasn't as easy as it seemed. She did a few tests to ease my mind. Everything came back with great results. Then, another year passed. No pregnancy. No baby. Nothing.

At this point, I moved beyond concern to fear and sadness. I began to question God: "Why am I not getting pregnant? Why is everyone else getting pregnant so easily, it seems? Why? Why!?!" No answer.

Before long, four years of marriage had passed and still no baby. It seemed like everybody else was a Fertile Myrtle. I was devastated. My relationship with God was suffering. I humbly asked people to pray for us. I began to share my concerns with others at work. One co-worker told me of a fertility doctor in Memphis. I called and got an appointment quickly. By January 2007, I began a year long journey of fertility treatments and a year long walk of misery and loss. Nothing worked. Nothing lasted. And we tried everything we could, so we chose to walk away from fertility doctors, fertility treatments, and fertility medications--forever.

December 2007 came. Justin and I celebrated five years of marriage--still childless. At this point, our relationships with God and each other had suffered because of the grief that consumed us at times. We were exhausted. Also, we were angry and bitter, I much more than him. In January 2008, God broke me. I admitted my weakness. I admitted my sin of idolizing pregnancy and motherhood. Then, I read the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel one more time. On my knees, I prayed, "God, I get it! She walked away without tears, and she wasn't even pregnant yet. I understand. I know Your plan for our lives is bigger than being parents. I know that becoming a mother does not define me. I have learned so much, Lord, through my suffering. But, I am going to ask one more time, and I promise I won't ask again. Please give me a child. I want to be a mother, Lord. I promise to give that child back to you in every way possible. Please, God!" I stood up. I wiped my tears. I walked away relieved even though I didn't have an answer...yet.

Justin and I prayed together and decided to explore adoption shortly thereafter. We filled out the initial application at two adoption agencies and were trying to decide which one we would choose to pursue. I had heard all the adoption horror stories, so I really didn't believe in my heart this route would lead to a child. Nevertheless, it seemed like the last option we could take to become parents, our very hearts' desire. A few months passed, and we heard nothing from either agency. I didn't let this discourage me because I expected it to take a long time. God cleared my mind, and I focused on His will for my life.

In May 2008, four months after I had prayed, I reluctantly took a pregnancy test in a public restroom of all places, and to my complete astonishment, it was positive. The first thing I did was yell, "Thank you, God! Thank you, God! God, You are so good!" The other ladies in the restroom thought I was crazy until they saw the pregnancy test in my hands. (Imagine hearing that coming from a closed bathroom stall! Ha!) I rejoiced with complete strangers and then ran to tell Justin. He was shocked to say the least. In January 2009, we welcomed our beautiful little girl.

Not knowing if we'd be able to have another child and fearing we'd go through the same waiting period again, we decided when our daughter was a year old to let whatever happen happen. To our surprise, we found out we had conceived in April 2010 and by June, we were told the unexpected, shocking word--twins. The rest of the year was spent visiting the doctor and going in and out of the hospital, but in December of that same year, Justin and I welcomed those tiny and beautiful identical boys.

One Sunday as I struggled to walk in church with my three babies, a lady exclaimed, "You are just a Fertile Myrtle, aren't you!?!" I laughed in my heart knowing the story she didn't. Now, as I look back on the roller coaster ride, I am overwhelmed at God's faithfulness in my life. As a result, I pray for my kids daily. I pray they will do great things for the Lord. I desire my boys to be courageous men of God and my daughter to shine brightly and boldly for Him. I rejoice God has entrusted me to their care for a short time even though He didn't have to give me three children--or even one child for that matter. I am grateful forever for His underserved blessings and the way He turned my infertility sob-story into a beautiful story of His grace and power over all things. To Him be the glory!

Note to fellow infertility sufferers: I do not, under any circumstances, believe that there was some magic formula to my conceiving and giving birth. I know--without a doubt--God chooses to open and close the womb whenever He sees fit, and sometimes that occurs through fertility treatments and/or medicines. Please note that God began my healing process months before I conceived. I posted this to encourage you as these stories always encouraged me in my dark walk through infertility. Knowing what I know now, I see in part why God's timing was better than my timing. One day, we will know in full when we see Him. Hold on to that promise. Try to stay focused on the life to come in eternity with Him. It will bring you much joy.

Note to family members and friends of infertility sufferers: Please do me a HUGE favor and forget these common sayings because not one of them consoles someone who wants a child: 

• You need to stop trying so hard.
• You need to quit worrying about it so much.
• You need to accept that you won't be a parent.
• Are you doing it right?
• It will happen one day. I just know it. 
• Why don't you just adopt?

These words and many others only intensify the shame. Instead, pray for them to see God in this trial like never before. Pray for God to give them what they need, not what they want. Pray for their hurting, grieving hearts, and God will equip you to show compassion when needed.

This & That

Watch this video to hear a man testify to God's salvation in his life. 
Check out that blog: It's my husband's. He just started it, but there is a lot more to come.

Both of the above men's lives are testimonies to God's redeeming grace through justification and, also, sanctification.

Prayer Life Struggles

Many Wednesday night prayer meetings I have attended bored me to death. (Did I just type that out loud?) Wanna know why? No? Well, I will tell you anyway. Because I cannot stand praying for someone's third cousin twice removed. What's his name? Oh, right. You can't remember? You just wanted something to say?

I hate to assume there are real and fake prayer requests, but it seems that way sometimes. The question remains then: What are we to pray like? Jesus makes that clear in scripture with a specific example when he tells us to pray like this:

⁵ “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
⁷ “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, forthey think that they will be heard for their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹ Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
¹⁰ Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread,
¹² and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.

¹⁴ For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, ¹⁵ but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

From Matthew 6 (ESV)

Jesus starts with adoration of the Father, then submits to His will, asks for needs to be met, asks for forgiveness, shows that He's already forgiven offenders, and ends with supplication--deliverance from temptation and evil.

How does this line up with your prayer life? I know every time I read this it convicts me. I don't pray like I ought or as often as I ought for that matter, yet God has changed my prayer life bit by bit as I realized that asking God to keep my family safe, for example, is not in this prayer. Is it wrong to ask God this? No, not really. Ultimately, I have realized I have little control over their safety, and I must trust Him. I have to see that no matter what may come, I have to accept His will. God will let my kids experience things I don't want them to in order to develop their character according to His will. I must trust Him. God will allow me to experience things that I don't desire (He already has given me my share, I feel), and I must trust Him to work through all things to glorify Himself. Again, I must trust Him. That must be my main desire. Is it? I ask myself. Is it yours?

As I ponder my prayer life and continue to ask Him to revamp it, I ask you to ponder this question with me: How's your prayer life? Are you praying according to His example found in scripture? Or are you praying gimme prayers?  I, too, suffer from this plague at times.  As I trod through valleys and soar above mountains in my Christian walk, God transforms my prayer life continually and faithfully. I pray that He will keep transforming it (and yours!), too.

One Thing Remains

I am obsessed slightly with this song. 

I am obsessed completely with the God it's written to honor and glorify.