Thoughtful Thursday

      Today is confession day. Lately, I have been feeling lost, apathetic, stressed, the list could go on and on. Yes, it's pretty normal for a homeschooling mom, I KNOW you've all had that feeling. But just today, I think I've figured out at least one of the reasons I've been "off." I really haven't been reading my Bible much. 

     We all go through times where we read it everyday, for 30-60 minutes, and times where days go by and we don't read at all. Life is always getting in the way (not just for this, but for everything else we "should" be doing). But I don't thing I've actually picked up my Bible for 3 or more weeks. :( That's just too long, especially considering we do not have a church right now. We've been looking for about a year and a half, after leaving our previous one. Thought we found one this summer, but the head pastor believes that "the message" version of the Bible is a good version. That just doesn't sit with me, so, it was a no go for us. But, I digress. 

     So, this morning I was reading my homeschool support group's monthly newsletter, and the editor quoted Philippians 4:4-9 and I was blown away. It was EXACTLY what I needed to hear today! She had posted the newsletter on 10/24, but I didn't get to reading it until today. Why? Why did I sit down and read the newsletter today? Why did she choose that verse to put in? The answer is simple, God knew what I needed, and when I needed it. Even in such a small matter as this, He has a hand. 

     The message I get from this, is it's time to grab that Bible again, and start reading. The answers I seek are to be found within the pages of that Holy book. So, when I post this, I'm picking it up and reading it. Even if I only have 10 minutes. I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again, but He never ceases to amaze me. I am always surprised at how much he love me, a seemingly unimportant person in the world right now. However, I am reminded of something I heard on a Doctor Who episode, that I think is 110% true: "There is nothing as important in this world as an average person." It's the little things we do that matter, and God makes sure of that. 

      Have you hit a time of not reading your Bible? Pick it up again. Go ahead, you won't be disappointed.

blessings,

mamaAthena  

Thoughtful Thursday

Why Me?

     Ever ask yourself that? Of course you have. We all have. Why me? Why did that have to happen to me? What did I do to deserve that? It can be phrased in so many different ways that I would be sitting here for days on end if I tried to type them all up. 

     Here's the simple answer... why not? That's right. Why shouldn't it happen to you? It might suck, and not be fair at all. 'Anybody who says life is fair is selling something.' (recognize the quote?) Life's not fair. The things that happen to us are not because we are bad or good. God doesn't work that way. Things happen because they happen. Yes, there are some things He had planned out in the beginning, and have, do and will come true. But, the day to day living we do, well, that's just life. 

     God does not make bad things happen to punish people. No. He doesn't. God is love. At one time he did punish people, He was trying to get them to understand what they needed to do. But, all that changed when He sent His son Jesus, to us. Jesus took ALL the punishments. Each and every one that we should be receiving. If God still sent down punishments onto us, that would be like Him saying that Jesus' death wasn't good enough. He's taking it all back and we now have to pay for our sins. Never read that in the Bible. 

     No, God doesn't make bad things happen. However, he does use those bad things and turn them into good things. We usually don't see right away the good that comes from what we suffer. It can take months, years, even a lifetime, before we actually see how God turned that terrible thing into something good. He knows what's going to happen. Like an earthly parent, he has the knowledge we don't have. He knows what choice we will make, and if it's a bad one, he really hopes we won't make it. But the gift of freewill is absolute. It's our mistake to make. 

     There's this great song out there, only a couple of years old called "Blessings." The gist of the song is summed up in two lines: "what if our blessings come through raindrops, what if our healing comes through tears?" Usually we don't pay much attention to God when things are going fine and dandy. We only cry out to Him when things go wrong. He uses the "why me" moments to show His love for you. Because, He wants you to know He loves you. He really does. He gave us a book that tells us over and over again how much He loves us. He sent His Son with a message of love for us. God is love. I'm not the first to make that statement, and I highly doubt I'll be the last. (I really hope I'm not the last.)

     So, the next time you think "why me?" Stop and think, "why not?" Then step back and see if what is happening now can be used for good later. You might just see it, and once you do, it's a lot easier to deal with the situation right then. And while you're at it, stop and thank Him for the days when things are going right as well.

blessings,

mamaAthena