I’m going to share with you another of my many weaknesses. I sometimes worry about my health, and the health of my loved ones. It started after I got married, and then it became a lot worse after I had children. It increased greatly after my Dad went to Heaven, because loss suddenly became so close, so personal. I have found out by talking to other mothers, that most women, especially mothers, worry about their own, and their kids’, health too. So, at least I am not alone.
Since I know worry is a sin, I try not to do it. Yes, I can see the shock in your expression: “You must not try too hard” those who know me are thinking. Well, maybe not, but I do try!
Because I know the Bible is the best source for help, I am always on the lookout for verses that promise me a long life, or productive life, etc. It’s a comfort. Of course, I realize God is sovereign and can do as He wants with my life, but still, it’s a comfort.
Here’s my newest “find”:
Proverbs 9:11 “For by me [wisdom] thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. So, there ya go! I mean, there I go. Another great promise for a long life from my favorite infallible source: the Bible! If I use wisdom in my life, I’ll have my days multiplied and my years increased. I am not too wise, but there’s one thing I do know, it’s where to get wisdom: from God’s Word. More specifically: Proverbs! That’s why I read one every day! It’s like taking “spiritual vitamins.” I try to increase my “Proverbs Quotient” (PQ) everyday. (Did you notice there are 31 chapters?) Isn’t the Bible great?

If my husband has said it once, he’s said it a thousand times in the two years we’ve been pastoring here: “Christians need to read their Bible everyday.” As most of you know, I have a two 1/2 year old and a 10 month old, and I get very little sleep or time to myself right now. (One of these days, I’m going to visit my library – alone!) I may not get to do any scrapbooking, shopping or reading, but I do however, fight for my daily Bible time. I try to get up around 5:30 or 6 so I can beat my children up and have my quiet time with the Lord. Sometimes, I get breakfast late for the kids because the Bible is important to me. I once heard a preacher (maybe it was my brother! I can’t remember.) say that we won’t do that which we do not plan to do. I change the sheets every Friday. I buy groceries on Mondays usually, I make lesson plans for school…why wouldn’t I plan on meeting with the Lord? I plan everything else. Oh, sure, there are lots of days when I am reading my Bible at 11:59pm because the day has been so terribly hectic -illness, accidents, and the like can interfere with our best made plans. But still, I do the best I can.
When I get up and head to “my spot”, I always find Him waiting there for me, like a good friend does when you plan to meet somewhere. He listens to me thank Him, and then gripe, and then thank Him, then gripe, well you get the picture. Then, He speaks back to me from His Word.
I was struggling with a problem recently and I would like to put the blame on someone else. But, through my Proverbs reading for the day, He showed me that, yep, it’s my fault. He had to scold me. Boy I felt bad about it. I said “Yes, Lord, I see what You mean. I’m sorry.” Then, I went over and read a little from the NT – and He encouraged me. My reading for that day was Phil. 3:13-14 …”but this one thing I do. forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Coincidence? No. I know He was telling me “You messed up, again, Valerie. But I forgive you, now get up and go forward.” Isn’t He good to us? He saves us and keeps us saved forever! That’s eternity!! Then, He gives us His word, His Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us, He gives us friends, and He promises that He will always be there for us. When we are grieving, He’s there. He has a great shoulder to cry on, by the way. I’ve used it often. My family and friends cannot possibly fathom some of the sorrow that I have faced, but He can. My Mom cannot fix all my problems, but He can! My husband could not fully understand my grief when I lost my Dad, but He did! He has stood right beside me through everything, and His word has guided me.
The Bible tells me:
How to be a good wife, daughter, sister, mother, friend
How to pray
How to think
How to talk
How to love others
What to do when people revile me, persecute me and speak all manner of evil against me.
How to share the gospel
How to be a good guest
How handle my money
How to do things in my daily life (decently and in order)
What to do when I’m afraid, and just Whom I should fear.
What to do when I’m heartbroken
How to raise my children
How to love my husband
How to deal with angry people, foolish people, wise people, scornful people, critical people
What to do when I’ve been betrayed
How to dress
How to serve
How to eat
How to be a good employee….

AND THE LIST COULD GO ON FOREVER!

The Bible has the answer for all of life’s situations. Thank you, Lord, for giving me the Bible! Thank you for being faithful to me even when I’m so unfaithful to You!

I read today in Phil.4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Verse 12 says I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound… I think that is my biggest struggle: contentment. I believe we all struggle with this, but especially in the ministry. So many pastors and preachers judge each other’s churches by the attendance, or the missions program, or the offerings, or, well you see what I mean. Therefore, if the attendance is low, or the offering is low, or the number out soul winning is low, etc. we feel as though there is something wrong with us. This leads to dissatisfaction and discontentment. I wrote in an earlier post about “the grass is greener syndrome” as I call it. It’s whene I look over somewhere else and think life would be better over there. Well, for me, feeling that the grass is greener elsewhere usually begins with dissatisfaction with our church – either the people or the actual number of people! Shame on me. The Bible says in II Cor. 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. The Bible says it’s wrong to compare ourselves with ourselves. I mean, we are all imperfect, so of course, I might be better than another sinner, for a moment! But I’ll never look to Jesus and say “Yep. I’m like Him alright.” At least, not if I’m honest!!It’s so easy to compare ourselves with another pastor, or pastor’s wife and so forth. I’ll tell you the truth, I fight it. I fight wanting to build myself up by saying to myself “I’m better than Mrs. So and So, and my husband is better than Pastor so and so.” The Bible says that’s wrong. Those that “commend themselves” as the verse says, are only proud of what they do because they have the wrong standard to measure to. If we are all honest with ourselves, and look to Jesus as our standard, then of course, we fall short. He is who we need to measure up to! That will take a lifetime of work, and even then, we won’t be perfect like Jesus. However, we’ll come closer than if we don’t try at all.
Sometimes I get unhappy or discontented, but it’s only when I look at others. When I look to Jesus, He reminds me of the many blessings He’s given me. And as the song says: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth (like attendance, people’s weaknesses, money) will grow strangely dim, in the light of His wonderful face.” That does it. When I look to Him, nothing else matters.
I may never be in a “large” church. I may never have any extra money. But that’s OK. I cannot say with Paul that” I have learned to be content”. I’ll have to say ” I am learning to be content”. In the same chapter of Philippians, Paul says in verse 13 “I can do all things through Christ which strentheneth me.” Through Him, I can learn to be content. So I’ll look to Him as my standard of living, and I’ll look to Him to help me look to Him!