Your Baby Has Less Hair Than Mine

If he anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. Galatians 6:3-4 NIV

"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence."

Comparing ourselves to others, it's easy to get into a habit of looking to see what others have done. I've done it myself.

When my kids were younger I would compare what my child could do to what other's couldn't. If one of his/her friends had a new skill I wanted mine to learn it. I remember once while shopping a woman came up to me and my precious one year old and said, "your baby has less hair than mine."

I really didn't know how to respond. So I didn't. Now I could have found the latest fix for growing baby's hair, but I didn't. I knew one day he would get hair and hair he did indeed (remembering the mop phase). After this I was just grateful for every skill each of my children learned whenever they learned it.

Sometimes I've compared my self in my business. When my day care numbers are down and I see another provider with a full house, I wonder why and what could I do better. The same thing happens at church when children aren't attending like they used to and other peoples ministries are flourishing. I look for ways to improve. Or with my writing. Why does that person get so much more attention? It's all in God's hands.

Comparing ourselves is quite common.

Paul is telling us here though, that we should focus on our own personal responsibility. We should each look at what we are accomplishing for God and take pride in our own walk of faith.

So the next time I try to compare myself to someone, I should instead step back and look to see if I've accomplished what God wants of me. Then be proud of what He's accomplished through me.

You Can't Stop Me

Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV

A few days ago I read something that bothered me. "Why do you pray while driving? Doesn't God know what you need, so why bother?"

Now this bothered me not only because someone I care about who wrote it, but I pray all the time when I'm driving. Why wouldn't I? There are a lot of crazy drivers out there.

Prayer is simply having a conversation with God. Most of my day is spent in prayer, sometimes it's simple like "Help me out here." Other times it's a little more complex, "She's in the hospital again, please let her have a speedy recovery."

He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him. 1 Chronicles 5:20b NIV

So why do I bother to pray when God already knows what I need. Because it brings me comfort and peace. Sure God can handle things without me, I mean He has been around since before He created the world and He'll be around a long time after I leave here.

But my time spent in prayer helps me face everything I need to. Sometimes my days are peaceful, sometimes my days are chaotic, and sometimes I simply don't understand. The time I spend with God, whether it's a quick prayer or it's a long day after day problem, helps me get through it.

Ask and it will be given unto you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened unto you. Matthew 7:7 NIV

Another reason I pray is to ask. I ask God for things, and a lot of time He gives them to me. When I first started deepening my trust in God, I would ask for things and He would grant my request. Maybe it was so I would learn to trust Him. I'm not sure, but through that I've grown to understand that God's plan is better than mine.

Some may wonder how can that be since the person I loved the most died anyway. Or you may wonder why you're still sick why can't you just get well? How can this possibly be what's best for me?

It's hard to go through situations, illness, tough times...but for me I know it's when I've gone through these valleys that I've been made stronger.

Some may think I'm weak because I pray. It's in my weakness though God is made stronger maybe not in your life, but in mine.

Each of us have our own journey to walk, our own problems to face and through these situations we each have a choice to make-Do I trust God to see me through or do I try this on my own? And to those who try it on their own I have question for you-how's that working out for you? Why not give prayer a try, what could it hurt?

Just One More Snooze

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 NIV

"It's to early, I just went to sleep." I whined as the alarm went off. Snooze was a convenient button to push, and soon the alarm would be completely turned off. It was my only day not to have to be somewhere.

I had begun a paper route, a seven day a week (holidays included) work week. The middle of the night was when I had to report for duty. The reason I chose to do this was because day care business was down and I was able to bring the boys(before the girl) and my husband with me. Yes, he helped bag the newspapers as I flew through the neighborhood tossing papers out the window. The boys snoozed away in their car seats.

It was quite an adventure not being able to sleep a full eight hours in a row. This is why when Sunday rolled around it became easier and easier to not get up and go to church. We wouldn't be missed and we certainly wouldn't miss going.

How wrong I was?

We did indeed miss going. It seemed the more we missed the worse our attitudes became. Things didn't go as smoothly as they should have. There was a void, an emptiness. We tried to dismiss it.

We still prayed before meals. We still knew God was there, but somehow He wasn't as close.

Our friends at church checked on us a few times, sure we missed them but not enough to go back at least not right away.

Luckily for us, this skipping church didn't last long. It was short lived.

Even now several years later we have obstacles that pop up every Sunday trying to keep us from church. The snooze button still calls. Everybody doesn't get ready on time. Arguments occur. Cars break down. Illness strikes. Something gets left behind that's needed for service.

Sure missing out on gathering together isn't a crime. Sometimes things happen and it just can't be helped. We though must not give up on meeting together. It's in the meeting that we can fellowship, we can encourage, we can love, and sometimes we can eat. Most importantly though we can fellowship and worship God, and that is something worth getting up for!

Waiting in the Drawer

Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls ever before me. Isaiah 49:15b-16 NIV

They sit in the drawer patiently waiting for their turn. Several are before them, slowly the others get used finally, it's their turn but they get left and the one under them gets used. Over and over again this happens. I feel sorry for them. I don't have the heart to throw them away. In fact, I usually don't overlook them I use them.

When I ask my family why they don't use those two spoons, they say "they taste funny" or "they're rough." Well if you fell in the disposal and forgotten until the disposal's turned on, you'd be a little beat up too. The spoons are slightly discolored, rough and don't shine anymore, but they still work.

There have been times when I've been overlooked or forgotten. Growing up when teams were chosen, I'd always be picked last. New school years didn't usually bring me new friends at least not right away. On the school bus I'd be the one sitting in the seat by myself. I never got the lead in any play. Even cover dish dinners would leave me sitting at the table by myself.

Things are a bit different now, funny how becoming a pastor's wife leads people to sit with you. Even at community cover dishes I never sit alone.

Sometimes though on occasion I still feel forgotten much like the spoons in my drawer. Maybe that's why I feel so sorry for them.

Comfort comes to me though when I remember that God never will forget me. He is always there for me watching over me as I wait my turn and even if I'm skipped, I know He will continue to use me for the glory of His kingdom.