Something I was thinking about this morning is the lack of compassion in our society. I even see it in little children, and I have to wonder what is this world coming to? It starts with us, as the parent, to model this and other good character qualities. We as parents will reap what we sow. We cannot sit there and do immoral things and participate in immoral things of this world and expect our children to not follow our lead. And even if our behavior isn't immoral (just lacking character), we still must model what we want. If we want a kind, compassionate child who loves other, we ourselves must first be the example and show that towards others. Simple...yet hard to follow through. We can only achieve this with the Father's help. It cannot be done alone. Trust me on this one!
Even as I have seen,Those who plow iniquity And sow trouble reap the same. Job 4:8
Just something that's been on my heart lately--compassion. An emotion and gesture that could help someone who is in the pit, literally, with sadness. What is the matter with people? We must wake up out of our selfishness and show love towards others!
We as Christians need to pray for those who hurt us and let us down. That's something I struggle with, and I need to work on.
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you... Matthew 5:42-44
Observe a child for a while. They are quick to forgive and and show love (most of the time). Why is it the older we get, the greedier we get? Observe a child and act as he or she...the Lord commands it!
In loving memory of Ethan Joshua Wallace, a child of God who trusted Him and took the straight path to Heaven.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
My God Provides
Most everyone who reads my blog knows that we are a military family. Being that we are a military family, we live a little bit of a different lifestyle than those who are what we call "civilians." I am proud to be a military wife, and my husband is proud to honorably serve his country.
Right now the big topic that I keep reading about over and over again is the government shutdown, and no pay status for active duty military and other government employees. Don't get me wrong, I am upset about it. More so for others than ourselves, simply because we don't have a lot of debt and we have some savings. Plus, the military WILL get paid back-pay for any lost wages. I think that in these difficult times, we must remember that GOD, not man, is our ultimate provider. It's not our money, our house, our children...it's HIS. This is clearly stated in the Bible. God did not give us a spirit of fear. Fear is a product of sin in the world, and of the enemy. The enemy wants us to crumble under fear. The thing is, here are a lot of people worrying about money and loss of pay when we must fully rely on the Lord!
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34
How often do we sit and worry and something, and then it never happens? That's precious wasted time, stirring the pot of fear and adding unnecessary anxiety into our lives.
I felt the Lord leading me to write this, because the topic of no pay has been an epidemic on Facebook, the news, etc. Being someone who just recently walked through a tragic time losing Ethan, I want to encourage all of you to trust the Lord. Don't just say it, DO IT! I don't know how to describe it, but for me personally, I just had to let go and let God. There are many of you out there that "wonder how we do it" in terms of how do we go on and live with such a tragic loss. I will assure you that it's not me, it's my God. He can move mountains, He can breathe life into someone, He can save the lost, He is our rock! The Lord has been the Wallace Family's refuge in a very dark time...and He shall always be our provider and healer!
I am going to share a personal time and struggle with you that not many know about. In about October of last year (just 4 months after Ethan meeting Jesus), I was a victim of spiritual warfare. What's that you may ask? It's when the enemy (the devil) attacks you and your family when you're at a low or vulnerable point. The devil knows that you are already struggling, and he attacks full force, filling your mind full on nonsense. My fears we losing another family member, which resulted in my over protecting Evan and panicking all of the time. I myself was afraid of dying, and really believed that I was sick and going to die (a doctor's appointment and blood work confirmed I was just fine). It's quite debilitating. Fear is crippling. But when we stop and talk to our Father in heaven, we know that these thoughts are irrational and not of Him. I simply had to stop and talk with my Father and cry out to Him. I cried and cried and let Him know my fears and asked for His help. And you know what, He got me out of that hard time, just as He has every single time.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34
I try to be an optimist as much as possible. I truly believe that a lot of good will come out of this no pay situation. For instance, I think it's a real eye opener that we cannot depend on man or the government, we must cling to God's Word and trust fully on our Creator. When we realize that it's all about trusting in Him, everything just seems easier.
I think another big lesson to be learned from this is to not live beyond our means, and to live more frugally. Americans as a whole are not savers, and live paycheck to paycheck. Over and over again in the Bible God cautions us about being a slave to the lender. And it's true, we are slaves to the banks and credit card companies. And for what? A piece of materialism so that we can "live the American dream" and be like our neighbors?
We are not perfect, and I will admit that I once was in debt more than I should have been. But now that we live more simply and try as much as possible to not have debt, we are truly happier. All of those "luxuries" were just temporary. I like the permanent things such as the thought of living in eternity with my Saviour! I also enjoy family time and the simple things in life such as playing a board game, or making homemade pies and laughing together and sharing our day.
Let's all stop and meditate on God's Word, stop worrying, and be thankful for what we have. And let's not forget to pray for our president, our country, and the issues that are looming.
Right now the big topic that I keep reading about over and over again is the government shutdown, and no pay status for active duty military and other government employees. Don't get me wrong, I am upset about it. More so for others than ourselves, simply because we don't have a lot of debt and we have some savings. Plus, the military WILL get paid back-pay for any lost wages. I think that in these difficult times, we must remember that GOD, not man, is our ultimate provider. It's not our money, our house, our children...it's HIS. This is clearly stated in the Bible. God did not give us a spirit of fear. Fear is a product of sin in the world, and of the enemy. The enemy wants us to crumble under fear. The thing is, here are a lot of people worrying about money and loss of pay when we must fully rely on the Lord!
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34
How often do we sit and worry and something, and then it never happens? That's precious wasted time, stirring the pot of fear and adding unnecessary anxiety into our lives.
I felt the Lord leading me to write this, because the topic of no pay has been an epidemic on Facebook, the news, etc. Being someone who just recently walked through a tragic time losing Ethan, I want to encourage all of you to trust the Lord. Don't just say it, DO IT! I don't know how to describe it, but for me personally, I just had to let go and let God. There are many of you out there that "wonder how we do it" in terms of how do we go on and live with such a tragic loss. I will assure you that it's not me, it's my God. He can move mountains, He can breathe life into someone, He can save the lost, He is our rock! The Lord has been the Wallace Family's refuge in a very dark time...and He shall always be our provider and healer!
I am going to share a personal time and struggle with you that not many know about. In about October of last year (just 4 months after Ethan meeting Jesus), I was a victim of spiritual warfare. What's that you may ask? It's when the enemy (the devil) attacks you and your family when you're at a low or vulnerable point. The devil knows that you are already struggling, and he attacks full force, filling your mind full on nonsense. My fears we losing another family member, which resulted in my over protecting Evan and panicking all of the time. I myself was afraid of dying, and really believed that I was sick and going to die (a doctor's appointment and blood work confirmed I was just fine). It's quite debilitating. Fear is crippling. But when we stop and talk to our Father in heaven, we know that these thoughts are irrational and not of Him. I simply had to stop and talk with my Father and cry out to Him. I cried and cried and let Him know my fears and asked for His help. And you know what, He got me out of that hard time, just as He has every single time.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34
I try to be an optimist as much as possible. I truly believe that a lot of good will come out of this no pay situation. For instance, I think it's a real eye opener that we cannot depend on man or the government, we must cling to God's Word and trust fully on our Creator. When we realize that it's all about trusting in Him, everything just seems easier.
I think another big lesson to be learned from this is to not live beyond our means, and to live more frugally. Americans as a whole are not savers, and live paycheck to paycheck. Over and over again in the Bible God cautions us about being a slave to the lender. And it's true, we are slaves to the banks and credit card companies. And for what? A piece of materialism so that we can "live the American dream" and be like our neighbors?
We are not perfect, and I will admit that I once was in debt more than I should have been. But now that we live more simply and try as much as possible to not have debt, we are truly happier. All of those "luxuries" were just temporary. I like the permanent things such as the thought of living in eternity with my Saviour! I also enjoy family time and the simple things in life such as playing a board game, or making homemade pies and laughing together and sharing our day.
Let's all stop and meditate on God's Word, stop worrying, and be thankful for what we have. And let's not forget to pray for our president, our country, and the issues that are looming.
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