Sunday's Promise

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." 1 Timothy 6:17-19

My church is currently engaged in a series on wisdom. Primarily, the verses are from Proverbs, one of my favorite books of the Bible, but today Pastor Mike also used this verse from 1 Timothy. I was immediately drawn to it because I feel like our job as followers of Christ is to serve and be generous. Too often we get busy "blessing the blessed," a line I picked up from Jen Hatmaker's book last year. We have church picnics and we raise money to change the carpet in the sanctuary, but we do very little to feed the hungry or provide shelter for the homeless. My soul struggles with this reality on a daily basis.

These verses remind me that the riches we have here on Earth are meaningless. Certainly, we've seen how the stock market can go from high one day to the lowest of low the next. That's not to say we shouldn't save for the future; however, we need to know that God is the one taking care of us. We should never pass up the opportunity to "do good [. . .] and be generous" for the sake of our coffers. In fact, we are promised in Paul's letter to Timothy that we will be laying up treasure that will last if we serve the least of these.

My church gets this, and I am so blessed to be a part of their congregation. I am reminded weekly of ways I can reach out and help those in need. If you are like me and you want to focus on helping the people who really need help, here are some ways that you can help this month.

1. Donate canned food- You can donate wherever you like, but my church is taking up donations for some hungry kids in the area. If you'd like to get in contact with me, I'd be glad to drop off your donations.

2. Another area resource that could really use your donations is God's Storehouse Soup Kitchen which is located in the basement of Rooftop in Galax. The lady who runs it is a wonderful person with a heart to serve the hungry. What I love about her is that she will tell you she can't cook, but that she saw a need in the area and stepped out on faith to fulfill that need. Love her so much! My service club is serving pancakes there in October, and we've received plenty of donations of pancake mix, but we could still use syrup and canned fruit.

3. Baking cookies- My church is baking cookies for a prison ministry, but I'm sure you could find someone who has a family member serving overseas in the armed forces. Perhaps you could bless them for their sacrifice this month.

4. Drop off some cards at the local nursing home- While many people at the nursing home have regular visitors, there are some residents who are visited very rarely. They might appreciate a kind word.

God bless you this week, and I pray you will find ways to bless those in need.

A Late Sunday Truth (I've been behind in my graduate school classes)

 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? Matthew 6:26

A few weeks ago, I came across this verse in my daily morning devotional. I was really stressing about finances that week. We were supposed to be putting a new metal roof on our house, and we were about $500 short. I thought to myself, "yes, I never worry about food. I'm really blessed when it comes to that, but man, we really are struggling to find the finances for this roof."

I put my devotional away, thanked God for another day, and went on to work. That afternoon I found myself in my planning time still thinking about my financial worries, so I went to proverbs31.org and started reading the day's devotional. There again, I was confronted with Matthew 6. I pulled out my Bible app to really dive into the selection. Obviously, I was really meant to read those verses, and what I read was an answer to my worry.

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31-33

I thought to myself "if God doesn't want me to worry about what I'm going to eat or drink or wear, and if He promises to take care of those Earthly needs, then surely He will take care of putting a roof over my house." In the quietness of my classroom, I took a minute to pray to God. I asked Him to forgive me for not trusting His providence and to help us save the remainder of the money needed for our roof.  The strangest feeling of peace washed over me. I knew I had asked God humbly for something, and I felt certain He would provide. 

The same week I received some mail from out mortgage company. We pay our mortgage automatically each month from checking, so most of the time I just chuck what they send me because it's only a reminder. For some reason, I decided to open the envelope. In the envelope was a check for $600 from the mortgage company because we had overpaid in our escrow account for the year! This refund more than covered the remainder of our roofing needs. 

Some might say my experience was just coincidence, but I've had circumstances happen like this too often for me to think that. Why, only a few years ago I was preparing Thanksgiving dinner for some folks, and I was informed a bunch of unexpected guests would be showing up. I was panicked! I looked at my tiny little turkey for twelve people, and I prayed, "God, please let there be enough." Not twenty minutes later, a sweet woman of God rang my doorbell. She had a plethora of leftover turkey, and she wanted to give it to me. More than enough turkey! More than enough cash to cover the roof! God has and will continue providing for His people. 

Have you experienced a financial circumstance that you lifted up faithfully to God? How did He answer it? How did your experience change your faith and prayer life? If you're still waiting for an answer, don't give up hope. Keep fighting the good fight, and rest assured that He has promised over and over again to provide for our earthly needs. 

Grace in My Classroom

It started like it always does for me: spotty peripheral vision. I hadn't had a migraine in a few years, but I could tell immediately what it was. Little flashes of black spots were covering my eyes, and I couldn't read the page in front of me. I was at work, and I was trying to muscle through the pain. I popped two ibuprofen and waited expectantly for them to work their magic.

In the meantime, classes were changing, and I was in the hall trying to greet my students. I'm sure what I felt was a smile looked more like a grimace. I was in serious pain, after all. About that time, here came one of my students. On a normal day, he is one of my favorites. He says the silliest things and makes me smile. But this day, he bumped into me from behind. On purpose. As a joke. 

Couldn't he tell I was hurting? That my brain was about to explode? 

Then, out of my mouth came the words. I'm not sure exactly what I said, but I know the tone I said them in, and my silly, funny student's face fell like I'd kicked his dog. With a bowed head, he apologized and slunk past me into the classroom where he found his seat.

Ephesians 4:2 tells us to "be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." In my moment of physical weakness, I'd been the antithesis of patient. I'd snapped. Immediately I felt terrible for how nasty I'd been to my student. He was just trying to be playful, and I'd shot him down. I'd become another grumpy adult with mood swings he couldn't trust. 

Once I started class and got everyone working on their assignment, I went over to the student's desk and crouched in the floor. I said, "I'd like to apologize for snapping at you. I have a really bad migraine, and I'm feeling kind of crummy. You startled me, but that was no excuse for me to be so hateful. I hope you will forgive me." He replied that it was no big deal, but I could tell in his eyes he was still hurt. I carried the weight of my words well into the evening that night, and I found myself praying for this little ninth grade boy and praying for forgiveness for my words. The next day, my heart soared when he came in the room smiling at me. My student acted like nothing was wrong between us, and he went back to being silly and playful.

I so want to be the teacher who is always cheerful, positive, and fun. My students deserve that. But at the same time, it is unrealistic for me to act as if nothing ever bothers me. I think the "be completely humble" line of Ephesians 4:2 speaks to the part of me who fails at trying to be gentle, patient, and loving. I've been given an out when I mess up: grace. And if I humble myself enough to ask for it, I can be forgiven. While it may take a few days, weeks, months, or years for people to forgive me, God forgives me as soon as I repent. My actions are erased, and the chains of guilt and shame are removed from my soul. 

Sunday's Promise

Sabbath.

The day of rest.

For some of us, perhaps the Sabbath takes place on Sunday. For others, we may find our day of rest in the middle of the week. Regardless of our day off of work, we can find Sabbath moments every day, however brief. These moments fill us with God's promises and restore our hope in the midst of chaos. Each Sunday, I will share a promise with you. A pause that perhaps you can return to over the week when life gets ahead of you.

This morning, before I started breakfast, before I readied myself for church, I poured over God's word. Someone close to me is experiencing a period of heartache and sadness. Someone I love is struggling, and as I read my Bible this morning, I couldn't help but think of her. This promise is for her, and for anyone whose heart is heavy:

Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with song of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.
Psalm 126:5-6

or as The Message puts it:
so those who went off with heavy hearts
will come home laughing, with armloads of 
blessing.

Read that again slowly, and let it be a balm to your soul.

While it may be tempting to turn from God in your season of pain and sadness, do the hard thing and keep your eyes on Him. Continue to do the task He has chosen you to do, and rest assured that your work is being noticed. You will be rewarded, and those tears you shed will be dried and replaced with laughter. When the time is right, God will overwhelm you with a harvest of blessings.

And that hope, my friend, is worth getting out of bed for today.

Sunday blessings,
Ashley

A Little About Me

My life is busy. I'm a wife, I'm a teacher, I'm a grad student. I'm kind of in charge of a Wednesday night Bible study. I'm hopelessly devoted to ten students who are in my Service Learning Club. I've also taken on senior capstone projects this year. I'm trying to travel while on a tight budget. If it weren't for my relationship with Christ, I'm pretty sure I would lose my mind. But I've been given a promise. We all have.

Exodus 14:14 says "the Lord will fight for you; you need only be still."

In my life, I try to take on all the burdens myself, and in the process I become overwhelmed. And when I'm overwhelmed, I miss the magnificence that God has placed in my life. So this blog is going to be my touchstone. A place for me to share with you the struggles of my everyday life and how God is working through them.

Too often, I think Christians put on a facade and act as if everything is fine. It's like we think we are going to get kicked out of the club if we don't have everything perfect. Guess what? We aren't intended to have it all together! My life isn't ever going to look like a spread from Southern Living! God wants to show His strength through my weakness. I can rest. I can be still. I can find quiet in my busy life knowing that God will go to battle for me. I just have to acknowledge Him, and He has promised to make my ways straight.

Will you join me in slowing down? Perhaps by examining my messy life and God's hand in it, you too can acknowledge what He is doing for you and through you.

Blessings,
Ashley