God

All posts tagged God

Day 28 of Deployment

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on January 31, 2012
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“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.”  Isaiah 66:13 NIV

Part of me finds comfort in this verse, but another part of me does not.  Does it mean as I comfort my kids or the ideal mother?  When my children are hurting, either physically or emotionally, I would stop at nothing to ease their pain and comfort them.  But other times, when their distress is whiney, annoying or uncalled for, I couldn’t feel less comfort.  I know in my heart that God is better; He is perfect and meets us exactly where we are, giving us exactly what we need.  I still haven’t figured that out completely as a mother, but I’m glad that I have a perfect God from whom to learn.

Day 24 of Deployment

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on January 29, 2012
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“Rejoice in the Lord always.”  Philippians 4:4

This is another scripture that I had heard for years when growing up.  It’s short, simple and to the point…not much to interpret there.  But tonight in reading the “always” part does get me.  It’s difficult for me to rejoice always and maybe that’s why we had to be told to do it.  Maybe if it was easy, the scripture wouldn’t be there.  But it does say to “rejoice IN the Lord” always and again, not necessarily for circumstances or how we feel.  Since God is constant, he is worthy of it.

Day 17 of Deployment

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on January 24, 2012
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“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” I Corinthians 2:9 NLT

So really, no one knows?  Wow.  I like to feel that I have high expectations, can imagaine the impossible and wish for the stars, but I’m humbled that God has prepared such great things for those who love him.  I will think twice next time I settle for 2nd best in anything.  It’s not a testament to us, but to how much God loves us.  I think of how much I love my children and I often ponder the dreams I have in my heart for them.  Yet I know that it couldn’t even compare to how much God loves us.

Forgive  me for worrying and I trust the plans you have for us!

Day 16 of Deployment

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on January 24, 2012
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“The Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”  Psalm 100:5 NIV

Love enduring forever is a foreign concept now a days with such high divorce rates…the 72 day marriages….even 48 hour ones thanks to Vegas!  But it’s a concept I try to imagine when I think of God’s unconditional love and how it continues through generations….to even think of my children’s children brings a tear to my eye, even in my humble imperfect humanity.  So to imagine how God may feel in His perfectness is overwhelming.  Thank God for His faithfulness.

Day 12 of Deployment

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on January 20, 2012
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“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.  Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”  Albert Schweitzer

“Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it, but receive it with thanks.”  1 Timothy 4:4 NLT

I have a difficult time in comprehending that everything God created is good…..I tend to see the ways in which man has tainted what was good and can take goodness away.  Sometimes I think I can’t recognize it….we can get used to hurt, pain, disappointment or negativity that we’re comfortable there.  Anything “good” has some strings attached….a catch…”too good to be true” sentiments are felt or the feeling that it will not last….”all good things must come to an end”.  But I realize that none of those feelings are truly Godly and spiritual.  Someone bitter and hurt came up with those sayings that we’ve kept going.  I realize that I and probably many others, need to change my expectation and reception of a good thing.  My first start…..a friend who has given me a weekly standing invitation to her home for dinner—-Yes, yes a resounding yes.

 

 

Day 8 of Deployment

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on January 16, 2012
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“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”  Psalm 37:4 NIV

I learned early on that good things come from God.  But I know I don’t understand bad things though….and I’ve never met anyone who does.  The age-old question “why do bad things happen to good people”, etc.  But one thing I know to be true is that several heart desires have been met when I delight in God…..my spouse, my children, my family, our assignments, my friends, etc.  My husband always says that we can bloom wherever we are planted and he is absolutely right.

So even though my heart’s desire to be an action movie star, travel to Spain or hang out with Matt Damon has not been met, I’m sure those desires have nothing to do with delighting in God!

Are you there, God? It’s me blogging.

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on August 10, 2011
Posted in: Faith. Tagged: , , , . 6 Comments

One of the aspects I enjoy in traveling so much with the military is meeting new people and gaining new insights and perspectives.  I enjoy meeting people of different cultures and I’m fascinated by religious beliefs. These encounters have stretched me in many ways.  I try my best to still stay grounded in some core beliefs I feel are absolute while leaving myself open to be taught.

Most recently, one of my good friends here in our new location
has stated that she is an Athiest and doesn’t believe in any afterlife.  This came up because she and her family have had many deaths in their immediate family and it’s brought up some interesting and very matter-of-fact conversations.

I believe everyone has their reasons for their beliefs or lack of beliefs as the case may be.  But it has made me wonder for the past few days.
It’s given me a fresh view on my own faith.  I’ve tried to think about my views outside of upbringing, church and religion to truly think of my faith at the core.  It’s been good for me to evaluate how I feel and think without paradigms getting in the way.  I think when we hear some information, it often tries to find a connection with a foundation that’s already laid on our mind.  Hearing a differing sentiment can often bounce off into some distance abyss because there’s no connection within us.  I don’t want to let that happen.

But I thought about it and have wondered what is the risk of
faith?  Is it really that difficult to have faith in this information overloading, scientific and control based world?  Is it a fear of being disappointed?  Is it then that we have certain expectations that may seem unreasonable?  For me, I believe in God and my faith has given me hope, guidance, strength and peace. But if I’m wrong in some way, I’m not sure I would have lost anything.  I think I would have lived a good life with a sustaining faith and a spiritual compass.  Maybe I’m just practical.  But if God does exist and all that comes with those beliefs, isn’t the disbelief then the risk?