Thursday Stories

Today’s story is from a fellow MOPs member, Abigail Castro. Her story hits close to home for me. I hope you are encouraged by her bravery!

Stories from San Antonio

When I think of my life I have had many opportunities to be brave for Jesus: sharing my faith with my peers and strangers, going on mission trips, financial giving, loss, the list continues. But I would have to say the situation I have had to be bravest and struggled with the most with Jesus would be with my fertility. Strangely enough my journey with infertility began with a pregnancy eight months after getting married, but quickly ended in miscarriage. I am one of five children and loved being a part of a large family, so naturally I have desired to have children of my own. Having a miscarriage was big loss for me. To lose a little life left me broken-hearted. We waited a few months and then began to try for another child. Six months – nothing, I wasn’t too worried. A year, nothing. Though I knew it could take time for some couples, I expected pregnancy to happen easily for me because all of my family members were very fertile. So every month that passed after a year, I became more anxious and turned more towards myself.

Finally we went to my doctor to investigate what may be causing me to not become pregnant. I had to have a surgery to rule out certain possibilities which led to the discovery that something unique was indeed occurring with my body. I have a unicorniate uterus which is half a uterus. This causes it to be difficult to become pregnant and hard to maintain a full pregnancy. This again worried me. I turned to my anxiety as if it gave me some sense of control. Researching my condition and trying to figure out how I could get pregnant became a daily routine. It seemed like everyone around me was getting pregnant, which discouraged me. I compared my insides to their outsides and wondered if I would ever get pregnant or have children. My focus was more and more that I am broken and my body doesn’t work. I felt desperate. I struggled with culturally embedded messages that if only I were good enough I would get what I want and life would be easy. Even though I knew this was false, I still continued to fight these thoughts. It seemed every month that passed, the more desperate I felt. I wasn’t stopping to consider God might have something for me to learn during this time. But God graciously kept loving me and drawing me to him. One night while journaling, God spoke to me. He said, “Abigail, if I don’t give you a child will you still love me?” I cried and cried and said, “Though I would be sad Jesus, I would still love you.” To me, God wanted me to desire Him above all, love Him above all and change my focus. I wish after this incident I could say I surrendered it all, but that’s not true. I still clumsily muttled my way through my desire to have children and giving that desire to God and loving His heart first. As I mentioned before my focus was on me and what I could do.

After three years, I finally surrendered. I tried everything I could in my power. I applied for a teaching position and the morning of my interview I found out I was pregnant. Fear and excitement swept over me. I was excited about possibly having a child and afraid I would lose it. I decided that worrying wouldn’t really help me keep the baby and it would steal my joy. I had to be brave for Jesus and with Jesus. A verse that really calmed me during this pregnancy was Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.” (New Living Bible Paraphrased) Every time I would feel fearful I would run to God, I had to do this daily! I had a beautiful baby boy nine weeks early which presented more struggles, but so much joy!

Parenthood is a whole new journey for me. I have hard times and easy wonderful times. I am learning that it is just one more area that God meets me and I can grow. In all, I am thankful for my struggle because in my struggles I grow closer to God. I was changed through this struggle and I learned more about my relationship with God, areas and ideas that God wanted to change in me. Jesus Christ saved me from the depths of my sin and made me free! I am able to know, learn, grow and love my brave Jesus through all life’s experiences. I will end with a verse from Romans 5:3-5 “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials for we know that they are good for us- they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (New Living Bible Paraphrased)

My grandpa used to say, “Hun, thank God for the good and bad because he uses both for his glory.” He certainly does. He not only uses the good situations in our life but the bad to shape us, and make us more brave for Him and His purposes.

Moral Excellence – Applying Qualities

Hello friends! Welcome back to Weekly Challenge! We’re talking about Applying Qualities right now and today’s topic is moral excellence. Being excellent morally is more than simply doing good things, it’s avoiding bad things. It’s dwelling on righteous and casting out unrighteous. It’s a big, huge, all encompassing type of character trait. It’s sort of overwhelming for me to ponder.

Anyways, last week we talked about diligence. Your challenge was to set a large puzzle. For some of you, this may have been easy but in my house, puzzle + toddler + cats = unfinished puzzle. Tell me how you did with last week’s challenge in the comments below. If you happen to have a picture, I’d love to see it! As always, feel free to print the cards for your personal use. Remember to post this week’s verse in a location you’ll see daily!

Topic:
Moral Excellence

Definition:
N. the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong

Scripture:
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Challenge:
Spend 10 minutes away from distractions to think about good things.
Continue to memorize 2 Peter 1:5-8

Feel free to print for personal use

The Rain

 

     The country of Madagascar has extremely unique landscapes, animal life, and weather patterns. Some parts of the island receive so much rain that the land is flooded, and other parts receive so little rain that nothing can grow.

     “In a year there are only 10 days of rain in the South East of Mada,” said Domoina Mihamina. “Then people cannot have farming. They die of hunger.”

     During a drought in the United States, it is talked about on the news, and some farmers suffer a loss for the year. However, food is still shipped in from other locations. The grocery store still stocks much fresh fruit and vegetables. The average American, particularly those living in urban areas, do not feel the immediate effects of lack of rain. Drought in Madagascar is quite a different story.

     Mihamina said, “Rain is the most important thing in daily living because no food can be produced without water.”

     Without rain, the people of Madagascar cannot grow food. Without the food they grow themselves, many people starve. Unfortunately, even when it does rain, the downpour is more destructive than helpful.

     “In the South East, abundant rain comes in just a few days, so the water increases suddenly, and many people die because of the water in their home,” Mihamina said.

     In another part of Madagascar, a different but similar battle is being waged. Instead of not enough rain, the west coast is flooded.

     “I contacted my friend Augustine the future co-coordinator of MOPS special needs to have another the Malagasy view,” Mihamina said. “Her trouble is that, where she lives, there is abundant rain, so many people die also. Their houses are made of wood and are under the water.”

     It is a seemingly no-win situation. No rain means no food. Sudden rain means flooding. A happy medium is rare, and Malagasies must respond in other ways.

     “Malagasy people eat cactus during a drought,” Mihamina said. “Nothing else can survive without water. Those who can migrate do, but many women with little ones cannot.”

     This hardship is difficult for many to understand. Blaming God is an easy go-to in any culture, but in Madagascar the finger is quickly pointed at Christianity and the one true God.

     “Generally from the north to the south of the island, Malagasies believe that the rain does not come because of the new religion in Jesus,” Mihamina said.

     The people are told that the “razana,” or those who have died, are upset with them for turning away from the old religion. Malagasy elders believe the “razana” are disrespected by this new belief that is sweeping the island. The drought is a direct result of the disrespect, according to followers of the old belief system.

     Mihamina said, “Normally the elders give advice to trust in the god creator and ‘razana.’ They presume that people have to stand in their faith in the dead and the god of the rain.”

     Thankfully, there are people in Madagascar fighting this lie. Foreign missionaries, local missionaries, and Christian organizations are working hard to ground new believers in Christ alone.

     “MOPs has a great responsibility to help the mothers to trust in the true God,” Mihamina said. “We pray for them to pass their faith on to the next generation.”

     God has a great plan for the people of Madagascar. Whether in want or plenty, whether well fed or hungry, Malagasies can do all things through Christ who strengthens them. Pray for a strengthening of faith in Christ among the Malagasy people. Pray for a fruitful rain. Pray for a spreading of the Gospel.

The Apartment

Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, I’ll be living in a new home by the time you read this. As of right now, though, I live in an apartment. Today is Monday, and I am writing this for you to read next Monday, which is today, because you’re reading it right now. Wibbly wobbly, right?

See, I’ll be a little bit busy this weekend moving from our apartment of three years to our new house, and I don’t think I’ll get around to writing a post during all that, especially since I don’t know if we’ll have the internet up and running by then. So, hello from the past!  Timey wimey!

I am really really excited about moving. We intended to live in an apartment for a year, two years max. Now, after three years, we’re finally going to have a yard again! We’ll be able to invite people over for dinner and not be cramped. We’ll be able to paint walls, and change floors, and move things around and, plant vegetables, and start fires (in a contained location for the purpose of smores, of course), and, oh! I’m so excited!!

But for now, while I’m writing this, I am still living in an apartment.
For four more days. Sigh.

Although I am incredibly anxious to have a yard again, I have to admit, I am feeling a little bit nostalgic. We’ve had three good years here, and today, I heard this song by Trace Adkins on the radio. It kind of got to me, like music often does. I remember being a teenager and wanting so badly to be an adult. I wish I had just slowed down, taken some of my mother’s advice, and enjoyed being a teen. Later, I wanted more than anything to be married. Then, to have kids and be a stay at home mom. Now, to move to a house that we plan to grow old in. The thing is, there will always be a next step. Always something else to strive for. I don’t want to  always be on the look out for the next step. I want to enjoy life right now. Soak in the moments, smell the roses, all that jazz.

Philippians 4:4-13
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

I need to rejoice always. Not rejoice later when I’m in a house. Not rejoice later when I have a yard. But rejoice always. I need to rejoice even in my apartment. I need to be gentle. I need to pray, and petition, and be thankful. I need to refuse anxiousness and let the peace of God guard my heart and mind. So, even in the midst of moving and waiting and messy, I need to give a squeeze nice and slow, take a deep breath, and let it go. (Any other Daniel Tiger fans out there?) The person described in verses 4-7 would not be anxious to get out of here. She would calm down and rejoice in the Lord for the good times now past. I am going to take verse 8’s advice and focus on some positives.

10 Awesome Things That Have Happened While Living in an Apartment

1. My first pregnancy was here. It was a long, beautiful, trying, wonderful 9 months!

2. This is where we brought Amelia home after she was born. I’ll never forget the joy I felt standing in my living room here surrounded by family. The seams of the apartment nearly burst with all the love that was in here.

3. My hubby and I have worked through many, many, many issues in our marriage here. We’ve grown in patience, in kindness, in joy. We’ve become more open with each other, and our communication has improved tenfold. I think we’ve come a long way in three years.

4. Living here without the support I had back home forced me to face some things in myself that I had been avoiding. I learned to lean on God more fully and draw my strength and joy from Him.

5. I learned how to cook here. I knew some basic things, like macaroni and cheese or calling Pizza Hut, and I had tried a little bit during our first year of marriage, but now I can comfortably make something different for dinner every night, and it’s healthy, mostly. Also, I can bake now. Whoa.

6. Amelia’s first steps, first words, first peepee on the potty, I could go on, and on, and on. The first year and a half of her life has been here, and it’s been amazing.

7. Getting to know my neighbors. Although apartment life means our neighbors change often, it also puts more urgency in the friendship. We might only know you for a year, so I need to tell you about Jesus.

8. We brought home our second kitty, Sadie, to this apartment. We’ve had our first kitty, Jo, for almost four years, and we’ve had Sadie now for almost two years.

9. Our family has grown from 2 adults and a kitty, to 2 adults, 2 kitties, 1 toddler, and 2 babies in heaven.

10. I discovered that I actually can grow plants.

10 Things I’ll Miss About Apartment Life

1. When things break, somebody else fixes it.

2. Somebody else does the lawn care.

3. Close proximity to neighbors. I love getting to know who I’m living near.

4. The pool. There’s very little chance we’ll ever have anything bigger than a kiddie pool in our backyard. The pool here is big, and awesome, and, most importantly, maintained by someone else.

5. Small utility bills.

6. The shared patio. Sitting outside almost guarantees that someone to talk to will stop by.

7. The downsizing. The small size of the apartment forced me to figure out which things I really really wanted and to get rid of the rest.

8. The gym. Sure, I only stepped foot in there once, but still. I could have used it any time I wanted–if I had wanted.

9. The office ladies. They’re really nice.

10. The events. We’ve had Easter egg hunts, and pool parties, and various other events to build a sense of community.

Yes, I’ll miss this place. It has been a very good three years.

Let’s look at the last few verses again.

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Content whatever the circumstances. Whether apartment or house. Whether 10 kids or three. Whether SAHM or working. Whether 25 years old or 100. The Lord is the source of my strength in every situation.

Ends of the earth, here I come! (eventually)

The Phone

My daughter accidentally dropped my phone in HEB on Thursday. And when I say “accidentally dropped,” what I mean is, “threw it down the aisle because she was tired of playing with it.” Yeah. Life with a toddler.

This was not the first accidental drop my phone has taken. When we first got these phones two years ago, I dropped my phone from my knee to the concrete while sitting outside, and it cracked the screen. My Otterbox arrived in the mail the next day. Then, about a week later, I was showing off my awesome new Otterbox and dropped my phone, and there went another crack off of the original one. These two cracks were all I had for a long time. Then one fateful day, my little baby became a toddler. She would play with my phone and then carefully lay it on the table when finished. When I say “carefully lay it on the table,” what I mean is, “throw it onto the ground with as much force as a 16 month old can muster.” Yeah. Toddlers.

Well, after my two cracks and a few months of toddlerdom, my phone finally bit the dust in the school supply aisle of my local HEB. The screen turned all sorts of beautiful colors, and the ringtone was a delightful out-of-tune version of what it used to be. Needless to say, the touch screen no longer worked, and by lunch time, the beautiful colors were just black and the phone was ready for the dump. Since it was time for an upgrade anyway (It was time for an upgrade last month but we were debating whether to stay with our current carrier or switch. #firstworldproblems), we decided to go ahead and get a new one instead of doing the insurance thing.

Now I have to wait FOUR DAYS for my new phone to arrive in the mail. FOUR DAYS! Can you believe that? Four days without Facebook, Instagram, and Gmail in the palm of my hand. Four days of not listening to Adventures in Odyssey through the tape thingamajig in my car. Four days of not being able to text or make a phone call or play Angry Birds! How would I drive anywhere without GPS? How would I let the world know how awesome my sandwich was at lunch? How would I capture adorable moments of my daughter playing in a mere 10,000 photos?

In the midst of all my frustration and impatience, I recalled some unease my missions pastor had about my trip to Madagascar. He was pretty concerned with how I would transition from the one of the richest countries in the world to one of the poorest, especially since I’ve never been outside the US. I confidently informed him that although I’m not accustomed to things like outhouses and public wells and things of the sort, I would certainly find the strength within me to deal with these sorts of things. Of course I’d be able to adjust, even if it was a little bit difficult. It’s not like I’m one of those spoiled American brats who buys new clothes just because, or has multiple cars, or goes out to eat whenever the mood strikes, or is dependent on a phone for daily tasks.

Oh, wait.

Upon realizing that I was most certainly a spoiled American brat, I decided to turn to Scripture for help. The Bible says a lot about wealth. Basically, the love of money is the root of all evil. But not all Scripture says that money is a terrible, terrible thing, which surprised me. In fact, Solomon talks about wealth very fondly in Ecclesiastes. And Paul is just as content with prosperity as he is with being poor.

Ecclesiastes 7

¹¹ Wisdom along with an inheritance is good
And an advantage to those who see the sun.
¹² For wisdom is protection just as money is protection,
But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.
¹³ Consider the work of God,
For who is able to straighten what He has bent?
¹⁴ In the day of prosperity be happy,
But in the day of adversity consider—
God has made the one as well as the other
So that man will not discover anything that will be after him.

Solomon is the richest, wisest guy ever and he says that money and wisdom are both very good things. He calls them both protection, which interestingly enough, is the Hebrew word tsel which means “shadow, shade.” The same word was used 53 times in the Old Testament. Sometimes, it meant literally the shade of a tree or rooftop like in Jonah. The tree that the Lord provided and then took away shaded Jonah as he sat outside Ninevah after the people turned from their wicked ways. Other times, the word meant something closer to refuge as in Psalm 57. David took refuge in the Lord, in the shadow of His wings. He was on the run from Saul, living in caves, and trusting in the Lord for protection.

In Ecclesiastes 7, Solomon is calling money a refuge. A place to sit and rest without the heat of the sun beating down. With money, I am comfortable. I can have a phone and buy clothes when I feel like it and go out to eat when the mood strikes. Money protects me from starvation and from weather. It protects me from discomfort or even sickness. Money is most certainly a protection.

Wisdom is also called protection but there’s a major difference between the two. Wisdom protects and preserves the lives of its possessors where money only protects. Wisdom offes security beyond basic needs of survival like food and shelter. Wisdom revives and restores. Wisdom refreshes.

Solomon explains that God made prosperity as well as adversity in order to show man that there is nothing that will be after him. Money is good but it’s just money. Wisdom is good but adversity still visits the wise. And no one can change that. God allows for both for His glory. Can anyone undo what God has done? Can anyone alter what God has set in motion? No, not one! So whether I’m in America with a phone and other wonderful modern conveniences or in Madagascar without any of those things, God has made them both and it is possible to be content in both. My contentment should not be from conveniences but rather from the Lord. Check out Paul’s words to the church at Philippi.

Philippians 4

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 

Living humbly and living in prosperity is no different when my strength comes from the Lord. So, I will be without a phone for four days. Oh well. I will learn to be content. I suppose traveling to Madagascar will probably be a rougher transition than I originally imagined, but the Lord created the situation in the United States just as He created the situation in Madagascar.

Ends of the earth, here I come!

The Parent

Do you ever feel like you are telling your kids to do something that you don’t do?

“Eat all your vegetables!” but you didn’t even put vegetables on your plate.
“Check your attitude!” you say in your best Oscar the Grouch voice.
“Get outside and exercise!” but you haven’t gone running since high school.

I have noticed myself doing this lately, and I find that I correct my daughter on things that bug me the most about myself. I literally just ate leftover pancakes for lunch, but my daughter had rice, mustard greens, and navy beans. I made her drink all of her water, too. I had Dr. Pepper. Also, I am not always the nicest person some mornings. I get grouchy. Not every morning, but sometimes. When my daughter wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, though, I correct her on that. I want her to wake up with a smile but I don’t have to? I think I see a problem here…

Let’s looks at Matthew 5 again. This passage keeps coming up in my life, so maybe I ought to take some note of it.

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; ¹⁵ nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

I have absolutely no reason to be grouchy in the morning. I have a warm bed that I wake up in every morning. My husband is snoring contentedly next to me. My daughter is in the next room. She may be crying or playing depending on her mood that day, but she’s there and she’s safe. I have an indoor bathroom. Even one generation ago, a significant number of Americans couldn’t say that. My kitchen is stocked with good, nutritious food. I don’t have to worry about whether or not I will have breakfast that morning. Instead I worry about whether to make pancakes, oatmeal, grits, toast, or just cut up some fresh fruit. I don’t mean to brag but I’ve got it pretty dang good, ya’ll!

One of the concerns that some people have had about my trip to Madagascar is the different culture. Currently, Madagascar is one of the 10 poorest countries in the world. The United States of America is on the other end of the scale, though. I understand that it’s different, but I can’t seem to wrap my mind around just how unalike these two countries are. The feeling is similar to when I learned how to multiply double digits. I understood the concept and I understood single digit multiplication, so I knew double digit multiplication was possible. I knew it was a thing, but I couldn’t get my mind to understand just what was involved in that until I actually put pencil to paper and did it myself. I think the same is going to be true about traveling to Madagascar: I understand the concept of a different culture, and I know that it is possible for people to live well and happily without all the modern conveniences, like sinks that are inside, but I don’t think I will understand what that truly means until I step off the plane and see Madagascar for myself. Until I live there for two weeks and interact with people. Eat, sleep, and drink they way they do. Live life with them. And I am thrilled to get to do that. If I am going to be a light for all men to see and glorify God, I need to check my attitude. Instead of waking up grouchy, I am going to start counting five good things every morning before I roll out of bed. I have it pretty good here, and in order to get ready to go to a place that is so significantly different from what I am used to, I need to start recognizing what I have.

The other side of that coin is knowing that I don’t really have what I have. All that I own is not mine. It has been entrusted to me by the Lord in order that I might use it to shine for Him. That knowledge helps me not worry about funds for my trip. He has $5,000. The money is no problem. Remember Philippians 4:19? “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” God could have easily dropped whatever Paul and Timothy needed right into their laps. He’s God. He can do that. But instead, God prompted the church at Philippi to send resources to them, and then God blessed the church. That’s still true today, ya’ll. God could drop a plane ticket, cash for food, and some extra to bless the ministry already happening in Madagascar into my lap, but He hasn’t done that. He did that for the Israelites in the desert. He dropped manna into their laps daily. He could do it for me, but He hasn’t. I think that’s because God want to use you. So, if you would like to contribute to that, if you would like to allow God to use your resources to send me to Madagascar on His behalf, you can click here and donate. I don’t have any money raised yet, but I sure could use some. And please, share the link even if you’re not going to donate. Maybe you have a friend who will.

Ends of the earth, here I come!