Following Jesus

I was reading in Mark chapter 2 today. I was reading about when Jesus was calling His disciples. I am amazed by these men.  Jesus called and they left with him to follow after something that they did not have a direct knowledge of what was going to happen.  They left their occupations that provided money for their families.  They left their families and friends to follow Christ.  These men did not have the words we have to read to see what happens in the "end".  

This is amazing to me.  We follow hard after things.  We sign our children up for everything under the sun and then follow them to the point that we run our bodies down.  We follow people on social media sites as if these people carry all of the information we will ever need.  We follow celebrities just so we can feel like we are a part of their lives, but how hard to we follow after Christ?  Oh, I am so guilty of following everything else, but not Jesus.  If Jesus was still physically here and He had a Facebook account, Instagram, Twitter, Snap Chat, or a blog, it would be a no brainer and we would follow Him, but Jesus as a human being, is not here with us.  This does not mean that He is not here with us.  He still lives in us.  The Holy Spirit dwells with us.  Jesus is one with the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is closer to us than any one person in our life.  We are able to follow Jesus through His words that he left with us.  His Word is at our finger tips daily.

I challenge you to follow harder after Christ than you are following everything and everyone else.

Looking Back

I was looking at the story of Abraham and Sarah.  Sarah was up in years and God told them they would be having a child.  Now, I was completely overwhelmed at the thought of having a child at the age of 25 so, I cannot even fathom all that was probably going through Sarah's mind when God gave her this news.

I became a mom at the age of 25 then at the age of 26, then again at the age of 29.  I cried each time I found out I was pregnant because I was so scared that I could not handle it.  Each time after our daughters were born, I had postpartum depression.  Postpartum is so much more than the "Baby Blues".  I cried sometimes when I breast fed my daughters because I did not want them that close to me.  I became so scared when my husband would have to leave for work.  I cried SO much.  I cannot express enough to anyone who is dealing with this to get help. You are not the only one who experiences such sadness and anxiety after having a baby.  No, it is not normal, but it is not your fault this is happening.  It is your body working on adjusting itself to bring everything back to normal, but for some reason it cannot.  I was able to take medicine to help me, and I had an amazing support system in my husband.  It is hard to let others in when you are experiencing postpartum depression.  The shame and guilt can overtake you and you don't want to tell anyone out of fear.  Fearing that someone will see you as unfit and take your baby away from you because, even though you have the sad feelings, you still love your child.

I remember thinking that I would never be able to handle all that life threw at me.  In the midst of depression, I thought I would never make it through.  But, here I am almost 12 years later, still alive and doing well.  I have forever been changed because of postpartum depression.  I now have depression.  There are days when I cannot do anything but sit in my recliner and be sad.  Looking back, I see how God worked through me and for me.  I am sure that Sarah felt the same way after giving birth to her son, Isaac.  I am sure that you will feel the same way.  We all can look back and see God's work in our lives.  He has us in His hands and He is directing our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

He Knows Me

In Times of Trouble

Devotional Scriptures: Psalm 46:1-3

We all face troubled times, some have greater trouble than others. Some face the loss of a child, some face cancer, and others face financial troubles. There is no one on this planet who is immune to troubled times. My husband and I are in the midst of some troubled times. I hold on to these words in Psalm 46. Each word reminds me that God is here, right with me. God sees the entire situation. He knows that my heart is trembling because I am unsure of the future. I do know that I will be able to look back on this time in our life and realize what all God was providing even when we could not see it.

Hang on to God even when the world around you is shifting out of your control. He will get you through.

Say a little prayer......

Father, thank You for walking with us no matter the circumstances.

In Christ's name I pray, Amen.