What I have learned this week…
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.–Ephesians 2:8-9
Garon had me read a chapter in the book Future Grace by John Piper. I learned something very neat from it. Let’s see if I can describe it to you without butchering it. Piper says that grace is something that we can not boast in ourselves. Faith means we can not boast in ourselves. This has shamed me. I do not understand grace and have no faith, because I am still boasting in myself. I am looking to myself for my healing, my help, and my hope. Does that make sense? It is not grace or faith, when I am boasting in myself. This means I am taking away God’s glory from Him. I have been listening to a lot of Christian music this week. These past few weeks I have struggled with my quiet time, so when I felt really down, I would listen to music. Listening to songs and the thoughts of song writers, I realized there is nothing I have faced that is uncommon to man. There is nothing I have been through, that God does not understand or see. Listening to their words, has driven me to want to read my Bible. Isn’t that great? God can use anything to draw us near to Him. Another thing I learned this week, was how to encourage my husband. I learned about how we as women focus more on our husband’s faults, than on their strengths. Now this may seem obvious, but it wasn’t to me. I have heard this before, but I thought I did not do that. Little did I know, but I am very guilty of this. No matter how much my husband does for me, if he messes up one little tiny time, I do not let it go. When I fail him, ten million times more than he has ever failed me. I’ve noticed that we tend to get tunnel vision. We get wrapped up in our little lives and do not notice others. Last, there is the subject of Daily Bread. When we pray the Lord’s prayer, we do not even really pay attention to these words. However, I was reminded through a situation, that I can not pray that prayer every once in a while and expect for everything to be perfect. I have to seek Him moment by moment, day by day, and He will provide. Why do I hate praying every day for the same things, when that is what He wants me to do? I am to ask for the things I need daily, even if I asked Him last week. Then I must expect He will provide. Why do I not trust Him to provide today, when He did yesterday? Why do I try to control the situation, and try to fulfill my own needs? Why do I worry that He won’t come through for me? The Bible says that He will supply our needs. So, I guess, this has been a good time of year. Even though I’ve been in bed for weeks, I’ve had a wonderful opportunity to read and learn and think about my Savior. Let’s hope this sticks, and I don’t forget all I have learned.
Hi. My name is Laura, and this is my journey through infertility and chronic pain. I hope it will minister to you, or you can use it to minister to someone else.

