The Golden Rule

Lately I get a lot out of the sermons at church. There is always at least a little something that is said that speaks to me and I try to apply to my life. Today was no exception.

Today the sermon was on the golden rule (Matthew 7:12):
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

It was explained that in the passage Jesus is not telling us to not do things to other people that we wouldn't want them to do to us; He is telling us to go out of our way to treat people the best way that we can. We should love, value, affirm, encourage, support, care for, forgive, listen to, talk to, respect, understand, etc. in the way we would want them to do to me. We are to go out of our way to help.

I have been striving to do this lately. In the past 6 months I have been much more aware of the pain and suffering of those around me and I've tried to help in any way that I can, even if it's just telling someone that I've been thinking of them. It's a little thing, but I know how much that has meant to me.

My Pain is His Pain

At church we have been going through the sermon on the mount for months. I don't remember if it started before or after Nathaniel died, but every single week it's something that I need to hear. This past Sunday the sermon was on Matthew 7:7-11.

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Our pastor said something that stuck with me. He said that if we are God's children that our pain is His pain. He knows it, He feels it, and it hurts Him. I had never before thought that what I am going through now is painful to God too. It helps to know that He hurts for me and with me. That doesn't mean He is going to take the pain away. I don't know that I would really want Him to anyway.

(If you would like to listen to the message, they are recorded each week and put on the church's website. You should be able to listen to it online soon.)

My Words Are Powerful

A lot of people around me around going through some really hard things right now. Apparently I now have the authority to tell people things that would usually be ignored or disregarded. I can tell someone who says that they don't think that they will be able to make it through something terrible that they can do it. If God allowed them to be put in the situation, He will also give them the strength to get through it. Coming from me this actually means something if they know what I have gone through. It is not just something I am telling them to make them feel better. I have lived it.

I am dealing with the loss of Nathaniel day by day with lots of help from God. On my own I could not do this. Everything is so hard now. It is only with God's help that I accomplish anything.

If you are in a situation that you think you can't make it through ask God for strength. He will help you through it.