Post-Prayer Thoughts

Early this morning, I got out my Bible and read 1 Thessalonians. Nothing particularly spoke to me, but it was comforting to know that St. Paul had gone through much worse (beatings, false accusations, shipwrecks, imprisonment), and yet was focussed on how his listeners were doing in their spiritual walk, rather than on his own travails.

I lifted up to God all the things on my mind -

• Bb's health and development, thanking Him for the gift of this child, giving him/her back to the Creator to use as He wills, and in particular asking that bb would grow to love and accept Christ as his/her personal Lord and Saviour
• Our finances
• The paperwork and logistics involved in getting us and Scottie to Melb
• Family's differing views on the whole migration issue.

I particularly asked that He would help us navigate this moral dilemma of wanting to be financially free, that He would help us be debt-free and not ask for more than He intends to give us, that He would help us know Him as Jehovah Jireh (God our Provider) so that we can be free to do His will and give to the needs of others without constantly worrying if we have enough for our family.

Before turning in last night, our family also prayed for health (CA's been down with flu, Beth had fever over the weekend and now has a runny nose and cough, and I've a scratchy throat and was mildly feverish yest), for God to watch over Mum when we're in Melb, and for all the extended family, whatever their views on the migration issue.

In 1 Thessalonians, St. Paul was at pains to emphasize that the new believers should be like him and his co-workers, working hard for their own upkeep and not depending on anyone. That's our role model I guess.

I think what's reassuring to me during this time of preparation is the certain knowledge that God is with us wherever we go - be it here in S'pore or in Melb, that we are never out of His sight or His love, and that nothing we can do (even if the decision to move turns out to be a bad one) can make Him love us less.

And that is the sort of unconditional love we as parents hope to give to our children.

Amen.