I put several things on Craigslist to try and sell to give the $$ to the YL goal for a camper with financial need. WELL, I had a very persistent customer from Canada, and after several emails, he donated $110 through the young life website. That means the goal is now up to $505.50!! Only 144.50 left to go! God is SO GOOD!! I know I am never alone.
Oh, and my daughter was SO cute yesterday!!! In the car she asked her brother if he was going to marry her when she got big (adult). He said that you have to marry someone you don't know. :)
She replied with, "If you don't marry me, my heart is going to tear off!"
Say it with me now..."AWWWWWWWWWW!"
It was such a sweet moment, quickly followed by my same sweet little girl saying, "MOM. I think there's a problem......I can't toot!"
Yeah....
She graduates from preschool tomorrow and she is SO excited!
Oh, and what does my son have to say about girls? He says that if a 'hot' girl is coming up to him, or looks and smiles at him, he's got it covered. "D-A-C, mom." What's that you ask?? "Duck and cover!"
He's a trip!
Ok, so I'm into music. DUH. Here's another cool video! Enjoy!
Verse to ponder: John 14:14-18, 26 (NKJV) "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
And I can't go back...back to how it was...
(So far, still sleeping great! We've raised $381.50 so far for YL, only 268.50 left on our goal, YAY!!)
It's been a great day, getting closer to our goal for YL, beautiful sunshine, my son's bday is Friday. I didn't really have a topic on hand for today. I've just been reading and I like this Psalm, it seems like it fits in so well with what I want to say these days. It speaks alot about the way I feel I'm changing, how my relationship with him is growing. And like the song says (at the bottom) "I can't go back to how it was."
Psalm 139: 1-18, 23-24
It's been a great day, getting closer to our goal for YL, beautiful sunshine, my son's bday is Friday. I didn't really have a topic on hand for today. I've just been reading and I like this Psalm, it seems like it fits in so well with what I want to say these days. It speaks alot about the way I feel I'm changing, how my relationship with him is growing. And like the song says (at the bottom) "I can't go back to how it was."
Psalm 139: 1-18, 23-24
God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I'm an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight. You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too--your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful--I can't take it all in!
Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you're there! If I go underground, you're there! If I flew on morning's wings to the far western horizon, You'd find me in a minute--you're already there waiting! Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I'm immersed in the light!" It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you.
Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God--you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration--what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.
Your thoughts--how rare, how beautiful! God, I'll never comprehend them! I couldn't even begin to count them--any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!
Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Monday, May 19, 2008
I'm Surprised??
It makes me laugh sometimes how I have the audacity to be surprised by God. I claim to have faith, but looking back on my life I've seen myself give up on Him quickly when I didn't feel that things were moving along my way, or prayer answered quick enough. On the flip of that coin, when I have been faithful and patient, I still get surprised when my prayer is answered, when my needs are met.
Case in point, I mentioned on my last blog that I had slept two nights in a row. Well, now it's been 4 nights in a row. I had been concerned about my sleeping for the YL Camp trip this summer. I didn't know how taking meds and odd sleep hours of camp would work. Now, I haven't taken any meds and have slept like a baby for almost a week.
Also, I've been praying and studying and telling the world about my involvement with YL, as well as my goal to raise $650 for one student in need to be able to go to camp. I had a garage sale on Saturday. My family brought me some stuff, donating it to the cause. I had planned on having it this past Saturday, but was concerned because in my city, we can't post garage sale signs. I found out just a couple of days before that my HOA in my community was actually going to have a neighborhood wide garage sale on the same day and would be posting signs at the entrances, on Craigslist and in the local paper. What are the odds that the community's once a year sale fell on the day I had been preparing for?? I also told my mom and dad (who helped me at the sale) that it would be amazing if I could just make enough money to be half-way to my goal. Well, with the change given at MOPS, we reached $320, just $5 short of exactly half-way. I was also able to tell more people about YL during the course of the day.
There's also Dusty's job. We were so concerned for months, and the day I decided to be part of YL, he gets offered his old position back, with a raise, with the hours (and bonus) he never was able to get before.
I feel so foolish! I know in the past if things didn't work out, I became angry, at critical moments, I remember even blaming God. And then when I am turning to Him, relying on Him, trying to know Him, trying to change my life and reach others for Him, I have the audacity to be surprised by him, by what seems to be the very real presence of Him, very clear message, very definite answer to prayer.
I think as Christians, we sometimes think that we are better than the rest. That somehow we think we will get favorable treatment. This is why I think we are so surprised when we aren't exempt from this world's trials and pain. But isn't that what really strengthens our faith? If we became followers of God and then life was rosy, wouldn't we fall in our relationship with him? We would have no reason to question, no reason to turn to Him, to seek Him, to trust Him, to really, obsessively want to know and love Him. I think that faith is more about finding God, in everything. Not being faithful ONLY when we see an obvious answer to prayer, but just as much in times when we don't. In waiting and listening, we pray. Our lives become full, real lives for Him. A faith-based, believing, trust-filled life is one of love for God where though Him we can work everything into something good.
Easier said than done, I know. But I'm working on it...
Verses to ponder: Romans 1: 17 (The Message): God's way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: "The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives."
Mark 9:23 (NKJV): Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
I John 5:4 (NKJV): For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.
Case in point, I mentioned on my last blog that I had slept two nights in a row. Well, now it's been 4 nights in a row. I had been concerned about my sleeping for the YL Camp trip this summer. I didn't know how taking meds and odd sleep hours of camp would work. Now, I haven't taken any meds and have slept like a baby for almost a week.
Also, I've been praying and studying and telling the world about my involvement with YL, as well as my goal to raise $650 for one student in need to be able to go to camp. I had a garage sale on Saturday. My family brought me some stuff, donating it to the cause. I had planned on having it this past Saturday, but was concerned because in my city, we can't post garage sale signs. I found out just a couple of days before that my HOA in my community was actually going to have a neighborhood wide garage sale on the same day and would be posting signs at the entrances, on Craigslist and in the local paper. What are the odds that the community's once a year sale fell on the day I had been preparing for?? I also told my mom and dad (who helped me at the sale) that it would be amazing if I could just make enough money to be half-way to my goal. Well, with the change given at MOPS, we reached $320, just $5 short of exactly half-way. I was also able to tell more people about YL during the course of the day.
There's also Dusty's job. We were so concerned for months, and the day I decided to be part of YL, he gets offered his old position back, with a raise, with the hours (and bonus) he never was able to get before.
I feel so foolish! I know in the past if things didn't work out, I became angry, at critical moments, I remember even blaming God. And then when I am turning to Him, relying on Him, trying to know Him, trying to change my life and reach others for Him, I have the audacity to be surprised by him, by what seems to be the very real presence of Him, very clear message, very definite answer to prayer.
I think as Christians, we sometimes think that we are better than the rest. That somehow we think we will get favorable treatment. This is why I think we are so surprised when we aren't exempt from this world's trials and pain. But isn't that what really strengthens our faith? If we became followers of God and then life was rosy, wouldn't we fall in our relationship with him? We would have no reason to question, no reason to turn to Him, to seek Him, to trust Him, to really, obsessively want to know and love Him. I think that faith is more about finding God, in everything. Not being faithful ONLY when we see an obvious answer to prayer, but just as much in times when we don't. In waiting and listening, we pray. Our lives become full, real lives for Him. A faith-based, believing, trust-filled life is one of love for God where though Him we can work everything into something good.
Easier said than done, I know. But I'm working on it...
Verses to ponder: Romans 1: 17 (The Message): God's way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: "The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives."
Mark 9:23 (NKJV): Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
I John 5:4 (NKJV): For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Patience
K, so I don't have the virtue of patience. I never have. In fact, it's almost comical the lack of patience I have.
Now I see it in my kids. Oops. Genetics? Example? Both, probably.
There are several things that try my patience most days:
driving - not a fan, I'm still waiting on the Star Trek teleporter
waiting in line anywhere - usually it's with my littlest in tow, running around and hiding while I'm trying to keep my place in line, or I get to hear, "Mommy, mommy, mommy, mom, mom, MOM! I'm hungry, I'm sleepy, I need to go potty (again), I want to go home, I don't want too, I don't like it, I told you I was hungry!!!"
But sometimes, it's bigger things. In the past it was, please make this pain go away, please help marriage to be stronger, please help my friend to get better, please let me get that job! And then more recently, it's been please show me my purpose. I would pray over and over and over again waiting for the insta-answer, and after not receiving it, I would be prone to give up.
Give me the opportunity to be patient.
But I'm learning. I'm learning LOTS these days. No, I'm not more patient in the everyday stuff yet, but I'm catching myself in those instances, the opportunities to practice patience, and I'm redirecting myself.
Instead of "I TOLD YOU I WAS HUNGRY!" I'm more like, "I know you know the plan for me, so I'm going to do my best to wait." I'm less anxious this way. I'm also less stressed.
I HAVE SLEPT THE LAST TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW WITHOUT THE HELP OF ANY MEDS!!! This is the first time in years. Even recently I felt my patience crumble as I was praying all night to go to sleep because I had waited too long to take my meds and had to wait it out. I didn't sleep. I was expecting instant sleep I guess, and I got frustrated that my wish was granted. But now, I've continued to pray and wait and for TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW, I've slept.
Being patient feels like we're being tested. I know this happens to a lot of people. I've heard those close to me say: "I keep waiting, but I wish I just knew the answer. I wish things would just get better already. I wish I could just get that job, or find the guy I'm supposed to be with. I'm tired of waiting." Oh, my kindred spirits!!
I think this, like most things take time to learn, and time for our habits to change. Learning to have patience TAKES patience!!!
Verses to ponder: James 1:2-4 (NLV) 2 My Christian brothers, you should be happy when you have all kinds of tests. 3 You know these prove your faith. It helps you not to give up. 4 Learn well how to wait so you will be strong and complete and in need of nothing.
Psalm 27:14 (NKJV): Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!
Psalm 40:1 (The Message) I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip.
Now I see it in my kids. Oops. Genetics? Example? Both, probably.
There are several things that try my patience most days:
driving - not a fan, I'm still waiting on the Star Trek teleporter
waiting in line anywhere - usually it's with my littlest in tow, running around and hiding while I'm trying to keep my place in line, or I get to hear, "Mommy, mommy, mommy, mom, mom, MOM! I'm hungry, I'm sleepy, I need to go potty (again), I want to go home, I don't want too, I don't like it, I told you I was hungry!!!"
But sometimes, it's bigger things. In the past it was, please make this pain go away, please help marriage to be stronger, please help my friend to get better, please let me get that job! And then more recently, it's been please show me my purpose. I would pray over and over and over again waiting for the insta-answer, and after not receiving it, I would be prone to give up.
Give me the opportunity to be patient.
But I'm learning. I'm learning LOTS these days. No, I'm not more patient in the everyday stuff yet, but I'm catching myself in those instances, the opportunities to practice patience, and I'm redirecting myself.
Instead of "I TOLD YOU I WAS HUNGRY!" I'm more like, "I know you know the plan for me, so I'm going to do my best to wait." I'm less anxious this way. I'm also less stressed.
I HAVE SLEPT THE LAST TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW WITHOUT THE HELP OF ANY MEDS!!! This is the first time in years. Even recently I felt my patience crumble as I was praying all night to go to sleep because I had waited too long to take my meds and had to wait it out. I didn't sleep. I was expecting instant sleep I guess, and I got frustrated that my wish was granted. But now, I've continued to pray and wait and for TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW, I've slept.
Being patient feels like we're being tested. I know this happens to a lot of people. I've heard those close to me say: "I keep waiting, but I wish I just knew the answer. I wish things would just get better already. I wish I could just get that job, or find the guy I'm supposed to be with. I'm tired of waiting." Oh, my kindred spirits!!
I think this, like most things take time to learn, and time for our habits to change. Learning to have patience TAKES patience!!!
Verses to ponder: James 1:2-4 (NLV) 2 My Christian brothers, you should be happy when you have all kinds of tests. 3 You know these prove your faith. It helps you not to give up. 4 Learn well how to wait so you will be strong and complete and in need of nothing.
Psalm 27:14 (NKJV): Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!
Psalm 40:1 (The Message) I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Forgiveness...Is more than saying sorry...
Yeah, the title is silly. It's the lyric from the ditsy character in the movie Just Friends, and it's stuck in my head...
I was actually going to write about Forgiveness yesterday, and a few days before that, but I keep avoiding it. Kind of like how I actually dish out forgiveness. I'm very stubborn.
Throughout my blog I've hinted on my past and that it's not one incident, not one person, not one betrayal, that caused pain in my life and that of my family, but many. Some leaked into others and kept our wounds, my wounds open. As hard as I tried to push those wounds away, and their memory, they were still there. Case in point of just about 1 1/2 years ago when several events led that past back to the forefront and the bandages of my repressed memories came loose and allowed the wound to open again, unleashing havoc on my mental and physical well-being.
Over the years I've heard many influential people talk about forgiveness. Theoretically, I know I should be able to do it, I know I SHOULD do it, but when instances came up where I was put on the spot about my thoughts on the subject, as it pertains to me personally, I've had more than a 'problem' with it. I guess if you get right down to it, I've just felt that if I were to forgive these people, that I would be allowing them a 'get out of jail free' card. That they would be at peace and be able to sleep better at night. That they would have ultimately won. I also felt like if I forgive them, that I'm forgiving the action that they did. But I know now, that's not right.
It's gotten so bad that I don't speak the first name of one of those that hurt me. I do it subconsciously. I actually have to consciously make an effort to say it if it's necessary that I do so for the next person I meet that has that particular name too.
Last night I had a dream, I don't remember much of it, except that another of those people I haven't seemed to be able to forgive was in it. I've seen this person only twice over the last ten years, and both times my blood boiled, my face literally got hot. I remember clinching my teeth, having difficulty breathing, doing everything I could not to look in their direction. One time this particular person even came up to me and tried to have a conversation with me. I about lost my stuffing. I just forced a laugh and walked away.
I know that this kind of hatred, this welling up of pain that won't be pushed away, even though I will it so, is WRONG. Before I would have flat out told you that I wouldn't forgive them, because they didn't deserve it.
Now, I'm trying. I'm trying to change. I'm trying to understand. I am only human, so my pain and fear and doubt in others leads me to protect myself, but I'm still trying. I know that I don't deserve to be forgiven, yet Christ has done so. Among the vast differences between He and I is that he also FORGETS, 'as far as the east is from the west'. I don't deserve that, but he grants it to me anyway.
I know forgiving means that I don't have to forget, I won't be able to anyway. But not forgiving gives these people of my past more power than they've ever had before against me. I am keeping the pain fresh and new, I am keeping the hatred so close to my heart. By not forgiving them and letting this go, I am ALLOWING them to win. I am also allowing Satan to have a foothold on my heart.
Today I am taking a step toward forgiveness, following in the example Christ has given me. It is a process, but one I'm glad to take, if not only because the alternative (of this place I have imprisoned myself) will be gone.
Verses to ponder:
Matthew 5:44 (NKJV): But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
Romans 12:21 (NKJV): Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
I was actually going to write about Forgiveness yesterday, and a few days before that, but I keep avoiding it. Kind of like how I actually dish out forgiveness. I'm very stubborn.
Throughout my blog I've hinted on my past and that it's not one incident, not one person, not one betrayal, that caused pain in my life and that of my family, but many. Some leaked into others and kept our wounds, my wounds open. As hard as I tried to push those wounds away, and their memory, they were still there. Case in point of just about 1 1/2 years ago when several events led that past back to the forefront and the bandages of my repressed memories came loose and allowed the wound to open again, unleashing havoc on my mental and physical well-being.
Over the years I've heard many influential people talk about forgiveness. Theoretically, I know I should be able to do it, I know I SHOULD do it, but when instances came up where I was put on the spot about my thoughts on the subject, as it pertains to me personally, I've had more than a 'problem' with it. I guess if you get right down to it, I've just felt that if I were to forgive these people, that I would be allowing them a 'get out of jail free' card. That they would be at peace and be able to sleep better at night. That they would have ultimately won. I also felt like if I forgive them, that I'm forgiving the action that they did. But I know now, that's not right.
It's gotten so bad that I don't speak the first name of one of those that hurt me. I do it subconsciously. I actually have to consciously make an effort to say it if it's necessary that I do so for the next person I meet that has that particular name too.
Last night I had a dream, I don't remember much of it, except that another of those people I haven't seemed to be able to forgive was in it. I've seen this person only twice over the last ten years, and both times my blood boiled, my face literally got hot. I remember clinching my teeth, having difficulty breathing, doing everything I could not to look in their direction. One time this particular person even came up to me and tried to have a conversation with me. I about lost my stuffing. I just forced a laugh and walked away.
I know that this kind of hatred, this welling up of pain that won't be pushed away, even though I will it so, is WRONG. Before I would have flat out told you that I wouldn't forgive them, because they didn't deserve it.
Now, I'm trying. I'm trying to change. I'm trying to understand. I am only human, so my pain and fear and doubt in others leads me to protect myself, but I'm still trying. I know that I don't deserve to be forgiven, yet Christ has done so. Among the vast differences between He and I is that he also FORGETS, 'as far as the east is from the west'. I don't deserve that, but he grants it to me anyway.
I know forgiving means that I don't have to forget, I won't be able to anyway. But not forgiving gives these people of my past more power than they've ever had before against me. I am keeping the pain fresh and new, I am keeping the hatred so close to my heart. By not forgiving them and letting this go, I am ALLOWING them to win. I am also allowing Satan to have a foothold on my heart.
Today I am taking a step toward forgiveness, following in the example Christ has given me. It is a process, but one I'm glad to take, if not only because the alternative (of this place I have imprisoned myself) will be gone.
Verses to ponder:
Matthew 5:44 (NKJV): But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
Romans 12:21 (NKJV): Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Headlines
Gas was $3.69 this morning. Ten cents more a gallon than two days ago.
Myanmar's death toll was just over 300 the first time news broke about their storms and tornadoes, today it's estimated at almost 130,000 with millions displaced.
The Chaiten volcano in Chile, dormant for over 9,000 years erupted twice last week. 4,500 were evacuated while the town, crops and farms were destroyed.
China's earthquakes of last week have left an estimated 40,000 dead, missing or buried. 391 dams surrounding the epicenter were badly damaged and could lead to more devastation.
We try not to watch the news in front of the children because it's not censored, is often sensationalized and it's stories are brief leaving more questions than answers for my kids.
Having said that, I can't ignore what is happening, and my son is sensitive to it as he hears about it on the radio or at school. This morning in the car we were talking about all the devastation that has hit so quickly, and where is God in all of this. It is a valid question from my 9 year old - it is a VERY valid question for anyone of any age.
I told him about free will, and that a lot of things that happen to people may be because of choices they have made, or others have made. Can freak storms be blamed on free will? I don't know. I think there is something to this Global Warming thing, and the current strain on the Earth's resources. However, I explained to my son that sometimes God may allow things to happen because in the end, they will turn out for His glory. Allowing those things to happen may be the only way to save us. For example, right now there are people who are watching the news coverage and praying for the first time. We are sad about those who have lost their lives and their families, but if they have found salvation (including small children), they are with God. Those who are mourning will be reached by others in ways they could have never imagined. Others will fall on their knees and meet Christ for the first time. The world will have a chance to make change. The world will have a chance to come together. I'm not saying it's easy, I'm not saying we shouldn't go through all the processes of grief. I'm not saying that we will understand His purpose now, or even in this lifetime.
I watched Evan Almighty last night for the first time. Morgan Freeman, who plays God had some great lines.:
There is a BEAUTIFUL song by Natalie Grant called, Held. In it are some very wonderful lyrics:
I also read somewhere that shepherd's sometimes break the legs of those sheep that are so stubborn that they won't stop wandering, and their actions and determination could cause them pain, suffering or death. The Shepherd then carries that sheep while it's wounds heal, and watches over it as it learns to walk again. If God is our Shepherd and we are His sheep, I assume it would be safe to say, that there are times when allowing something to happen, or 'breaking our legs' to help us, and then carrying us, watching over us, guiding us to walk with Him, may be necessary. It may just be what saves us.
Verses to ponder:
Matthew 5:4 (The Message): 4"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
II Corinthians 1:3-5 (The Message): All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.
Isaiah 49:13b (NLT): For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
Myanmar's death toll was just over 300 the first time news broke about their storms and tornadoes, today it's estimated at almost 130,000 with millions displaced.
The Chaiten volcano in Chile, dormant for over 9,000 years erupted twice last week. 4,500 were evacuated while the town, crops and farms were destroyed.
China's earthquakes of last week have left an estimated 40,000 dead, missing or buried. 391 dams surrounding the epicenter were badly damaged and could lead to more devastation.
We try not to watch the news in front of the children because it's not censored, is often sensationalized and it's stories are brief leaving more questions than answers for my kids.
Having said that, I can't ignore what is happening, and my son is sensitive to it as he hears about it on the radio or at school. This morning in the car we were talking about all the devastation that has hit so quickly, and where is God in all of this. It is a valid question from my 9 year old - it is a VERY valid question for anyone of any age.
I told him about free will, and that a lot of things that happen to people may be because of choices they have made, or others have made. Can freak storms be blamed on free will? I don't know. I think there is something to this Global Warming thing, and the current strain on the Earth's resources. However, I explained to my son that sometimes God may allow things to happen because in the end, they will turn out for His glory. Allowing those things to happen may be the only way to save us. For example, right now there are people who are watching the news coverage and praying for the first time. We are sad about those who have lost their lives and their families, but if they have found salvation (including small children), they are with God. Those who are mourning will be reached by others in ways they could have never imagined. Others will fall on their knees and meet Christ for the first time. The world will have a chance to make change. The world will have a chance to come together. I'm not saying it's easy, I'm not saying we shouldn't go through all the processes of grief. I'm not saying that we will understand His purpose now, or even in this lifetime.
I watched Evan Almighty last night for the first time. Morgan Freeman, who plays God had some great lines.:
"Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?"It's just like in the book of Job. God didn't make those things happen to Job, satan did. But God allowed them. In turn, Job's faith was tested and grew stronger. In the end, Job was given back all that He lost, and then some.
There is a BEAUTIFUL song by Natalie Grant called, Held. In it are some very wonderful lyrics:
This hand is bitternessPlease don't hear me saying that we should just 'suck it up and take what is dished out to us.' I will be the first to say that my faith would be tested should the devastation that is happening worldwide would come to my front door. I just find solace knowing that He is a gracious and merciful God, that he hurts when we hurt, but he has the best intentions in mind.
We want to taste it and
Let the hatred numb our sorrows
The wise hand opens slowly
To lilies of the valley and tomorrow
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held
If hope is born of suffering
If this is only the beginning
Can we not wait, for one hour
Watching for our savior
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held
I also read somewhere that shepherd's sometimes break the legs of those sheep that are so stubborn that they won't stop wandering, and their actions and determination could cause them pain, suffering or death. The Shepherd then carries that sheep while it's wounds heal, and watches over it as it learns to walk again. If God is our Shepherd and we are His sheep, I assume it would be safe to say, that there are times when allowing something to happen, or 'breaking our legs' to help us, and then carrying us, watching over us, guiding us to walk with Him, may be necessary. It may just be what saves us.
Verses to ponder:
Matthew 5:4 (The Message): 4"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
II Corinthians 1:3-5 (The Message): All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.
Isaiah 49:13b (NLT): For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Last YL Club of the school year!
I feel like I haven't even gotten started!! Last night was the last club night for Young Life this school year. The seniors were SO sad! I really wish I had time to connect and get to know them. Lots of them are going to camp, so hopefully I'll be able to spend some time with them there.
They played a few silly running around games in pairs, sang a few songs and jumped up and down (I actually felt the floor in the room bouncing..scary!). The director even jumped into the crowd 'mosh pit style'. Later they 'retired' this year's YL shirt and hung it from the ceiling. They showed a clip of Tom Brady (New England Patriots) being interviewed on 60 minutes. He said that he had 3 superbowl rings, fame, etc., but he feels like there's got to be something else, that something is missing. The interviewer asked him what he thought that was, and Tom Brady replied, "I wish I knew." The director talked about how things of this world will still leave you with a void. Even those we look up to are still lost and feel a void if they haven't found the Lord. He said to remember John 10:10.
Lots of parents and committee were there in support, and I got to take pictures the whole time. The director spoke about how much he really cared for each person student over the past 4 years since YL has been in Allen. Two students sang a song about how awesome camp is going to be, with each verse ending with "that's funny, because hoot rhymes with 'toot', or 'again' rhymes with 'breaking wind'... then he would proceed to squat down and make a really loud gas-passing noise with his hands making the crowd laugh. They showed a video about YL Camp. At the end, they allowed some of the seniors to stand up and say something about YL, what it meant to them, etc. I was so touched by some of their answers.
Some stood and said that because of YL they were able to come to Christ and be saved. Others told the underclassmen to NEVER miss even one Young Life, because missing out was the worst feeling to hear about it at school and the fun they missed the next day. Others told about how they learned that God wasn't the 'cop' they once thought. Yet others talked about how the leaders REALLY do care and love them and would take a call at any hour about any issue, even a torn fingernail. :) Others talked about spontaneous snow rooftop football with the director, others talked about all the new friends they made. And others stood up and said that when they first started coming to YL that they hated the people there, the leaders, all of it, because they had what these students 'thought' they had. But over time they realized that the love of Christ showed through the leaders and students, and they came to know God too. One kid actually became so overwhelmed with his love for Christ and the changes that have been made in his life that he pleaded with the other students to keep coming, to get to know the leaders, to let go and experience Christ.
Forget crying in the tanning bed, I was on a high knowing that God has chosen me to be part of such an AMAZING ministry, experience, and life-changing opportunity - both the student's and mine.
The night ended up with crazy dancing, tearful goodbyes and huge wacky group pictures.
God is good and he is faithful. I've always known that, but now I get to experience it every Monday through this group!
Verse to ponder: 1 Corinthians 1:9 (The Message) God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.
They played a few silly running around games in pairs, sang a few songs and jumped up and down (I actually felt the floor in the room bouncing..scary!). The director even jumped into the crowd 'mosh pit style'. Later they 'retired' this year's YL shirt and hung it from the ceiling. They showed a clip of Tom Brady (New England Patriots) being interviewed on 60 minutes. He said that he had 3 superbowl rings, fame, etc., but he feels like there's got to be something else, that something is missing. The interviewer asked him what he thought that was, and Tom Brady replied, "I wish I knew." The director talked about how things of this world will still leave you with a void. Even those we look up to are still lost and feel a void if they haven't found the Lord. He said to remember John 10:10.
Lots of parents and committee were there in support, and I got to take pictures the whole time. The director spoke about how much he really cared for each person student over the past 4 years since YL has been in Allen. Two students sang a song about how awesome camp is going to be, with each verse ending with "that's funny, because hoot rhymes with 'toot', or 'again' rhymes with 'breaking wind'... then he would proceed to squat down and make a really loud gas-passing noise with his hands making the crowd laugh. They showed a video about YL Camp. At the end, they allowed some of the seniors to stand up and say something about YL, what it meant to them, etc. I was so touched by some of their answers.
Some stood and said that because of YL they were able to come to Christ and be saved. Others told the underclassmen to NEVER miss even one Young Life, because missing out was the worst feeling to hear about it at school and the fun they missed the next day. Others told about how they learned that God wasn't the 'cop' they once thought. Yet others talked about how the leaders REALLY do care and love them and would take a call at any hour about any issue, even a torn fingernail. :) Others talked about spontaneous snow rooftop football with the director, others talked about all the new friends they made. And others stood up and said that when they first started coming to YL that they hated the people there, the leaders, all of it, because they had what these students 'thought' they had. But over time they realized that the love of Christ showed through the leaders and students, and they came to know God too. One kid actually became so overwhelmed with his love for Christ and the changes that have been made in his life that he pleaded with the other students to keep coming, to get to know the leaders, to let go and experience Christ.
Forget crying in the tanning bed, I was on a high knowing that God has chosen me to be part of such an AMAZING ministry, experience, and life-changing opportunity - both the student's and mine.
The night ended up with crazy dancing, tearful goodbyes and huge wacky group pictures.
God is good and he is faithful. I've always known that, but now I get to experience it every Monday through this group!
Verse to ponder: 1 Corinthians 1:9 (The Message) God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.
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