I was driving to work today and the sun kept messing with me. The road I drive in on curves back and forth a lot and so I just couldn't seem to get my visor in the right sopt. One minute it was perfect and then the next I had to lean over to one side of the car to block out the sun. It seemed like every 10 seconds I was trying to readjust so I could see. And whenever that happens I get irritated at the sun. Why can't it just stay in one place? Why does it have to keep moving and distracting me?
In reality the sun doesn't move like that. It is always constant. And, it has a right to be there. My problem is I move around a lot and sometimes I don't want to see the sun. I want it there, but I don't want it as the focus. It got me thinking, how many times in life do I get irritated with God because He is being contstant and faithful and I want to focus on something else. How many times does God show up in my time, money, relationships, when I wish He would just take a back seat so I could do what I wanted to do. My life curves a lot more than it should and as a result I can easily get irritated with God for being faitfhul. I bet if I didn't drive on such a curvy road the sun would be in the perfect spot to bring light, warmth and joy to my life.
Here's to hoping we can learn to drive straighter so the Son is a delight in our lives.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Sleeping Well
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat — for he grants sleep to those he loves.
I have been finishing up the Psalms over the last week. I came across this verse and it stopped me in my tracks. I think of all the people who have trouble sleeping because of fear, worry or thinking too much. Some of us work so hard that we end up consumed by work. We think about it too much, we let all of our emotions be affected by it and it affects everything we do and are. I think some of us are hiding in our work and some of us have let our work overtake us. Some of us can't sleep because we are scared to death. Scared of the dark, scared of our past, scared of the future. Some of us don't sleep because we are trying to do God's job instead of trusting Him to do it.
As I read this verse it makes me wonder if our lack of sleep has more to do with our choices in faith than anything else. God has promised to give sleep to those He loves and He loves YOU! That may mean, if you are not sleeping well, you can fix that by seeing what is out of alignment in your soul and not just your neck or bed.
I hope you can honesty say this next verse sometime this week:
But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Psalm 127:2
I have been finishing up the Psalms over the last week. I came across this verse and it stopped me in my tracks. I think of all the people who have trouble sleeping because of fear, worry or thinking too much. Some of us work so hard that we end up consumed by work. We think about it too much, we let all of our emotions be affected by it and it affects everything we do and are. I think some of us are hiding in our work and some of us have let our work overtake us. Some of us can't sleep because we are scared to death. Scared of the dark, scared of our past, scared of the future. Some of us don't sleep because we are trying to do God's job instead of trusting Him to do it.
As I read this verse it makes me wonder if our lack of sleep has more to do with our choices in faith than anything else. God has promised to give sleep to those He loves and He loves YOU! That may mean, if you are not sleeping well, you can fix that by seeing what is out of alignment in your soul and not just your neck or bed.
I hope you can honesty say this next verse sometime this week:
But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Psalm 131:2
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Sowing in Tears
5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
I love this Bible verse. The first time I ever caught the meaning was when I read the illustration attached to it (http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/g/giving.htm Go down to the first one under Lengthy Illustrations).
I was thinking this week that community is really hard to create and frustrating sometimes. Leading in community can even be harder. We want people to know Jesus and be a part of something special, but our society and personal decisions makes that difficult. Sometimes it is easier to walk away than to walk towards. But this verse reminds me that if I want to return with joy with a fruitful harvest I have got to be willing to do the difficult and painful things. I have to walk in tears at times if I am ever going to see the return I long for.
For those of you who are leading a community, whether you are a LIFE Group leader, host, elder, minister, mom or dad, know that the tears that you willingly shed now will indeed bring joy in the future. Go out weeping when necessary so others can can home to Jesus and to Christian community.
6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
Psalm 126:4-5
I love this Bible verse. The first time I ever caught the meaning was when I read the illustration attached to it (http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/g/giving.htm Go down to the first one under Lengthy Illustrations).
I was thinking this week that community is really hard to create and frustrating sometimes. Leading in community can even be harder. We want people to know Jesus and be a part of something special, but our society and personal decisions makes that difficult. Sometimes it is easier to walk away than to walk towards. But this verse reminds me that if I want to return with joy with a fruitful harvest I have got to be willing to do the difficult and painful things. I have to walk in tears at times if I am ever going to see the return I long for.
For those of you who are leading a community, whether you are a LIFE Group leader, host, elder, minister, mom or dad, know that the tears that you willingly shed now will indeed bring joy in the future. Go out weeping when necessary so others can can home to Jesus and to Christian community.
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