Humans take time

We spend a lot of time talking when we pray. We ask for this and that, we spend some time asking God to help others, and then we start asking things either for ourselves or for our own curiosity. Sometimes we ask God questions about what we should do in our lives or what decisions we should make. Sometimes we wait to ask until the decision really needs to be made and we expect God to answer right then! We say that we believe that everything happens in God's time and it certainly does, but when we wait until the decision absolutely needs to be made to ask God what to do, we are not giving Him or ourselves time. Now God does not need time to process things like we do. He always knows what's going to happen and what decision needs to be made, but the "His timing" part comes in with His timing on when to tell us and sometimes it takes longer because we don't listen! One would imagine that when we ask God a question, we would listen for His answer, but that's not always true. We ask questions and wait for the answer we want, not necessarily the answer we need and when we don't get the answer we want, we stop listening. So God has to bring people and circumstances and whatnot to bring us back around to His way of thinking.

Time, humans take time. We are slow and oftentimes stupid creatures and when we deny God time in our lives, we deny Him the power to change our lives. Ecclesiastes 3 says there is a time for everything. A time to be born, to die, to plant, to uproot, to kill, to live, to cry, to laugh, to mourn, to dance, to search, to give up searching.... to sit down and shut up. We hear in our churches to go out and do, to not be afraid, to learn, to grow, to teach, to blah blah blah and there is nothing wrong with any of those things. But when in all of our going and doing are we spending any time with God? When in our ministry are we intentionally communing with the One who sent us out? Jesus hand chose his disciples intentionally, He taught the lessons that He intentionally at each time and each place. He didn't just throw stuff out there hoping that someone in the crowd would get it. He knew each ear that would hear, each mind that would process, and each hand that would rise in action based on His words. We of course cannot know all these things, we're human. But God can and if we spend time with Him, He wants to tell us. To be prepared is to know the Spirit of God in any given situation. Sometimes we honestly do not have that kind of time and that's why God is God and we are not. But God wants to tell you what He's planning, if we will only sit still long enough to listen.

Hypnogaja "Looking Glass"

There's a place where the garden can take you
Through the looking glass
Find a way with the plants - they can take you
To your path
Chase away all the funny pain
Down the rabbit hole
And another world awaits behind the little door

You can go ask Alice
Just why the hatter is mad

All are welcome in Wonderland
'Till the queen screams off with your head
And life will always get twisted
When you're living it through the looking glass

There's a that cat smiles like
The crescent moon
And the caterpillar that needs a light
On top of his mushroom

You can go ask Alice
Just why the hatter is mad

Next time you see the white rabbit run free
You might not want to follow
Lose your youth, cause beauty is truth
It's just harder to swallow

So go and ask Alice
Why the hatter is mad
She'll turn when you see her
And laugh

Great Oneliners from Christy!

Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.

Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.

It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.

When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.

People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.

Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.

If the church wants a better preacher, it only needs to pray for the one it has.

God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?

Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

Peace starts with a smile.

I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?

A lot of church members who are singing 'Standing on the Promises' are just sitting on the premises.

We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.

Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.

Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

Forbidden fruits create many jams.

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

God grades on the cross, not the curve.

God loves everyone, but probably prefers 'fruit of the spirit' over a 'religious nut!'

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

He who angers you, controls you!

If God is your co-pilot - swap seats!

Prayer: Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty!

The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

We don't change the message; the message changes us.

You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.

The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.

feelings vs. facts

You know, I've been through a lot in my life. I'm 28 years old and I feel like there's not a feeling that I haven't felt. But as I process this thought, I hope it's not true. I know what I have felt thus far in my life, and much of it wasn't all that great. I've been everywhere from suicidally depressed to so happy that words actually failed me (strange thought, I know). But I know that this cannot be all there is. It just can't be!

But this I do know and what I really wanted to blog about: feelings do not change facts. I'll say it again: Feelings do not change facts. I may feel happy one day and sad the next, but that doesn't mean that God has moved away from me or that anything has changed in my relationship with Him. It just means that I'm a human female with fickle emotions.

I may feel like I'm alone, but that doesn't mean that God has gone away.
I may feel like no one loves me, but there is ample evidence to the contrary.
I may feel like scared about a situation, but doesn't mean that God's not in complete control of it.
I may feel down on myself, but that doesn't mean that I'm not still created in the wonderful image of God and He has created me a specific way for His glory.
I may feel unsure, but doesn't mean that God is not leading me by my hand.

Feelings do not change fact. Regardless of what you feel, God loves you, Jesus died for you, and wants nothing more than to have a relationship with you. And you can take that to the bank!

Happy Inauguration Day, Mr. President!

I mean all this in love to my fellow Christians who are throwing a fit over our new president.

Begin Rant:

Personally, I do not understand the people who are "sad" about Bush leaving. I'm certainly not sad, change does not frighten me, it excites me.

Have you not felt God moving so powerfully in all of our lives? Have you so little faith that one man, regardless of how much earthly power he may have, can actually scare you? Is God not bigger than all these things?

I'm excited for change, I'm excited to watch God work through a new leader. Emotions are silly little things that mean nothing in the end. Poo on your emotions! Poo all over them! God is fact, not emotion. His power and control in our country, in our lives, and in our world are not in any way swayed by your emotions. So you didn't vote for Obama. So what? America is one of the few countries in the world where we can vote a man into office and then protest everything he does that we don't like and not get shot for it. Don't be sad because you don't like the man or because you fear someone he is an acquaintance of, that's a waste of time and thought.Fear God and God alone, for He is the only One worthy of your fear. Pray for our new president, pray for this country, pray for the person sitting next to you that you haven't even noticed because you are so busy being sad about a man leaving an office.

Read the first 8 verses of 1 Timothy 2 and then tell me that sadness is an appropriate response to what happened today.

1 Timothy 2:1-8
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.

I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

I intend no disrespect to anyone in writing this, even though I know some people are not going to like it. Tough.

End Rant.