Thought Soup

I've noticed a linkage between reading God's Word and answers to my prayers. Now, Christians that I know reading this will be kind of like, 'duh' but read this anyway. When you read God's Word, and not only read but meditate- engraining the meaning into your mind (not so much the words, I'm not talking about memorization) you as a person become more "in tuned", for lack of a better word, with God's sovereign will. This means that what you are actually asking for is something that is good for you.
I know this isn't miraculous to you as a reader because there is no proof of this as God's answers to my prayers usually cannot be something that is tangible to others, but I know it has been answered because I sometimes see the results.
To begin with, God's answered what I call, 'thought-passage prayers'. I'll be reading some passage in scripture Tuesday or Saturday night and something will stick out to me that I find fascinating/ wishing it was something to be brought up at church or something I have questions about. I'll go to bed praying to God about that passage, and usually, about 90% of the time, that passage shows up somewhere either in the order of worship, Wednesday night youth group sheet, someone's testimony on the passage, Sunday school/"family bible time", or preaching and sometimes elsewhere. And the passage is always either explained to me or brought to the churches attention, or whatever I had prayed for that night before.
I think the biggest example had to be this last Wednesday night. All the day before and that Wednesday, I was thinking about life and the spiritual battle that we have. On Tuesday, I was waiting for my shift at work, and I was going to have some devotions. The daily verse was in Matthew 5:44-45. I thought, "I remember when that was easy to believe." So I read the whole passage of Matthew 5. The whole time thinking, "I miss the time that that was easy to live out. What happened?"
The next day, I read my sister's blog, 'the social introvert' (p.s. - if you haven't already, check her blog out.), and she talked about how she felt lonely and spiritual dead being surrounded by coworkers who gossip and say curse words on a regular basis. That she seemed to have surrendered to thinking her actions or prayers could change them and bring them to God. How she used to be surrounded by people constantly reminding her to read her bible and to submit to the means of grace, but now is surrounded by people with attitudes of "you believe that? Okay, whatever floats your boat." My thoughts on this? "when did my sister steal my life or vise versa?"
Today I helped Mrs. Hartman out in the library and she was running late to pick me up, so I had some time to think and pray. I started by listing off to God the people that I do not think were saved, and asked for God open their eyes and  believe. Then I listed off the people I think are Christian believers, and prayed that God would encourage them. But I also prayed, thinking about that spiritual battle, that us believers would realize that no one has disarmed us, but we have taken the armor off. That it's lying right there in front of us waiting for us to pick it back up. "But picking it back up means we have to fight." yep. I prayed this concept would be brought to the attention of the youth group.
Want to guess what that theme was Wednesday night? Ephesians 6 - putting on the full armor of God.

Dear Christians,
The enemy is tricking and deceiving. So much so, he can trick you into taking your armor off for an easy kill shot. I realize the armor is heavy. Shooting an arrow of love is sometimes harder than shooting back the arrow that's hit you. We may see the battle and it looks like we are loosing. Just remember, Christians, we have a God and a perfect promise that he will win the war. Just keep fighting, pray, mediate on God's word, and when the last thing you want to do is talk, "open yourself up,"
 "if I talk about myself, they'll think I'm and attention-seeker,"
"that's why they call it medical attention."
 "they can't help me,"
"maybe not, but then they might show you their scars, and you can pray to God for help together."

"I'm not good with words/I'll get an anxiety attack and cry,"
"I'm the youngest one, no one will listen to me."

"Jeremiah 1"

When the last thing you want to do is talk, SHOUT! Because we have a great God and people really should know that. And yes, at time, even long periods of time, the people around us discourage us, and we lay down our armor. But we have a God that is greater than anything anyone around says or does.
Phrase: Life is hard, but God is good.
Other passages/ thoughts I have been focusing on:
What are men compared to how great God is? Isn't God the one holding YOU together!?
God does not even forsake sparrows. How much more are you worth to Him?
Isaiah 39: oh look! Government hasn't changed!
Rachel, why are you thinking that/what do you think you're doing? That doesn't line up with God's instruction. That's not loving.
If you get struck on one cheek, turn the other. If you get hurt, open yourself up to the ability to get hurt more. It doesn't make sense, but that is what someone who loves does.
I could continue on, but I need to get to sleep.

The Broken Pot

                Once upon a time, there was a pot. To any normal person, it wouldn’t look like a special pot. But, oh, it was. This pot was one of a kind because a man had crafted it as a gift to bride. It held a sentimental value to the couple.

                After many years, this couple got themselves a maid to take care of the house. She would dust the old book shelves, vacuum the floors, and of course, cook dinners for the couple and clean the dishes afterwards.

                Well, this maid was not very content with what she was being paid, so she confronted the husband on this matter. “Have I not given you everything that you have?” was the husband’s reply. “I have given you two daily meals, the clothes on your back, and a roof over your head. On top of that I pay you a decent salary for anything else that you require. What exactly more do you need?”

                “I- I just would like more. I wish that I do not have to explain why.”

                “Well, it’s a good thing that I’m not a genie then. I will give you a raise when you give a good reason as to why I should. I’m off to a town meeting. My wife should be home soon. Good day.” He then left, leaving the maid quite hot with embarrassment and anger.

                The maid began washing the dishes. The hot, soapy water only adding to her flames. She began mumbling angry words and curses to the husband when she picked up the pot. The maid screamed in frustration and crashed the pot to the ground, the pieces shattering across the floor.

                Realizing that the consequences of her actions was that she would be fired, her anger turned to fear. She quickly grabbed a broom and swept the shattered pieces under the cabinet (now, this was a cabinet that was movable much like a dresser). She continued washing the dishes being careful with each one and carried with her the rest of the day feelings of anxiety. Would the couple notice that their favorite pot was missing?

                Well, came home first just as the husband had said she would. “Good day, Mistress,” the maid greeted her, trying to keep her voice steady.

                “Good day,” the wife replied. “Is something wrong?” she asked, “You look shaken up.”

                “Nothing, Mad’am.”

                “It’s okay. Whatever it is, you can tell me.”

                Realizing that the wife wasn’t going to back down, the maid said, “I asked for a pay raise from your husband, and it didn’t go too well.”

                The wife smiled. “Well, if you need money, you can have a share of what my husband gives me. I hardly ever use it.”

                “Thank you, Mad’am, but with all due respect, I’m not a charity.”

                “Understandable.”

                Several days past with the maid not saying much to the couple, but continued to get flashes of anxiety every time the couple looked in the cabinet for dishware.

                Then one day, “Honey!” the wife yelled out. The husband ran as quickly as he could into the room.

                “What is it?”

                “I can’t find my wedding ring.”

                So, the couple looked for the ring all around the house. The maid volunteered to help look, but mostly so that she could say she had looked under the cabinet so that the couple wouldn’t look there.

                “Are you sure it didn’t go under the cabinet?” the wife asked, “I quite remember that the last time I had my ring, it was to get some dishes out.”

                Before the maid could stop her, she moved the cabinet out of the way, and revealed the broken pot. Sitting inside one of the broken pieces was the missing ring, for the maid had not actually looked under the cabinet.

                Saddened with shame at the sight of the broken pot and the stares of the couple, the maid whispered, “I’ll go get my things.”

                As the maid went upstairs, the wife turned to her husband said, “Are you just going to let her go?”

                “Why not? She seems eager to leave, and quite deserves too,” the husband replied.

                “But can’t you please forgive her? It is true that she has wronged us, but when we first met, I had wronged you, but you forgave me and gave me everything that I currently have.”

                The maid came back with her things in her hands. The husband turned to her and said, “Put your things back. You are not going anywhere. My wife has pleaded with me to forgive you, and so I shall, if you are willing to stay.”

                With relief, the maid replied, “Of course! Of course, I’ll stay. Thank you. Thank you very much, the both of you!”

                Now, this would be quite the happy ending now wouldn’t it? But what about the pot? What happens to it?

                “Should we throw this one away and I will make a new one?” the husband asked his wife.

                “No, I liked this one. We can fix it up.”

                “When I am out in town tomorrow I will go back to the place where I originally made this one, and make some glue to piece it back together. In the meantime, start piecing it together to see if any pieces are missing.”

                So, this is what they did. The next day, the husband came home saying, “I have the glue.” But he saw his wife staring at the pot.

                “There are three pieces missing.”

                “We’ve looked all over the house for them,” the maid said, “They’re just gone.”

                With a smile on the husband’s face, he said to his wife, “They are not missing. You just haven’t found them yet.”

                “Do you know where they are?”

                “Of course I do. But it is your task to find them.”

                The wife continued searching for the pieces almost daily, but she eventually forgot about the project. Her husband would remind her, and off she would go again trying to find them. She implored that her maid keep an eye out for them, but I’m afraid the maid grew a bit lazy in searching for them.

                Half a year later, the wife came up to her husband in tears. “Why are you playing this cruel game? If you know where the missing pieces are, just tell me! Do not let this go on longer.”

                “My dear,” the husband looked at her with pitying eyes, “this is not so much about finding the pieces as learning something important.”

                Many days later, when the husband came home, the wife asked, “Husband, may you please tell me where the missing pieces are today?”

                With a wide smile on the husband’s face, he said, “Yes. They are inside the satchel that I keep with me.”

                With joy on the wife’s face, she leapt up and the husband handed the pieces to her. She happily brought them over to the rest of the pot, and got the glue out. Her husband gently stopped her. “It is my job to glue the pieces together.”

                Glue it together, he did. In fact, it was the glue that turned the previously only sentimentally valued pot into something divine. The wife watched as her husband beautifully, and artistically made the pot whole once again.

                The wife then immediately put the pot to work. She left to the well to gather some water for that day.