God Bless the Cold

It is snowing outside as all of you can probably see. Snow is cold, annoying, and quite inconvenient. With that being said, look at your window and realize that God created each of those snowflakes –created the atoms and H2O molecule, and decided that he wanted that H2O to be able to freeze, but in a way that creates crystalized structures that fall the same way as rain – all different. Every grain of sand on the beach is different. Every plant, every animal, every person is different from another.

                I didn’t go to work today because of the weather. I’m totally cool with that. I needed time to chill, and work on my literature paper (don’t get me started on that…), bake breakfast for tomorrow (your welcome, youth group), go over children’s church lesson again (yes, you read that right), and to just spend some quality time with God. And write on my blog, of course.

                To be honest, today is quite a beautiful day… you know, for it being winter and all. The snow may be a hassle, but it really isn’t that cold out and doesn’t have much if any wind chill. I’m still not going outside, but for those that have children; this is the perfect day for building a snowman or fort. Just looking out my window here, it’s beautiful to see the plush snow on the ground, snowflakes flying around like a snow globe, and seeing that bright color of a red cardinal in contrast. It’s a painter’s dream!

                The children’s church lesson that I’m (hopefully) teaching (if church isn’t canceled by snow) is called The Prairie Clock. It’s about obedience and how we are to obey God because we love God and “We love God because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) I remember my mother teaching this story in Sunday school years ago, and now I’ve volunteered to teach it this Sunday in Children’s Church.  I’ve no idea why I volunteered, but I’m praying that it goes well and that the kids learn from it.

                Nonetheless, I hear birds outside. Don’t they know how cold it is? What happened to migration? Anyway, enjoy your Saturday, stay warm, and love God.

1984

 I realize I haven’t written in my blog since last year (btw – happy new year J ).

                In literature, I was reading George Orwell’s 1984, which I do not recommend. Seriously, it’s a terrible book. But, it got me thinking. The book is full of paradoxes that really mess with your head. For example, the book is set in the future, but 1984 is now our past. So you have to think about what the author thought of as futuristic instead of your own concept. Inside the book, the government, Big Brother, is communist, but it goes further than that in that the government controls what the people believe by what is described as “doublethink” which is basically the same thing as a purposeful paradox. For example, news is given that chocolate rations are being reduced to 20 pieces. Next week, they are thankful that the chocolate ration has been raised to 20 pieces.

The entire book, for all practical purposes, states that reality is what us humans perceive and nothing can contradict it because all evidence can be destroyed or falsified. Which is kind of true. How much of history have we lost? How can we know for certain that something actually happened?

                All of history, anything in the past, takes a “reality foundation”. People use different foundations be it a religion, evolution, Christianity, or other. Something cannot be built without a foundation. We have faith in whatever foundation we chose to hold our reality together. The book 1984 is hopeless because the society in it has been ripped of a foundation or picking whichever foundation suites them for a moment.

                A “reality foundation” is the same thing as what we hope in. What are we hoping in? What do we boast in?

Galatians 6:14

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world

“My hope is build in nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

Matthew 6:20

Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

                Without God, all reality can be distorted.

I've been in prayer a lot recently for people that I know. It's like God knows that I can stand being hurt but I can't bare to see others hurt and not be able to do anything except rely on him.. It's like He's amniscient or something. The biggest trial that God could give me is other peoples' problems that I can't solve.

Something that I've recently heard from someone was, "I don't mean to put thoughts into your head. Although I probably already have." Darling, if anything were to turn me away from God, I think a million things would have done it already. 

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.

Learning

A little while back, I went to Northside for an entire school day for the first time since 5^th grade. What I noticed, was that no one liked learning. It was a short day, so I only observed math and science, but the overall attitude towards learning was negative. Like it was a nuisance instead of a privilege.

            Learning? A privilege? Well, yeah…

Proverbs 1:5

5. Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
    and the one who understands obtain guidance,

If we do not first learn about God, then how can we know him? I say first, because learning is not the end of it. When you were told the gospel, did you not first learn that Jesus died for you? Of course, a person can learn something and not have wisdom (2 Timothy 3:7-9).

Hosea 4:6a

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
    because you have rejected knowledge,
    I reject you from being a priest to me.

In other words, if we lack or reject knowledge, how can we be used by God?

            What does school have to do with this? At school we learn about how God’s creation works (math and science; which is important since we are part of his creation). We learn how to communicate God’s word (English, or any other language). We also learn what God has been doing in the past so that we can have wisdom towards our future (History). If you dislike learning, or grudgingly do it, then you’re missing out. Schoolwork can be a blessing!

This year I've been taking Modern History. I just learned about the end of the Cold War. During the Cold War,North Korea built the Berlin Wall. I find it completely amazing at how the Berlin Wall was torn down. There was no army and the protest groups only contributed. My History book says, “On both sides of the Iron Curtain, people waited, anxiously wondering whether communist authorities would lash back and try to reassert power (from the rebels). What followed was a misunderstanding that triggered one of the most significant events of the twentieth century.”

At a press conference, it was announced that there would be new relaxed travel limits. The speech said, “Permanent exit can take place via all border crossings.” Therefore, people were thinking that the Berlin wall was opening. Thousands of people stormed the wall with the hopes of the gates opening. Confused border guards opened the gates even though they weren't supposed to, but they didn't know what to do.

            Do you see the hand of God in that?

God can also be seen in learning science and math. By learning about what God created, we learn more about the God who created it. For example, if you wrote a song (or something else) then that song is your creation. The song tells others about you when they listen to it. If it about liking ice cream, then it shows that you probably like ice cream.

In a similar way, I believe, what God has created reflects back to God. Therefore, since physics is the learning of physical activity, which God gave us the ability to do, we are in turn learning about how to use what God has given us.

If I am making no sense, I am sorry.

For example, God can be seen in learning English. Or any language for that matter. If we are incapable of communicating, how can we teach others so that they might learn as well?

Now, I am mostly talking to students here and I’m kind of assuming that if you are reading this than you are a Christian believer, even though that assumption might not be true. Bottom line of all this, Proverbs 9:9-10. Learn, but when you are learning, use wisdom and insight, and in turn, use your knowledge to glorify God for what he has given you.

Proverbs 9: 9-10

⁹ Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
    teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

God is good.

God is good. Most people reading this have heard this phrase many times through their Christian School, Christian Church, Christian families, and Christian lives. But, do you really believe it? Let me put it this way using a fictional example (I know, shocking, right? Me - using a fictional example.)

Ally just got home from school. She had had a rough day with a big pile of homework left to do that night. Closing the door, she starts to complain about how much homework she has. Then, she sees her parents standing there very seriously. They sit down and tell her that her aunt had just died that day. Ally was devastated. Her aunt had been in and out of hospitals for years for heart problems. Every time she came out just fine, so Ally never gave a thought to it. Suddenly, her aunt was dead because her heart had failed completely.

She ran up to her room and cried. How could He? How could God just take her aunt like that? How could God be good?

Ally is looking at things short term and self-centered. I remember last year B.H. was my Bible teacher. He asked a question that really had me stumped. It was: “Say I come up to you and ask, ‘How can God be good?’” Classmates started spinning out answers, but our Bible teacher was always able to defend it with something. The problem was that every time he questioned our answers he would reply with “I” or “you” or “my aunt.” All of this dealt self-centered or “horizontal” (looking through people standers) as Hunter would say instead of vertical (God and his glory).

Finally, someone said, “Well, it’s not about you. It’s all about God.”

That was the correct answer. We are nothing. Only by God’s grace are we saved through faith. God has every right to dame us from his presence forever, but instead he gave us the chance to have a relationship with him by taking our sin, which was what was separating us from him, on the cross.

Until you realize that God being fair means that he has to punish sin and that you don’t deserve anything created by him (which is everything we see) and a relationship with him, then you will never get the concept of God being good. Everything, including the death of a loved one, is for his glory. Somehow, whether we see it or not, it is in his perfect plan.

Remember when Adam and Eve first sinned by eating the fruit that they were told not to eat? God knew that they were going to sin because he is Sovereign. It wasn’t a mistake. God is able and chooses to use sinful people to work out his will.

There was a small example that I remember that my mom did when I was little. She asked Justin to come up. She handed him a quarter and said, “That quarter is yours. You can do what you want with it. Now, can I have it back?”

“No,” Justin said.

So, Justin got to keep the quarter, but if he had given it back, my mom was planning to give him two quarters back. When we give our entire life to God, we will always get more than we deserve back in return. But, say you are a “really good Christian.” You obey your parents, do you devotions, and have a good relationship with God. Suddenly, a loved one dies; your parents lose money and can’t afford much of anything.

This seems like God is taking everything away from you and you don’t get anything back. Here, you are looking horizontal. If you look vertical, you’ll see that when you die, none of that will matter. If you truly believe that God is good, you also know that he has given you spiritual riches beyond compare and a relationship that God keeps perfectly. You have more rich than you can imagine! Use them!

Matthew 6:19 - 20

¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS3VzA1E8rI

Short story

There once were two boys. One was named Steven and the other was named Chuck. Steven lived in a wealthy family. Chuck, on the other hand, lived on the streets making a living by stealing.

It was wintertime, and Steven walked out of the house to play in the snow. Chuck saw Steven around the corner of a building and noticed Steven’s elegant clothes and knew that he was rich.

Chick grabbed some snow that consisted of an ice piece in the middle, then snow, then mud with sticks. Chuck through the snowball.

Bam! The snowball hit Steven in the forehead. Knocked unconscious, a trickle of blood from Steven’s forehead bled onto the white snow. Chuck ran in and took $500 from Steven’s coat pocket and ran away.

After three hours, Steven woke up. He went back to the house and got fixed up.

The next day, Steven went on a walk and saw Chuck eating a hot dog on the sidewalk. Steven walked up to Chuck. Once Chuck saw him, he turned to run, but then realized that a cop was right on that street giving a ticket to a speeding driver. If he ran, the cop would notice, but if he stayed, and got punched, then the cop would be on his side.

Chuck stayed. Steven stopped right in front of him. Without a word, he gave Chuck his gloves. Steven knelt down and formed a white snowball and handed it to Chuck.

“Why don’t you come with me and make a snowman at my house?” Steven asked and then walked away.

Steven felt something cold run down his back. Turning around, he watched as Chuck walked the other direction.