I received such a blessing last night. I was spending the night with my brother and he had signed up for prayer in the Adoration Chapel from 6p-7p and asked if I would like to go along with him. No question was needed!!! Of course I would jump at the chance to spend an hour in solitude, praying, praising, reading His Holy Word!!!
It was a beautiful time and I was thankful for the opportunity.
During my solitude I reflected on the national events that had been in the news.
- Bombs exploding at the Boston Marathon
- An explosion in Texas
- A sinkhole in Chicago
- A manhunt for the bombers of the Marathon
- A large metropolitan city on lock down while a manhunt pursued to capture the Marathon bomber
At least for me this was an extreme and unusual week.
I was thankful for the opportunity to sit in solitude and pray for our country, our leaders, families touched by these events, the unsaved around the world and protection & salvation for all those children who have no one to call family.
And then I opened the Bible to the Psalms. I landed in Psalm 46 and verses 1-3, 6-7 and 10-11 really spoke to me.
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble
Therefore we will not fear
though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved
into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
He utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
I pray for the America that I knew from my younger days. I pray America returns to God, exaults the LORD of hosts, the God of Jacob, the God of Angel Armies! An America that glorifies God. Amen.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
Life of Pi, Proof of God
Interesting movie. I would recommend it without question. It is definitely a movie that will make you think about it. I also believe that this movie will hold a different message for each person. And for each person, the message could be different each time you watch it.
I need to back up to Friday though. On Friday afternoon, Brian came into my office and we began talking about faith, religion, truth. It was a good conversation. Brian recommended the movie The Life of Pi. He went on to say it's about the search for truth among religions. If I remember correctly he said, but how do you really know which religion is right? Then he went on to talk about the fine line between turning someone away from a message and pointing them toward it. Where do you draw the line? What's the most difficult question I've been asked? He was really on a roll.
His questions created confusion in my mind and I allowed that to make me ineffective in answering. As a result the conversation somewhat plagued me all weekend.
I was frustrated I was ineffective. I wanted to understand the root of my ineffectiveness & prayed that it wasn't because I was unwilling. Over the course of the weekend I was able to answer each of the questions clearly and concisely. Oh the benefits of time and hindsight.
Fast forward to Sunday. Ironically at church a part of the message was on the value of wisdom. At that time I didn't understand God was laying the ground work for my day. Oh but He was.
We rented Life of Pi Sunday afternoon. We watched it as a family group. I really enjoyed the movie. I felt that there was a lot to take in, and ultimately I was left somewhat in a state of confusion.
I asked Andie at the end of the movie if she liked it better than the book. She replied, "no, there's no purpose in either, it's just dumb." I didn't have a reply. I just felt like there was more here and I was unable to understand the big picture.
At one point in the movie Pi makes the statement to his new author friend "my story will make you believe in God." I didn't see how this movie had fulfilled that very big statement.
It bugged until I asked God to please show me, grant me understanding. It was as if a curtain was immediately lifted. For me, the message was very clear.
God allows us to explore what we believe about Him, life, other religions. He wants our decision to be clear and committed. He and He alone will provide for our needs.
Pi explores religions and decides as a young the God of the Christian faith, Jesus Christ is who he chooses to follow. Out at sea having lost his parents, brother, most of the animals, the ship he had been sailing, God had provided for his every need and provided abundantly, food, safety, strength, confidence, knowledge and perseverance.
Trying to figure out how to feed the tiger was causing him a great deal of stress. Finally when a large fish was provided, he gave thanks to the Hindu god Vishnu. Following that came a horrendous storm. I believe that he angered God when recognizing and praising Vishnu for this great catch. Pi definitely felt the wrath of God.
And when Pi reached the bottom of the proverbial barrel, he surrendered completely to the one true God. Following that God provided refuge on an island and allowed Satan to tempt him with the falseness of his surroundings. Pi chose life and and proceeded to make preparations to leave immediately.
Following this test, Pi drifted onto the shore of Mexico. He was forever changed.
I suppose that everyone will see something different in this movie. I saw my God very present.
Matthew 16. A passage that means the world to me came across my path once more. What a glorious, living God we serve.
All this from Friday to Sunday to remind me call me at ANY time to testify. I need to always be in reliance upon Him and prepared to serve Him as He calls. Friday I was very unprepared because I was not in a state of relying up God. Definitely a weekend of refocus and regrouping.
I need to back up to Friday though. On Friday afternoon, Brian came into my office and we began talking about faith, religion, truth. It was a good conversation. Brian recommended the movie The Life of Pi. He went on to say it's about the search for truth among religions. If I remember correctly he said, but how do you really know which religion is right? Then he went on to talk about the fine line between turning someone away from a message and pointing them toward it. Where do you draw the line? What's the most difficult question I've been asked? He was really on a roll.
His questions created confusion in my mind and I allowed that to make me ineffective in answering. As a result the conversation somewhat plagued me all weekend.
I was frustrated I was ineffective. I wanted to understand the root of my ineffectiveness & prayed that it wasn't because I was unwilling. Over the course of the weekend I was able to answer each of the questions clearly and concisely. Oh the benefits of time and hindsight.
Fast forward to Sunday. Ironically at church a part of the message was on the value of wisdom. At that time I didn't understand God was laying the ground work for my day. Oh but He was.
We rented Life of Pi Sunday afternoon. We watched it as a family group. I really enjoyed the movie. I felt that there was a lot to take in, and ultimately I was left somewhat in a state of confusion.
I asked Andie at the end of the movie if she liked it better than the book. She replied, "no, there's no purpose in either, it's just dumb." I didn't have a reply. I just felt like there was more here and I was unable to understand the big picture.
At one point in the movie Pi makes the statement to his new author friend "my story will make you believe in God." I didn't see how this movie had fulfilled that very big statement.
It bugged until I asked God to please show me, grant me understanding. It was as if a curtain was immediately lifted. For me, the message was very clear.
God allows us to explore what we believe about Him, life, other religions. He wants our decision to be clear and committed. He and He alone will provide for our needs.
Pi explores religions and decides as a young the God of the Christian faith, Jesus Christ is who he chooses to follow. Out at sea having lost his parents, brother, most of the animals, the ship he had been sailing, God had provided for his every need and provided abundantly, food, safety, strength, confidence, knowledge and perseverance.
Trying to figure out how to feed the tiger was causing him a great deal of stress. Finally when a large fish was provided, he gave thanks to the Hindu god Vishnu. Following that came a horrendous storm. I believe that he angered God when recognizing and praising Vishnu for this great catch. Pi definitely felt the wrath of God.
And when Pi reached the bottom of the proverbial barrel, he surrendered completely to the one true God. Following that God provided refuge on an island and allowed Satan to tempt him with the falseness of his surroundings. Pi chose life and and proceeded to make preparations to leave immediately.
Following this test, Pi drifted onto the shore of Mexico. He was forever changed.
I suppose that everyone will see something different in this movie. I saw my God very present.
Matthew 16. A passage that means the world to me came across my path once more. What a glorious, living God we serve.
All this from Friday to Sunday to remind me call me at ANY time to testify. I need to always be in reliance upon Him and prepared to serve Him as He calls. Friday I was very unprepared because I was not in a state of relying up God. Definitely a weekend of refocus and regrouping.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Through my mountains God makes passages
I was having a really good morning. It's Friday, the sun is shining, the temperature is warm. No complaints :)
And then.
I send an overly helpful text that doesn't receive a response. Later on a send a different message asking a question on another topic. No response.
Those two actions left me questioning why I must usher my helpful self into situations where I don't always belong?
I've done this for my entire life.
Sometimes it receives positive responses and other times silence. The silent ones leave me with doubt and insecurity which sky rocket into every available area.
Today it lead into my job security, family relationships, and then a whole host of worries.
Thankful for the break in the day that lunch provides, I open my bible study and there await two verses for my melancholy, self-pity filled person!
Isaiah 49:11 I will turn all My mountains into roads, and all My highways will be raised up
Isaiah 55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
I get it! I know.
But I couldn't shake the mood, couldn't focus on God. UGH, more frustration.
Then the big interruption. I have looked for probably 12 or 13 years for a milk glass candy bowl that would resemble my grandmother's. Last week I found it!!! I knew it would take a while to arrive and I thought I had it mailed to my home address.....
But today, that very candy dish arrived at my office.
The joy it held, the memories to just look at it. Most excellent!
Why I respond the way I do to situations and how people respond to me is not for me to question. My job is only to follow where I feel I am lead. I tend to make mountains out of little ant hills. My silly, human self. Thankfully God's ways are not our ways and God can turn my mountains into passageways.
What a might God we have the opportunity to serve. I only catch glimpses of my Almighty Father, I cannot how much more He truly is.
And then.
I send an overly helpful text that doesn't receive a response. Later on a send a different message asking a question on another topic. No response.
Those two actions left me questioning why I must usher my helpful self into situations where I don't always belong?
I've done this for my entire life.
Sometimes it receives positive responses and other times silence. The silent ones leave me with doubt and insecurity which sky rocket into every available area.
Today it lead into my job security, family relationships, and then a whole host of worries.
Thankful for the break in the day that lunch provides, I open my bible study and there await two verses for my melancholy, self-pity filled person!
Isaiah 49:11 I will turn all My mountains into roads, and all My highways will be raised up
Isaiah 55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
I get it! I know.
But I couldn't shake the mood, couldn't focus on God. UGH, more frustration.
Then the big interruption. I have looked for probably 12 or 13 years for a milk glass candy bowl that would resemble my grandmother's. Last week I found it!!! I knew it would take a while to arrive and I thought I had it mailed to my home address.....
But today, that very candy dish arrived at my office.
The joy it held, the memories to just look at it. Most excellent!
Why I respond the way I do to situations and how people respond to me is not for me to question. My job is only to follow where I feel I am lead. I tend to make mountains out of little ant hills. My silly, human self. Thankfully God's ways are not our ways and God can turn my mountains into passageways.
What a might God we have the opportunity to serve. I only catch glimpses of my Almighty Father, I cannot how much more He truly is.
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