Let's Celebrate, It's All Right!

Isn't it funny how we like to tell God what He can and cannot do?

On the way home from work I was struck by something that was said on the radio. People often say they would come to Christ if only God would show them that He loved them.

Apparently the cross wasn't a big enough sign (I'm sure Jesus would say it was BIG ENOUGH).

It got me thinking of they old saying "Wanna hear God laugh? Tell Him your plans." It amazes me how many people think they can run things better than God. Telling God that his rules don't work for today's culture, or that HE DOESN'T KNOW what is really going on in the World much less some one's personal life.

God is either God of all or He's not much of a God. People want to put Him in a box and bring him out on special occasions. And normally those occasions are filled with bunnies or twinkle lights. It's inconvenient to think that we aren't number one in the grand scheme of things. We blame God for all of the problems, and yet when someone says take those problems to God we make every excuse to prove He's not powerful enough.

The God who created the universe, the earth, and every 'act of God' known to man (or blamed by man) is also the God of little itty bitty ol' you and me. He's been there, done that, got the nail scars to prove it.

Some of us - arguably most of us - are doubting Thomases. We have to put our hands in the nail scarred hands. But to say God has never shown how much He loved you is just not true. God Himself came down as a Man and died on a cross for sins of which he was blameless. He didn't just do it for kicks, and he sure as heck didn't do it because he deserved it or didn't want to. He didn't HAVE to do any of it. But because He loved EVERYONE He did it.

It doesn't end there. There's a catch - in order to GET a GIFT you have to receive and ACCEPT it. It's not just "God loves good people." Yes, God loves good people... but He also loves the not so good. Do you realize Jesus died for people like Osama Bin Laden and Hitler? He knew those acts of hate and terror would happen, and He still extended the gift.

Do you realize there's not spiritual difference between me and the men mentioned above? The only difference is I've received the gift, I've repented and turned and am looking at Christ. That's the difference.

God's love is extended and given to all. He wants his forgiveness to be the same, but you have to ask for it. You have to be willing to sacrifice yourself for it. You have to show God you mean it.

You don't get into Heaven for the good you do. You get to Heaven based on belief... the good stuff you do as a believer isn't to rack up points, it's BECAUSE you are working to be MORE LIKE CHRIST... again, not for goodies on earth or in Heaven... but because you want to share Christ's love with all.

That's what the Love of God is - selfless...



again just the ramblings in my head...

Just when I'd given up on the Census Bureau job they called and interviewed me over the phone yesterday (praise God right after I got home from the vet, so I didn't miss it!)! And it wasn't for the part-time position of going door to door and doing the Census survey, it's for a full-time office job! I won't know just what exactly I'll be doing until I start work/training in two weeks, but yay!

The humorous part is I start work on Friday the 13th.

God is so good to provide, even when we doubt. He shows Himself in all things, but sometimes we aren't wearing our "spiritual glasses" and so we can't make Him out. Then he has to get larger than life to help us out. He is faithful even when we seem to be without it.

God is so good!
God is so good!
God is so good,
He's so good to me!

He answers prayer!
He answers prayer!
He answers prayer,
He's so good to me!

So ABT is still in Romans and right now it's basically a message of "put on your big girl panties and get over it." Forgiveness, letting go of the wrongs you have in your life, being the bigger person...

At least that's what I'm getting out of having a more fullfilled Godly life. I have no idea of that's what Ben thinks he's talking about in Sunday School, but it's what I'm hearing.

And mainly the focus God has me on is this whole issue with Judy and Gaylord. I've been doing my best to find fault in every little thing they do, and I'm finally getting the message. It helped that I started reading the books that Brad sent me for Christmas, and it's THE EXACT SAME THING. Again, not sure if that was the author's intention, but God seems to be able to speak loud and clear. And it's a total God thing that these things all come together. It's almost spooky.

Anyway, God has been speaking to me in a BIG way over this. On Sunday we were encouraged to ask forgiveness of at least one person who we feel has wronged us and we were now holding a grudge towards. That is so me. I hold grudges big time. God has laid Judy especially on my heart. I have not shown the right attitude in all of this. God is pushing me to apologise and have my say... so I am planning to do that on Saturday when it should just be me and her driving out to the airport... If there's one thing you want to pray about it's those few moments I have to say the right thing and don't foul it up.

Satan has been putting up road blocks this week as I decided how to go about this. Monday and Tuesday were extremely trying... yesterday and today have been better. In fact, tonight Gaylord had me take his photo for his photography business (nevermind Judy tried to tell me it was for something else, but I'm honestly not as upset as I would have been this time last week) and he helped me set up my new equipment. So it was a happy night. No one has gotten on my case, so God's hand is evident.

Please pray that I can continue to let go and let God in this part of my life. Also pray for God to continue to give me some guidance with where I need to be. Erin and I are looking at getting an apartment in Missoula. It's kinda a joke phase right now, there's a lot that needs to happen. I haven't even talked it over with my parents. lol.

Well, it's taken me something like 2 hours to type this up, so I'm done for the night. Tomorrow I drive out to Settler's Bay for a hair appt. Yes, I know. It's stupid. But I'm not paying for it, to my knowledge, so I'm good... I think...

we'll see.