I mentioned in my last blog that I would write a few entries on this new book I've read called The Shack. If there was only one book I could recommend than this is it-and don't worry it is really thin! But, I have gotten a new perspective on the word "frustration"from reading this passage.
[God answering Mackenzie after he asked why not give up on us if we keep screwing up]
"Because that is what love does," answered Papa. "Remember Mackenzie, I don't wonder what you will do or what choices you will make. I already know. Let's say, for example, I am trying to teach you how not to hid inside of lies, hypothetically of course :-). And let's say that I know it will take you forty-seven situations and events before you will actually hear me-that is, before you will hear me clearly enough and change. So, when you don't hear me the first time I'm not frustrated or disappointed, I'm thrilled. Only forty-six more times to go. And that first time will be a building block to construct a bridge of healing that will one day-that being today-you will walk across."
This made me realize what human frustration and disappoint really were, not met "expectations." You can apply to any frustrating situation but since my stress point recently has been getting my toddler to go to sleep at night, I'll apply to that. I put my son to bed, expecting him to stay in bed. I get frustrated at the fact that he keeps getting out of bed. By the 6th time I walk into his room I'm starting to feel really frustrated, I'm expecting him to go to sleep now. Okay, nothing wronge with wanting your son to go to sleep. But, my expectation was that he would maybe only get out of bed twice and by the third time fall asleep, however, it is now the 7th time of walking into his room and I'm frustrated now. Now, let me apply the above "God" thought into this new scenario. I change my thoughts to I'm putting him to sleep and he will get out of bed many times, I don't know how many but he will eventually get tired and go to sleep. I am able to gently walk into his room thinking this is just one time closer to getting him to go to bed now and will help him in several weeks/months in going to bed on the first try. Does that make sense? Let me put into another perspective.
Does my love change for my son because he is not going to bed on the first, second or seventh try? Easy answer, no. God's love is the same, he doesn't have expectations for us or love us any less when we have strayed from him. Instead, he continues to gently whisper to us until we return to him. God knows our situation and our outcome. Though in my son's eyes I'm mean and horrible for him having go to sleep, I know that he will feel better in the morning with a good night's sleep and that it will be best for him in the long run. Though our trials and frustrations are hard and we don't understand them, God will use them and the choices we make for his ultimate good. They are our building blocks to the bridge of healing that gets us to Him.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
"I Will Use Every Choice You Make"
Have you ever read a book that profoundly altered your state of thinking? (Okay, I mean a book other than the Bible) I've read books that made me really think or ponder a thought, but I've never read a book that altered the way I thought and saw reality until recently. Someone merely suggested that I read, The Shack by William P. Young. They said they could not describe the book but only suggest that it be read, 'huh'? Being good timing, I was wanting to read a new book and why not take them up on their suggestion. I went to the bookstore grabbed a copy and began to read it with a strange and curious nature of what my friend meant.
Securely snuggled in my bed, I dove into the pages. I quickly came to understand my friends explanation. As I continued to read, I started to feel vulnerable and no matter how snuggled and safe I felt the words kept hitting me straight in the face or should I say heart. Excerpt from the book, [God answering Mackenzie's question] "There are millions of reasons to allow pain and hurt and suffering rather than eradicate them, but most of the reasons can only be understood within each person's story. I am not evil. You are the ones who embrace fear and pain and power and rights so readily in your relationships. But your choices are not stronger than my purposes, and I will use every choice you make for ultimate good and loving outcome."
Smack in the face! Did you [God] just say that I embrace fear and pain and power and rights? Conversations I had in the past with God began to flood my mind. "I have a right to have children!," I would demand. "I have the right to be happy and have a family!" But, do I really have the right to anything? Did I not already have these things, or was it just that I had decided without these things I was abandoned or forsaken by God? I'm not rich, does that mean God is evil? I'm rich compared to others in other countries, did God abandon them and not me? Unfortunately, we are so self centered that we only see things from our own situation or circumstance. But, don't put too much condemnation and judgement on yourself yet, what was the next sentence? "But your choices are not stronger than my purposes, and I will use every choice you make for ultimate good and loving outcome." So in other words, no worries! From the past, to present to your future God will use everything you do, good, bad or unintentional for His purposes and greater good. That doesn't sound like an evil God but a loving and merciful God. A God that I want to know because I ultimately want a good and loving life!
I think I'm going to write several blogs on things that caught me off-guard in this book, maybe or maybe not. But read this book for yourself and let God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit show you what they want to reveal to you. These are my issues and what has been revealed to me about me.
Securely snuggled in my bed, I dove into the pages. I quickly came to understand my friends explanation. As I continued to read, I started to feel vulnerable and no matter how snuggled and safe I felt the words kept hitting me straight in the face or should I say heart. Excerpt from the book, [God answering Mackenzie's question] "There are millions of reasons to allow pain and hurt and suffering rather than eradicate them, but most of the reasons can only be understood within each person's story. I am not evil. You are the ones who embrace fear and pain and power and rights so readily in your relationships. But your choices are not stronger than my purposes, and I will use every choice you make for ultimate good and loving outcome."
Smack in the face! Did you [God] just say that I embrace fear and pain and power and rights? Conversations I had in the past with God began to flood my mind. "I have a right to have children!," I would demand. "I have the right to be happy and have a family!" But, do I really have the right to anything? Did I not already have these things, or was it just that I had decided without these things I was abandoned or forsaken by God? I'm not rich, does that mean God is evil? I'm rich compared to others in other countries, did God abandon them and not me? Unfortunately, we are so self centered that we only see things from our own situation or circumstance. But, don't put too much condemnation and judgement on yourself yet, what was the next sentence? "But your choices are not stronger than my purposes, and I will use every choice you make for ultimate good and loving outcome." So in other words, no worries! From the past, to present to your future God will use everything you do, good, bad or unintentional for His purposes and greater good. That doesn't sound like an evil God but a loving and merciful God. A God that I want to know because I ultimately want a good and loving life!
I think I'm going to write several blogs on things that caught me off-guard in this book, maybe or maybe not. But read this book for yourself and let God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit show you what they want to reveal to you. These are my issues and what has been revealed to me about me.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Whew-Trials have an Expiration Date!
Trials come in many different shapes and forms. Trials can be relationship trials, trials within the workplace, trying to conceive trials, trials from loss of a loved one or miscarriage. I heard a very good sermon on 'How to Handle the Trials that We Face' and one sentence in particular gave me that "Alleluia" feeling when I heard it- "All trials have an end date!"
Whew...have you ever thought that a particular trial would last forever? Some trials last longer than others, but the good news is that they ALL have a date in which they will come to expire and end.
"A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all." Psalms 34:19
I find comfort that even the very worst of times/trials God has a time planned for deliverance. God flooded the earth and that time was for 150 days, then the waters dried up and the land was good. There was famine during Joseph's time and the famine lasted for 7 years. In Revelation, God has set 7 years to be the time of the tribulation, 3 1/2 years of peace and 3 1/2 years of hell on earth. He has a plan and end date for the trials we face, too.
God has a plan for both Christians and non-Christians. For Christians, his plan is to develop you further. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
"to prepare God's people, . . .then we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by cunning and craftiness of men . . ." Ephesians 4:12-15
For non-Christians God's plan is for you to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. All through-out scripture God's tries to get our attention in many different ways, sometimes that is through blessings or sometimes through trials that come upon us. God pleads with us by sending his prophets, teachers and finally he sends his greatest messenger of all, his son, Jesus.
Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?...For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
other sources for handling trials and discouragement
verses of reference
Whew...have you ever thought that a particular trial would last forever? Some trials last longer than others, but the good news is that they ALL have a date in which they will come to expire and end.
"A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all." Psalms 34:19
I find comfort that even the very worst of times/trials God has a time planned for deliverance. God flooded the earth and that time was for 150 days, then the waters dried up and the land was good. There was famine during Joseph's time and the famine lasted for 7 years. In Revelation, God has set 7 years to be the time of the tribulation, 3 1/2 years of peace and 3 1/2 years of hell on earth. He has a plan and end date for the trials we face, too.
God has a plan for both Christians and non-Christians. For Christians, his plan is to develop you further. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
"to prepare God's people, . . .then we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by cunning and craftiness of men . . ." Ephesians 4:12-15
For non-Christians God's plan is for you to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. All through-out scripture God's tries to get our attention in many different ways, sometimes that is through blessings or sometimes through trials that come upon us. God pleads with us by sending his prophets, teachers and finally he sends his greatest messenger of all, his son, Jesus.
Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?...For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
other sources for handling trials and discouragement
verses of reference
- Genesis 7:24
- Genesis 41: 53-54
- Revelation 10: 9-10
- John 3: 11-17
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