I just want to simply post this quote from Francis Chan's book, Forgotten God:
"When we are at our wit's end for an answer, then the Holy Spirit can give us an answer. But how can He give us an answer when we are still well supplied with all sorts of answers of our own?" - - Karl Barth
March 15, 2011
March 5, 2011
He is Not in a Box, 'Yall
Pardon the southern twang in the title. I just couldn’t resist! I love being in the south and proud of the twang if I say so myself!
Well… here I am. Twelve months today was when I decided to let Him out of the box I had confined Him to for so many years. Really though… It has been my experience that He will stay in the little box you have created for Him as long as you want to keep Him there. But once you have had enough of the same ‘ole, same ‘ole in your life; He’ll gladly bust that box wide open and show you things you never could have dreamed of. At least, in my mind (or the box you could say), He was this Holy thing that you dare not have expectations for or dare disturb with your ‘petty’ needs. Twelve months ago today, I had decided I was tired of the same ‘ole, same ‘ole and He was gracious enough to show me that the box I had confined Him to was not His size. Was I really that conceded to think that I knew Him well enough that He would fit in my box? There was (and still is) so much more to learn about Him when He has the freedom to work without the confinement of the box.
Don’t think that all this attitude you are getting here came in an instant and magically everything is a field of flowers now that I have let him outside of my box. It’s a work in progress. I’ve finally realized that God is cool enough that He knows my love language well enough to continue on the journey with me and to speak to me in the word pictures that He knows I love. And last night was one of those times. Earlier, I told you that things had been quiet. I knew He was still with me, but we hadn’t been having the conversations we’d been having on a daily basis like earlier in the year. Maybe it’s because He knows us so well, that He knew I needed to take a breather to catch up with all that He had done in the last year. But, I’m excited to say He’s back. Sorry. I say that as if He left. He never left; but He’s picking up the speed again is a better way to say it I guess.
I was at Winter Jam last night with a friend. My friend was to one side of me and a middle aged lady was to my other side. The stranger conversed with me a little about how she was excited to have such good, close seats because last year she was in the nose bleed section. Funny enough, my friend and I ended up in the nose bleed section last year too and we were determined to get better seats this year. I think it was just that hunger that He gives you to get close to Him whether it be in song, spirit, serving, etc…. We wanted to be close to that stage this year and we were determined to get it. Anyway, I thought to myself how cool it was to be sitting next to a complete stranger that had the same love for God that we did. We were not that far into the show when the stranger leaned over to me and said, “This is not Christian.” Whoa!!! Wait a minute. We had just talked about how excited we were to have such good seats. The Word of God is being spoken and praise and worship songs are being sung all around us and she is telling me this is not Christian???? I was dumbfounded to say the least. Frustration, sadness, confusion… they all hit me like a ton of bricks. Then…. Something else hit me. She is in the same place I was in at one point. Her box had not been opened yet. After more conversation, she revealed that she was all torn up because she could not understand the words to some (well, maybe most) of the songs that were being sung. It was not the typical music she was used to for praise and worship. My heart goes out to her and my prayers go out to her that her box will be opened soon.
One thing that was stated last night in one of the messages was that our God is not republican or democrat; He is not Methodist or Baptist or Catholic or Presbyterian; and He is not black or white!! I took that to mean that He is NOT in the box that we want to confine Him to. And I’m pretty sure He does not have a preference to southern gospel or Christian rock. Let’s release Him out of the box that we’ve confined Him to and see what He can do when we don’t give Him limits! I’m fairly sure it will be pretty amazing stuff!
Well… here I am. Twelve months today was when I decided to let Him out of the box I had confined Him to for so many years. Really though… It has been my experience that He will stay in the little box you have created for Him as long as you want to keep Him there. But once you have had enough of the same ‘ole, same ‘ole in your life; He’ll gladly bust that box wide open and show you things you never could have dreamed of. At least, in my mind (or the box you could say), He was this Holy thing that you dare not have expectations for or dare disturb with your ‘petty’ needs. Twelve months ago today, I had decided I was tired of the same ‘ole, same ‘ole and He was gracious enough to show me that the box I had confined Him to was not His size. Was I really that conceded to think that I knew Him well enough that He would fit in my box? There was (and still is) so much more to learn about Him when He has the freedom to work without the confinement of the box.
Don’t think that all this attitude you are getting here came in an instant and magically everything is a field of flowers now that I have let him outside of my box. It’s a work in progress. I’ve finally realized that God is cool enough that He knows my love language well enough to continue on the journey with me and to speak to me in the word pictures that He knows I love. And last night was one of those times. Earlier, I told you that things had been quiet. I knew He was still with me, but we hadn’t been having the conversations we’d been having on a daily basis like earlier in the year. Maybe it’s because He knows us so well, that He knew I needed to take a breather to catch up with all that He had done in the last year. But, I’m excited to say He’s back. Sorry. I say that as if He left. He never left; but He’s picking up the speed again is a better way to say it I guess.
I was at Winter Jam last night with a friend. My friend was to one side of me and a middle aged lady was to my other side. The stranger conversed with me a little about how she was excited to have such good, close seats because last year she was in the nose bleed section. Funny enough, my friend and I ended up in the nose bleed section last year too and we were determined to get better seats this year. I think it was just that hunger that He gives you to get close to Him whether it be in song, spirit, serving, etc…. We wanted to be close to that stage this year and we were determined to get it. Anyway, I thought to myself how cool it was to be sitting next to a complete stranger that had the same love for God that we did. We were not that far into the show when the stranger leaned over to me and said, “This is not Christian.” Whoa!!! Wait a minute. We had just talked about how excited we were to have such good seats. The Word of God is being spoken and praise and worship songs are being sung all around us and she is telling me this is not Christian???? I was dumbfounded to say the least. Frustration, sadness, confusion… they all hit me like a ton of bricks. Then…. Something else hit me. She is in the same place I was in at one point. Her box had not been opened yet. After more conversation, she revealed that she was all torn up because she could not understand the words to some (well, maybe most) of the songs that were being sung. It was not the typical music she was used to for praise and worship. My heart goes out to her and my prayers go out to her that her box will be opened soon.
One thing that was stated last night in one of the messages was that our God is not republican or democrat; He is not Methodist or Baptist or Catholic or Presbyterian; and He is not black or white!! I took that to mean that He is NOT in the box that we want to confine Him to. And I’m pretty sure He does not have a preference to southern gospel or Christian rock. Let’s release Him out of the box that we’ve confined Him to and see what He can do when we don’t give Him limits! I’m fairly sure it will be pretty amazing stuff!
March 1, 2011
He is With Us
So the other day I was driving to work and taking in how weird the sky appeared. It was black and completely dark in some areas and clear and blue in other areas where the sun was beginning to rise for the day. It was like I had never seen it before. We’ve all seen a storm coming or going, but this was not like that. It was a spot of darkness, a spot of clear blue and another spot of darkness that was separated by the light. I simply cannot do it justice by this description so you’ll just have to trust me that it was completely weird. Yea, sometimes I think God’s creations can be weird. Call me weird if you want. But I think that is how He gets our attention sometimes.I’ve recently had this period where I felt like everything was quiet and I wasn’t really hearing from Him like I had in the last 12 months. I’m not in a critical decision making circumstance right now, but I like to know He’s still there. Ya know? Even when I’m not wrestling with Him on decisions I’m making. It’s just kinda nice to have Him there in the everyday life and I’ve been missing that.
Until…. On this particular morning that the sky was wierding me out, I was thinking to myself… I’m not a fan of the rain. Even though I know it’s necessary and I know we are in the negative for this year already; I’d really it rather not rain. It’s just who I am. I like sunny skies! Sorry; I digressed. Back to the point. So of course there was a big black cloud directly over right where I was headed. Naturally (because of who I am and because I like sunny skies, but you already know that), I started moaning and groaning in my heart that I would like a nice clear blue spot over where I was going. I’d really rather not have to fool with taking my umbrella in with me to work not knowing if it was going to rain or not. You know how sometimes you take your umbrella with you when you aren’t sure if it is going to rain? And you know what a pain that is? Especially if it doesn’t rain… And most of the time when you do take your umbrella with you it doesn’t rain and you end up not needing it; and if you don’t take it with you, it rains and you do need it. You already know what I’m talking about.
After I finished throwing my little hissy fit of a tantrum with myself I heard this still quite voice. I hadn’t heard Him in a while so my ears perked up real quick. It was like He’d been waiting for just the right time when He’d have my full attention. He knew I had wanted to hear Him and sure enough He is just that sweet to show up at just the right time. And this is what we talked about... He told me to get over the nasty dark sky over “my area” and quite worrying about taking my umbrella in. He told me that He is not like the umbrella. Instead of having to decide when to take the umbrella with me for protection and possibly mis-judging and not having it when I needed it the most, He told me that He is my umbrella. He will protect me when the rain comes pouring down. And on top of that He is always there because He already knows when the rain is coming and when He will need to open the umbrella of protection. AND He said He would be there even when it is not raining.
Gosh, I was so thankful for that little conversation He took the time to have with me and the reminder of His constant presence with me even when I don’t necessarily feel it. This week, I’m coming up on the 1 year mark of my crazy encounter with Him and as I look back He has been ever so consistent and faithful with me. And for that I am so extremely thankful I can’t even put it into words. His love is beyond explanation! I’ve been playing this song lately and listening to it as though it is Him singing it to me. Don’t just listen to the words, but let them really penetrate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGXW2n33QfI
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