When You're Older: Frozen 2

   In Frozen 2 there is a song where Olaf, the snowman, sings about when he is older everything will make sense. Many adults laughed at that song because they know it isn't true. In fact, many of us have discovered that as we gain more knowledge we just end up with more questions. However, children actually tend to believe that when they are older everything will make sense.
   I work with children who are 2-5 years old. After Frozen 2 came out I asked the kids if they thought that when they are older everything will make sense. The answer was a resounding yes. It's true that as we grow we gain more knowledge and more things make sense, but not everything. There's a reason that not everything makes sense. If everything made sense then we would be God. God knows everything and it all makes sense to him because he has understanding of everything. Meanwhile, we don't understand as much because of sin. We ask why bad things happen. We don't understand all of the things God let's happen.
   In Luke 13 we find the event of feet washing. Jesus does what the lowest servant was to do. Jesus washed his disciples' feet. Peter questions Jesus wondering why he would do such a thing. In verse 7 Jesus replies: "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." Though Jesus was talking about feet washing it makes me think about other things we don't understand. We may not understand why evil seems to be winning in the world. We don't understand why good people and young people are taken too soon. Sometimes we may even wonder if God has a plan or if he cares. Jesus showed that he cares in many ways but washing his disciples' feet was one of them. He took on the role of servant to show his love to others. That's what we are called to do as well.
   So, what are we to do when things don't make sense? We are to trust God. He has not left us or forsaken us. He's still here. He cares and has plans for us. 

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Into the Unknown: Frozen 2

   "Everyone I've ever loved is here within these walls, I'm sorry, secret siren, but I'm blocking out your calls, I've had my adventure, I don't need something new, I'm afraid of what I'm risking if I follow you, Into the unknown"
   As stated in "Some Things Never Change" almost everything changes in life. We are constantly moving forward and growing. We may try to stop because we like where we are at; but, like Jonah, if we are meant to do something God has a way of influencing us to get our jobs done.
   In Frozen 2 Elsa is hearing a voice. That voice is calling her to another adventure. Elsa is conflicted. She likes where she is at now. She has her family, she is queen, and her powers are under control. However, she still wants to know what the voice is. She wants to know why it is calling her and where it wants her to go.
   Like Elsa, we may feel conflicted with the future. We may like where we are at; but, we also wonder what things may be like if we choose a certain path. The unknown is scary. Things could go really bad, or they could go really well. That's why the unknown is so scary.
   The thing is, we will face the unknown in our lives. But, we have someone who walks with us. We have someone who knows us and the future. Proverbs 3:5-6 says: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." God asks us to trust him when we face the unknown. If we submit to his will we will be able to face the unknown. It may not be easy, but it will be worth it. God loves us and he wants what is good for us. That's why he asks us to trust him.
   So, how do you feel about the unknown? Will you trust God when you face the unknown?

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Some Things Never Change: Frozen 2

   "That's why I rely on certain certainties, Yes, some things never change, Like the feel of your hand in mine, Some things stay the same" (Some Things Never Change, Frozen 2)
   There are very few things that don't change in life. People grow up, families grow bigger, people gain new perspectives, jobs change, homes change, places change, and you get the idea. Really, there's not much that doesn't change.
   In the Bible Solomon, the king who asked God for wisdom, writes in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

   These verses state many things that do change. It is difficult to deal with change. We tend to be creatures of habit. We like routine. We like it when things stay the same. However, that doesn't happen. Without change, there can be no growth. Without change there are no seasons, holidays, relationships, etc. Change is vital to life, even if it is difficult.

   Now, with all that being said, there is one thing, one person, that doesn't change. Hebrews 13:8 says: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." God's love for us doesn't change. God loved us enough to send his son to die for us so that we could have a relationship with him. He walks with us and helps us grow in seasons of change. That's why, when things do change, we can be confident that we have someone who walks with us.
   So, why can you be confident in seasons of change? Will you choose to walk with God no matter what?

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Doing Your Best in the Little Things: Labor Day

   Many times when Labor Day rolls around we all say: "Yes! A three day weekend. I get to relax an extra day and not think about work." I'm not going to lie, it is nice to have an extra day off. But, I usually end up working in one way or another on Labor Day. I may do some things for school, I may do chores around the house, I may make food for myself or others, etc. That's all work. Even on Labor Day we are working.
   We don't just work when we go to work. We do little things every day that are work. And, even if we are working on the little things, we are to give our best. I was once told a story that embodies this idea.
One time a woman, let's call her Tessa, was a counselor at a camp. One of the jobs she was given was to put the kids bed sheets on the beds before the kids came. Time was short before the kids showed up so she tried to work fast. She had put on at least 70 sheets and was beginning to tire of doing the same task. She put a sheet on and realized the sheet was inside out. She looked at the time and thought, "I need to finish all these other beds. It will not be that bad if the sheet is inside out." She left the sheet as is and kept working on the other beds.
   She got about 10 more beds done then thought back to that 1 bed. She knew she had done a good job on 79 beds out of 80. But she did not do her best on that 1. She felt guilty for not giving her best on that 1. Even though she knew it would take extra time and effort she went back to the room and fixed the bed. Did anyone notice that she fixed the bed? No. Would anyone have noticed that the bed was inside out if she wouldn't have fixed it? Maybe not. But if she would not have gone back to fix the bed she wouldn't have been giving her best for God.
   See, Tessa was following Colossians 3:23-24 which says: "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." That 1 bed may not have mattered to the child who slept on it, the parents who let that child come to camp, the counselor who was in that room, or the camp director. But, that 1 bed matters to God. Why does a bed matter to God? It matters because we are to give out best to God in ALL we do.
   That means that when you are at work and getting tired of doing the same tasks you still do your best, even if it's hard. That means that if you are mowing the lawn and you realize you miss a spot you go back to get it. Not because you think you will get in trouble, but because you are mowing the lawn for God. That means that if you are cleaning the bathroom and you miss a huge smudge you go back and clean it. Not because you are worried that someone will notice it, but because you are cleaning that bathroom for God.
   Will your best look the same every day? Probably not, but you can still give your best not for man, not to get glory yourself, but to reflect God's glory.
   So, are you giving your best effort for God? How can you reflect God's glory by giving your best for God today?
 Image from here.

All is Found: Frozen 2

   "But can you brave what you most fear?" (All is Found, Frozen 2).
   "When all is lost, then all is found" (All is Found, Frozen 2).
   Have you ever felt like nothing is going right? Maybe something bad happened at work or school. Maybe something bad happened to a family member or friend. Maybe you lost something important to you. Sometimes all those things can happen at once. That's when we ask "why are so many bad things happening to me?"
   Sometimes we feel like we have lost a lot in life. Sometimes we fear more loss. How can we fight the fear of loss? Joshua 1:9 is a good reminder for us in those hard times of fear and loss. Joshua 1:9 says: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." We are to be strong and courageous, not because of our abilities, but because of God. God commands us not be have fear, or be frightened, because God is with us wherever we go.
   Whatever we may go through, whatever we may lose, God is with us. That's why we can "brave what you (we) most fear" because we have God with us. We don't need to fear with him on our side because he has a plan. And, when it seems like we have lost everything, we need to remember that "all is found" in Christ. The things of this world are temporary. The only thing that will matter in heaven are our souls. Even if we lose everything, we will still have Christ because he loved us enough to die for us.
   So, what do you fear? How can you trust God more? Do you believe that even if you lose everything on earth you will still have all you need in Christ?

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