Where is God?

   "You said you'd always be there for me! But you’re not" (The Lion King). This is a quote from The Lion King. Simba is feeling alone because he doesn't have his father anymore. Have you ever felt this way about God? I know I have... so how can we feel that God is with us? Well let's look at the authority on everything: the Bible.
   Elijah had just defeated the prophets of Baal. He had a huge victory so why did he feel defeated? It is because Jezebel was going to kill him. He felt so alone and scared so he went to the wilderness. He got so low that he even said just kill me. But God had other plans.
   Elijah went to Mt. Horeb. On the mountain there was a powerful wind, an earthquake, and a fire but the Lord was not in any of those. The Lord was in a whisper. God had shown his power and Elijah probably expected God to be in the strongest force... but God proved again that his plan is better than ours. God encouraged Elijah to go back to Israel and keep fighting the good fight.
   Elijah went back and did what God told him to do. God never left Elijah; Elijah just needed a reminder that God is always with him. God has a plan we just need to trust him.
   So, when you feel like God is not with you what will you do? Will you trust God has a plan?

   1 Kings 19 and Proverbs 3:5-6

   Image found here.

Clinging to the Source of Life

   I'm going to be honest: I stink at gardening. But, because I'm a teacher, I get a lot of flowers from my students. I try to keep them but eventually they die.
   One time I received 3 flowers from my students because it was the end of the year. And, if you guessed they all started to die you’d be correct. I took the flowers out of the pot and threw them into our front yard. I walked by those flowers every day and looked at them. They were a reminder that I'm a failure at gardening. Then one day I noticed something strange.
   Two of the flowers were dead and gone. However, one of the flower's roots had gotten through the bottom of the soil and the roots started to go into the ground. The flower actually started to perk up. That flower survived because it clung to the ground. It clung to the source of life. That flower survived a few more months because it was able to get sun, water, and nutrients from the ground because it was tough through a difficult time.
   These flowers are a great example of us. Some of us go through life clinging to nothing. Some people think that they don't need anyone. They just want to get as far ahead as they can and they don't care who they need to break to get there. In the end those people die even though they worked hard in life.
   Others of us find Christ but don't cling to him. These people may go to church on Sunday but the rest of the week they don't walk with Christ. They may work hard at their job but they also don't cling to the source of life when things get tough.  In the end these people die as well.
   Finally, there are those people who find Christ and cling to him even through the hard times. They walk with Christ even if things are hard. These people never die. They may die physically, but their soul and spirit never die.
   I don't know about you, but I'd much rather be the flower who clings to the life source rather than be those who die forever.
   So, which flower will you choose to be? Will you choose to cling to the source of life? What can you do to keep clinging to the source of life? 

   Psalm 63:7-8, Colossians 1:9-10, Matthew 5:6
   Image from here.

Is God on Time?

   Queen Clarisse has been known to say "a queen is never late, everyone else is simply early" (The Princess Diaries). She says that because, since she is the queen, she makes her own time. Events can be set up for a certain time but she has other matters she also needs to take care of. Her subjects may not see all of the behind the scene things she needs to do; but she does them anyhow to keep her kingdom strong and safe. Her subject may even get annoyed with all of the waiting but she still does what is best for them.
   You may be saying either you would get annoyed with the waiting for the queen; or you would not get annoyed because you knew the queen was doing something important for the kingdom. Well let me tell you something: you probably already have gotten annoyed with your king.
   Let me change this quote a little: "God is never late, everyone else is simply early." We have a tendency to be impatient and get annoyed whenever we do not get what we want when we want it. We ask God to do things, fix things, and get us things to make our lives better. We a want those things right away. But God, in his infinite wisdom, doesn't always give us what we ask for. 
   God is in heaven looking at us. He knows what is best for us because he has a plan. Like Queen Clarisse, God is doing a lot of behind the scene work to make sure that all of his children are safe and cared for. We don't see all of that work and we get annoyed when we don't get what we ask for. God does have a plan and does everything for a reason. We may not know that reason. But, we must trust our king and know he is working behind the scenes in our lives for our good.
   So, will you get annoyed when things don't go the way you planned? Will you trust that God is working behind the scenes for our good? 

   Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Psalm 27:14, Isaiah 40:31
   Image from here.

Silence...

   Once when I was in college I went to a class. I sat down and waited for class to begin. The professor came in, put his books down, stood behind the desk, and looked at us. The class quieted down and looked at the professor after about a minute of talking. The professor just looked at us and smiled. After a while people began to look around. Some people started to giggle. Others kept looking at the clock. The professor kept smiling at us and was still quiet. 
   I just sat there thinking what is our professor up to? Then I figured it out but I didn't want to ruin the surprise for anyone else. Just like I don't want to ruin the surprise for you, yet. 
   Another time I was at work at Jimmy John's. One of the managers had a tendency to call group meetings, especially when she was stressed. She called us over one day when another manager, named Betty, was also working. We all went over and the manager said, "team meeting." Then she was quiet. All of us were quiet as well, all of us except Betty. Betty said, "what's going on? Why isn't anyone talking?" Betty continued to talk and giggle.

   Why did the class and Betty giggle? It is because they thought something was odd: silence. Why is it that we do not like silence? Is it because we like to talk? Is it because we live in a loud world? I do not know but I know there are people who need noise no matter what. Yet, in the Bible we are told we should have silence and solitude. Matthew 6:6 says "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." 
   Why will we be rewarded if we go into our rooms and shut the door? First off we are to humble ourselves instead of trying to make ourselves look good in front of others. Second, we are having a conversation with God. You may be saying, "I don't hear God when I pray." Well how do you pray? 
   Prayer is a conversation. That means that 2 people must be involved at least. Most of the time when we pray we do all of the talking. If you were out with a friend and your friend did all of the talking and did not give you a chance to talk, would you try to even say something to that person? God wants to talk with us. I'm not saying that you will audibly hear God. You may have a thought that comes from him, a friend may relay a message to you from him, or you may see something that comes from him. God does speak... but sometimes we are not listening. That's why we need to have silence and solitude. We must spend time with God just like we would any other friend. 
   So, does silence scare you? Do you ever have quiet time with God? If you don't, what can you do to spend more time with him?

   Matthew 6:6, Luke 6:12

   Image found here. 

The Ultimate Betrayal: An Easter Blog

   Have you ever had the experience where you are talking with someone and the conversation seems to be going really well? You are telling jokes, talking about their kids, asking about their weekend, and all seems to be good. But, in your gut, you just get the feeling that something isn't right. See, you know that this person has stabbed you in the back, and possibly will again. It doesn't matter how you know this person is gossiping about you but you know it for a fact. This person has betrayed you.
   By the world's standards you have a right to hate that person. The world would say that you would not have to talk to that person ever again. The world would even say that you would be just in trying to get revenge on that person. 
   What about God's standards? In John 13 Jesus gives us the example of how we should treat betrayers. 
   In the beginning of the chapter Jesus shows us that we are to serve those who wrong us. Jesus takes on the role of servant by washing his disciples’ feet. He washes all their stinky, sweaty, dirty feet. HE WASHES EVERY DISCIPLE’s FEET. Did you catch that? He even washed Judas' feet. He washed the feet of the person who betrayed him in the worst way. This man was the one who gave Jesus over to die! 

   How can we serve those who betray us in a way like that? We need to remember that we cannot see the whole picture. Jesus knew the ending to the story. He knew what had to be done. He also showed love to his betrayer to the end. We need to trust that God has a plan. God can use trials in our lives to bring about his perfect plan. In the meantime we need to show love to those who hate us. In doing that people will wonder what is different about us. That will make them wonder and thus become a seeker. Who knows, it just may bring them to Christ.
   We also must not forget that we also are betrayers. There is not one man, woman, or child who has not betrayed Christ. We have no right to hold grudges against our fellow man when we have been given so much grace. We have hope in the grace of Jesus Christ. Because of him we are no longer seen as betrayers. We are washed (kind of like feet ;) as white as snow. If we have that kind of grace from God should we not show it to our betrayers?
   So, how do you treat those who have betrayed you? Do you serve them and show the love of God? Do you believe God has a plan for your life? Do you believe in Jesus Christ and the gift of grace he has given us?

   John 13, 1 John 4:19-21, John 13:34

   Image found here.

Used

   Way back there was a movie that came out called Tron. In the movie humans were called "users" and those who were a part of the Tron game were called "programs." Oddly enough I didn't always relate to the users (humans). Many times I felt I related with the programs. The programs did not like users because they felt betrayed by them and they were also kind of brainwashed to not like them.
   I go throughout my day trying to help others as much as I can. Because of that, I feel like I get used a lot. Don't get me wrong, I'm okay with doing all I do for people because I believe God calls me to do it. But, when you go through your day writing lesson plans, making items for your class so your kids can improve, writing unit plans, making gifts, coaching soccer, doing much more, and then repeating that the next day you feel burned out. 
   To make matters worse... typically we don't get thanked for what we do. I'm not saying that we should do the things we do so we get thanked or so we feel better than others. What I'm saying is that it is scientifically proven that if you hear the simple words: "thank you" you are more likely to continue to do what you are doing.
   There are days where I wonder if everything I do is worth it, especially since it all can be overwhelming. Then I think about Jesus. He did many things for others and there were times he never got thanked. He also, kept going even if it may have seemed overwhelming to us. Jesus probably had more right than most to be overwhelmed. He could have given up... but he didn't. He knew that if he did not keep fighting then we would all die. He did everything he did because of his unconditional love for us. 
   So, when you ask yourself "is this all worth it?" Who will you turn to? Will you keep fighting the good fight even when it seems like no one is thankful for what you are doing?

   Romans 5:8, Philippians 2:3-4, John 13:34
   Check out this video to see how saying thank you and focusing on positive things can make you happier https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5lZBjWDR_c 

   Image from here.

Following the Master

   Imagine waking up for the first time. You have just started your life, but you don't know why you are alive. You look around and see you have yellow arms and legs. Then you look next to you and see someone else. That person also has yellow arms and legs.
   You start to speak to the other person but when you speak it is a strange language. Both of you look around and see more and more people like yourselves.
   Then you see a large creature. The creature has large teeth, sharp claws, and hard scales. The creature sees another creature just like it and begins to fight it. The first creature beats the other creature and suddenly you realize what your purpose is: to follow and help the best master. Your first master is this creature.
   Thus, this is your life jumping from one master to another. You keep searching for the best master but you cannot find the perfect boss.
   If you haven't guessed by now this is based on the movie Minions. The Minions keep jumping from master to master because their old master dies, but the Minions only ever have 1 master at a time.
Matthew 6:24 says "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." The Minions got this part right. They knew that they could only serve one master faithfully, even if they did end up hurting their master. Do we have that kind of faith, or do we try to serve more than one master, or idol?
   The part that the Minions got wrong was the masters that they served. They served temporary masters. Am I saying it is wrong for us to obey those in charge of us? No, but the Minions chose who they followed and they followed evil masters.
   We decide who we want to follow. If we don't choose to follow Jesus then we are following the devil. There is no in between master. There is only one master who is perfect, who cares about you, and loves you enough to die for you. That master is Jesus Christ. He is the greatest boss we could ever have, yet he gives us freewill. We can choose to follow him or not.
   So, do you try to serve 2 masters? Are you serving the wrong master? Will you choose to follow Christ even though it may get difficult?

   Roman 10:9, 2 Corinthians 4:5, Matthew 16:24
   Image found here.