Does anyone ever remember those annoying trash bag commercials? Where the family would all of a sudden try and stuff 700 styrofoam plates into their trash bag, and the trash bag would rip because there was nothing else it could do? And the family would get frustrated and angry at the trash bag, like it was his fault?
I do. What happens next is a monotone voice chimes in, "Don't get mad, get GLAD." 'Glad' was of course a specific brand of trash bags guranteed to not rip, no matter what or how much you put in it.
I remember chirping that phrase to my family members when I was younger and they were angry about something. But I never understood the simplistic truth behind it.
The way I see it now is that when circumstances arise, we can either get mad about it or we can get glad about it. Or better yet, we can laugh about it. It really is that simple. When we mess up in our favorite sport, we can either become angry and frustrated at our abilities, or we can laugh at our mistakes. When someone fails to give us the right directions somewhere and we get lost, we can either become furious at the person, or we can laugh at the fact that the directions led us straight to a cow pasture.
This phenomenon reminds me of a verse from Proverbs about the Woman who fears the Lord: "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come." (Proverbs 31:25). Because her hope is in the Lord, she can laugh at the future providences that come her way.
I want to be a woman who can laugh always, about anything. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says that there is a time to laugh - so let us laugh when there truly is nothing to be angry or worried about because we are in Christ!!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
You Have Me
So first of all I want to say sorry for not posting up anything in the last few weeks or so, even though only those few but faithful avid readers of mine would have even noticed. I have been going through some pretty thick stuff lately that it's been rather hard to come out of the thick stuff (let's call it Jell-O, cause it's been sweet overall but rather annoying at times). The Jell-O has kept me bogged down so that I haven't been able to obtain a 3rd person perspective on life.
But anyways, today I did have quite a nice little rainbow amidst the storms, and I vowed that I would not let it go unposted! So here it is, all nicely jumbled as usual. ;)
There is a song. A beautiful song. It's called, "You Have Me". It's by the band called Gungor. If any of you readers know anything about me you know that I love Gungor, and you're probably sick of it right now (like Jell-O). But I absolutely do not care because they are a wonderful group of musicians that write songs from the Bible and that providentially are very applicable to my life. So, if you have not heard the song before, go look it up.
My thoughts on the song are this: Whether we fall and fail, rise and shine, rebel and fight, or love and rest, God our Father has us. He has all of us completely and forever. What a beautiful truth to know.
Let me back up now. Thinking about the song happened only after I had a revelation from God while walking today.
I have been sick (physically, emotionally, you name it, etc.) for some time now, and under intense spiritual attack as well. Yes, I know, it's terrible, whatever. Don't you dare feel sorry for me. I have enough pity for myself as it is, even though it's all completely unnecessary to begin with.
So I was wallowing in my own self-pity, as I do most often nowadays, and thinking how in the wooorllld could this be God's plan for me because I am not doing anything. Seriously, I'm not even spending quality time with my Father anymore (like I was back in May when I had nothing to do) - because I just don't feel good at all. I sleep like 12 hours a day, and when I'm awake I don't have energy enough to be a light or anything to those around me. Again, don't you dare feel sorry for me though.
So my question is, What is God's purpose behind sickness, if not to sanctify us? I really don't believe that there's some life lesson out of this particular trial I'm facing. And to tell you the truth, I don't have the answer to that question. That's not what I learned today.
What I learned today is that God always always always has us right where He wants us. We're not little children that can run away in our rebellion, and we're not sheep that can be stolen by the devil. God's never trying to get us into the right position - because we always ARE in the right position. Even though we do not understand it sometimes, God always has a plan for us even though we may be down spiritually, physically, emotionally - and we can't even get out of our own little bubble to see the light of Jesus. He is with us even when we do not feel Him.
So I have nothing to be downhearted about - and neither does anyone who is in Christ!! Our greatest need (salvation from the wrath to come) has already been taken care of, so will not the One who took care of that need also take care of every other need?
This brings us back to the song - "You Have Me". In every situation, every trial, every confusing circumstance...we are held by the LORD of the universe, if we are His children!!
When pondering more about this phenomenon, I discovered that at the root of this was a distrust in God. I did not believe that God was ultimately sovereign, over every part of my life. I do not know which trials I am going through are the of the Lord's direct hand, satan's attack, or my own sin and imperfection - but I know that the Lord is watching it all, directing it all, and has planned it all long before my time.
That gives me encouragement to keep fighting the good fight, and to keep running the race.
But anyways, today I did have quite a nice little rainbow amidst the storms, and I vowed that I would not let it go unposted! So here it is, all nicely jumbled as usual. ;)
There is a song. A beautiful song. It's called, "You Have Me". It's by the band called Gungor. If any of you readers know anything about me you know that I love Gungor, and you're probably sick of it right now (like Jell-O). But I absolutely do not care because they are a wonderful group of musicians that write songs from the Bible and that providentially are very applicable to my life. So, if you have not heard the song before, go look it up.
My thoughts on the song are this: Whether we fall and fail, rise and shine, rebel and fight, or love and rest, God our Father has us. He has all of us completely and forever. What a beautiful truth to know.
Let me back up now. Thinking about the song happened only after I had a revelation from God while walking today.
I have been sick (physically, emotionally, you name it, etc.) for some time now, and under intense spiritual attack as well. Yes, I know, it's terrible, whatever. Don't you dare feel sorry for me. I have enough pity for myself as it is, even though it's all completely unnecessary to begin with.
So I was wallowing in my own self-pity, as I do most often nowadays, and thinking how in the wooorllld could this be God's plan for me because I am not doing anything. Seriously, I'm not even spending quality time with my Father anymore (like I was back in May when I had nothing to do) - because I just don't feel good at all. I sleep like 12 hours a day, and when I'm awake I don't have energy enough to be a light or anything to those around me. Again, don't you dare feel sorry for me though.
So my question is, What is God's purpose behind sickness, if not to sanctify us? I really don't believe that there's some life lesson out of this particular trial I'm facing. And to tell you the truth, I don't have the answer to that question. That's not what I learned today.
What I learned today is that God always always always has us right where He wants us. We're not little children that can run away in our rebellion, and we're not sheep that can be stolen by the devil. God's never trying to get us into the right position - because we always ARE in the right position. Even though we do not understand it sometimes, God always has a plan for us even though we may be down spiritually, physically, emotionally - and we can't even get out of our own little bubble to see the light of Jesus. He is with us even when we do not feel Him.
So I have nothing to be downhearted about - and neither does anyone who is in Christ!! Our greatest need (salvation from the wrath to come) has already been taken care of, so will not the One who took care of that need also take care of every other need?
This brings us back to the song - "You Have Me". In every situation, every trial, every confusing circumstance...we are held by the LORD of the universe, if we are His children!!
When pondering more about this phenomenon, I discovered that at the root of this was a distrust in God. I did not believe that God was ultimately sovereign, over every part of my life. I do not know which trials I am going through are the of the Lord's direct hand, satan's attack, or my own sin and imperfection - but I know that the Lord is watching it all, directing it all, and has planned it all long before my time.
That gives me encouragement to keep fighting the good fight, and to keep running the race.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)