Here's something I thought of today...
I feel like sometimes when I've asked God for healing or for wisdom or for provision, it doesn't happen right away. There always seems to be a waiting period attached to God answering these requests.
And then there are the times where I (foolishly) ask God to help me be more patient with people or to help me control my words. And then literally the very next morning I wake up to such a stressful and chaotic day in which every time I turn around, I've got the wonderful opportunity to exercise patience with someone or to hold my tongue when I'd rather rip a strip off of somebody.
Isn't it funny how that works? Maybe it's never happened to you like that before but this seems to be the case for me.
I started wondering if the speed with which God seems to respond to my requests might reveal something about the importance of the things I'm asking for. Think about it like this - I am a financially responsible person. I work, I earn, I save, I tithe. I don't spend money on things I don't need. I don't have a shopping addiction, I don't eat out with friends all the time, I don't see the newest movies (unless it's a Tuesday, hah!)... I am good with my money. But sometimes things come up and I need more than what I have. In these moments I've sought God and truth be told I have always ended up having exactly what I've needed. God really has been faithful.
But what good is money? You have it, something requires it of you, and you have it no more.
But what about character?
1 Corinthians 13 is known as the love chapter. While its verses describe what love is, it's also a great list of traits to aspire to having in your character tool belt. I want to be patient. I want to be kind, to consider the feelings of others. I don't want to be envious of someone else's life. There are so many things in that list that I aspire to be. Those are a part of my character and I believe those are the kinds of things that God has called us to be.
In John 13:35 Jesus told the disciples that people would know they were followers of Christ by the love that they had for others. Not by the car they drove, or by the degree they had, or by the iphone they tweeted from.
So why does God present me with situations where I want to pull my hair out if I have to repeat something to someone one more time... why does He allow people into my life that speak hurtful words to me... why do I constantly find myself in moments that require me to say something good or nothing at all...
Because God is building my character. He's shaping me on the inside.
Does He care that I'm saving money to go back to college? Yes. Does He care that I've got a dental bill to pay cause I don't have flippin' dental insurance... yes. But I'm starting to realize those just aren't as important. Because once I go back to school, that's it. Once I pay that bill, that's it. But my character, my attitude, my heart for others... that remains.
I don't know if any of this makes sense to you or seems applicable to your life. All I know is that this year I am taking the time to become the kind of person God wants me to be. Notice how I said I'm taking the time. As in, it's a choice. You have to be purposeful about it. You have to look at every situation, good or bad, and ask, "What is God trying to show me?" That's what I do. You'd be amazed with how quickly God will start speaking to you.
Seriously, try it!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Everybody Needs A White Rocking Chair
The other day I realized I hadn't written a blog in over a month. I usually write when I'm inspired by something or when I've got a lot on my mind and I just need to let it out. Funny then that I haven't written in so long because truth be told I've had plenty on my mind since I last wrote in December. But then again, the point starting this whole blog was to be slow to speak, to take time to gather my thoughts and to see if they were something I ought to share with others. Evidently, not so.
Speaking of taking time though... I did think of something today that I wanted to share. The simplest of thoughts and yet sometimes it's the simple thoughts that we often overlook.
I miss traveling. Specifically, I miss flying. I have never had a boring flight. There's always been something memorable about it. Whether it's been accidentally flying to Ontario, California instead of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada or sitting in front of someone with a major mucus issue that needs resolving... it's never a dull moment. My experience in the actual airports has been equally enjoyable. Walking from one gate to the next is prime people watching time. (Admit it, you love people watching too.) I've seen everything from grown men in super hero pajamas to middle aged women rocking the head to toe velour jump suit look.
My absolute favorite airport, which I frequented many times over the last few years, is the one in Charlotte, North Carolina. It's one of my favorites because it signified that I was about two hours away from seeing some of my favorite people on Earth. But there was something that always struck me funny about this airport. Amidst the chaos of connecting flights, watery coffee and overpriced burger stands, there were rocking chairs. Beside departure and arrival screens, at the end of those rolling sidewalks that help you get to the wrong gate quicker... white rocking chairs.
Every time I saw them I chuckled a bit to myself because it's truly the epitome of Southern living - making time to take it easy in the middle of life's chaos. That's what those chairs make me think of.
Life gets busy. Whether you work, go to school, have kids, pay bills, teach a class of some sort... everyone has stuff going on. Everybody needs a white rocking chair - that thing that reminds them to take it easy and appreciate the little things. Maybe it's playing your guitar, maybe it's knitting, maybe you like to bake. Maybe you write poetry, maybe you make crayon art like the one's you've seen on Pinterest, maybe you just stare out your window and watch the snow fall.
The truth is that as many times as I've been in that Charlotte airport, I have yet to sit in one of those rocking chairs. I've always been on my way to my next gate, excited to get where I'm going. It's okay to be excited with what you're doing in life and where God's taking you. But sometimes, when there's a lull, a lay over if you will, take that time to rest and to be still and to remember the Creator of it all.
The next time I fly through Charlotte, I'm making time to sit in one of those silly white rocking chairs. And I'll definitely be sipping on a cup of sweet tea.
Speaking of taking time though... I did think of something today that I wanted to share. The simplest of thoughts and yet sometimes it's the simple thoughts that we often overlook.
I miss traveling. Specifically, I miss flying. I have never had a boring flight. There's always been something memorable about it. Whether it's been accidentally flying to Ontario, California instead of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada or sitting in front of someone with a major mucus issue that needs resolving... it's never a dull moment. My experience in the actual airports has been equally enjoyable. Walking from one gate to the next is prime people watching time. (Admit it, you love people watching too.) I've seen everything from grown men in super hero pajamas to middle aged women rocking the head to toe velour jump suit look.
My absolute favorite airport, which I frequented many times over the last few years, is the one in Charlotte, North Carolina. It's one of my favorites because it signified that I was about two hours away from seeing some of my favorite people on Earth. But there was something that always struck me funny about this airport. Amidst the chaos of connecting flights, watery coffee and overpriced burger stands, there were rocking chairs. Beside departure and arrival screens, at the end of those rolling sidewalks that help you get to the wrong gate quicker... white rocking chairs.
Every time I saw them I chuckled a bit to myself because it's truly the epitome of Southern living - making time to take it easy in the middle of life's chaos. That's what those chairs make me think of.
Life gets busy. Whether you work, go to school, have kids, pay bills, teach a class of some sort... everyone has stuff going on. Everybody needs a white rocking chair - that thing that reminds them to take it easy and appreciate the little things. Maybe it's playing your guitar, maybe it's knitting, maybe you like to bake. Maybe you write poetry, maybe you make crayon art like the one's you've seen on Pinterest, maybe you just stare out your window and watch the snow fall.
The truth is that as many times as I've been in that Charlotte airport, I have yet to sit in one of those rocking chairs. I've always been on my way to my next gate, excited to get where I'm going. It's okay to be excited with what you're doing in life and where God's taking you. But sometimes, when there's a lull, a lay over if you will, take that time to rest and to be still and to remember the Creator of it all.
The next time I fly through Charlotte, I'm making time to sit in one of those silly white rocking chairs. And I'll definitely be sipping on a cup of sweet tea.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)