revealing faithfulness through diet mountain dew

God works in different ways, but He is always working if you ask and welcome Him into your life.  this week has been tough because of a board meeting we were having.  the final prep is always a final crunch, no matter how much in advance you start.

yesterday afternoon i was craving a diet mountain dew.  i kneow, it's random, but i know i'm really tired and desperate to stay awake when i grab for the diet mountain dew. coffee will not do at this point. so there's a little deli down in the building i'm working in.  i go down in search for the mountain dew to find that the store closed half an hour ago.  in my mind i'm saying, "seriously?  it's not even 4!"  at this point i just wanted to pout cuz i was so tired and really wanted this and didn't know where else to go.  totally crankypants.. there's not much in that area in terms of small stores and such.  so then i decide, let's walk to the quiznos acoross the street... and... guess what?  they have diet mountain dew in the soda machine!  those machines never have diet mountain dew as an option!  and all i could do was smile, laugh, and praise God... for providing in even this way.  i know it sounds silly but i walked back to the office feeling so thankful and reassured that it was all going to be okay.  He cares for even the small things.. of course He will take care of the big things... which really are not big things at all... He is faithful... and I was reminded of that through diet mountain dew.  ;)

i feel...

...like this... and it's gonna be a long night...













...picture courtesy of JK from our adventures in India this summer.  i must have been trying osmosis.. never works...

but nonetheless trying to rejoice... because He is good and He deserves to be praised... i've been reading some of Francis Chan's book and i love this blurb... quoting from Crazy Love...

He's talking about the verse in Phil 4:4 that says; "rejoice in the Lord always!"  and he says:
...............
you'll notice that it doesn't end with "... unless you're doing something extremely important".  no, it's a command for all of us, and it follows with the charge, "do not be anxious about anything".  

when i am consumed by my problems-stressed out about my life, my family, and my job - i actually convey the belief that i think the circumstances are more important than God's command to always rejoice.  in other words, that i have a "right" to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibiliies.

worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives. 

Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatiene, our lack of grace towards others, or our tight grip of control. 

basically, these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional.  both worry and stress reek of arrogance. they declare our tendency to forget that we've been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, taht we are headed to a place where we won't be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God's strength, our problems are small, indeed.

Why are we so quick to forget God?  Who do we thinkg we are?  

I find myself relearning this lesson often.  Even though I glimpse God's holiness, I am still dumb enough to forget that life is all about God and not about me at all."
......................................................
Wow... well said. amen to that.  Glad I'm not the only one... so... on that note... I will rejoice!

..oh.. please forgive the typos...too lazy to edit...  little finger boo-boo...

Holy Saturday - "Silence Is Not Empty"

This is what was on my mind today.  What about this Saturday between the death of Christ and His resurrection?  I came across this article which i found insightful...

Today's Slice: The Silence Is Not Empty by Jill Carattini

"Good" Friday and the Father's Cup

I struggle with this day being called "Good" Friday.  I guess you can say that what God did in that day, the transferrance of sin from the multitude over to His one and only perfect and holy son... was good for the multitude... but it just doesn't sit well with me that me, being one of the multitude, would call this a good day.  Maybe it's just me... how can I?  A day that Jesus was flogged and hung on a cross and died... a day that my issues, my problems, my sins were whipped and nailed into Jesus.  I struggle to call it "good" friday.  But I don't doubt the beauty of God's restorative work in our lives... and I know that could only be possible through the death of His son.

A friend had posted this article from the desiring God blog that illustrates Jesus' last day on Earth.   I warn you it is a painful read, but an important one that provides some helpful imagery and emotion to the physical pains that Jesus went through.  For me, my heart wrenched as i read it... as  I pictured His skin being ripped off, thought about that cross that Jesus died... for me... that's not fair that he would have to do that for me... I am the guilty one..  I don't deserve this love He gives so graciously... the cost for such a sacrifice... wow... who am i but a hypocrite.  who am i but a betrayer.  who am i but a flaky child who doesn't know what or whom she loves more.  who am i to deserve such love.  and yet, you call me your child.  wow.

thank you for sending your son.  Jesus I'm sorry for the pain I inflicted upon you.  I'm sorry that even though my mind knows... my actions don't follow.  I betray you... I break promises to you... I don't love you enough... I often love the world more.  i don't even know what it means to give it all to you... and yet you still love me and give me all.  i'm sorry for not even being sorry enough... thank you for accomplishing the mission.  thank you.

link to the post:
The Father's Cup (Good Friday)