Monday, February 18, 2013

Doubt

So I'll be honest, I've been doubtful about things lately.

Doubtful God will provide for this.
Doubtful God will change that.

Is it normal for anyone to have doubts? Yes of course, we're human and have sin festering inside of us. Someone without doubt would seem alien.

Is doubt with God something we need to fight to over come? Well, I think you probably know the answer as best as I...a big, whopping, affirmative.

In order to help aid my feelings of uncertainity I cracked open the B-I-B-L-E (yes that's the book for me!). Generally I would consult the concordance first, but the book of James made its way into my mind before I even touched the pages.

My eyes fell on this passage:


"If you do not have wisdom, ask God for it. He is always ready to give it to you and will never say you are wrong for asking.  You must have faith as you ask Him. You must not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like a wave which is pushed around by the sea. Such a man will get nothing from the Lord. The man who has two ways of thinking changes in everything he does."
 
You must have faith.
You must not doubt.
 
Part of me found it eerie that such words would pop out at such an appropriate time...but at the same time part of me wasn't surprised. The Bible is the living word of God. He speaks to us through it.

This section brought me back to a section in the book of Job when Job is questioning God and God answers with full force:

“Who is this that obscures my plans
with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.
 
Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?"
 
He continues on and on and on as He tells Job all that He has done and has the power to do.

Who am I to let the enemy overcome me with doubt when I know I have a savior and maker who is more powerful. A maker who can produce miracles so mind crippling that science could look foolish.

Have faith my friends, for He makes the impossible possible.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Love is Patient, Love is Kind...

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.

A holiday that can be both loved an hated based on the status of one's personal dating or martial relationship situation.

Those who do have a significant other consider February 14th a day of romance, love, and surprises. Whereas some of those (notice how I said some, not all, or even a small majority) without may speak bitterly of how it's a day solely based around shoveling money into greeting card companies and thus choose to boycott said holiday (DOWN WITH SENTIMENTAL NOTES OF VALUE AND SUGAR FILLED COCOA PRODUCTS!).

I myself don't really fall under either. For the first time in about 6 years I do not have an official date for Valentine's Day. Am I crushed? Shamed? So downtrodden with depression that I'm going to watch sappy movies, cry, and consume copious of amounts of chocolate as I come to grips with my current stag situation?

Not at all. (Though, I can't promise you a Hershey kiss or ten wont be eaten. A chocoholic needs to get her fix somehow).

Instead I choose to take this day to focus on the following passage from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

"Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Read it again
And again
Ok one more time.
Done.

Everytime I go through that passage a pair of humbling hands place themselves on my heart.

Love is patient.
Love is,
Patient.
Love
Is
Patient

I know I am not always.

It is not easily angered
It is not easily,
Angered.
It
Is
Not
Easily
Angered.

I know that sometimes I am.

I believe that one of the greatest things that we can show to each other is love. I'm not just talking about boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife. I'm talking about anyone. There is not a soul on this planet who is of lesser value than you or I. There is not a soul on this planet who does not deserve to be cared for, respected, or loved.

The best way to do so is by following the words written in that of 1 Corinthians.


"...Love never fails"