Where is God?

We were asked to journal where we saw God working and where we saw satan working. I find myself people watching more, observing conversations instead of joining in them. Watching people react and counter act.

I see God in the faces of the young and the old a like. I see His joy and hope, His laughter and his tears. I also see the uncertainty of life. the wonder and excitement.
Then there is satan and the lies that he wispers to us to knock us off the path. The tension he causes, or we allow him to cause in relationships.
Satan can do nothing without our ok, without us allowing him to do it. We can sit back and let him or we can take up our weapon and fight him. Its not easy, it wasn't meant to be, but still the choice is up to you.

"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried."
~ GK Chesterton

This wk at work there were a few calls where the customer i was talking to was more encouraging that they couls ever know. I could hear their joy, their smiles through the phone. They were angels brightening my spirit and encouraging my soul. There are people all over the nation who want to be whole, but they do not know how. They need the truth, Gods truth. Love. Not preached at or condemed, just loved.

"God loves everyone, so a Christian should, too. In fact, Jesus said that the most important thing in life is to love God with everything we’ve got and love others the same way. But it’s not always easy to love everyone around us, is it? Sometimes we strongly disagree with other people’s political views, religious beliefs, behaviors, or something else, and it makes it hard to love them when we feel like we’re right and they’re very wrong. But Jesus doesn’t separate loving God and loving others. So maybe the best way for us to show our love for God is actually by loving other people no matter how hard it sometimes is. Maybe it’s the only way. "
~ www.Nooma.com (check it out)

"I love those shoes. Really? The same way I love my wife? What’s up with the word “love”? It doesn’t have much meaning when we use it so loosely. Maybe we don’t really get it. Maybe we don’t understand what real love is. What it involves to really love somebody. What it means to give yourself to someone else. We mistake things like friendship, commitment, or lust for love, but God wired us a certain way to experience all that love was really meant to be. Not to hold us back or to make us miss out on the best that life has to offer. God created love, and wants us to feel it all in the way it’s meant to be felt. "
~ www.Nooma.com (check it out)

I see God everywhere, in the lives of everyone around me. Not just in the lives of believers, if someone does not believe in God it does not mean He can not touch their lives... on the contrary, God can do anything He wants. I have seen Him bless non-belivers over and over. I have seen Him help them, i have seen Him love them. That is what we as believers are to do love them. Love them as we love eachother, as we love God. I heard some one say once, "the way we love others is the way we love God." That can be convicting. That doesn't mean how we treat other christians... how we treat other people. the bible says it is easy to love those who love you, there is no challenge in that. But blessed are those who love those that do not love them back, for that is a much harder task.
Do not put God in a box, who He can love or who He can help. He can do awhat ever He wants, He loves everyone. We are all created in His image. "we need more hands and feet and less mouths" ~ steve pink.

I have seen God in many situations and in the hearts of many people, but I hope above all esle that He, His love can be seen in me.

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today
Is christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips
Then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle.
That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
~ DC Talk

Old schoolin it... DC Talk style

That kind of girl

Prologue - The other night I met a girl and she looked to be so nice
I asked her for the digits and she didn't think twice
A couple of days later called her up and asked her out
She said "Wit you?"I said "Wit me" and then she said "Without a doubt"
I took her to the garden where I guess they grow the olives
She wore a tighter skirt than any I had seen in college
She said I love to smoke and drink while cursing like a sailor
I asked her where she got her mouth and if she had a tailor
Finally I walked her to the door to say good night
She said "I am an apple would you care to take a bite"
Politely I refused and said, "I'm looking for a lady."
So she slapped me on my face and said "Boy you must be crazy"

She's that kinda girl
Different from the ones before
'Cause I know she loves the Lord
She's that kinda girl
Virtuous in every way
The kinda girl that makes you say
"I hope she comes my way"

Well I'm lookin for a girl who's virtuous
'Cause God laid it on my heart to search for this
So I open up thr Word to the book of Proverbs
The 31st chapter tells me all about her
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain
A woman who fears the Lord, she ain't playin'
Hear what I'm sayin' 'cause I'm sayin' it clearly
She's the kind of girl I gots to have near me

She's that kinda girl
Different from the ones before
'Cause I know she loves the Lord
She's that kinda girl
Virtuous in every way
The kinda girl that makes you say
"I hope she comes my way"

Well I'm lookin' into hookin' with a lady
And not a girlie of the worl'y that's shady
But the kind of girl you meet behind the doors of the church
Ya see, God will bring her to me so I don't have to search
Too hard, I've been scarred by the ones of the past
So put an A-P-B out on the one that'll last
A little longer than a roll in the hay for sure
But a bonafide lady's what I'm prayin for

When I finally meet her
I'll know how to treat her
By fulfilling all her needs
Love her and respect her
Cherish her forever
She's the kinda girl for me

She's that kinda girl
Different from the ones before
'Cause I know she loves the Lord
She's that kinda girl

Perfect for each other
There'll never be another for me
She's that kinda girl for me
Virtuous in every way
The kinda girl that makes you say
I hope she comes my way

Heaven help me
Hear my plea
I know there's one who's perfect for me

She's the kinda girl for me
The kinda girl for me
She's the kinda girl for me
She's the kinda girl for me
The kinda girl for me
She's the kind of girl for me
I pray she comes my way

She's that kinda girl
Different from the ones before
'Cause I know she loves the Lord
She's that kinda girl
Virtuous in every way
The kinda girl that makes you say
"I hope she comes my way"

She's that kinda girl
Different from the ones before
She's the one that I adore
She's the kinda girl for me
Virtuous inevery way
The kinda girl that makes you say
I hope she comes my way

Socially Acceptable

What cha thinking doing the things you do
Whose opinion are ya listening to
Justifying you turn it all to grey
Synchronizing to society's ways

RAP- Society has gotten to be all outta wack
And don't bother with excuses whether white or black
To blame it on a color won't get a result
Because history reveals to me how ethics were lost
In reality our decency has taken a plunge
In God We Trust is an American pun
Funny how it happened so subtly
Hey-yo fellas kick the melody

Socially acceptable
It's ok, it's alright
Socially acceptable
It's ok in whose sight
Socially acceptable

Times are changing with morals in decay
Human rights have made the wrongs ok
Something's missing and if your asking me
I think that something is the G-O-D

RAP- To label wrong or right by the people's sight
Is like going to a loser to ask advice
And by basing your plans on another man's
Way of living life is creating a brand
Of ethics sure to be missin' the punch
No-count morals that are to lunch
They're sliding away because everything's ok
It was taboo back then, but today ya say "What the hey"

Socially acceptable
It's ok, it's alright
Socially acceptable
It's ok in whose sight
Socially acceptable

RAP- We gotta get back to the principles found in the Word
A little G-O-D could be socity's cure
From the state that we're living in
'Cause again we're slipping
So pray for America
Because time is ticking

Socially acceptable
It's ok, it's alright
Socially acceptable
It's ok in whose sight
Socially acceptable

Don't want it

[Do you copy?]

S-E-X is test when I'm pressed
So back up off with less of that zest
Impress this brother with a life of virtue
The innocence that's spent is gonna hurt you
Safe is the way they say to play
Then again safe ain't safe at all today
So just wait for the mate that's straight from God
Don't have sex 'til you tie the knot

I don't want it, I don't want it, want it
I don't want it, want your sex for now
I don't want it, I don't want it, want it
I don't want it, 'til we take the vows

Girl, it's gonna take a little time
For us to see [the truth]
That love is simply more fulfilling
Than the need [for S-E-X]
Respect is what we need to find the cure
For this disease [of lust]
And trust in God above
To shape our lives in harmony

[Do you copy?]

That's why I'm saying

I don't want it, I don't want it, want it
I don't want it, want your sex for now
I don't want it, I don't want it, want it
I don't want it, 'til we take the vows

[Ah yeah, Red Leader, I don't think I copy thatUh, did you say you don't want sex for now?I'm confused, could you clarify? Over.]

Girl, they say that it takes two
To make a thing go right (for love)
But girl, we gotta remember
There's another in our lives (in God we trust)
We must add up the cost
Before indulging in the heat (for now)
And trust that God will give us
Something better if we wait
That's why we got to say...

I don't want it, I don't want it, want it
I don't want it, want your sex for now
I don't want it, I don't want it, want it
I don't want it, 'til we take the vows

1-900-LOVE, S-E-X is on the TV
Too much skin is in your vision
You gotta make the right decision
God has set His standard higher
Purity is His desire, I'm gonna choose to wait
I don't want it, I don't want it
I don't want your sex for now

Yo, s-e-x is a test when I'm pressed
So back off with less of that zest
Impress this brother with a life of virtue
The innocence that's spent is gonna hurt you
Safe is the way they say to play
But then again safe ain't safe at all today
So just wait for the mate that's straight from God
Don't give it up 'til you tie the knot

I don't want it, I don't want it, want it
I don't want it, your sex for now
I don't want it, I don't want it, want it
I don't want it, I don't want your sex
I don't want your sex for now

Until we take the vows
Even if they dog me out
I don't want your sex (4x)

[Red Leader, Red Leader, I don't think I copy][Your sex for now!]

Pet Peeves... have i done this b4?

i thought i did pet peeves b4 but i didn't see it in the history... so here we go...

so the past few days (week) things have been rubbin me the wrong way. There are 2 pet peeves i have found that urk me.

1) when people judge other people/thing w/o knowing who/what they are judging. I hear judgements of people a lot and i confront those who make those assumptions, usually ending up in those people not wantign to talk to me. It just makes me angry to hear judgement and lies come from people about other people, when they do not know the situation at all in the first place!!! Plus, love should think the best of people, not the worst. Maybe the fact is that i am surrounded by people who don't know how to love unconditionally? is that an unfair judgment? I love these people dearly, but i don't understand how they can be so closed minded?
Did i miss the part of the bible that commands us to look down on those around you and make negative judgments???
AH! Why don't people look for the good in others? why do they pick out the bad right away?
frusteration!

2) when people say we need to live more like Christ, but make no changes to be more like Him. people do do what they are told, they do what they are shown. 'monkey see, monkey do' Why is it so hard for us to let go of material things? I have found my desires have changed a lot in the past 4-5 years. I used to want to get married, be a house wife, have a bus load of kids and be the 'cool' mom on the block. Teaching sunday school and being part of the PTA. A friend of mine told me the other day he could see me being a great soccer mom, but instead of being flattered i was a bit frightened. The last thing i want is a mediocure run of the mill life. I want to be radical for Christ. I am not sure how that looks, but baking cookies for the annual church bake sale and sharing gossip with other moms on the street does not appeal to me. I want more, so much more.
Lord, show me what I need to do to be come more radical for you and help me not only to know what to do, but acutallu do it. thank you for your patience with me. I love you!

I find i like hanging out with me a lot. Just me and God... fun times.

Philippians: 27-30
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved–and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

stories...

we are supposed to journal for fuel, but i am not quite sure what about. there are so many sories i could tell... my life is a dramatic mess.

today a lady came up to me in wal*mart and handed me a track 'how to be saved' she mumbled some things about God returning soon and walked away. Does that type of ministery really work? the lady seemed nice, but i don't know who she is or what she wanted, really. that doesn't really show Gods love... how are people going to kow Gods love unless you show them?

A few months ago at work i was sitting talking to a good friend of mine on the phone and when i got off i noticed there was an old woman wondering around the building. she was lost and confused and asked me if i knew where there was a pay phone. I told her she could use my cell phone, no problem. She did so to call her daughter and tried to pay me for the call! I informed her i did not want her money, i was just glad i could help. she smiled, thanked me and was on her way. a few coleguges of mine saw us and later asked me if i knew the woman. I said no. they were astonished i had let a stranger use my cell phone. ?!?! since when did helping strangers become a novelty? i did not see anything threatning in that little confused old woman. it makes me sad that people don't want to help other people just bc they are strangers.
i don't know, maybe i am just off the wall.

so people keep asking me about my 'love life' or lack there of in my case. people don't seem to understand there is a process to this. first there has to be a guy who is interested in me and wants to pursue a relationship... first step not yet achieved. There has yet to be a guy interested in me, let alone interested in me enought to say 'hey i like you, would you accompany me to dinner?' so until we reach step one i don't want to be asked anymore about my lack of a 'love life'. I have too many other things to focus on right now anyway and do not have time for a boyfriend! i struggle with wanting one at all. I have never had one so i really do not know what i am missing. When God is ready for me to have one He will bring him to me. so enough of the drama, please.

I am still struggling with feeling i belong where i'm at. i want everyone to feel like they belong, if they don't i don't... at least that seems how it is now. sometimes i feel great and this is where i am supposed to be, other times i am so out of the loop i don't care to try to find my way back in. I just want to do what God wants me to do. and i really feel massage thereapy is it right now. but i don't know how he is going to use that in the future. Then again there are alot of uncertainties about my future.

i am done rambling for now... tired and have things to do...

jer 29:11

O and read judges 13-16 and tell me what you think...

Thank You Jesus

Wow, this has been a crazy year so far. I am finally feeling like myself for the 1st time in over a year! there have been so many changes and there are a lot more to come.
God has been amzing, with me every step of the way. Showing me new things about life and about myself. Its almost been sureal.

Thank You for being there for me everytime i needed you. it's been an amazing ride... i can't wait to see what you have planned for the summer... Bring It On!