"When the Bombs Break Right Outside My Door..."

Once again, I find myself in place where I realize that I must rely/count on God. I consider myself a person who has a pretty strong faith in God. I am defiantly an optimist in that I believe that God ALWAYS has my best interest in mind. There are times that this belief/certainty is strained however. It is never because of anything that God does or doesn't do. He is always the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 

Last night I was teaching at youth group and I spoke very briefly about the lie that Eve & Adam (who was standing next to Eve throughout her conversation with the enemy) believed spoken by Satan.

Genesis 3: 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

In other words the devil was saying "God doesn't really care about you, he doesn't really care about your situation, God doesn't want what's best for you... God is withholding HIS best from you..." Adam and Eve bought hook line and sinker... Unfortunately, I do the same thing today...

I am currently looking for work in youth ministry field (either secular or with a church) and I have been to a number interview and sent my resume to even more places. I know that God has a place in mind for me and I know that He will never withhold HIS best for me. Even though I "know" this there are times that I fall for that same lie that my forefather and mother fell for in the perfect garden that God created all those years ago. 

I was having a hard time today and began to question God and if He was still there? I felt like Martha and Mary (Lazarus' sisters)... John 11:21 

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 

Essentially, Martha (Mary says the same thing a few verses later) were saying to Jesus... This (Lazarus' death) is your fault! Don't you care about us? Where were you? Why didn't you come to his rescue?!!?!?

Well, little did they know that Jesus is the Resurrection and Life and HE WAS ABOUT TO PUT ON SHOW....  

On my way home from work today I was listening John Mark McMillan's new album titled "Borderland" (if you haven't heard it I highly recommend it) and I was listening to a song called "Counting On" here are the lyrics to song... I am seriously in love with the lyrics and message of the song. Well done Mr. McMillan

COUNTING ON by John Mark McMillan 

When the night stops pushing up the day

When the miles drop me on the open planes

When I’ve lost grace with the lady of the dawn

You’re what I’m counting on

You’re what I’m counting on

Where the hounds run

Track me in my sleep

When I can’t trust the company I keep

When I’ve push passed the point of pressing on

You’re what I’m counting on

You’re what I’m counting on

I’m throwing stones

Up at your window

I’m casting shadows

Upon your door

Where the bombs break

Right outside my door

And I can’t shake the onset of my wars

When the stakes are raised

We hold the hand we’ve drawn

You’re what I’m counting on

I’m throwing stones

Up at your window

I’m casting shadows

Upon your door

Here in Maryland (much like most of country) we have had a rough and long winter. However, last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the DC Cherry Blossom Festival. Guess what happened this year? The flowers came out, green leaves sprouted on the trees, and SPRING finally sprung...  I believe this was God's way of saying... I AM more faithful than Spring, I AM more faithful than the sunrise. I AM more reliable the dawn... I am learning to live by faith and I am waiting for THE SHOW!!!! "Do your work Lord! Be honored in all my comings and goings. Show YOURSELF strong in my life... I will WAIT on you. Amen."

God is the Great Teacher

WOE.... How He loves us....

Today I took a half day at work and the plan was to take my oldest daughter Abby to a movie (Toy Story 3). This week we have been a little tight on money but I was able to come across 20 bucks and I really wanted to take Abby to see this movie. So off we went and when we got the parking lot I noticed that there was this older lady in a SUV in front of me trying to park her vehicle. When she pulled into her spot she pulled too close to the vehicle next to her so she needed to back out and re-park. I wish I could tell you that I waited patiently for her but sadly I don't have very many patients for people are "bad parkers" I am not sure why but I always seem to be in hurry.... Funny how Jesus was never in hurry instead He would come across someone's path right on time... I can not recall anywhere in the Bible where the words read "Jesus was hurrying" In fact I am now reminded of the times that He ministered to others on His way to minister to someone who was dead. (I guess I thought well, she isn't gonna get any deader...) Please teach me this lesson Jesus...

Anyway, I shot around her and parked our van on my FIRST TRY. After all I am a professional parker. Then I got Abby out of the vehicle and started to walk toward the movie theater and I noticed that this same lady was kinda half staring and half waiting for us to walk by. I thought "She must be angry and want to give me a piece of her mind..."

Instead, she was trying to get her keys which she had dropped on the ground and bounced under her vehicle. I asked her if she wanted me to get them for her and she was so relieved... So I grabbed the keys and muttered something witty like "some times the keys seem to bounce in the worst spots". Then this lady started to walk with us into the movies. She asked Abby what movie we were there to see. "Toy Story 3, I LOVE TOYS", Abby exclaimed!!! Then she told us that she was there to see Despicable Me.

And this lady keep getting in front of me and again I was getting annoyed... I was thinking "it is one thing to be a bad parker and take forever with your SUV but come one lady I am in a hurry". I just kept laughing and kidding with Abby... Then I over this lady order her ticket and another ticket... I thought to myself that's strange she said she was there to see Despicable me? Why is she ordering a ticket for Toy 3? Of course I am sure now you realize that she decided to pay for my ticket... God, is so good to us... I mean here I am being a jerk in my head and thinking that this lady is in my way... then she shows God's mercy and grace to me... God then there reminded me of Jeremiah 2:13.

"Come and drink this water... Come and drink this water... Come and drink this water... Which you couldn't afford!!!!" (I Dreamed There was a Fountain by John Mark McMillan)

"God help me to rely on Your living Water and not find my source of water... My sources are broken and are not able to satisfy the way you do... Thank you Jesus!!! "

PS. If you haven't heard John Mark McMillan's new CD called "Medicine" please visit this link and give it a listen!!! Really good worship music... Also he is apart of project called "I dreamed there was a fountain" (title track) which is really good listening!!!!