too busy.

As you got up this morning, I watched you, and hoped you would talk to me, even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for something good that happened in your life yesterday. But I noticed you were too busy, trying to find the right outfit to wear.

When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were too busy. At one point you had to wait fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a chair. Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk to me but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip instead. I watched patiently all day long. With all our activities I guess you were too busy to say anything to me.

I noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me, that is why you didn't bow your head. 

 

You glanced three or four tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly before they ate, but you didn't. That's okay.  There is still more time left, and I hope that you will talk to me yet. You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few of them were done, you turned on the TV. I don't know if you like TV or not, just about anything goes there and you spend a lot of time each day in front of it not thinking about anything, just enjoying the show.I waited patiently again as you watched the TV and ate your meal, but again you didn't talk to me.

Bedtime I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to your family you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time. That's okay because you may not realize that I am always there for you.. I've got patience, more than you will ever know.... I even want to teach you how to be patient with ot hers as well.

I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, prayer or thought, or a thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a one-sided conversation.

Well, you are getting up once again. Once again I will wait, with nothing but love for you. Hoping that today you will give me some time. Have a nice day!

Your friend,
GOD

Five Ways.

The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you -depending on how you respond to them.

Unfortunately, most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives.

They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring.

Here are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life:

—- 1 —-

God uses problems to DIRECT you. Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attention? “Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.” Proverbs 20:30

—- 2 —-

God uses problems to INSPECT you. People are like tea bags…if you want to know what’s inside them, just drop them into hot ever water! Has God tested your faith with a problem What do problems reveal about you? “When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.” James 1:2-3

—- 3 —-

God uses problems to CORRECT you. Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It’s likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something…health, money, a relationship… by losing it. “It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws.” Psalm 119:71-72

—- 4 —-

God uses problems to PROTECT you. A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem - but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management’s actions were eventually discovered. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good… Genesis 50:20

—- 5 —-

God uses problems to PERFECT you. Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you’re going to take with you into eternity. “We can rejoice when we run into problems… they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.” Romans 5:3-4

Here’s the point:

God is at work in your life - even when you do not recognize it or understand it.

But it’s much easier and profitable when you cooperate with Him.

“Success can be measured not only in achievements, but in lessons learned, lives touched and moments shared along the way.”

God said no.

I asked God to take away my habit.­
God said, No.­
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.­

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.­
God said, No.­
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary­.

I asked God to grant me patience.­
God said, No.­
Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn’t granted, it is learned.­

I asked God to give me happiness.­
God said, No.­
I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.­

I asked God to spare me pain.­
God said, No.­
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.­

I asked God to make my spirit grow.­
God said, No.­
You must grow on your own! But I will prune you to make you fruitful.­

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.­
God said, No.­
I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.­

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.­
God said, ‘Finally, you have the idea.’

"Encourage Each Other"

The scene: Two women friends are chatting about life, love, and God. One has stayed committed to the faith and traditions of her Catholic community since the cradle. The other is a “late arrival” to the practice of her faith. Having walked away from the church for many years, she has only recently returned in response to a profound experience of conversion and reconciliation. Their converation goes something like this:

Cradle Catholic: Your zeal for the faith is amazing. It makes me feel old and tired! The pews are full of people like me. We are so committed, but in many ways w e are simple going through the motions. We have lost that fire of conversion.
Returning Catholic: Your constancy is what amazes me. Don’t forget that it is only because all you “tired old Catholics” are still here that I have a church to come back to!
Cradle Catholic: Your enthusiasm is refreshing. It challenges us.
Returning Catholic: Your commitment is challenging. It is all very well to be on fire with faith, but now I have to ask myself: Can I hang in there for the long haul?
Cradle Catholic: Sometimes I feel a little envious of your newfound faith. I mean, it seems like you go off and “live it up” for twenty years and then God showers you with blessings!
Returning Catholic: But I also have to live with the things I have done. There are heartaches here which you have been spared because you chose differently.

-Theresa Pirola

An excerpt.

• Pray that God will show you a church filled with people who share your interests and values.
• Go to the church God shows you.
• Don't hold grudges against any other churches. God loves those churches almost as much as He loves your. 

"Blue Like Jazz"

The Fine Print by John Fischer

what's up sayg! i just thought i'd post a little passage that i found in the youth center. i know everyone has a lot going on, lots of different things, lots of stress happening. so i hope this will be a little reminder for us to keep in mind that no matter what we all have going on, it's all apart of God's plan and that in the end, everything we go through, will only make us stronger in our faith. i love you friends(: see you soon!

The Fine Print by John Fischer

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

These verses are what I call the fine print of the Christian life. When you sign up, you sign up for this, but unfortunately, not too many people read that far into the contract and not enough leaders point it out. So when bad things start happening to us, we think something went wrong with our faith. Not neccessarily, in fact, it’s an honor to think that your faith is worthy of being tested.

Its a reverse spiritual principle that nonetheless is true: we get beaten down so that Christ might rise in us. It’s the whole idea God has of avoiding confusion. See, He doesn’t want people confusing human power and achievement with His power and what He is achieving in and through our lives. If all Christians were super-Christians, people would be impressed with them. As it is, God wants people to be surprised at us, not so much impressed—surprised that we can keep on believing, given what has happened to us. Surprised at us—impressed with God. That’s the way it should go.

It’s important to know this so that the things that happen don’t throw us into a tailspin. Paul wrote in the passage above that troubles, confusions, knock-downs, and drag-outs, are all to be expected in a life of faith, and they are not just something to suck it up and endure, they are what will actually release the power of God in our lives. We encounter deathlike experiences so that Christ’s lifelike nature may clearly be seen in us, despite what is happening.

Let me try and say this again. This is not just endurance training through tough times. This is God’s strategy for ministry through us. There is no other way for it to be done. His strategy is His power and strength through our weaknesses—His life through our death. This doesn’t just happen to some Christians; it happens to us all if we desire to be effective in our faith.

So don’t forget the fine print today, and all the troubles you face to springboard you into finding God’s purposes even in this. He had this planned all along. It’s even in the contract!

one last thing: God is good, all the time. And all the time...?

love, Nicole.