Looking For Answers in All the Wrong Places

Tell me if this sounds familiar...

You're weighted down by troubles, whatever they may be. Your heart is heavy, your burdens heavier. You've been taught time and again to give those burdens to God, and to pray. And so you do. You pray over and over again. But either God hasn't heard you, or simply doesn't care. A friend (or even a stranger) offers a hug and kind word. You smile politely, then walk away, praying harder for God to please help you. But again, you receive no response.

Many of us tend to expect and long for and await that miracle voice of God's saying "It's okay child. I've got this." At which point, all our problems *poof!* are gone. And, in this waiting... in this looking for the answer through a miracle... we don't see that God already answered. We simply did not recognize that answer. That person (or persons) who came up to us offering a hug and kind word - that could very well have been the vessel through which God was telling you "It is okay child. I've got this. I'm taking care of you."

God uses people to help others. God uses you to help me in my time of need, and me to help you in your time of need. We just need to open our hearts to recognize this. We need to recognize and trust in the person God uses as His hands to lift us when we're down. We need to hear His call when He needs us to be His hands to lift up someone else.

God's miracles aren't usually in the form of *poof!* all your problems are gone. Instead, His miracles are in the form of loving, kind, generous people who hold our hands when we're scared, hug us when we're sad, sit with us when we need to cry, and give us love when we feel alone.

Stop looking for answers in all the wrong places, and learn to trust in those God puts in your path. And even moreso, let yourself be placed in someone else' path to be God's loving hands.

Questions, Unquiet Mind

Again, this isn't a sermon. It's simply a rambling because my mind is anything but quiet at the moment, and I need to attempt to calm it... 

I spent a good part of today catching up on reading from the “Christ in our Home” booklet. I’m not good at reading from this daily, but do like to eventually take it all in. It used to be that I would just read these devotions and move on. I’m finding recently, however, that the more I read, the more questions I have. And these questions aren’t necessarily related to the reading, although they are brought on by the reading – or by another question from the reading. Perhaps it’s because I read seven days worth today, but I found myself having a lot more questions than I usually do.

Two main questions seem to be sticking with me; and as much as I am trying to find the answers, there seems to be very differing answers on the one question. And the second question, there doesn’t seem to be any real answer.

First: in 1 John 5:16, depending on which version of the Bible you read, it mentions fatal sin, or sin that brings death. Basically, it appears to be talking about a sin that is so bad, it will bring death of some sort to the transgressor. But what sin is considered a fatal sin?

Second, in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, spiritual gifts are discussed. In my opinion, these gifts sound as if some of them could be considered “psychic” abilities… unnatural abilities which I have been taught do not truly exist. This opened up a myriad of questions and theories I have held for quite some time now. Perhaps I will write on this later.

Then, tonight, after exhausting my search for answers to these questions, I went back to an email I had received recently which referred me to the Sermon on the Mount. So, as I hadn’t yet read these chapters in Matthew (well, I have read them – just not in quite some time, and never truly paid attention to what I was reading), I jumped online to the Bible (yes, I read my Bible online… every version at the tips of my fingers) and read Matthew 5-7.

And I found my mind going every which way on possible topics to write about and what to say and what to believe. How should these chapters be read and interpreted? Am I applying these lessons to my life? How can I better apply them?

My mind is so busy, I am finding it difficult to relax my thoughts and meditate on what I’ve read – or even not think at all. And thus I have turned to this blog for now. Perhaps in getting these questions and thoughts and pent up intellectual and spiritual energy onto this screen, my mind will quiet for at least a few moments.

This is important to all of us – a chance to quiet our minds from all the daily tasks and thoughts which spin around constantly. We need to find time each day to meditate on the events of the day – to reflect on lessons learned, and events which have happened. We need to find time to pray – to thank the Lord for all the beauty of the day; to reflect on what we’ve done against God and pray for forgiveness; to consider those in need and pray for them. We need to make time to read scripture, and reflect on it. We need to make time to simply reflect on life – on the beauty and joy within this life. Even during difficult times, or perhaps especially during difficult times, we need to allow ourselves to see this beauty and be grateful for it.

And now, I shall take my own advice and attempt to meditate – or, given the late hour, fall asleep….

Questions

I'm quite certain many people are wondering a) why I am keeping up with this blog; b) where on earth I get off preaching; c) if I really know what I'm talking about or if I'm just sputtering out a bunch of bull; and d) well, I'm not sure what "d" is, but I'm sure there is one.

Anyway, this post isn't a sermon, but rather a chance for me to answer the above questions, and pose a few questions of my own.

A) I started this blog for fun because of a challenge aimed in my direction. I am keeping it up because I'm enjoying the challenge, and because I am finding it educational. It's also a very good writing exercise.

B) I have been preached at by everyone from pastors to parents to strangers who think they have the right to tell me I'm a horrible person for things I have done. If they can do it, so can I. Besides, I am enjoying it. I would even try to get my own little cult going, but my Twin has already started this, and I can't take it away from him.

C) I'm just sputtering out a bunch of bull. And it's great fun. I will point out, however, that I do believe the bull I'm sputtering.

Ok, those questions answers, now allow me to ask a few of my own. These are questions I have often considered and thought about. I have my own answers, but am curious what others think...

1) Is suicide an unforgivable sin? I've heard it is, and heard the reasons. But, I find it difficult to believe that God would send someone to hell whom was simply trying to escape such a hell

2) How are we to believe the Bible as a true and accurate account of God if the Roman Catholics left out so many books?

3) If a child promises their soul to the devil in exchange for peace, are they then soulless? Is there any hope?

4) Well, I'm sure there is a "4" somewhere, but my brain is quickly shutting down tonight.