GOD MADE DINNER

I am awestruck by God. I mean, honestly, I am fascinated by Him. Everything He is and was and does and just...wow. For example, Jesus speaks to us all the time. If you've never heard Him, you probably just aren't listening. It's not like in the movies when people hear this big booming voice coming from the clouds and everyone just goes "is that you, God?" Not like that. But it's in the small things that happen to us every single day. Things that seem so simple. Things that most people call coincidence. But I believe in God more than I believe in coincidences. I believe that He uses what we call coincidences to give us a message in a way that we might actually grasp what He's saying. His intelligence is so far beyond our comprehension, that He tries to simplify it so that we'll listen to Him.

Take for instance, the lesson that God has apparently been trying to pound into my brain for the past few weeks. The lesson? (in the words of Mr. Hayward <3) "DON'T MAKE ME SPOON FEED YOU!"

While I was in Peru, I felt an overwhelming closeness to God. It was incredible. I honestly cannot describe the way that I felt being there. Since I've been home, I've been aching for that feeling again. Christina and I were talking about how, no matter what we do, we can't get that back. Lately God has been asking me this: "what are you actually doing, stef?" I didn't have an answer. In the past week, (yes, I'm talking only 7 days) God has brought this same question to the front of my heart and mind in a few big ways.

1. AN OVER-HEARD CONVERSATION (Just to clear this up...I wasn't intentionally eavesdropping. I work in a clothing store. It's small. If you come in talking on your phone: I'll probably hear every word you say. Just sayin.) So last week, I was at the store and a lady came in talking on her phone. I was behind the desk doing paper work, and she was loud. Not obnoxious loud, but excitedly chatting about worship and church service. She was so excited about sharing her faith during this conversation, that it was impossible for me to not listen. Seriously. Impossible. And I know that God sent her in the store while she was on the phone specifically so that I could over-hear what He had to say through her. "God knows you're hungry, child. That's why He made this call happen. He feels you yearnin, and He's got a feast waitin, but it's up to you to come to the table."

2. EXIT 109 - For the past few weeks, I have been helping to lead youth group at my church. Tina and I (obv. together since we're attached at the hip) guide the high school girls. Right now, there are only 4 of us which is nice because it's less intimidating and we can talk about everything. So Wednesday we were in the hall talking about being a christian and how you can't base your relationship with God on other people. (like I told chels: just because your brother may get an 'f', that doesn't make it okay for you to get a 'd'. even though a d is better than an f...the d is still not your best.) In Christianity terms; just because you aren't partying or sleeping around or cussing all the time like other kids your age, doesn't mean you are on the easy path to Heaven. (FYI: if it's an easy path, it's not headed upstairs.) Avoiding big sins and walking with God are not the same thing. Other people have nothing to do with it. It's you and Jesus. It's a commitment. You have to be actively pursuing a relationship with God every single day.

3. A FORWARDED TEXT - Alright, normally I am not a fan of forwarded text messages. Mostly because they usually end with some form of 'forward this to 12 people or I will show up in bloody ice skates at the foot of your bed, wrap you in moldy cheese and feed you to the neighborhood beast'. Ya know, something like that. =) But today, I got a text message that was a forwarded prayer to send to your girlfriends/sisters/etc. It was asking God to be with the girl reading the text; to protect her, comfort her, and help her shine in the darkest of places. At the end of the text was the following sentence: "Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet."


BAM.

game, set and match.

God - 3
Stef - 0


If you think about it, though, how accurate are those statements? How often do we sit and talk about how we just can't seem to get close to God? But if we're not actively trying to build our relationship...what are we doing?




God made dinner. It's ready. Are you coming?





peaceandlove,
Stefani June