Unembarrassed Interchange...

Prayer. It's more than desperate plea cries to God in times of distress. And so much more than a one-sided conversation or a bargaining device. As believers, most of us are convinced of this. We all know that prayer is vitally important. But how many of us sense the shallowness of our inner experience? We yearn for intimacy with God, yet many times our prayers just feel hollow. We wonder why has God turned a deaf ear toward us? We wonder, why doesn't he respond? Why? These questions are real. We can't just magically make them go away. But we cannot allow ourselves to forget that God is a person. And deep in His mighty nature, He thinks. He loves. He celebrates. He feels. He desires. He suffers. And prayer is the unembarrassed interchange of, Thoughts. Love. Ideas. Desires. between God and the soul of the redeemed. Prayer is not about the words. Prayer is not about where we do it or how often we do it. It's not about the posture of our hands or whether we do it on our knees. Prayer is an encounter with God. Prayer is a relationship with our Creator. Prayer is aliveness to God. Prayer is the vital breath of the believer's soul. This is not intended to be a guilt-trip. It's just an attempt to say that we are created to enjoy sacred communion with God. And we can enjoy the mysterious mingling of our personality with God's personality. He meant us to see Him and live with Him and draw our life from His life. But that cannot happen in the fullness that Christ offers without... prayer.

Say what?

"Disturb me, God.
Challenge my complacent comfort.
Stir me.
Shake me from my ambivalence.
Storm on me if necessary.
...but don't allow me to sit unmoved by life in your presence."

You know those days where your cat/dog is craving for your attention but they are just getting on your very last nerve? You ignore them for a while, and almost forget that they are there... until you take the stairs. This is when they get right under your feet, racing you to the top of the stairs, resulting in you falling on your butt or dropping everything in your hands out of fright. Haha, got your attention. (I always end up scolding them, only to love on them half way through.) That is exactly how I came upon this quote today. Convenient, huh? God does not always use subtle hints to get my attention, because I am usually too busy or caught up with my own tasks (or just being plain stubborn) to notice. So... He has to trip me. I imagine once He finally gets my attention, the same accomplished expression on my pet's face is also on His face.

I stumbled upon this quote taped on the inner-lining of my Bible. I have so many notes, cards, and pictures taped on the lining of my Bible and journals that I hardly take any of the messages in. I end up ignoring them, and forgetting their meanings. I cannot even remember where this particular quote came from or who said it (I am terribly sorry if you said it... You'll get your credit in Heaven.) However, it jumped out at me today and grabbed my attention.

Is it not funny- how we go about our routines and the intricacies of our lives and it all just becomes so... blah?

Life in His presence is the farthest thing from "blah"; it is extraordinary. It is unprecedented. It is marvelous. It is resplendent.

I do not know about you, but I often sit unmoved by God. Maybe this prayer should be engraved to my mind, heart, and soul rather than taped to the inner-lining of my Bible.

Sometimes.

Life. It doesn't always go the way you want it to. Sometimes, you have money in the bank; sometimes, it's already spent. Sometimes, you make plans; sometimes, Life breaks plans. Sometimes, friends are great; sometimes they disappoint. Sometimes, you have to depend on yourself; sometimes, you're the one letting yourself down. Sometimes, you need space; sometimes, you need people.

I need restoration.

Life. It has a purpose. And we have a choice.

Life. When it changes, when it turns your world around, when it gets you down, when it rains, when it's relentless, He remains.

Life... He's greater.

It's not about feeling safe and comfortable.

How many people have lost their faith and have chosen to place their mission in the American Dream? And what about our own individual relationships with God?
Have you ever caught yourself saying, well, that’s just not my calling in life or I’m not called to do that. Well…

“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28:18-20

My calling in life is not to go global… Really? You see, I thought it was an option… but rather than it being a choice, this is one of the many times that we have been commanded (not called, not invited, not urged, but commanded) to go global. He said to take the Word to the ends of the Earth. And He expects nothing less than that from us.

Now, I don’t expect to pack up my life and head to Uganda with Bible in hand to live in a hutch until the good Lord calls me home. All too often, we interpret scripture to apply to our comfortable, safe lives. But come on, are comfortable and safe the words that the disciples would have used to describe their relationship with God? Are comfortable and safe words that Jesus would use to describe His ministry?

Just pray about it. Maybe God will reveal opportunities to take the Word to the end of the earth; whether it be in your workplace, in a hutch in Uganda, your neighborhood, your organization, your group of friends, or maybe even your church.

Big Brother!

First and foremost, I want to point out that since Big Brother Season 13 is in session...I now have an amazing television line up for the week. Mondays - Switched at Birth. Tuesdays - Pretty Little Liars. Wednesdays - Big Brother. Thursdays - Big Brother. Sundays- Big Brother. And that should define just how great my weeks really are. But now...onto my thoughts on Big Brother.

We have eight new competitors. And I will go ahead and admit that Keith is my favorite. By far. He is absolutely hilarious, and he's working the blue suit. But I felt that he made a bad decision when he chose Porche as his partner. He really should have chosen Dominic...this is Big Brother, sir. You're competing, not taking ol' girl to a middle school dance. Cassi and Shelly are probably my favorite "duo". They already seem really smart and competitive in the fact that they chose to give up the first HOH, but stayed in the competition long enough to seem as if they were going for it. Smartttt move.

Next point. Expect the unexpected. The big twist was revealed when three dynamic duos walked through the door from seasons past. And I need to brag for two seconds on this topic. I told my sister before they even came through who they would be. In the order that they would be in. I don't know if it's because I'm awesome or addicted. Probably both. In any case, I have to give props to Rachel. I hate her laugh....it makes me want to slit my wrists and slowly but surely crush my head in a meat grinder even hearing it. But she is one of the best competitors (other than Evil Dick) that I've seen. She fights for what she wants, and she will probably be my favorite houseguest this summer. Maybe.

Last point. Rachel won the first HOH competition. If she's smart...and I'm sure she is. She will not put up a former couple. She needs to put up a newbie couple and choose someone who is a major floater. Possibly bold gay guy or metal creep? Either way, I'm sure she'll think it through...If not, Brendon will tell her what to do. Well, until next time. That's all for now.