How can I see God?

Day 2 of VBS has proven to be another day of fun and learning for the kids. Again they have come home, eager to share what they have learned. And once again i am amazed at their passion and excitement. This evening we sat down and reviewed the lesson as we did last evening. I look forward to these moments just as much as they do and we all walk away blessed.
Todays question is, "How can i see God?". The answer to the question is, "I see God through the love of others.". To illustrate, we looked at Acts 9:10-31. In this passage we see Ananias and later, Barnabas showing Saul/Paul such love as Saul proclaims the Gospel of those he once persecuted. It would probably be an understatement to say that Christians were very cautious of this man who had a reputation for wreaking havoc upon the church. They weren't so quick to accept that Saul was now one of them.
This is where Ananais and Barnabas come in. First, God sent Ananais to lay hands on Saul so that he would regain his sight. Ananais did question God at first but God persuaded him to go and he did. Later, as Saul attempted to join the disciples and they rejected him out of fear, it was Barnabas who took him and brought him before the apostles. Barnabas told them of Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus and how he since boldly proclaimed Jesus Christ. After hearing from Barnabas the apostles accepted Saul.
How often in our lives as Christians, are we asked to show love to someone we are not so sure about? Maybe it is someone we don't know so well. Or maybe it is someone who has a less than stellar reputation. Whatever the case, whoever the person, God loves them and He wants us to show His love. It usually isn't easy but it is always necessary.
We may not know what God's plan is but we can trust Him to do what is right. We can also trust Him to provide us with what we need as we need it but we must also be willing to recieve it. Am i trusting God enough to do what He is telling me to do? To love as He loves? Am i trusting Him for all my needs and am i coming to him with open arms or am i clenching my fists to beat the air in frustration?
A lot to think about as i get ready to turn in for the night...
But questions i truly want to answer honestly. I want to trust Him with ALL my heart.
I want others to see God through me.

Two O'clock Saturday Morning

Two o’clock Saturday morning, for some unknown reason, i woke up and could not get back to sleep. For an hour i just laid in the darkness, lost in thought. Nothing profound-just going over my to-do list in my head, rehashing events from the day before and trying to remember the title of the crazy song that keeps playing its annoying self in my mind. Though my mind was busy nothing was getting accomplished. As the minutes ticked away my frustration began to mount. Then it occured to me that i should pray.

Three o’clock Saturday morning, i began to pray. It was as if God was asking me, “Child, what took you so long?”. He knew the answer but i had to hear it for myself, “I was so distracted that i forgot.” Isn’t that true in all our lives and not just at two o’clock in the morning when we can’t sleep? Things happen, problems arise and crises occur but instead of taking it to God we turn to distractions. To numb the discomfort or pain we go to the kitchen for a bag of chips or ice cream. To keep ourselves from looking at our circumstances we busy ourselves with endless activity. To avoid being “exposed” to others we withdraw to the television or the internet. Satan uses many distractions to isolate us and prevent us from experiencing freedom and healing. The longer he can keep us distracted the harder it becomes for us to hear God calling out, “Come to me and I will give you rest.” Please beware of the distractions in your life that isolate and take your focus off the One who gives you peace.

Four o’clock Saturday morning, i thanked God for opening my sleepy eyes to the distractions in my life and asked Him to help me to be more aware of them in the future. I know He is smiling at this time. Then the eyes that know no sleep watched me as i drifted off to sleep.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and i will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Get Understanding!

"He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly." Proverbs 14:29 "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression." Proverbs 19:11 Until i read these verses from my devotion time this morning i never really thought to link my lack of understanding to my lack of patience. Now i wonder why. It makes all the sense in the world! Anger is like prejudice, they are both rooted in misunderstanding. What usually causes me to lose my patience? When the kids ask me questions i cannot answer and i believe i should be able to answer, that makes me angry. And though i am not angry at them they are the ones who see and hear my frustration. When something doesn't work like it should, say a computer, vehicle or appliance, if i can't figure out for myself why it doesn't work i become angry. Patience never has been one of my greatest virtues and i see now that it is related to the fact that i have always felt there is more to my being here than what i am experiencing. Though i know God created me with a purpose and a plan i have always tried to play it safe, never getting too far from my comfort zone. Now i am seeing that my comfort zone may be comfortable but it isn't healthy. As long as i stay here i will continue to lack understanding. As long as i lack understanding i lack patience. I can no longer be content to play it safe. It has never really brought me contentment anyway. For that i must turn to God who gives me the understanding i need to be all that He created me to be. Only then will the anger subside.