I do not find it coincidental that I'm ready "Crazy Love" just months prior to paying off my husband's student loans. Challenge is good. Second-guessing plans is...well...good.
This by no means retracts any feeling from the previous post. Just wanted to be clear :)
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
God's provision
Ok, so I've finished chapter 4 of "Crazy Love" and just started chapter 5. Chan is discussing this idea of a lukewarm Christian and then goes on to Biblically support this person is not really a Christian to begin with.
I don't want to comment on that at this point, but what I do want to comment on is one of his examples of what makes a "Christian" lukewarm. Chan argues that the lukewarm Christian is not fully dependent on God. This is not where my problem lies. He gives the example of a person who doesn't really need to depend on God because if something goes wrong, he has a savings account to fall back on.
Now, I've read/heard that Chan does not save for his retirement, and again, just from what I gather, he does not seem to have much of a financial plan for his life. Store for yourself a treasure in heaven...I get it...BUT, don't you dare imply I do not depend on God because I have a savings account.
This is how I respond. God gave me a brain. God is bigger than my birth control, stronger than my seat belt, and more powerful than the few bucks I have in the bank, BUT, I utilize the things He has provided. If I ignore the financial blessings in my life, then I am ignoring God's provision. If I continue to seek to be "dependent on God" and ignore the money he has already provided, then I'm not being dependent because I'm ignoring the way He has already provided. I would actually be a poor steward. Does this make sense? I see my savings account as a gift from God. Sure, I do have to be a wise steward and give cheerfully. He has provided things (money, seat belts) to protect me, and it's foolish not to use them.
I just don't buy this notion that if you trust God, you ignore the brain, and gifts, he has already given you.
I don't want to comment on that at this point, but what I do want to comment on is one of his examples of what makes a "Christian" lukewarm. Chan argues that the lukewarm Christian is not fully dependent on God. This is not where my problem lies. He gives the example of a person who doesn't really need to depend on God because if something goes wrong, he has a savings account to fall back on.
Now, I've read/heard that Chan does not save for his retirement, and again, just from what I gather, he does not seem to have much of a financial plan for his life. Store for yourself a treasure in heaven...I get it...BUT, don't you dare imply I do not depend on God because I have a savings account.
This is how I respond. God gave me a brain. God is bigger than my birth control, stronger than my seat belt, and more powerful than the few bucks I have in the bank, BUT, I utilize the things He has provided. If I ignore the financial blessings in my life, then I am ignoring God's provision. If I continue to seek to be "dependent on God" and ignore the money he has already provided, then I'm not being dependent because I'm ignoring the way He has already provided. I would actually be a poor steward. Does this make sense? I see my savings account as a gift from God. Sure, I do have to be a wise steward and give cheerfully. He has provided things (money, seat belts) to protect me, and it's foolish not to use them.
I just don't buy this notion that if you trust God, you ignore the brain, and gifts, he has already given you.
because, sometimes, it's fun to be vain.
I dropped another 9 pounds in the last 4 weeks.
I'm down almost 30 pounds from my heaviest.
Not sure why, but losing weight is truly one of the best feelings in the world.
I'm down almost 30 pounds from my heaviest.
Not sure why, but losing weight is truly one of the best feelings in the world.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Crazy
What God did was crazy. Seriously, it's not normal. It's big. He sent Christ, His Son, to die. For me.
Shouldn't my response be just as crazy?
Just flipped open "Crazy Love."
More to come.
Shouldn't my response be just as crazy?
Just flipped open "Crazy Love."
More to come.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Hope
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-08YZF87OBQ
Sometimes when I hear the song "Mighty to Save," I can so perfectly place myself back at Maria's. Sitting on a mattress on the new hardwood floors in The Little Mermaid room. Scents of dumplings and babies. Lifting up my voice among 25 brothers and sisters. Staring out the window into the gray that is the newly constructed state orphanage.
God is mighty to save those the world has tossed aside.
Overwhelming.
I miss it so much I can barely catch my breath.
Sometimes when I hear the song "Mighty to Save," I can so perfectly place myself back at Maria's. Sitting on a mattress on the new hardwood floors in The Little Mermaid room. Scents of dumplings and babies. Lifting up my voice among 25 brothers and sisters. Staring out the window into the gray that is the newly constructed state orphanage.
God is mighty to save those the world has tossed aside.
Overwhelming.
I miss it so much I can barely catch my breath.
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