Don't Worry. Be Happy.

By debs... |

Monday, November 30, 2009

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How do we find happiness? Or at least our own version of happiness because, let's face it, we're never 'happy'. We always want for something new or different or we're always worrying about something. Church tells us we find joy through our relationship with Jesus. And whether you like it or not...the church is right in this case. Giving things to Him to take care of, trusting that He has your back and doing both these things FIRST. It is way too common for us to exhaust all our options until we have no choice but to turn to God. Try Him first for a change. Think of it as a shortcut.

Don't try to sort everything out yourself because, quite simply, ye can't. I always try to fix things, usually without thinking about it first and probably twisting Gods original plan. This includes relationships....impulsively buying things....calling friends to vent....pretending there is nothing wrong. The number of times God has had to re-engineer elements of the plan for my life is verging on comical.

But I've been learning that when you stop searching for solutions to everything and pray about it and commit to leaving the ball in God's court...that it's easier or simpler or something. It takes patience, which I lack and faith, which I don't and I guess sometimes you'll still be disappointed but you'll always learn something. And you will be a better and stronger person for it.

Irresistable Reminder.

By debs... |

Saturday, November 14, 2009

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God is in the business of messing up your plans. But I think that he does it so you are forced to think about whats keeping you rooted? Obviously it should be your faith; a constant, unchanging source of strength despite location or circumstance. But is this the case when things don't go to plan....like when you don't get a job or placement you want? Or when a relationship doesn't work out? Or a friend lets you down? When there are so many barriers between you and your plans goal, that you can't even see the goalposts anymore!

Shane Claiborne claims "We've taken the blood at the foot of the cross and turned it into kool-aid". And he is referring to Pop Christianity; a type of Christianity we have customized to suit our needs and have all begun to conform to. And this is why we get so fed up with Christians and their churches....because they preach love, hope, justice, miracles, the bible and Jesus but don't live it. We eliminated the need for miracles with our science and our medicine and our addiction to convenience. We invented highlighters to highlight the parts of the bible we like and ignore the rest. We completely lost Jesus to fashion, music, movies, sport, parties and politics. We try to so hard to be individual and non-conformist in the way we dress, in how we spend our time, in how we talk.....lets try and do it in how we follow Jesus.

And at the end of the day...your plans aren't always going to work out whether you have faith in Jesus or not. And, I for one, want Jesus nearby when they don't because if he isn't, then whats the point?