and GOD was in the most unlikely place

i am convinced that my roomate, amber, is one of the best writers i know. honestly, if she wasn't such a brilliant massage therapist, i'd say she missed her calling as an author. i was blown away when i read this on her blog, and felt the need to quote it so that more people can be impacted as i was. thanks for continuing to challenge me.


"When we play it safe, we squeeze God out of the formula. If we go where we know and do what we're certain will succeed, we remove our need for God. Whenever we take on a God-sized challenge, self-sufficiency is no longer an option. It is having no idea whether or not God will act on your behalf in a particular engagement--but knowing who God is. Knowing that if you seek God, you will live, even if you die in the trying. It is ironic that we run to God to keep us safe when He calls us to a dangerous faith. He will shake loose everything in which we place our trust outside of His and teach us how to thrive in a future unknown. There is only One who is certain. Wanting miracles but consistently avoiding needing them.Our religious integration of Christianity with capitalism and consumerism has resulted in a view of life that says if God is in it, it comes easily. Then when the inevitable difficulties come, when we hit the wall, we either assume God is not in it or conclude we've made a wrong decision in our pursuit."

oh,this is SO where i am right now.

"...has resulted in a view of life that says, 'if God is in it, it comes easily.'" what a skewed view we often have! God has been stretching me lately to understand the beauty of suffering. the joy of trial. the gift of martyrdom. how is it that i can see the Lord in the suffering of Stephen, of Job, of Paul, and i ask Him, "will You find me worthy of the gift of suffering for You?" i long to be found worthy of it, yet how do i react to the small bits of suffering He has given me? if I am found to gripe and complain when i have to wait on something i know is His leading, or when i believe wholeheartedly that He will do something and He does not, and i look foolish...who am i? to whom much has been given much will be required...and to him who has been faithful with a little, more will be given. teach me how to be faithful with the little bits of "suffering" that You allow me, Jesus. maybe confusing , but i love this: everything easy is not necessarily of the the Lord, and everything difficult is not necessarily not of the Lord. show me You in every difficult thing, that i may praise Your mighty Name. amen.