This is cool. Beautiful faces, side by side, look horrendous when viewed/compared quickly. Stare at the cross between the two pics as they appear and WHOA.
2.
I am needing to make a decision about two potential jobs and I CAN'T DO IT. I am paralysed. My pro-con list is even. I can talk myself into and out of both jobs easily.
What does God want me to do? I had this sense that God was preparing me for something when my job at Arrow ended ... is ONE of these opportunities the right one? And is the other one there just to frustrate me? Is this a test? The Christian position is 'easier' but the pay is just above the poverty line. (Not really. But it is less than I made before.) And the non-Christian one is way harder (steep, long learning curve) but the pay is better.
Aaaack.
And then today? On my facebook feed? This article popped up:
STOP WAITING FOR GOD TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE.
And that? Didn't help me at all.
My passion? The thing that keeps me up at night? Is not an aspect of either job.
And really? I'm not so sure that everyone is in a position to follow that passion anyway. I need to support myself. And that has nothing to do with passion. That is just a reality.
If you were too lazy to click on the link, here's what the article said:
We all want to do meaningful work and find our passion, but I can guarantee you this: Your purpose in life will never be written on the wall. And it will never be revealed to you in full.
I watched a brilliant video recently where some Danish filmmakers did a bunch of really stupid things and slowed them down to 2,500 frames a second. They blew up microwaves, chain-sawed coke bottles, and at the very end, pricked a tiny hole in a waterbed. At first, nothing really happened. A few drops of water spilled out. But in a matter of seconds, 200 gallons exploded from that tiny hole, flooding the bedroom.
You want to do meaningful work? Stop sitting on your hands waiting for God to tell you what to do.
No matter how lofty, unattainable, or idealistic, choose that one thing that keeps you up at night and stick a pin through it. Only then can the tidal wave of God’s glory and purpose flood your bedroom.
It seems like a lot of people are walking around holding that pin, scared to commit to putting it somewhere. Many people die holding it, their purpose and passion endlessly prayed for but never pursued.
I believe God joins us only when we take that initial risk. If you have a tiny twinge of passion toward anything, you have to jump right through it on your own. It is there that God will meet you.
-Justin Zoradi
Update: Hahahaha. All that unnecessary angst. I just got a call, and even though it was VERY close, (it was between me and one other person) I did not get the harder, non-Christian job. So. That's a good thing. If one leaves these things in God's hands, then one must believe that His will was done. Whoo Hoo.
3.
I went to that Theology class thing again tonight at Northview. I'm glad I did, even though I still have to pep-talk myself into going each week.
We're studying how those famous folks in the Bible (Adam & Eve, Moses, Hannah, David, Solomon, Jonah, Daniel, Mary, Jesus, Peter, Paul and James) prayed/entered into the Presence of God. I get a little aha moment with each person. LOVE that.
Tonight we studied Jonah and Daniel. Wanna know what I walked away with?
Jonah was a grump. Even though he had a close relationship with God, and heard God's voice - he STILL was surly. God used him anyway. God's purposes get accomplished, regardless of our attitude. He just needs our obedience; and once He has that, he arranges storms, appoints fish, moves sailors, causes fish to throw up, grows trees, sends worms, orders hot winds. He is active in getting His purposes done.
And. And he did all that moving and appointing and arranging because He wanted the people of Nineveh to repent and turn from their wicked ways. He loved them, and wanted them to hear good news.
I think He is still in the business of wanting people to repent and respond to His good news. He is still sending messengers out, surly or not. And He is arranging, causing, ordering things, so that our loved ones, the ones we keep praying for, will hear His message of love. I have to keep praying for those messengers. If they got sidetracked on the way to my kids, (for example) I want them vomited out of their big-fish-hiding-places today.
Daniel was a prince amongst men. (Or, a vice president amongst many high officials.) He was hardworking, highly respected, and climbing the political ladder in Darius's kingdom. He wasn't a prophet. Or an evangelist. He was a prisoner-of-war, in exile, doing his job. Doing it really well.
A bunch of crooked high officials wanted him gone, so they conned Darius into signing a decree that made it against the law to pray to anyone other than Darius himself, knowing that Daniel prayed three times a day to his God.
When next Daniel prayed, in front of his window, where he always had, they caught him, and threw him in a Lion's den. Darius was not pleased, but it was the law. So Daniel spent the night with some big hungry cats, and Darius fasted and worried.
As you know, Daniel was alive in the morning which Darius celebrated because he (Darius) knew that God protected him. As a result, he became a believer and declared: "I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the GOD of Daniel. He delivers and rescues, He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, and He saved Daniel from the power of the lions."
Know what? ALL THAT HAPPENED because Daniel prayed. He didn't preach. He didn't evangelize. He was not a prophet. He was just a hard-working guy, not ashamed of his faith, who prayed daily, NOT IN A CLOSET, but in a private spot that could be seen my others. They knew he was godly because they had seen him pray.
I have problems praying in a restaurant. Or in my home in front of a table full of non-believers.
If, besides being a hard-working person of integrity, all I do is not be ashamed to be seen praying, GOD can use that.
Oy.
If I am hired for that non-Christian job, and I eat in a lunch room with the farm laborers or gulp, my boss - will I have the guts to pray before I eat? Heck. I didn't even do that at Arrow.
I am such a loser.
Update: YAY, I don't have to worry about this anymore. BIG sigh of relief.
4.
Another article that I read today, (that hit me between the eyes when it was originally posted back in December 2010), made me ponder and think. Read this. The Soft X. (Go on, it'll take 2 minutes. Three if you're dyslexic.)
Here's an excerpt:
... that is an incredibly tender thing to say as someone’s expectations crumble.
And I think it’s something God still says to us, even today.
“I know, my son, I know. I know, my daughter, I know. That thing you wanted is not going to happen. Not the way you’ve always dreamed. I know this hurts. I know this stings. I know you feel like I am distant or not aware of where you are and who hurt you and what you think life was supposed to be like. I know in moments like this you doubt that I can count the hairs on your head or have your best in mind. But please, I am not done. I have barely started to reveal your life to you. I am the God who satisfies your desires with good things. That is me! And when it comes to your hopes and your fears and your dreams, I know, my daughter, I know.”
5.
I guess that's it. Just 4 pieces of my mind tonight. And my thankful things:
ONE: The Bible. It's relevant, you know?
TWO: Smart people who share their knowledge.
THREE: Red leaves.
Shalom,
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