Communication

Communication. It's the first thing we really learn in life. Funny thing is, once we grow up, learn our words and really start talking the harder it becomes to know what to say. Or how to ask for what we really need. - Greys Anatomy...
Ok so kinda cheesy to use a Grey's quote, but I read it some where and it really hit home with me today. I mean communication is pretty important in my life, I am a Communication Major. But communication is funny, so many different types, different uses, different ways. And although it is the first thing we learn, I think it is the first thing we start to lose as well. It's funny to watch little kids. I mean as infants they cry, because it gets them what they want. As they progress they move on to other forms, and start to use words. The great thing is that kids use words with no inhibitions. No one to telling them to not just say what they are thinking. Now as much as this revels many funny situations, it also makes me wonder why we have such a hard time just saying what we are thinking.
This Grey's quote is so true, the more we learn our words, and their meanings, the harder time we have using them. The harder time we have asking for help, voicing our fears or concerns. The harder time you have telling your friend something that needs to be said. And the worst part of it, the more we learn words, and communication, and their meanings, the harder we judge. The more we take things that people say the wrong way, instead of just asking them what they might have meant. Which, in return of the cycle, makes people not say things.
I wish people didn't take things you say the wrong way. I wish they would take a second to think through the communication, and think through how well they know you. The combination of these two things would make them realize that whatever you might have said is undoubtedly not on purpose to hurt them. Yet we live in a fast paced World of miscommunication. It's like those commercials where the line goes dead right when the person is going to say the important part. We let our minds go dead when we quickly judge, and don't take the time to hear people out. This truly harms the depth of our relationships.
This lack of communication also makes it harder to admit we need help. Admit to those around us that you could use some support. And even more so, admit to God that we need help. I think we would all like to believe that we are fine, I'll wait to ask God for help on this one. I don't want to burden God, I don't want to ask for too much. But that is what God is there for, that is what he wants to do. He wants to help us through this complicated world of sin, he wants to help us... and yet we don't know how to ask.
When I taught bible study to 6th graders when I was in 8th I learned this good analogy to share with the girls on God's blessings. It's a story about a man who passes away, and gets to the Gates of Heaven, and as he is standing there they let him through and he is immediately met by God. And God tells him that he has something to show him, and he walks him into this large warehouse looking room that is just full of shelves full of boxes. I mean just line after line after line of selves full of boxes. And as he looks around he realizes all of these boxes are beautifully wrapped with name tags on them. All of the name tags have his name on them, all of them. So he asks God, "What are these boxes, why is my name on them". And God replies, these are all the blessings I could have given you while you struggled your way on Earth, if you would have just asked.
God is so willing to give us blessings, to answer prayers (even if it's not in a way you expect), to help us through our day to day live, and yet we are too afraid to communicate, to afraid to communicate our needs to him.
So as you go on today I encourage you to take two things with you...
One, don't quickly judge what someone says to you. Take into account the situation and the person and what they really mean... because I am sure they don't mean to hurt you.
Two, life is sooo busy, and we can add all we want to everyday. But remember... at the end of the day, we are left with just us and God... so maybe ask him for some help through out the day. God wants to bless us, pour blessings upon us... we just need to be willing to ask.

Starbucks can do it, so can you!

Did you hear how Starbucks closed all of it's stores for three hours yesterday? EVERY store for THREE hours. How much money do you think they lost? Every store in America closed for three hours, that is a lot of money. But the reason behind it, that is where I think we could learn something. Starbucks closed their stores to retrain their staff, to bring their focus back on the coffee. Over the years they have merged into the music industry, the movie industry, the book industry, the hot breakfast industry, and of course... coffee. But what they saw was that will all these things, they forgot to focus on what matters, what started it all, the origins if you may. So by closing their stores for three hours, they basically refocused their life, and put the focus back where it belongs.
To me this is amazing. For a corporation to be able to realize this (and yes money plays a role), but to realize it, see what they need to do, and do it says something to me. I mean how many of us keep adding things to our lives, continually adding things... and then we forget why we are doing any of it. Why do we lay down at night and instead of thinking, "Thank God for this beautiful day, and this beautiful opportunity to be alive"... instead we think "Tomorrow I need to make copies, study for this class, write this paper, go to this class, check my mail, pay my bills, call this person, email this person.... and the list goes on..."
I think we could all learn something from Starbucks... no matter how many things are going in your life... if you don't take that time to refocus your life on what is important, you are at risk of losing it. And even more, eventually you will crash and burn... and then what? It's always good to take that time before you hit that... before you lose. Does this make sense?
I mean, if Starbucks is willing to lose how ever many dollars to refocus their company, why can't we take the time to lose some facebook time, some homework time to refocus on God? I feel like all the time our excuse for not spending time with God is that we are too busy. But there are always 24 hours in a day... so it's not like one day has less hours than the rest. And really, I know for me, when I take the time to refocus... I do better at everything else I need to do. Having your focus straight really helps... and yet we don't want to take the risk.
Sorry I don't have any bible verses for this. It's not what I read on... but man it's so relevant to everyone's life.
Just remember you can make as many excuses as you want to not spend time with God... but sometimes it's worth the "loss" in your day to refocus your attention. If Starbucks can do it... can't you?

Christian World View

So my class got me thinking, what is the...Christian World View...
Our teacher told us you can categorize what someones World View is by asking three questions...Who are we? What is wrong with the world? How do we fix it.
So to start he was talking about Who are we? (being who are Christians). And frankly I was kind of frustrated, because my answer was "Followers of Christ", and he was like, "Noo, not what I am looking for." So anyway he writes on the board, "Created in the Image of God". Which is not wrong, we were. But so were the Jews, and heck even Muslims would say they were... although they would say Allah. So I don't feel like that categorizes Christians. Christians believe in Jesus Christ and that he came to the World to save us... which is much different then just being created in the image of God.
It was just really interesting to listen to in class... it's like, hum, how are we viewed, what do others see us as? Anyway, to answer the other two questions; What is wrong with the world? (According to Christians again)... SIN. How do we fix it? Jesus. Really, just interesting...
Anyway... have you ever put any thought into Grace and Mercy? Do you even know the difference between Grace and Mercy?
Heres a little trick I learned to separate Grace and Mercy...
Grace is getting what you don't deserve. i.e. SALVATION!! (saved by Grace)
Mercy is not getting what you do deserve. i.e. Your mom showed you Mercy when she didn't ground you for drawing with permanent marker on her new leather couch... Ok silly example. But God definitely shows us Mercy everyday.
I think sometime we don't think about the how much Mercy God shows us, and how much Grace is given. I am personally thankful, God is so willing to give us his love, this love that we are so undeserving of. This Salvation that we are so undeserving of. I for one am thankful that God shows grace. I am so glad that God shows Mercy, can you imagine if God held all our sins against us? We never get what we do deserve. Thank Goodness. I encourage you to read up on both of these subjects...some verses on Grace; Luke 15:11-31, Romans 5, Ephesians 2. Mercy; Psalm 108:8-12, Psalm 123, Luke 1:46-79, Romans 9:15-18.
And maybe the next time you are "begging for Mercy" from someone, maybe thank God for the Mercy he shows and the Grace he gives.
A little food for thought from me today. I do encourage you to go look up both words, read up on them, it really helps you understand how even more amazing God is.

Prayer

I just want to clarify something from my post early this morning. It's not that I have not prayed since August. Trust me I have. I just have not prayed like that. I feel like there is different experiences through prayer, and I haven't had that one since my last week with World Changers.
Prayer is a funny thing. It's like sometimes we are too scared to admit to God things, so we pray for everything else, and everyone else. That's what I have been doing since August. I guess I felt like I let God down by breaking up with David. I know, I know that is crazy. But I did. I mean it's not like I say yes to getting married everyday. I said yes because I was committed. So when things didn't work out it's like I had broke that. I also felt like God had let me down.
That is hard to admit. And no I don't really believe God let me down. I believe he taught me more then I have ever learned in my life. But it's been a rough time.
Anyway, what I am trying to say is that... I have prayed since then. I pray for my brother in Iraq, I pray for my Grandma Mary, and My Grandma Barbara. I pray God will tell my Grandpa's I said hey, and don't be disappointed in me. I pray for my parents, and my sister. I pray for my little brothers. I pray for other people I know that need prayer. I thank God for the blessings in my life.
But last night was different.
I know I didn't have to explain that to any of you. But I thought it was something interesting to think about. The power of prayer. The difference in prayer. Totally submitting yourself to prayer. Food for thought anyway.