Best, not good enough

Today did not go at all how I though it would.  It went far, far better.

I was planning on eating dinner, studying for a while, going to my Bible study, and then going to bed.  What actually ended up happening was that after dinner, I went to the Bible study for just a few minutes, and then left early to help celebrate the birthday of one of the other ETAs, who turned 22 yesterday.  Then, afterwards, Sarah, who spearheaded the party, and is also a regular in the Bible study, asked me if I wanted to read the Bible together for a little while, since we missed the Bible study.

We ended up not just reading the Bible; we talked, and prayed, and shared, and connected in a way that I have not done with anyone since I got here.  Not only that, but I got to cheer up a great guy on his birthday, to boot!!  Something that Sarah said when we were talking and reading our Bibles really hit home for me.  She said, "God does not want us to have 'good enough.'  He wants us to have the best."

What a great thing to hear after the emotional roller coaster I've been on the past few days.  I was really looking forward to the group Bible study tonight.  I thought it would be what's best for me.  But it turns out, it was only "good enough."  God had other plans for me.  He knew that I needed to relax and make someone else happy at the party.  He knew that I needed a friend.  He knew that I needed someone to keep me accountable.  He gave me all of that, and more, because He wanted to give me the best, not simply good enough.

I would have been happy with my Plan A.  If I had never gone to the party, never talked and prayed with Sarah after, I would have never been the wiser.  But I have prayed that God would bless me, and He has promised to be faithful to us.  What blessings are you missing out on because you're holding on too tightly to good enough?  Let it go, let Him work; He wants to give you the best.

1 Peter 3:8-12

 ⁸ Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. ⁹ Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. ¹¹ They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.  ¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Be ready

I had a very interesting conversation with a non-Christian friend yesterday about God, and Creationism, and church, and homosexuality, and a host of other things.  It was a really interesting conversation.  But it occurred to me while we were talking, that I almost never have conversations like this with people who don't believe the same things that I do.  And I don't think that I'm the only Christian like that.  Nick even commented to me that I was the first Christian he had talked with who was able to defend her beliefs, and didn't get mad at him because his beliefs differ.

It's so easy for us to talk about God with people who believe in Him, or to tell other Christians that we'll pray for them.  But when we get around non-believers, we shut up tighter than a clam.  We reason with ourselves, saying that we can witness to them with our actions; there's no need to say anything to them.

But God has told us to "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." The fact that Nick had never spoken with a Christian who could intelligently explain their beliefs should convict ever single one of us.  The fact that most non-believers assume that talking science with a Christian will automatically upset them should spur us to prove them wrong.

We are not tasked with saving the world.  That's God's job, and I am more than happy to let Him have it.  But we ARE tasked to tell people about Him.  Try to tell someone today.  It doesn't have to be a big deal.  But how can they believe if they have never heard? 

1 Peter 3:13-17

¹³ Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” ¹⁵ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 

God's recipe for contentment

It's so easy for us to forget how truly blessed we are.  We complain about the weather, our family, the fact that we can't afford all of the nice new things we want.  But we forget that there are people whose lives have been destroyed by the weather, whose families are dead or abusive, or who can't even afford to eat, let alone buy that new iPhone they've been eying. 

We truly are a blessed people.  "But," you say, "you don't know how badly I've got it."  That's true, I do not.  But you're alive and well enough to argue with me, and that right there is a blessing in itself.  I know a woman who is dying of brain cancer, and I've never heard her utter a word of complaint about her situation.  She's always smiling, always joyful, always praising the Lord and asking about your life, how she can help you.

That's the kind of contentment that a life with God should infuse.  I want to be so wrapped up in God, that the stuff of this world fades away....it shouldn't matter if I don't have a fancy car or a nice house, or even if my health is failing.  All that matters is that Jesus loves me, and I love him back.  Everything else is just icing on the cake.

But, on that topic, Jesus certainly does like alot of icing.  Sometimes, as my departure date for Korea marches steadily closer, I lament my acceptance of the scholarship, wishing I didn't have to go.  And then I slap myself, reminding myself what an incredible opportunity God has blessed me with.  Other times, like this week, which I've been spending visiting my grandparents in New York, my family annoys me to know end, and I find myself counting down the time until I can get away from them.  And then God gently chides me, reminding me of how blessed I am, in a world of abusive, neglectful, and broken families, to have one that loves me and helps me and provides for me.  They put up with all of my flaws...the least I can do is do the same for them! :)

Don't spend your life wondering what the grass is like on the other side, trying to keep up with the Jones, or wishing away this period of your life so that you can move on to the next one.  Every season has its ups and downs, and there is a time for everything.  Count your blessings, and learn to be content in the knowledge that the Creator of the universe loves you and IS looking out for you, even if it doesn't look like it.

John 1:16

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

Romans 15:29

I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

Proverbs 10:22

The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.

1 Peter 3:9

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.