Just left the Church, in fact I'm in the van, riding home. We've been going on Saturday nights again and the atmosphere is so different. Anyway, you may think, God is smart, so yeah, I knew that. Well, I'm thinking of something Mike said tonight and it isn't "Come to church and get high." He did say that, but he was talking about knowing God's will. He said there's no simple checklist and the more he reads the Bible the more confused he gets. Well this made me think that God is smart.
You see, I always wanted an easy way to know His Will, but He knows better. If it were that simple it would become routine. We would just complete the list when we needed it and write God off for the rest of the day.
(Just got home, switched to computer)
Sample Checklist:
_ Do this
_ Do that
_ Do the other
_ Done with God for today
So, if we have a simple check list, we won't really appreciate it and get what we need out of it. Sure, we'd get what we want, we'd know His Will. But what about what we need? I know that if I were living this daily, my life would be different. Let me tell you a story about my journey the past two weeks...
Last weekend, Mike talked about titheing. Not just giving 10% but giving everything. You see, God doesn't want just the 10%. No. He wants it all. (It's His anyway, but that's another subject for another day.) He wants us to willingly, joyfully, hysterically give him everything we have.
Yes, everything.
Nope, that too.
Let me reiterate. He wants us to give Him EVERYTHING. And not reluctantly. He wants us to be happy about it. No, not happy, HYSTERICAL. He wants us to be happier than if we went to Disney World, or Comic-Con, or E3, or New York, or France, or Greece, or Italy, or the Moon, or we were the first person to meet Elvis as he returned from Alpha Centary. Whichever appeals to you more or make up your own thing.
Not that those things can't make you happy, but he wants us to be happy about giving. (If you're unclear about this, read the passage about the rich man who Jesus personally asks to literally follow Him, all he has to do is sell his stuff. (Matt 19:16 - 30))
Also, Mike had mentioned that money was the one place God said we may test Him. He said many times not to, but with money, we may. And many people will find that if they tithe, good things may happen, it's not guaranteed, but it may. He takes care of us. Also, those who don't, well, their washers break.
Anyway, back to me. :)
Ok, so, our washer broke. We're saving money to buy a house, and our washers break, so we need to buy a new one. I'd promised my wife that I'd get her those nice front loading ones when they broke, and figured we had another year or two. We didn't.
So, we had to plunk down a load of cash for that. Well, we also had a few other money issues. Nothing to worry about and God will provide, but He wasn't at the time. And I knew why. So we tithed, happily. We weren't not tithing because we didn't want to or didn't have the money, it was sheer laziness. I didn't want to do the bills.
So, that entire message was right on track with what happened that week. And it was a wonderful service with a baptism after it.
Ok, I know. You're asking yourself where I'm going with this. Trust me, it circles back to God being smart.
We get there tonight and the atrium is open and the interstate too. The place is alive with the Holy Spirit and, well, I told you what he was talking about tonight.
God is smart.
Oh, and he mentioned that God is slow. I think we all know this. He never answers us in our hurried little time. He waits for until just the right time. Anyway, I read all of James 4 while he was talking. (I pay better attention when I read the Bible or write while he's speaking. It helps me make connections.) It's an excellent chapter, but one passage he didn't mention tonight stuck out.
James 4:1-3 "Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.
Especially the italicized part.
So, I know what He wants me to do. I want to know His Will and in order to do that, I need to study His Word more. Daily.
He also wants me to study it not only alone (I know He wants that) but with my kids and wife. So that's three times. Daily.
Another thing He wants me to do (I know, He's so demanding. It's like he wants everything in my life or something... oh wait... ) is to stop and look at nature. Just pay attention to what's around me. I spend too much time in my little brain. Thinking about my book, or a movie, or tv show, or game, or my wife, or kids, or some picture, or what I'm going to respec to in WoW, etc. I don't spend enough time just being. (Not a typo. I mean, just being.)
I think He wants me to post my thoughts, too. Not to help anyone else, I'm sure. If He uses it for that, I'll be amazed. I'm a little long-winded and like to write, so I'll be surprised if anyone even reads to this point. ;) (Except my Wife and Mother)
I think He wants me to use this as a journal. If I type up my thoughts and feelings, not only will I be holding myself more accountable, but I'll be able to think through it while I'm typing. So, that's what I'll be doing.
Daily.
God willing. :)
He wants me, and for that matter, this part applies to anyone still with me, to be forced to spend time with Him if we want to know Him and His Will. He's like us, you know. I don't always know my wife's will, wants, likes, dislikes, and I spend everyday with her, talking, flirting, playing, arguing, etc. How could I ever expect to know the likes and dislikes of someone so much more complex and unimaginable with a simple checklist?
God is smart.
