A Kneejerk Reaction

Today has been really good. From church this morning all the way through bible study tonight, it has been pretty sensational. The Rangers lost, but that's ok for the moment. They are still doing well. I saw down and played some video games this afternoon and then later tonight. I got to talk to a great person on the phone, and we talked for awhile about prayer and organization. That's been running around in the back of my mind all day since. Bible study was really cool after not having it for so many weeks. (Since Dan had been in Nigeria) God protected a couple close friends of mine in their travels today, too. The seriousness of that should not be underestimated. At any rate, it's been mostly a great day, and I really thank the Lord for that.

Why is it then that I find myself waiting for the other shoe to drop? I can't explain it. It's actually been like this a little bit for awhile. I keep seeing how great God has been running things in and around my life lately, and I find myself waiting for a bombshell. That's some very human thinking. It's very human to worry like that. Even knowing that doesn't necessarily make it easier not to.I keep having to remind myself of verses like the following:

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 12:22-34

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:7-11

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Mark 11:22-25

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

1 John 5:13-15

In this world it is a widely prevalent idea that we must earn everything we have. These verses cause me to seriously question that notion. As I read these, I realize that God wants to provide for us in miraculous and undeserved ways. So, as the great things (especially in regards to one in particular) happen around me that I just totally do not deserve, I am waiting to find out the "cost" for them. That cost is the other shoe. That cost is the bombshell. And, the truth is, it is wrong for me to expect it. There is no way I could ever earn the grace God has shown me just in dying on the cross for my sins. There's no way I could earn the grace He's been showing me in other ways lately, too. Maybe I sound like I'm bragging about this good thing or these good things God has caused to be in my life. I don't mean to. I mean to rejoice about them instead. I certainly can't brag. That's probably why I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. It's so evil to take credit for something that God Almighty has done, and, yet, it's so natural for the human being to reject grace out of disbelief and inability to cope with it. I'm so glad that God has caused me to cope this far with His overwhelming grace, and I just keep hoping and praying He will cause me to cope with more and more of it for all the remaining days of my life.

They have worlds out there, people that you wouldn't believe. But they do not have chocolate.

- Crichton - A Human Reaction

Rain... Is that what you call this? I like it.

- Aeryn - A Human Reaction