Can you see the common thread?

Picture yourself in a town that's dirty, unsafe, but mostly unholy. No one around here is thinking about their fellow man and much less God. You are consistently fearing for your safety due to the incredible amount of violent crimes. Then God tells your relative that the planet is going to have water falling on it for 40 days (serious waterfall that you've never heard of, much less seen).


Now picture yourself years after that as a different character. Hearing the story of your family. How they survived a flood when before that there was never even rain (which now happens more often). How they were told to spread around the earth and populate the planet. Thing is everyone is scared and they'd rather just stay together, so they start building a HUGE tower to be able to find each other if they end up getting lost. God is, to say the very least not very happy with that idea.


I think you guys get where I'm going. Slaves for the Egyptians and the thousands of miracles detailed there to save His people, the handing down of the 10 commandments, etc. The list goes on and on. What is the common thread you see?

God has always been there. He has put all plans into motion. He has seen it all, He has done it all... and somehow I seem to think that I have a better grip on things than He does. Next time you think that you know how to handle things and you've got it all in control: think of the one who's been there from the beginning. The one that has done everything, that sacrificed everything and created everything; and then ask yourself, "Who really knows better?"

Faith exercise...

Greetings!

I would like you to do an exercise. Ready? Get out of your chair.
Seriously... Get out of your chair.

Now hover over it, but don't sit on it. DON'T SIT IN THE CHAIR!

What makes you think it can hold you? After what you've been having for dinner lately, it might break.

But you want to be comfortable at your desk as you read the blog that made you question the integrity of your chair, so you should hover over it... it's the sensible thing to do.

Silly? Of course it is. (I really don't think your chair is going to break so you can sit down now... seriously, they've got engineers and designers that factored the brownie you had last night into the structure and composition of the chair... and the sundae the night before... and the cheesecake before that... please... have a seat.)

Funny thing is: sometimes (or lots of times) our faith in God is like hovering over that chair... we don't rely on the chair for silly nonsensical reasons. God has demonstrated to us in countless ways on countless occasions that we REALLY don't have any control; He does. He's asked us to sit in the chair.

Natalie, please sit down, you're gonna get yourself hurt.  
No, I know, I'm ok I don't need to sit, you don't get it, I really shouldn't sit, I'm just going to get your nice leather seats dirty.
Don't worry about the seats, I got it... I'm GOD... Seriously, sit down... I've got it under control...
I know you're God, but do you really think it's a good idea to go that way? What about going somewhere else?
Natalie...
Sorry, I know... I'd just rather hover, and possibly (or probably) topple over, thanks...

As much as I have control issues, God keeps showing me that He is the one that is in control, and I really need to let go and let God...



Father thank you for tolerating my nonsensical reasoning and faulty logic. Thank you for always bringing me closer to you and making me realize that you are the only one I need to trust. 

Thankful for:

11. Progress in cleaning and purging my environment.

12. Great friends, and great times... because these moments are precious, unique, and there's no getting a do- over. 

13. Movies that make you feel... both good and bad.

14. My dog that insists on stalking me through out my house, because I know one day she won't be able to anymore.

15. Knowing that just because I'm furious, doesn't change how much I love you. (Stolen from movie: One Day) 

Blessings!

I would but...

Salutations Folks!

God gives us so much on a daily basis and at times we tend to take things in a way that we complain. As of recently I've heard myself complain about how much I have to do and how I don't have time for things blah blah blah. This also has begun to bleed into everything else I do, and I do everything in a "tired mindset". I have also told myself that I'm entitled to be tired: How could I not be tired? They do not understand everything I have to do... they do not do as much as I do!

What did I notice in those sentences?
1.  I mention myself three times, others twice, God zero.
2. The word "not" appears three times.
3. The word "do" appears five times.

What did I learn?
1. I think about myself more than I think about others, and I think about myself three times more than I think about God.

2. I cannot. God can.

3. The only real way to live is not to "do" but to "surrender".

This realization has been around a long time... but I tend to "forget" conveniently whenever I want "God" to do things my way. He lovingly guides me back and when that doesn't work He has broken my leg (a few times) to make sure I walk closer to Him.

Today's prayer:
Father, show me your way and tie me down to the passenger seat. Make me trust you and only your guidance because you are my father. Make me continue to work as long as you give me time and energy. Multiply my energy and fervor to work for you or any of your children, because the task will be yours. "If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your Father who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him?" 

Thankful list: 
6. Competing with a 3 year old about who loves the other more.

7. Pets who want to play no matter how tired you are, and how much energy you realize you have when you play with them.

8. Understanding the value of youth while young.

9. Seeing someone smile because they realize you are genuinely proud of them.

10. Rain. 

Thankful

God gives us so much on a daily basis, most, it not all of which, we take for granted.

I am God's daughter, and He has blessed me in ways I can't even understand, and for that I am going to learn, and make pathetic attempts to thank the one that I would be nothing without.

I am going to take Mari's idea and try to come up with at least 1 reason I am thankful daily... and that way I'll have to try to develop this blogging muscle.

1. Seeing people grow, particularly in Christ

2. Learning new things

3. Hugging a toddler knowing you love them more than they can understand

4. Hugging a teenager you've known since they're toddlers knowing that, though they have a better idea, you still love them more than they understand.

5. The ability to love, in spite of a huge lack of rhyme or reason... because I was loved in spite of a substantial lack of rhyme or reason.


My prayer for the night: Father, do not allow my trust to lie in you when I have exhausted other alternatives. Make me seek you first. "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."

Why Adir?

Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might.

This first post is mainly a test more than anything else.

Why Adir?
My slight obsession with Hebrew names in the last few weeks has driven me to look for a name that represents what God has given me: Strength. If there is anything that I can be thankful for today, yesterday, and every other day the Lord decides to give me is that He has given me the strength to bear things that I would not have been able to do without Him. The Lord has given me a strength to move forward and an energy that I can safely say is not my own.

This blog will be a series of rantings and ravings (as my life is, for those that know me), most of which will appear random and in no way related to a previous post. =) Bear with me and comment if you'd like. =)

Psalms 27:1 Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?

Shalom.