Sunday, November 20, 2011

Details

I want you to know something. I have been thinking about you...yes YOU. I've been thinking about how you think. More specifically what you think- about who God is, and who you are to Him. Do you think that God cares about you? Do you think you matter to him? Let’s dig a little deeper- do you think He cares about the seemingly insignificant things in your life? What about the little things that that bring you joy, or pain, triumph or defeat. Lets be honest, do you think that GOD is really just out there floating around like some overwhelmed and defeated dictator that has lost count of his creations, or worse that He is indifferent? Or is He really an intimately acquainted craftsman who cares about the seemingly little things, like football games, and failed recipes? Like achieved goals and tough emotions. I believe the answer He cares about each detail, but perhaps it's not in the same way that we care. Maybe it is not in the outcome of the game, but instead in the outcome of each person’s heart. I overheard a conversation the other day that rolled around in my head for more than a few breaths. The snidely executed comments not only questioned whether God could be bothered by a football game, but further implied that “Tebowing” (the act of taking a knee in reverence to God after a play, which is named after Denver Broncos Quarterback Tim Tebow)is both ridiculous and showing off. With all of the foul mouth comments and pelvic thrusting we often see- I can see how this would be offensive...um, not. Some people don't have a problem with it,and maybe it's not that big a deal, but more times than I care to admit have I have heard people assume that whatever they were thinking, going through or wondering about- was not significant enough to talk to or thank God about. PEOPLE! Why have we assumed that He does not care about these things? I believe He cares about every outcome of every game, every movement resulting in an injury or strength and every labored breath. I believe that every desire and struggle is known by God, and that it matters. You matter. Perhaps it’s not why it matters to you though. It isn’t because of the stats or records that might be made, but instead in the story of each person who lives it, and in the story of how they might glorify their maker. If you recall Newton’s third law of physics, you know that for every action there is a reaction.(Yes I know there's more to it, but run with me for a minute) This includes breath, struggle, thoughts, choices, and even footballs games. That being the case- every action matters! But He is so much greater that it isn't just what we do that matters, but what we are. It says in Luke 12:7 , that God “knows the number of hairs on our head”. Friend these fall out without us even our noticing- But He does. It says in Mark 6:26 he cares for the birds in the sky enough to prepare food, water and shelter for them. He has even thought to “clothe the flowers” (as said in Mat 6:28) in such a glorious ways… how much more for you? Why? Because He is a God of details. If He dresses the Cherry blossom with such majesty, only for its beauty to fade in a week…if He cares enough to count every hair on your head, to clothe and feed every “insignificant” thing on this earth…these seemingly unimportant things, then how much more do the successes, failures and ensuing stories of the beings created in His image matter? Each story is of such great value. Every hurt, fear and failure; every joy, desire and success is interlaced with His purpose, plan and glory. He is a GOD that brings a desperate but still wistful girl, a treasured gift baby doll to care for, from a stranger, thousands of miles away. He is a God that provides a stranger with kind words to an aching heart. He is a God that gives you a dream and provides what is needed to fulfill it. He cares for each of these details not just because it makes you feel better, but because there is a greater plan who’s plot and characters are intricately interwoven at the most intimate and delicately minuscule levels. This why each action; each word that is uttered is so important. His caring and consideration is never changing, but instead It is us who must choose whether or not to give him the credit for the good that will eventually come…regardless of the immediate outcome. It is us who must choose to thank Him for every joyful moment, as well as the growth that comes from every difficult one. If God cares enough to create my body in such a way as to give me each and every breath- then I thank Him for each breath, and every second, and everything as well. God doesn't want you to come with only "the big stuff" - that's like only ever speaking to your Mom or Dad when you get a thrown in jail! Or only having a conversation with your spouse when the bills will get paid. Relationships CAN'T thrive like that. God wants a relationship, not just convenient co-dependance. He wants a conversation, an intimate exchange of talking and listening. He wants to hear and help you with each and every detail. But like when my own kids want something that I know they want, but are unwilling to ask or listen, God waits. He waits for us to ask, seek, rely, be brave enough to submit. Even in this (sometimes frustrating) action, we are growing and being built up for better. Every lesson, every touchdown, every breath...matters.

2 comments:

  1. Pastor Jamie is preachin' on this blog post! Go on ahead, keep preachin! Yes, yes and amen! I love how you approached this idea and integrated scripture about the details of hairs on a head, food for the birds and design for flowers. Seems like the more we truly focus on God the more our story really is about His story.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Haaha..thanks for the support Coach. The feedback is always appreciated! It is hard sometimes to step outside of our own heads and remember that it's not just our story...but His story ...which includes His story of us.

    ReplyDelete