Be Careful What You Ask For (Hurricane Gustav Blog)

My power is out and I'm actually a little excited (I'm on a little out of town hiatus for my family reunion). Last month, my light bill was so high. And I was upset, because I am rarely home. I ride the bus and have 2 jobs. Clearly my water heater and fridge use a lot of electricity, or Brother Man (from Martin) comes through my window when I'm not home and uses my electricity and cable…I had to laugh; I said to God, "You have a funny way of answering prayers." My light bill may be none existent next month! Praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow. This thought reminded me of that old saying, "be careful what you ask from, because you just might get it." Before you think you know what I mean read on…That saying made me think about Matthew 7-11.

"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!"

Whenever people tell me to be careful what I ask for, I always say that God knows my heart. I know God knows when I am frustrated and He knows what I really mean no matter what I say. More importantly I know God knows and has what's best for me. Matthew reminds me that if I ask my mom for bread or meat, she gives it to me! She doesn't give me something that will hurt me and my mom is imperfect! My mom is a human who misses the mark occasionally. If even my imperfect mother knows how to give good gifts to her child, oh hallelujah, how much more does my perfect God have in store for me? Some of you may be frustrated because something or someone took something away from you; you may even be upset because you THINK someone is withholding something that was rightfully yours (shoot I am, just to be honest. Those of you who talk to me regularly know my issues, please continue praying for me in those matters), but just remember that God knows how to give good gifts and if you ask for something he won't try to trick or hurt you.

This Little Light of Mine (Hurricane Gustav Blog)

Friday morning the light of my cell phone served as my beacon. After spending a week sleeping at my place of employment a coworker drove me home to confirm my suspicions, Hurricane Gustav knocked my power out. Frustrated with spending nights curled up in ball on a hard floor amidst endless hustle and bustle, I decided to sleep at home anyway.

I took a cold shower (electric water heater) praising God for running water, cleaned up a little, and lie down to rest with no plan of how to get back to work in the morning. I woke up and called a coworker who graciously agreed to pick me up.

Now as you may imagine, the power on my entire block (and several neighboring blocks) is out, which means no street lights. So I stood outside waiting for my chariot. I noticed a truck driving down the street slowly, as though it were lost, so I said t myself, "Maybe that's Andrea." I immediately called her on my cell phone and asked if she was driving a truck. It was her! So I held up my cell phone and waved it to signal her, and she saw me. I didn't even tell her I was waving my cell phone, she instinctively followed the light! This excited me immensely! It reminded me of the song we all know and love, "This little light of mine".

Take a minute to hum it. The song says, "this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine...every where I go, I'm gonna let it shine. In my neighborhood, I'm gonna let it shine."

What if I decided to stand there and panic, or jump up and down? She would have never found me. Scripture says in Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." We all have a light. Light can also become ineffective. How? By being hidden and light is meant to be seen so that we can see.The purpose of lighting a lamp was so everyone could see.Hiding your light defeats the purpose of light.Therefore, you would be abusing light! Back in the day cities were usually built on top of hills and could be seen for miles there's no way to hide a city on a hill (unless you destroy it). I don't want my light destroyed nor do I want my light abused so when I see someone lost or in distress I plan to wave my little light light crazy to point them in the right direction!

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

--Marianne Williamson--

"...pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up"

I am up a little early and a little upset. Without going into too much detail, some people who I thought should be there for me weren't....the thing I needed was so simple and no one tried to give it to me. But that seems to be the story of my life...anyway So in my frustration I was thinking..."do I really need people?" The world tells us we don't...but what does God say. The first scripture that came to mind for me was Ecclesiastes 4:10 "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!"...

Pity the fool!

Those of you who know me, know that I love words so let's look at the word pity...pity implies tender or sometimes slightly contemptuous sorrow for one in misery or distress. So a man who doesn't have anyone to help him up is in misery or distress! (***1***I typed an entry from the international standard Bible encyclopedia below)

let's cuddle

Anyway Ecclesiastes goes on to say "Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?" I don't think Solomon is only talking about body heat...but let's talk about keeping warm. I like to cuddle...(lol, let's just throw that out there, but stay on track guys). Hugging a pillow, or even a blanket isn't the same as cuddling with another warm body. You get warmer faster. We generate something more by being close to others. Whenever I work in a group I feel something special...the work seems to go faster, and most times it doesn't even seem like work...we churn up love, loyalty, energy...we spark new ideas, it's magic. And no matter who holds on the tightest everyone is putting in equal parts to get things heated...lol. IDK...I could be off track but that's how I see it.

looking out for who?

"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." When two or more people commit to one another, , we have greater protection. People tend not to bother groups. We see this in school...the bully picks on the nerd (for lack of a better term) who sticks to himself, not the clique....

I don't know...the bottom line guys is that technically, all we need is God, but, God works through the body of Christ to build up and strengthen us....he sent the disciples in twos...he said that it is not good for man to be alone and gave Adam his Eve...working and being with others builds us...it builds us even when it tears us down...so I guess I do need people (which I knew...but just needed some comfort and confirmation)....***shrug***

***1***"Pity," probably contracted from "piety," is tender feeling for others in misery or distress. It is allied to compassion, but differs in respect of the object that causes the distress. The feeling of pity is excited chiefly by the weakness, miserable or degraded condition of the object; compassion by his uncontrollable and inevitable misfortunes