A Simple Faith

Why in the crazy of life, and frantic schedules, do we lose the simplicity of faith?
We hold our heads high basking in our wisdom of big words and elaborate explanations. We lose the simple knowledge of faith from a child's heart.
 God is good is only a phrase at the beginning of our meal, losing the power. And Jesus loves me is a song we've heard one too many times. We're ready for more.
But God is good, and this is something that needs to be understood and held onto. Sometimes trying to make a child understand who God is, helps you see more clearly. We get blinded by the names we assign to God, and we fail to see who He really is. We tell the children he is mighty, and he created the stars and the universe. We tell them, he takes a dirty heart and washes it white as snow. We say that He has the power to bring fire to logs that are soaked, not flammable. We tell them of a man named Zaccheaus who longed to see Jesus, but he was already seen. We tell the story of a broken, sinful woman who was forgiven of her sins. But do we understand the AWEsome power in these stories? Do we realize that with one word, one thought, one breath, God really did create every light in the sky, every planet miles about our heads? Do we understand that Jesus stepped into our putrid, sinful world, and instead of being rightfully disgusted, he turned to us with eyes of compassion? Do we comprehend that after he offered this compassion, he allowed the men He came to save drive nails into his hands, and beat Him until his bones were showing, and there was barely any blood pulsing through his broken body? Do we understand that this blood was drained to make us clean forever? Do we get the fact that our God is so incredibly awesome and powerful that he sent fire from heaven to prove Him God? To prove to the people that He had revealed himself again and again that He was still God? That their worthless idols could care less about the sacrifices they offered? Do we realize that Jesus looked at a hungry, sinful man, hated and despised, and ate dinner with Him? He saw what the crowd didn't, He loved who the crowd loathed. He forgave the unforgivable. He saved the dead. Do we understand that Jesus knows everything about us, our darkest secrets, and still he offers us the Living Water to make us whole again?
I don't think we understand this. Because if we did, we would forever live in debt. We wouldn't struggle with jealousy. We wouldn't hopelessly try and figure out our 'calling,' because we would know that all we were ever meant to do was love as Jesus would. We would know that God's will for our life is to be a light in a very dark place. To shine so bright that people would know that we belong to Him. If we understood this, if we really wrapped our tiny brains around this endless truth, I think our world would be a far different place.
I caught a glimpse of that place in Cherokee, North Carolina, when these were the lessons we taught the kids, and God taught us that He is good in their response and their playful games, and that He is good when we feared the death of one we loved and too many tears fell one Thursday evening after service. God is good in our tears and in our joys. God is good in our love and in our failures. God is good, despite the brokenness of the homes and of the children of Cherokee. Because our God is a God who can move mountains, but instead He's moving the people in the Cherokee mountains. He's moving the mountains of hurt in their hearts, so they can feel his love. We serve an awesome God. We serve a good God. God taught me that He loves his children so much. So much more than I could ever love them, that separation is hard, but God loves them so much more and they are in His hands and I need not worry.
I wonder if I fully understood this truth if everyday would be filled with as much love and passion as a missions trip is. I wonder if we could bring back the unity that was shared, if we could pray together more often, if each face with came into contact with was just as special as the ones in North Carolina. I wonder if we took the advice of an old Cherokee man to heart, just how different we would be. He said "Sometimes the best prayer you can say is 'Thank you.' And mean it. Because we have the moments. We only have the moments." If we took advantage of each of those moments, our world might see so much more Jesus. I want to live with the simplicity of the message of God is good and Jesus loves me, and I want the world to taste and I want the world to see that He is good. All the time.

Restless

So restless. Because I do and never stop. So restless. Because when I stop my heart is still racing the speed of light. So restless. Because rest is just too hard. So restless. Because I want what I've done to be seen. I am restless until I rest in Him..;

Luke 10:28-42 "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Mary has chosen what is better. Mary has chosen rest. Mary has chosen to bask in the wisdom, in the love, in the presence of God himself. Mary has chosen grace. I want to be Mary.
But I run so much, I love the feel of the wind on my face as I constantly do. I work so hard, I build such a facade, I wear such a stiff mask. I am Mary. I am distracted by everything that must be done, everything I want to do in the short span of 24 hours in a day. I thank God for the gifts he's given me. For friendship, for love, for a house, for my faith. But I fail to ask him for the greatest gift he can offer me. I fail to thank him and bask in that gift. Luke 11:13 says "how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" The greatest gift he has offered me is Himself, and I go so long without asking for it. I make it so far without holding this gift close to my heart. But He is the greatest gift. Mary had understood this, Mary basked in this, and Mary had faith.
Lord, help me be like Mary. Give me more of you.


Audrey Assad could not have said this any better..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ive-zxmqk3Q