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Wednesday, January 12, 2011

If God is bigger...

Recently, I read something that truly made me THINK

This is a story about a little girl who, on the way home from church, turned to her mother and said, “Mommy, the Preacher’s sermon this morning confused me.” 

The mother said, “Oh! Why is that?” 

The girl replied, “Well, he said that God is bigger than we are.  Is that true?”

“Yes, that’s true,” the mother replied.

“He also said that God lives within us.  Is that true, too?”

Again the mother replied, “Yes.”

“Well,” said the girl. “If God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?”


So, my question to you and to myself is this, does God show through?   I am ashamed to admit there are many times that I know for a fact that it's not God showing through in me.  I have a tendancy to get upset when things don't go my way. 

Think about when you go to the doctor.  If you don't go at least once a year, they will always have you fill out a new paper with your 'current' information.  If you are like me, your information doesn't change very often.  I mean, I have lived in the same house for 23 years...why do I need to fill out a new form just to tell you it's all the same?  When I get huffy with the receptionist, is God showing through?  I think not.

At the gas station, if I want to fill my car up and am paying cash, I have to go inside the station, tell the attendant I want to fill up.  They won't just turn on the pump...no, I have to give them money.  Well, how do I know how much gas it is going to take to fill up the car?  So, I have to give them too much money and then make another trip back into the station to get my change!  When I get huffy about it, is God showing through?  Again, I think not.

I have a lot of work to do if I want to let God show through in everything I do.  I say that I want to reflect His love in my life, but I fail so miserably.  I guess I need to hit my knees a little more and ask God for His guidance! 

"...Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,"  James 1:19

I don't know if any of you struggle with this, but I certainly do.  I have a philosophy that I live by...Walk the walk of the talk you talk so well.  I'm not always quick to listen; I am not always slow to speak and I am most definitely not always slow to anger!  I guess I need to take a long, hard look at myself in the spiritual mirror.  James also tells us in verse 8 of chapter 1 that "A double-minded man [is] unstable in all his ways."  I refuse to let the enemy defeat me...I will not be double-minded.  I WILL walk the walk of the talk I talk!



8 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow! That was a little convicting. If God is in me, than He should shine through me. I think I have some work to do.
Thanks for this great post!

Phather Phil Malmstrom said...

I love that quote from James Debi... Wonderful choice.

We're all guilty of not showing God's Love to those around us now and again.

Some time back, my son Jonathan was acting up during a ride to school and I asked him "What would Jesus think of your behavior if he was sitting next to you?". Later on that week, I caught myself getting rapidly frustrated with a situation at work, and my own words shot back into my head. Since then, I've tried to remember to use that "Divine Litmus Test" when I feel myself slipping into a negative attitude. I don't always catch it, or pass the test but like us all I'm a work in progress. :-)

Thank you for a wonderful reminder, and Have a Blessed Day!

Jenifer Metzger said...

Great post! Really made me think. I want God to show through me at all times, something I think I need to work on.

Deane said...

My goodness you do have a way of convicting someone, don't you? I had better look at that mirror also as I know there are plenty of times Jesus doesn't shine through. Thank you so much for the great reminder, I needed it.

Dave said...

Boy did you step on toes today, boy I sure needed that

Kelli said...

"Well,” said the girl. “If God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?” I love this! So cute!

Dakota said...

Hey, I just came across your blog by doing a bit of blog-surfing, and I'm glad I did! I've added myself as your newest follower, and I hope you'll check out my Christian devotional site as well: www.nocondemnation81.blogspot.com

Have a blessed day!

In Christ,
Dakota

Unknown said...

Honestly, I don't know many people who don't struggle with this. Take heart, you are not alone.

Christiana