Closed doors.

Closed doors don't really hide anything.
Not really.
Not from the One who sees everything anyway. Maybe they make us feel better, give us this false sense of "If I can't see it, it isn't there."
Too bad it doesn't work like that. All the pain, the misunderstanding. All the fear and worry, or whatever it is that you've got behind your closed doors? It's still there whether you can see it or not.


So why not face it? When it's all screaming at you..scream back. Fight keeping it all hidden away inside you, because that won't help either. Fight. Don't wrench open that door before you prepare yourself..put on the Armor of Christ and go to freaking town on whatever is behind your door.
Stop sitting in the hallway, wishing away all the things you've tried to keep from God. From yourself. It won't go away like that, I promise.


Not to say God will make it go away. Oh, how sometimes I wish it were that simple. But I do not belong to a simple God. Things may not dissapear. It might even get harder.
But at least you'll be able to see what you're facing. And whatever you're facing can see the massive power behind you.


Open the door.
It's scary. Trust me, I know all about scary. But God finds strength in all my weaknesses. He'll take the scary and use it. But you have to try.
I have to try, every day.


But every day I do, it's worth it.


"Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:19, 20 ESV)

I remember how You found me.

Where does the time go?

It seems that after repeating this question so many times I'd have realized that there really isn't an answer.

So why not live one day at a time? I don't mean that one shouldn't plan for the future, only that the future, and whatever it may turn out to be, shouldn't mess up our present, right?

Should the fear of what will happen stop us from acknowledging what is happening right now?

Sorry I don't make much sense. I blame the time change, it's got me all turned around.

        My weekend has been beyond words. I spent Friday with people that I love, Saturday with more fantastic people, and today hasn't dissapointed either.

It's "All Saints" Sunday in the Methodist church.

...

        I'm going to go off on a tangent for a moment and explain my denomination situation to those of you who don't know, okay?

My father is a member of the Church of Christ, and my mother is Methodist. I'm technically a member of the Church of Christ..I was baptized there (August 23rd, 2008), and I claim it. However, I'm still affiliated with the Methodist church. I go to youth there, and to the main church service with my mama occasionally.

I agree with most of the Chruch of Christ's doctrines and practices, not all, but most. But I still sing in the Methodist church's choir when I go there. Mixed up? Not really. I'm more of a melting pot of the two denominations.

But anyway!

...

All Saints Sunday.

        A day of remembering the people from the Church who have passed away and are now saints. I think that as soon as a person becomes a Christian, that person is a saint. But I still am okay with the idea of the Sunday.I cried, of course. I'm an emotional type person. I see people crying and I cry. I can just think of someone crying and..yep, you guessed it. I'll cry.

       My emotions get ahead of my brain sometimes. That's why I'm so afraid of relationships or making important decisions. But I digress.

     The naming of my brothers and sisters in Christ who had gone on to see Him just got to me. But I think of what joy Heaven will be! No worries, no second guessing. All Jesus, all the time. That feeling I get when I'm praising super hard? It'll be there times forty, for forever. I'm pumped.

        People won't be stressing about the government, other people, or anything else because there won't be any stress at all. For someone like me who makes everything a big deal in her head, that's a phenomenal thing to look forward to.

But I'm realizing more and more lately that I can have a glimpse of Heaven on this earth. When I can see God at work everywhere, it's pretty mind blowing.

       I'm gonna brag on somebody here, you know who you are. I've seen this guy come from being lost and stumbling around, to being so on fire for Almighty God that people can't help but to notice. He's taking hardships from his peers and from his family and he's still doing the very best he can.

Inspiration, right there. Seeing someone so devoted to taking up his cross every single day? I mean.

Winning.

        How can you not see God in that? What other explanation is there? None. All the unexpectedness of life that turns into greatness..just another example of every good and perfect thing coming from God.

So when unexpected things happen, look for God. He's got it figured out, even when we don't.

Looking,

Anna