Let's Become Uncomfortable

Pastor Ryan at Eastlake this morning said this,

"Obedience is often at odds with convenience."

The first thing that popped into my mind was Jesus death on the cross. Crucifixion was a horrible, humiliating way to die. Convenient? The farthest thing from it. It took obedience to the Father for Jesus to make that sacrifice.

Sometimes I start forgetting that Jesus himself questioned what His Father was doing. It's easy to put Jesus in this position and think that He was just completely okay with what was going to happen. That is crazy of us to think. Who would be completely okay with that kind of humiliation and suffering? No, Jesus himself questioned it.

" My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
Matthew 26:39

Jesus prayed this three times before his arrest and sentence to death. He knew what was in store, He pleaded for another way out. It's not this part that should shock us, it's the second part. "Yet not as I will, but as you will."

That's obedience.

"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!"
Philippians 2:8

"Obedience is often at odds with convenience."

When compared to what Jesus did out of obedience to God, our obedience to God is shameful. We push aside any undesirable calling from God in our lives. We think only about ourselves and our well being. It is shameful. We are called to be obedient to our Father in heaven. To become uncomfortable, and suffer, and through it all find joy and contentment in Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior, our provider and comforter.

Let us listen to that pushing and shoving of the Spirit in our hearts and face the things God brings into the light. Be obedient to that voice.

It's Just Tough

It is so difficult to bring out that joy deep inside you when you don't even really feel alive. I don't mean that I feel dead...just, not that "high on life" alive. Ya know? It's funny because, I know that these dry stages in my life happen over, and over, and over, and over. It's always the same. Usually, directly before these "dry times" I go through some amazing moments of relationship with God, and then feel as if all the other times that don't look exactly like the previous are "dry times." But seriously how lame is that!?

God does not change!
My life circumstances will ALWAYS change.
I am not always happy.
I am not always okay.
Yet God never changes. I can find comfort in that.

I have been learning a lot in classes lately about the "emotional" side of our relationship with God. How we run into a lot of problems when we base our relationship entirely off that. And I agree. When we view God entirely as this being that exists to make us happy, we don't allow thoughts of a sovereign, holy God into our minds. But those are two very true characteristics of God that I must remember.
Life simply just sucks sometimes.
What I can find hope in though, is the promise God has given me through Jesus' death. Eternal living in joy and peace and unity with our God.
Ya life sucks.
But it's not always going to be like this :)

" Do not lose heart! Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our fight and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18