Where IS God...in my Facebook life?

Something that really irritates me are these "Christian" fan pictures. Typically they have some picture of Jesus, or an angel, or some creeping looking Satan and fire going on with some text along the lines of "Click Like/Share if you love God...keep scrolling if you love Satan". First of all, that is outrageous. Secondly, I am never going to Like or (help us all) Share a picture like that ever! And thirdly, I love God with all my heart and as for Satan, no. The thought of loving him is disturbing. 

When I scroll past those dreadful pictures on my Facebook News Feed, why am I cringing? Well, it's for several reasons. Partially it is because the pictures give me an unsettling guilt for not clicking the Like button. I feel guilty because I have scrolled. I feel guilty, but it is a fake man made guilt...not a guilt that God, Himself had put in my conscience. I am angered because some person, a human being has made me feel bad about my relationship with Christ.

This isn't what Christianity is all about. This is not loving God. This is pointless spam. But it seems that to some, this is where "Facebook Christianity" is at. It is as ridiculous as those chain mail things that say: "Send this friendship poem to five friends within the next two hours or else you will die" ...like no...come on now...don't be stupid.

I think social networking sites such as Facebook and Blogger are great for bringing people together in the Christian community. It's cool to even have Facebook groups such as: "Let's get all Christians in one group!!" because it makes you feel not alien even if you are the one and only person in your school or workplace who believes in God. But even aside from that, Facebooking about God and His love should not be a superficial, manipulated click of a button. A relationship with God is not a click of a button...it's true, genuine, real and something you should actually want to Share.

Where IS God...in the trials of my life?

It can be hard to see how God could possibly be at work in our lives and be on our side when life straight up sucks. When we wake up in the morning we have no idea what sort of twists and turns our day will bring. I think the term "God is testing you" has become washed up, one dimensional, and just a very stupid and hurtful answer to give to someone who is hurting. Also, what does that even really mean, God is "testing" me? Isn't our entire life on earth a bit of a test? What's so special about now?

In the times when absolutely nothing is going right, I think the best thing to do is focus on 

Galatians 5:22-23 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." 

Multiple times throughout the Bible there is a focus on these characteristics, so there really must be something to them!

Philippians 4:4-7 really expands on the fruit of the spirit.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Although we will not always be "happy" we can be filled with the joy of Christ. I know and am at peace with the knowledge that everyone and everything is in God's hands. Sure I love to be in control and know who, what, when, where, why and how about everything...but more often than not I don't know, and don't know best, and I can't possibly have any control over these situations in my life. And who am I to say or do anything anyways? I happily rest everything in God's hands because I know He knows best! I have so much to rejoice about!

Matthew 6:25-27, 33-34

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Then in Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous, do not tremble or be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go!"

God clearly doesn't want us to worry about the problems in our life. If we commit everything to Him and seek after Him, we will be filled with a peace and joy that we won't be able to perfectly explain. Patience is something that can be incredibly hard to have. People irritate us, circumstances unravel us and then we remember...

Proverbs 10:28 

"The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing." 

Proverbs 14:29-30 

"A patient man has great understanding, but a quick tempered man displays folly. A heart of peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." 

and Proverbs 15:1 

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh word stirs up anger."

Back to the whole "testing us" thing...although we may not know exactly what God is looking for from us right away, we can focus our thoughts on striving to have the characteristics of the fruit of the spirt because with those we are on the right track for serving our Lord.

Galatians 5:23, 18

"Against such things there is no law.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."

Where IS God...in my life?

That is a pretty crazy question for anyone to answer. Sure, any Christian can give a superficial ten second answer: "I look around and see all of creation" ...but honestly...where IS God in my life? Personally, I know and believe that God is in my life, but what does that even mean on a deeper level? I've grown up in a Christian home, gone to church all my life, when I was four I asked Jesus to come into my heart, and I have always been extremely open about my faith...but when I examine myself and look at how God is in my life TODAY and try to write it down, I'm not always very satisfied with what I come up with.

Something I have always craved to have is a deep and meaningful relationship with Christ. I want to grow as a Christian. I want to know my way around the Bible. But do I read my Bible every day? No. I've been a Christian for fourteen years and have I read the Bible from cover to cover? No. So I want to seek God's face...yet I don't even take an extreme effort to study His Word? I owe Him my life and my well being...yet I always focus on my life rather than His.

I like to imagine that God is a physically there person standing in my house with a Bible in His hand. I'll be standing in the basement folding laundry and I'll get a text from my friends asking me to go hang out. I accept and say, "Hey, uh God...could you take this stack of clothes up to my room for me? I'm going to go out, but I'll be back soon. Don't go anywhere!!" 

And of course God never will leave or forsake me...even when I use Him for every little petty thing in my life. Nothing is too little or too big for God to deal with and He loves it when we call out to Him for help...but it is ridiculous to only ask Him for things when He's already given me the hope and freedom of eternal life in heaven when I die. It's so important to remember to thank God for everything, make time to go and be alone with Him, and get to know the Saviour of the world. He's my friend and I need to treat Him like one!

I put God off. It's as simple as that. I don't know where you stand, but I'm sure I'm not alone in this.

Kinnie Koala . . . 2012

I started blogging way back in 2005 but I was never very consistent with it. One reason that I haven't resumed posting in the past few years is because this blog has a lot of history...a history which I don't want to be sharing with the whole world anymore. Some of the posts would have been what I guess you could call "quirky" for an eleven-year-old...but...well...I really don't need to be reliving those days.

Although the colours, the template and the posting style has varied over the past eight years, one thing has stayed very much the same, and that would be the blog's motto: "Kinnie Koala...I want to cling onto God like a koala clings onto a tree". 

For the past couple of days I've been writing posts with the themed topic, "Where IS God?". I think this is something that a lot of people think about and struggle with so I'm going to write on my take of it and some other related stuff. I'll be writing for my own benefit and personal reflection, but having readers and comments are always a joy!

I'm making a fresh start in the blogging world and I'm so excited!

Kinza