Divine Apppointments

God is amazing.
I had a "treasure hunt" experience Friday night for the first time in a long time... Those are always really cool to have.
Let me explain what they are...
So, in MC's we learned how to hear God for ourselves and others. And one of the things we would do is pray and ask God for someone He wanted us to encourage or pray for, we would write the list down, then go out and look for them. Without fail, every time I made a list, I would find the person, and be able to encourage, pray for, or challenge that person's subconscious thoughts that said, "God doesn't really care for me..." and show them He does.
So awesome.
So, last night I was at a youth group, and during worship, I noticed this guy that looked like a friend from MC's, and he was kinda standing off by himself. As worship went on, I heard the Lord start to speak to me about him, and He told me to go over and pray for him, his family, and specifically his mom.
After a little hesitation, I went over, spoke with him and learned he just accepted Christ into his life, that he was coming out of a rough place, and his family (and specifically his mom) were still in that rough place. When I say rough, I don't mean having a bad day. Drugs, and broken relationships had played a tragic part in this 20 y.o. man's life and family.
So we prayed right there, in the middle of everything else that was going on, and it was so amazing to see this guy be encouraged that God did have a plan of redemption for him and his family. God will direct him in how to live and bless him with restoration in his life and family, of that I am sure.
So incredible.
On another note, I had an interesting encounter a couple weeks ago.
I work at a medical equipment delivery company, and see tragic situations all the time. Seeing kids who are scarred for life, just lost their parents, plunging them into the middle of a family battle for custody is the norm. Or someone that is bitter with life for where they're at and decides to take it out on us, who are there to make things easier for them.
My heart is torn out each time I see that. I get distracted, and in my frustration I slip into old, bad habits and forget to listen to God, and to live my life at work pleasing to Him.
Despite slipping up, one night while hanging out with a friend from work, he told me, I have a "Christian question" to ask you. He asked, "Why does God make all those kids go through that? What did they do to deserve this? That makes me question Him being good." and to be honest, for a moment, I did not know what to say. I was wrestling with those same questions myself.
After a few moments, I told him, I know that God did not cause those things to happen. I know that he will take them out of the pain and heal them.
From the beginning of time, humanity has chosen sin and things that make us and others suffer, and this has had a lingering effect through the generations. This is what I believe causes so much of the suffering today.
To be honest, I don't know why they have to go through that. I know that suffering produces character as we choose God. I know that God is sovereign, and he measures what we go though so we only experience what we can handle. Just because we don't understand the crap we go through does not mean He is not good. He wants and is creating the best for us.
But still I ask, why them? Will they be able to handle that? Honestly, I dont know. But I trust that He does. All I can do is pray, "God have mercy on them. May Your good desire happen in their life."
The fact is, God has a plan of redemption for all of our lives. A way to move us beyond the mess that, honestly, we got ourselves in, or that life has thrown us.
The fact is, where sin or suffering abounds, His grace (or, ability to exceed divinely) abounds all the more. Every opportunity to fear or worry is an opportunity to trust.
God is a gentleman, and wont force Himself on us. We have but to choose Him, to look for where He's reaching out to us in the mess, how He is calling us up and through, and He will. We have only to allow Him to work in our lives.
I've seen desperate situations turn into grace filled lives. I've been a part of His leading people into joy, peace, and restored relationships. I've experienced it. I saw it happen Friday night. He is good, and is active in every one of our lives. Immanuel. God with us.

I Thirst...

Mother Teresa believed Jesus was thirsty for souls.  She was thirsty for him.  The word Jesus gave her is for us now:

                              

“It is true. I stand at the door of your heart, day and night. Even when you are not listening, even when you doubt it could be Me, I am there. I await even the smallest sign of your response, even the least whispered invitation that will allow Me to enter.  And I want you to know that whenever you invite Me, I do come – always, without fail. Silent and unseen I come, but with infinite power and love, and bringing the many gifts of My Spirit.  I come with My mercy, with My desire to forgive and heal you, and with a love for you beyond your comprehension – a love every bit as great as the love I have received from the Father ("As much as the Father has loved me, I have loved you…" (Jn. 15:10) I come - longing to console you and give you strength, to lift you up and bind all your wounds.

I bring you My light, to dispel your darkness and all your doubts. I come with My power, that I might carry you and all your burdens; with My grace, to touch your heart and transform your life; and My peace I give to still your soul.  I know you through and through. I know everything about you. The very hairs of your head I have numbered. Nothing in your life is unimportant to Me.

I have followed you through the years, and I have always loved you – even in your wanderings. I know every one of your problems. I know your needs and your worries. And yes, I know all your sins.  But I tell you again that I love you – not for what you have or haven’t done – I love you for you, for the beauty and dignity My Father gave you by creating you in His own image. It is a dignity you have often forgotten, a beauty you have tarnished by sin. But I love you as you are, and I have shed My Blood to win you back. If you only ask Me with faith, My grace will touch all that needs changing in your life, and I will give you the strength to free yourself from sin and all its destructive power.

I know what is in your heart – I know your loneliness and all your hurts – the rejections, the judgments, the humiliations, I carried it all before you. And I carried it all for you, so you might share My strength and victory. I know especially your need for love – how you are thirsting to be loved and cherished. But how often have you thirsted in vain, by seeking that love selfishly, striving to fill the emptiness inside you with passing pleasures – with the even greater emptiness of sin. Do you thirst for love? "Come to Me all you who thirst…" (Jn. 7: 37). I will satisfy you and fill you. Do you thirst to be cherished? I cherish you more than you can imagine – to the point of dying on a cross for you.

I Thirst for You. Yes, that is the only way to even begin to describe My love for you.

I THIRST FOR YOU. I thirst to love you and to be loved by you – that is how precious you are to Me. I THIRST FOR YOU. Come to Me, and I will fill your heart and heal your wounds. I will make you a new creation, and give you peace, even in all your trials I THIRST FOR YOU. You must never doubt My mercy, My acceptance of you, My desire to forgive, My longing to bless you and live My life in you. I THIRST FOR YOU. If you feel unimportant in the eyes of the world, that matters not at all. For Me, there is no one any more important in the entire world than you. I THIRST FOR YOU. Open to Me, come to Me, thirst for Me, give me your life – and I will prove to you how important you are to My Heart.

Don’t you realize that My Father already has a perfect plan to transform your life, beginning from this moment? Trust in Me. Ask Me every day to enter and take charge of your life. – and I will. I promise you before My Father in heaven that I will work miracles in your life. Why would I do this? Because I THIRST FOR YOU. All I ask of you is that you entrust yourself to Me completely. I will do all the rest.

Even now I behold the place My Father has prepared for you in My Kingdom. Remember that you are a pilgrim in this life, on a journey home. Sin can never satisfy you, or bring the peace you seek.  All that you have sought outside of Me has only left you more empty, so do not cling to the things of this life.

Above all, do not run from Me when you fall. Come to Me without delay. When you give Me your sins, you gave Me the joy of being your Savior. There is nothing I cannot forgive and heal; so come now, and unburden your soul.

No matter how far you may wander, no matter how often you forget Me, no matter how many crosses you may bear in this life; there is one thing I want you to always remember, one thing that will never change. I THIRST FOR YOU – just as you are. You don’t need to change to believe in My love, for it will be your belief in My love that will change you. You forget Me, and yet I am seeking you every moment of the day – standing at the door of your heart and knocking. Do you find this hard to believe? Then look at the cross, look at My Heart that was pierced for you.  Have you not understood My cross?  Then listen again to the words I spoke there – for they tell you clearly why I endured all this for you: "I THIRST…".  Yes, I thirst for you!  I have never stopped seeking to love you and be loved by you. You have tried many other things in your search for happiness; why not try opening your heart to Me, right now, more than you ever have before.  Whenever you do open the door of your heart, whenever you come close enough, you will hear Me say to you again and again, not in mere human words but in spirit, saying: 

“No matter what you have done, I love you for your own sake.  Come to Me with your misery and your sins, with your troubles and needs, and with all your longing to be loved.  I stand at the door of your heart and knock.  Open to Me, for I THIRST FOR YOU…"

"Jesus is God, therefore His love, His Thirst, is infinite.

He, the creator of the universe, asks for the love of His creatures.
He thirsts for our love… These words: ‘I Thirst’ –
Do they echo in our souls?”

Mother Teresa