Not trusting in God but looking for hope in others is #fail

Isaiah 30:12-17New Living Translation (NLT)

This is the reply of the Holy One of Israel:

“Because you despise what I tell you  and trust instead in oppression and lies, calamity will come upon you suddenly—  like a bulging wall that bursts and falls. In an instant it will collapse and come crashing down. You will be smashed like a piece of pottery— shattered so completely that there won’t be a piece big enough to carry coals from a fireplace or a little water from the well.” 

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only in returning to me  and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. You said, ‘No, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.’ But the only swiftness you are going to see is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you! One of them will chase a thousand of you. Five of them will make all of you flee. You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.”

I read these verses today and was hit at how trusting in the wrong things I and the world can be.  Last night in youth group we talked a little bit about how we are influenced by the "truths" that the world tries to tell us instead of the Bible.  How we will even justify what things are right and wrong, but never look to the Bible or God about it.  It is scary to think sometimes we trust and hope in what someone says instead of finding it out through the truth aka The Bible and God.  WHY?!?!?!?   Time and time again in the Bible we see that is a bad idea. Read the book of Judges and you will see...even in this verse!

I laugh at the part in the passage when it gets to the Egyptians.  "Hey God you are cool and all, but I want to get help in my time of need from these Egyptians.  They are a powerful nation and look they have these awesome horses to even help us in our battle.  Don't really need You when we got swift horses!"  Haha, now this is me being dumb with what I read in the verse, but it has a little truth.  They would rather rely on the strength of the Egyptians for their time of battle versus the power of God!  A powerful nation vs. God...God always wins!

So are you trusting in the truth God tells us in the Bible or are you despising it by allowing your life to be influenced by a powerful nation like America or the oppression and lies of the world?  Return to God and rest in Him...it will be great for you :)

Seeing God through the Gift of a Baseball.

While I was packing I unpacked one of my favorite gifts!  A dirty used baseball signed by Thomas!  Now that might not seem much, but this gift taught me to give with a loving heart...even if it is something you love.  I was in Quito Ecuador doing a mission trip at Alliance Academy International helping out in the chapel all week long.  We taught kids how to pray...more than bedtime prayers and prayers at meal times.  But during this week it was my birthday!  So I didn't tell the kids this, but they found out from the teachers who had been praying for us by name before we came and they had my birthday from my form.  Well the day of my birthday I was given gifts from a lot of kids.  I got drawn pictures, a painting, a lot of hugs and then this baseball.  Thomas gave me the ball and told me it was one of his favorite balls and he wanted me to have it on my birthday.  I felt so blessed and had him sign it.  So I now keep it around...not so much to play with, but to remind me to give from my heart and to be selfless about my giving too.

Acts 20: 32-35
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

It is more blessed to give than receive.  We are told to give to the poor and help the needy.  Thomas helped me by giving me a joyful day and blessing me forever with the thought of giving selflessly.  Just like Paul worked hard to support himself, but also gave and received from many.  He was blessed and loved in that since.  So show how much you love and care for others this week.  Maybe give a little bit of your time to listen or buy someone coffee this week.  Buy the person behind you their meal...etc etc.  Give and you will be blessed!  That is what I was reminded of this week.