Baseball and Fire

For those that know me in the least, you know I'm married to a die hard St. Louis Cardinals fan. When we first got married, I knew nothing about the game. But Eddie has slowly taught me about previous players, different pitches, and stats. Tonight, I sit and watch the game but view it in a different way. Currently, St. Louis is behind in the game. As I hope for a comeback, I think back to previous games. Many times, all it takes is one play to ignite the players. One hit or one home run can be the motivation to make a comeback. Before you know it,  your team is coming from behind and the other players can't wait to get up to bat to have their chance at scoring too.

For me, this is how life is sometimes. Things are just "going" (kind of like baseball) - daily activities become routine and unfortunately things like a daily quiet time and prayer are pushed to the back burner.  But from somewhere comes that spark, some small piece of inspiration to make things more than just routine.  It's usually a song, message, or conversation with a friend that pushes me to look at my life and key in on the important things again. The last few weeks, I have listened to a message by Pastor Steven Furtick called "Sun Stand Still" about 3 or 4 times. (If you haven't heard it, click here. It may just change your life!) Currently, I'm on fire - like when your baseball team is only one run down with the bases loaded and no outs! My prayer is that I can get ahead in the game and not have a chance to lose that momentum. Always look/listen for things that help keep that flame burning. It's a lot easier to keep the fire going, then to re-ignite it if it burns out.

What is it in your life that gives you that spark; helps you to push forward and gives you momentum in life?

When Life Gets Tough

For those of you who know me, you know my faith is pretty important to me. I work for the church I currently attend, volunteer in Kids ministry, love worship music, and try to spend time in the word daily. My relationship with God is a huge part of my life.  I know in my heart He has control over everything, a plan for my life, and will guide me along that path He has set for me.  But I think for all of us that call ourselves Christians, we also have times in our lives when God seems farther away than other times. Like He's there, but more of an "out in space" kind of God watching over us, not that personal right-next-to-me God.  The last week or so,  I've really been struggling in my prayer life because it seems like God is far away. I lift up prayers, but does he really hear them?

Over the last month or 2, I've heard in several different ways "pray as if God has already answered your prayer," "give to God those big 'impossible' requests," and my favorite quote "If the size of your need seems too big for you, it is just the right size for God." It all seems so easy. Except it's not. Have you ever had something in front of you, something you prayed over and over again and it still hasn't been answered? I have a few of those in my life right now. Do you stop praying for it, accepting that it's just "not in God's plan for you"? Do you pray for it even harder? Do you change how you pray for it? I would really like some feedback here because I don't have the answer.

I was talking to a friend recently and he said something that has stuck with me ever since: All you need is a change in perspective.  As I again think about this statement, I feel like it applies here. I feel like God is far away this week, not listening to me. But is He? Absolutely not. Hebrews 13:8 states "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." The same God that heard (and answered) the prayers of all those in the Old Testament is still the same God I pray to today. He's still there, still listening, still willing to help me and guide me. Does that make those big impossible prayers that seem like they are never heard easier to deal with? Absolutely not. But God's word promises me that He loves me and cares for me, and today I'm clinging to that hope.