more "a praying life."

I have been busy.  By busy I mean I have had to do more than one thing this week!  Forgive me my lack of blogging.

Speaking of Bible Study I'd like to briefly post again on how "A Praying Life" by Paul Miller is changing my life.  If you want to get technical Jesus is changing my life, He's just using this guy Paul.  The chapters that I have been reading have been on gospel stories.  It's a response as to why there is suffering and why some prayers don't get answered.

When the story isn't going your way, ask yourself, "What is God doing?"  Be on the lookout for strange gifts...


Consequently,  gospel stories always have suffering in them.  American Christianity has an allergic reaction to this part of the gospel.  We'd love to hear about God's love for us, but suffering doesn't mesh with our right to the "pursuit of happiness."  So we pray to escape a gospel story, when that is the best gift the Father can give us.

I have a tendency to check out.  When I am not sure where Nick is going to be stationed, when I don't even know where I'll be having this baby, I check out.  Sometimes I even eat McDonald's and don't tell Nick.  Instead I need to check in and prayerfully live my life.  What is God trying to do here?  What part of His story is He weaving in my life right now?  Just because God is silent in this part of my life, doesn't mean He isn't working somewhere else.

Paul Miller uses the illustration of Joseph.  Remember Joseph?  Brothers stole his coat off his back and covered it in goat blood and said "Hey Dad!  Joseph's dead.  Bummer."
Joseph catches a break.  Then his perverted employer's wife tries to molest him, steals the coat off of his back and says "Hey Potipher?  Joseph's a molester!  He should go to jail."
Then Joseph saves all of Egypt.  God had a plan.

Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?  As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant if for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.  So do not fear"  
Gen 50:19-20