Being "Dealt" With.

Francis Chan's Crazy Love is a book you need to read. Period. 

As we've walked through the chapters of this book together in our Young Adult's group, my life has been affected. Particularly last week. Something Francis Chan said sparked a conversation with the Lord that I'm sure He has been patiently waiting to have with me. (Sometimes, He has to wait to say difficult things to us; I couldn't have handled His loving correction in the matter any earlier.)

Chan said:  "When you pray, your prayers are heard by the same God who answered Moses' prayer for water in the desert, the God who gave Abraham and his barren wife a son, the God who made the slave Joseph second in power only to Pharaoh." 

I laid the book down and God-conversation ensued. The last of the exchange?:

Me:  Yes, You are the same God. Thank you. You're so faithful. But then, why do I not see the same, outward, world-shaking miracles they saw? Fire from above...People raised from the dead...

Jesus:  Because, often, you're not willing to make the sacrifices they made.

...silence...

Am I willing to make these sacrifices? When I look deeply into my heart of hearts, I'm not sure. Giving up comfort, love, satisfaction, safety...the "givens" for me as an American, is a challenge. Of course I should be comfortable. God wants that for me right? Of course I should be surrounded by people who love me! Clearly my health should be good. Financial abundance in constant flow. The ability to do what I want, when I want. Life to the full! Right??? That is what He meant by life more abundant...isn't it?...

I have been challenged:  Do I have a sense of entitlement when it comes to God? As if He owes me happiness and all the basic necessities of life? He owes me nothing. The fact that He has obligated Himself to me is a different matter, entirely.

I'm pretty sure God loved Paul. A lot. 

Paul said:  Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. - (emphasis mine). 

Isn't it incredible to serve an Almighty God of the universe Who owes us nothing yet supplies us with every, single thing we need? And, the coolest part is, when I make the sacrifices, the things hardest for me to hand over to Him, I really do get to see the miracles:  manna from heaven, waters parting, dead dreams brought back to life...