I was Blind but now I See

Last night at High School Summer Nights we watched the second part of Louie Giglio's video: Hope When Life Hurts Most. He talked about how suffering is amplifies our message. Everyone has a life message. When suffering hits, our message is shouted out like a megaphone to those around us. He talked about the self-preservation person. The one who cares about getting as far down the road in the best shape possible without sickness and tragedy...they want this for themselves and for their family. But what happens when trouble, death, and sickness does come? They hit a wall. They question the goodness and even the existence of God. Their ultimate goal in life has been destroyed and they have no control. He talked about though if our ultimate goal is glorifying God. If we trade up our self-preservation goal for something bigger than at the end we can still say God is good. It reminds me of the story of the blind man in John 9. The disciples are asking Jesus why a certain blind man was born blind. They asked if it was his sin or his parent's sin that led him to this point. Jesus answered that it was neither his nor his parents sin. Rather, he was born blind "so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." This man's suffering could become a megaphone and an amplifier for Jesus Christ. Had this man not been born blind, how could we see Jesus work a miracle and give him his sight? Suffering amplifies our message. I pray now in the calm that when the storms come I might be a megaphone and amplify that God is good. God is good despite our circumstances. God is good despite our losses. God is always good.

Working Through Things

I swear I'm not a hippee. I also swear I don't condone murderer. I believe in justice. But I am a little overwhelmed by all the true burning hate everyone in the world feels towards Casey Anthony. Now if all that I read on Twitter and Facebook were about wanting justice for Caylee Anthony, I would understand so much more. But not a word about Caylee. Not a single word for her and her gruesome death. Not a word about the messed up world we live in that there are people out there who would murder children. Just sheer hate for Casey Anthony. Did she kill her daughter or didn't she? I don't know. Most people seem 100% convinced she did. I didn't watch any of the trial so I can't say. But did they watch it enough to come to that conclusion? Did they look at all the evidence and say - YES - 100% without a shadow of a doubt Casey Anthony murdered her daughter? Would they want to be on the jury? The one who's decision would mean the life or death of another human being? I wouldn't ever want that burden. I've read statuses that say "Burn in hell Casey Anthony" or "Watch out Casey Anthony, I'm coming to our house with a gun tonight." Seriously?! Again, NOT in any way saying that I think anyone who has done something completely punch you in the stomach awful like committed murder should go free. Of course I don't believe that. I'm just overwhelmed with reactions. I just wish more people were talking about the grief and heartbreak about the death of Caylee. I wish I saw a passion for justice in what people are saying. Instead I see hate breeding hate and death breeding another kind of death - the death of mercy.
Thank goodness it's not about us. Thank goodness we have a Savior who is bigger than all of this. Thank goodness we have a Father in Heaven who loves justice and loves grace. Thank goodness we have a Savior who loved us enough to die for us. Thank goodness it's not up to us.