Keep it to Yourself?

I often hear comments about religion along the lines of it being a "private" thing and needing to be kept that way. Comments like "That's good for you, but not if you want to share it with me." "Don't shove your religion down my throat". Etc.

I understand that there are some "religious" people who are less than sincere and less than loving. I'm sure we can thank them for a lot of these comments.

But to be fair, I often hear these comments over no such type of religious folk. Instead people react this way over very kind, gentle people who want to share their God story. Or just mention some praise to Him. Then SNAP. That's private!! Put it away...

The thing that bugs me about this is it's SO inconsistent with the rest of our conversations. We void privacy through gossip constantly, yet then suddenly it's so critical? Also, I wish people who made these types of comments realized it's like telling someone "Don't tell me if you win the lottery" or "Don't warn me if I'm about to run in front of a bus."

We want to know if we've got toilet paper on our shoes, or if there's something in our teeth, and yet we're offended when people want to share their faith with us?

I mean, I understand if you don't want to hear it. But just say that. It's the guise of "That's private" or when people are actually offended that someone would talk about their walk with God with them.

Inconsistent.

That's one of the reasons I love this video. I actually blogged about it a couple years ago, and it's still on my mind. So challenging. So convicting. So compelling.

And finally honest.

An atheist himself who totally gets why Christians witness. Who himself says, "How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and NOT tell them that??"

Children, Children

A couple days ago I went to the dentist. Not. Fun.

The really interesting part was that as I squirmed and sweat through the scraping, stings, and sounds, I just wanted to hear a "Good job!" or "Wow, you're brave!"

Oh, to be young again. When I was little and went through such agonies as the dentist, my mom would always be at my side to cheer me on. Even the dentist herself would comment on how well I sat still and didn't whine. Now I feel like I fight just as hard to be good, but receive no affirmation.

As I sat and held my hands together as hard as I could to get through the torture, I pondered this feeling within me. This desire to be noticed, appreciated, and encouraged the same as when I was little. The need to be told I'm brave. Silly, right? I don't think so.

You see, I don't think I'm the only adult that longs for this. I am sure there are grown men that sit down to pay bills and hear whispers of their past saying "Whew, you are a brave guy." Grown-ups who get up and ready for work and long to hear "Wow, good job!" again.

The fact is that a woman will always be that little girl twirling in her dress wanting to be told she's pretty; and a man will always be that little boy playing warrior and wanting to be told how big and strong and tough he is.

We are still so much like children. I think that's part of why life gets so hard when you grow up. The desires to hear these phrases and be affirmed are the same on the inside; but it'd just be silly and embarrassing to admit that or to actually say things like that to an adult.

We are still SO much like children. But you know what blows my mind? God asks us to be like children in the most intimate of ways. He asks us to be HIS children. Amazing, huh? And He asks us to behave like children in our faith- to have a childlike faith in Him (Matthew 18:3,4). To simply have faith and trust Him without questions, fears, or taking the controls.

And this is where we stop being so much like children. This is where we go back to being grown-ups and can't seem to step back to our childhood... maybe we even don't want to.

But this is where we need to be children- we desperately need to be His children, act like His children, and trust Him like His children. He's just waiting for us to live with a daily faith in Him- completely resting in Him and adoring Him as our Father.

Can you do this? Step back from being a grown-up and revel in being His daughter or son. Crawl up in His lap and lean your head on His shoulder. Let Him wrap His arms around you. Whisper, "Daddy".

And find the real peace and joy of being a kid again.