Fake Fire

Pastor Stephen Kingsley walked into a restaurant to have a warm bowl of chili.  It was freezing outside… the snow piling up just outside the front door.  He walked to the counter, ordered his food and coffee, and waited patiently.  In the corner of the room, an image on the television caught his eye.  It was a closeup of a fireplace… it’s flames dancing randomly across the screen.  He says that maybe it was just because it was cold outside… but he couldn’t take his eyes off the video fireplace.

Have you ever seen anything like that?  A fake fireplace?  All image but no heat?  Maybe not, but you might have known someone like that.  All commitment, no execution.  All talk, no action.  All carrying on, but no carrying out.  The Bible tells us not to be like that phony fireplace on the screen in James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.”  James tells us… don’t just look the part… don’t just say the words… don’t just promise yourself you’ll change… actually do it!  Be the real deal!  The world isn’t looking for fake fireplaces… they are looking for genuine believers fired up to be the light in this dark world.  

Agitation

Have you ever looked inside your washing machine and wondered how it gets clothes so clean? You might be surprised to know that it isn’t just the soap… or the hot water… it’s that column in the middle that usually has plastic fins that rotate all the way around. It’s called an agitator… and without one, your clothes would smell better but they wouldn’t be clean. During the wash cycle, this agitator forces the clothes to move around… from the bottom to the top of the water and back down… preventing laundry from just floating on the surface. This constant movement allows the soap and water to fully saturate the materials and clean the clothes.

Agitators in a washing machine make it work to it’s fullest potential. They do the same thing in our lives as well. Our agitators take many forms… those that bother us, those that are jealous of us, those that disagree with our decisions, or those that just plain rub us the wrong way. They agitate, irritate, instigate, and infuriate us to the point that we wonder why God allows them into our day-to-day. He does it because in dealing with them… we grow. James 1:3 tells us that testing produces endurance. Loving those that frustrate us builds character. Caring for those that don’t care for us allows us to be more like Christ. Anyone can be friendly to the friendly… but it’s when we extend grace to the agitators of life that we truly exhibit the character of the One who wants to see us grow through the process.

Keep Going

In 1990, Georgene Johnson turned 42.    Unhappy and out-of-shape… she committed to make some changes in her life to make the second half better than the first.  Her first act of improvement… running.  Georgene decided to enter a 10K race that was coming up in her community.  She prepared herself and when race day came, she was ready to run the 6 mile course.  The race started… and about 4 miles in, she turned to a fellow runner and asked when they were going to make the turn and head back.  The fellow runner looked at her with a puzzled glance and kept running.   Why the odd look?  Turns out, Georgene wasn’t running the 10K she had signed up for… that started at a later time… instead, she was running the Cleveland Marathon!  And 26 miles later, she crossed the finish line.  She had never run that far or that long… but she just kept going.  When asked why she didn’t stop she said, “This is not the race I trained for.  This is not the race I entered.  But for better or worse, this is the race that I am in.”

Have you ever felt like that?  Prepared for one test but given another much larger one?  Underequipped?  Overwhelmed?  Pushed right past your comfort zone into the land of “why me?”  If so, you aren’t alone.  Many find themselves in a much longer challenge than they ever thought they’d get through… faced with the choice of stopping or running… pushing on or shutting down.  The Bible tells us in Hebrews 12 that we should keep going… to run the race that has been marked out for us… even when we feel like we can’t pick up our feet.  How?  The verse tells us to keep our eyes on Jesus.  Look to Him when it hurts… turn to Him when we don’t understand.. lean on Him when we struggle… and trust in Him when the course seems never-ending.   You may not see the finish line but Christ does.   He knows you can do it.  And with every bend in the road, He’s there not only cheering you on but strengthening you every step of the way.   

Equator

The other day I read that the earth spins 1000 times faster at the equator than it does at either one of the poles.  In fact, that’s why rockets are launched closer to the Earth’s midline than further away.  When a spacecraft is launched from around the equator, it is already traveling at a considerably faster speed… thus making it more fuel efficient and quicker to enter orbit.  

Isn’t that true in our lives as well?  The closer we are to the center of things…the faster paced life is.  Some thrive in the environment… while others do whatever they can to retreat to the slower pace of the poles.  But what speed does God want us to live?  

Galatians 6:9 tells us: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”  We have to remember that It’s not about the speed of life…it’s about staying at it and not quitting.   There will be times in our lives where we’ll sprint…and others where we’ll jog.  What God is concerned about is our priorities and our perseverance.  At whatever speed you’re living… are we putting Him first?  Are we loving and serving others?  If so… run on.  Don’t give up on the dream that He’s put in your heart long before you were born.  And whatever you do… in whatever season you find yourself in… at whatever speed life is coming at you…. don’t quit.   Breakthrough is coming… and God has big things planned for you!

No Pain?

Isaac Brown looks like any other five year old boy.   He’s learning to read, do basic math, and all of the other things a boy his age would do.  But all is not what it seems…  because Isaac lacks what so many of us take for granted… the ability to feel pain.  He can unflinchingly touch a hot stove, break a bone without knowing it, or step on broken glass.  He knows that when he sees blood, it’s not a good thing… and he needs to seek help.   This extremely rare genetic condition, if not kept under watchful eye, could lead to accidental death or disfigurement due to the lack of a built-in survival mechanism.

Ironically, many in the world envy his circumstances…. they would love to go 24 hours without a single bit of pain.  And not just physical pain… people want to block out emotional and relational hurt as well.  What they fail to realize is that pain is useful.  When we touch a hot stove, the nerve endings signal the brain to remove the hand… thus preserving the skin and our health.  That pain has a purpose.   And no matter how badly you hurt today… yours does too.  Maybe you find yourself going through some other type of pain… a breakup… a loss… a memory of someone who used to abuse you… I want to challenge you to think of that pain differently today. James tells us in Chapter 1, verse 2, that our pain should be a source of joy.  Joy?  We should be happy when things hurt?  Why?  Because we know three things:  God will walk with us through that pain, we will grow as a result of hurting, and that our experience will help others in similar situations in the future.  So today, don’t just wish for the pain to subside… ask God to help you leverage it for growth… knowing that it is through our deepest hurts that our greatest and most life-changing lessons are learned.  

Strong As An Oak

Nature enthusiast, Ilan Shamir wrote a wonderful passage called “Advice from a Tree.”

Stand up tall and proud.  Sink your roots into the earth.

Be content with your natural beauty.  Go out on a limb.

Drink plenty of water. Remember your roots.

Enjoy the view!

Looking through these words of wisdom, I can’t help but see the Biblical parallels.  God has called each of us to live confident lives.. to stand tall in Him.  And as we read His word and begin to grow deeper roots in the truth... we begin to see ourselves in a new light.  We are masterpieces already...right now... the best God can do.  We’ve been created intentionally...to live confidently...to see life as a series of learning experiences even in times of trial and failure.  He is the Living Water... and when we drink in the magnitude of His perfection...and accept His sacrifice on our behalf... our eternity is secure.  We were put here to give glory to Him.  To honor Him.  And when we accomplish what we’ve been sent here for... we’ll prayerfully hear the words from the One who sent us... “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”  

I don’t know what you are going through as you listen to this... but I know God does.   He cares.  And He’s never going to leave your side through a second of it.  Stay strong as an oak, as flexible as a palm, and know that your best days are just ahead.  I’m praying for you..  

Survival Techniques

According to the UK Mail... heir to the throne Prince William prepared for the birth of his son in a unique way.   While most dads thumb through simple parenting books, the Prince turned to a book written by former Commando and father of three, Neil Sinclair.  The title?  Commando Dad - Basic Training, a handbook in the style of Basic Battle Skills .  The contents of the book read like guidelines given to new army recruits... it’s pages filled with survival techniques and strategies for soldiers on the front lines.  

While parenting can seem like a battle sometimes, there is a far more effective book to get us started... the Bible.  God’s word instructs like no other... it’s wisdom, clarity, and insight is all we need to raise children that will grow up to be God-honoring adults.  Deuteronomy 6:6-7 tells us "And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”   Parenting isn’t about being perfect... or battle-ready... it’s about being intentional.  Teach children who God says they are... tell them how loving and graceful He is... share with them why obedience is important to Him... and great things will happen!  We may not know what to expect when we’re expecting... but by turning to and following God’s handbook... we’ll be ready to equip our children for anything.  

Short Distance

There’s a great scene in the classic film “The Wizard of Oz” between Dorothy and her straw-filled friend, the Scarecrow.  As they meet for the first time, the Scarecrow confesses, “I haven’t got a brain... only straw!”  Dorothy thinks for a moment and asks, “How can you talk if you haven’t got a brain?”  He replies, “I don’t know... But some people without brains do an awful log of talking... don’t they?”

There’s a very short distance between our mind and our mouth... and all too often, if we aren’t careful, we engage the latter before using the former.  Speaking without thinking is not only foolish... but unbiblical.  In Ecclesiastes 5:2 it says “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God...”  Everything we share should be intentional and well-thought through... encouraging, uplifting, God-honoring, and purposeful.  Once they come out of our mouths, we can’t take our words back... so let’s think about each one... and use the brain God gave us to brighten the world.  

How to Improve

Throughout history, people have tried thousands of ways to improve themselves.  Some  are philosophical, some religious, and others scientific.  After 2000 years of self-help, those ways can be boiled down to three common themes.  The first.. if we want to change... we have to alter our surroundings.  Just being in a different space can improve our outlook about ourselves and others.  The next is to watch ourselves carefully.  When we keep track of what we say and do, we increase awareness of what’s not working and can make the necessary shifts.  Finally, the third most commonly used self-help tactic is accountability.  When we partner with others, and ask them to point out what needs fixing, we are more likely to make the adjustments and improve our lives.

It’s no wonder why these seem to be the ways that work the best... they are Biblical!  Proverbs 4:14 tells us to watch where we hang out... “Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men”.  Lamentations 3:4 challenges us to watch ourselves at all times...”Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD”  Finally, Galatians 6:1 tells us to set up accountability so that we can become self-aware. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted”  Feeling the need to make some positive changes?  Don’t turn to the huge self-help section in your local bookstore... open the cover of the book you spend time with each morning...the Bible!  God’s word is filled with wisdom to help us keep good company, see ourselves accurately, and include others in our walk as we work at becoming who God created us to be.  

Great Victories

Author Philip Yancey wrote about a television show he watched about survivors from World War II.  On the show, soldiers talked about how they spent a particular day in the foxhole.  They described it as ordinary... a German tank drove by and they shot at it... they played cards... a few got involved in some firefights... just a typical day.  Later, they learned that they had just participated in one of the most decisive engagements of the war, the Battle of the Bulge.  To them, it didn’t feel decisive... they were doing what they always did.  But because they held down their position...just miles away, their fellow countrymen could take new ground.

Maybe today started out a lot like those soldiers.  You hit the alarm clock, dressed, ate breakfast, and went to work.  Just an ordinary day.   But your day is far from ordinary.  God’s is in this day... and He’s making things happen.  You may not see the big picture...your position may seem inconsequential to you... but have no doubt... you play a critical role on this planet.  What you are doing matters.  You matter.  There are no small responsibilities when it comes to serving God and all of our efforts add up... no matter what we’re doing for Him.

Yancey finishes that chapter with this statement “Great victories are won when ordinary people execute their assigned tasks...”  Winning this world for Christ is a team effort.  Be the best you that you can be, honor God with your words and actions, and remember... everything matters...even the things that seem ordinary.  When we live that out, before long, the victory over the enemy of this world will be complete.  

The Boss

A father was talking with his 8 year old daughter... “Daddy, who do you work for?”  The father replied “Myself!  I’m my own boss!”   The little girl replied “You’re the boss?”  The man said confidently “Yes, I’m the head of my company and I’m the head of this house!”  After a minute or two, the girl looked up at her daddy and said, “That might be true... you might be the head of this house... but I think mommy is the neck of the house... and she can turn the head wherever she wants it to go!”

All of us answer to someone.  A wife, a husband, a boss, a teacher, or a parent.  And just when we think we are in charge, we often get reminded that we aren’t.   Scripture tells us that no matter where we are in life... no matter what rung of the ladder we find ourselves on... that all of us ultimately need the same reminder.  God is in charge.  In Romans 14, God says that “... every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise.”   We don’t have to run the world.  In fact, we aren’t supposed to.  We have a God in heaven who has things firmly under control... And while He loves us with all of His heart, He doesn’t require a co-manager.   Ambition to lead is good... but when your version of the world is driven by a desire to control it... stop and remember who created you.  He’s the only One with that ability.

Forever

62 year old John Brandrick was given a grim diagnosis.... pancreatic cancer... 6 months to live.  John decided that he was going to go out in style!  He quit his job, stopped paying his mortgage, emptied his savings accounts and sold all that he had.  He lived lavishly... enjoying expensive dining, entertainment, and travel.  Problem is... 6 months passed and Mr. Brandrick’s health remained the same.  No deterioration.  No pain.  A follow-up scan revealed that he didn’t have cancer at all.  He never did.  He had been misdiagnosed.  And while relieved, John now faced financial ruin due to the error.  

John lived carelessly because he feared that he was dying.  Some of us live exactly the opposite... we live carelessly because we feel we’re going to live on earth forever.  We build wealth without being generous... avoid a relationship with God because we think we’ll have the chance later... and spend a majority of our time on things that won’t come with us when our life is over.  If this is you... it’s not too late.   Ask yourself... How would life change if tomorrow were my last day of breath?   What would I tell the people in my life that I hold most dear?  What would I do about my eternity?  Scripture tells us in James 4 that we shouldn’t think we know what tomorrow holds... So why not do those things now?  Today?  Secure your place in Heaven by allowing Christ to lead your life.  Tell those around you how you feel about them.  Invest your money in eternal things through the local church.  Make the choice to live with purpose and intentionality... knowing that life truly begins when we prepare ourselves for what happens when it ends.  

Even

“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;

    I will pay them back,”

    says the Lord.

Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.

    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap

    burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”  Romans 12:19-21

As a fan of the TV show, “Law and Order”, I often watch the show with a sense of expectation.   In 60 minutes, I expect the one who commits the crime to be captured and swiftly brought in to answer for the misdeed.  And before the credits roll,  a judge should sentence said criminal to an appropriate amount of time behind bars.  I expect justice to be done and all those that were offended against to be given a sense of closure. 

But that’s just a TV show and oftentimes things don’t work that way.  We hear of or experience wrongs that aren’t made right...  and we cry out for justice.  But if we’re not careful... what we find is that we’re not really looking for fairness...we just want to see things made even.  It’s called revenge.  And it isn’t ours to pursue.  Scripture tells us in Romans 12 that making things right is God’s role.  He is ultimately the One that settles the matter.  He rights the wrongs... punishes the wicked... and is the only worthy judge.  If you find yourself angry that the scales of justice seem broken... don’t worry... God’s got this... and His verdict is both perfect and eternal.  

Clean Up

One day a young boy was eating potato chips and had made a terrible mess on the floor.  His father entered the room, noticed the mess, and told his son that he would clean it up for him.  The boy quickly replied... “No dad, I’ll do it!”  The dad thought a second and said, “No, if I let you do it, you’re going to make a bigger mess.”  The boy protested... “No I won’t!”  So the father relented and let his son clean up the chips.

The result?  As expected, the boy made a bigger mess.   

When we hear this story, we can be too quick to dismiss it as something only a child would do.  But take a second and think about it... don’t we do the same thing with God?  Time after time in scripture He tells us that He will take care of things for us... revenge, provision, fulfillment, peace.. and so much more.   Yet, we tell God all the time... “I’ve got it!”  And the result, a bigger mess.  Proverbs 21:2 says “A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart”   God knows best... and when we try to help Him handle our lives, we typically just make things more complicated.  Make the commitment today to take God at His word... Let Him do what He says He wants to do for us... and praise Him when you experience the blessing of His loving care.   

Doctor You

A surgeon by the name of Dr. Kane was looking for a candidate for a very routine surgery.  He wanted to prove that an appendectomy could be performed under local anesthetic...and that a patient didn’t need to be asleep during the process.  After finding his volunteer, Dr. Kane numbed the area and skillfully removed the appendix.  During the surgery, the patient was wide awake... even able to talk with the nurses the entire time.    Recovery was over after a couple of days and the patient was released from the hospital.   That brave patient’s name?  Dr. Kane.  He had removed his own appendix.  

Self-surgery seems absurd.  What would drive someone to cut into and remove something from themselves?  But the Bible talks about one such surgery in Ephesians 4:31.  It says “All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice.”  Here’s the truth... only you can remove these things from your life.  Only you can eliminate your bitterness and anger... and every great sermon, every self-help book, and every deep breath can only calm you down temporarily.  Scripture tells us these things must be cut out completely from our everyday behavior.  How do we do it?  Decide to.  And when you feel like being bitter or angry... dwell on today’s verse.  Remind yourself that God has a plan for your life... He’s given you a destiny that anger, bitterness, malice, and slander will just sidetrack.  Ready to make lasting change?  Scrub up and get ready doctor... your patient awaits!

Broken Glass

The other day I read that as a pane of glass breaks, the cracks travel faster than three thousand miles per hour down the length of the glass.  Hard to believe anything could cause that much damage so quickly...  As I was thinking about this piece of trivia, one thing came to mind that might be comparable...

Our words.   What we say can cause widespread destruction in very little time.  A sarcastic response... a jab.. or maybe it’s more directed pain.  Maybe it’s bringing up the past or a hurtful memory... perhaps it’s tearing someone apart just because we seek revenge.  Whatever the circumstance, words can wound deeply.  Scripture tells us in Ephesians 4 that we shouldn’t let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths.  Any.  Why?  Because as much as we might want to, once words come out... they can’t go back in.  The person is hurt...the relationship over...the damage done.   God-honoring speech is a conscious choice... and no matter what a person’s background, environment, upbringing, or influences are...they can still decide to honor Christ with their words.  Make the choice... and commit to using words for lifting up and not lashing out. 

A New Way to Type

What do the letters QWERTYUIOP mean?  They are the letters on the top row of most modern keyboards... and why they exist might surprise you.  When the typewriter was first invented, the keys were in alphabetical order.  Typists could write letters quickly and efficiently.  They were so fast, in fact, that the typewriter keys were sticking together and jamming. In an attempt to remedy the problem, it was decided to place the keys in uncomfortable and challenging positions.  The result?  Slower typing and fewer stuck keys.  

The problem with this theory is that people figured out how to quickly type with the new configuration.  Yet, I find it interesting that the keyboard never changed back.  What we type on today is an old format and is less effective than it could be.  If we’re not careful, we’ll do the same things in our own lives.  We will create rules for ourselves that may work for a season... but before long we get stuck doing things a certain way when better methods come along.  That’s why it’s so important to follow God’s guidelines for our lives rather than creating our own.  His ways are consistent, have held up to the test of time, and are designed with our well-being in mind.  Today, if you find yourself doing things the old way... maybe it’s time to do things God’s way.  It may not be a simple transition, but it will be one that you will never regret. 

Tracking

About a year ago,  Apple released a new lineup of iPhones... faster, sleeker, and some even able to use your fingerprint as a security key!  One feature that hasn’t changed since its launch is the phone’s ability to locate where you are at any given time. This isn’t exclusive to the iPhone... if you carry a cell phone... yours can do it too.  At any point during the day, your exact location can be pulled up on a map by your service provider or law enforcement.  Many would see this as an invasion of privacy.  But what would you say if I told you that it was happening long before the brick cell phones of the 80s were even thought of.

God’s been tracking you for years.  In fact, He was doing it before you were even knit together as a baby.   And if you think your cell provider knowing your latitude and longitude is personal... God knows your thoughts.  Every thought.  Those that we admit to and those that we hide in the deep recesses of our hearts.  In Psalm 139, David asks God the rhetorical question “Where can I go from your Spirit?”.  Of course, he knew the answer.  God knows where you are, what you’re doing, and what is going through your mind.  Every day.  But why?  Shouldn’t this scare us?  Of course not!  God knowing where we are should be a comfort.  He is always with us...even when we feel like we’re alone.  And God knowing our thoughts challenges us to think His way in our lives... We don’t need to fear God’s direct involvement in our day-to-day... we should embrace it... and give thanks that the God of the universe sees us important enough to keep His loving eye on.  

Bent Out of Shape?

Dr. Earl Warrick of the Dow Corning Corporation made an interesting discovery in 1943.  As World War 2 raged on, he worked tirelessly to find a substitute for real (and much more expensive) rubber.  The result?  Something we played with as kids... the combination of boric acid and silicone... Silly Putty.  You remember Silly Putty right?  When you pushed on it, you could change it into any shape you wanted.  And when you stretched it out too far... it would snap.   

Have you ever felt like that?  Pushed on... bent out of shape... pulled to the point of breaking?  Many do.  Scripture has good news for us...  In Joshua 1:9, it says “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”   Today I challenge you... for the next 24 hours... believe and live out this verse...   

Believe that you are strong through God’s power.

Believe that you can be courageous because He protects those He loves.

Believe that you can live fearlessly because God holds the future.

Believe you are never alone because He is with you...even in the darkness.

Refuse to allow life to bend you to it’s shape.. Believe and let God mold you into the person you were created to be.  

Go Out

Christian author, Lee Strobel, in his book The Case for Faith, talks about a sign on the door of his office.   It’s a picture of two turtles.  One says, “Sometimes I’d like to ask why God allows poverty, famine, and injustice when He could do something about it.”  Next to him, the other turtle replies, “I’m afraid God might ask me the same question.”

So many question God’s motives... and silently they sit and wait on Him to do something about the problems in the world.  They tweet about God’s apathy... and post Instagram photos depicting starving children with the caption “Where’s God?”  All the while, the situation could be that He is waiting for us to act.  Time and time again in scripture, we are told to go out and change the world... to make a difference... to be the salt and light in the darkness.   We are charged to live unselfishly with convicted hearts filled with love and generosity.  We are knitted together to be world-changers not critics... difference-makers and not judges.  And all the while God promises to equip us with opportunity, wisdom, and the right words at the right time without fail.  Let’s commit to spend less time complaining about the world and more time living out God’s commission for it.  

Fill Your Heart

It has been said, “Being well is more than eliminating the negative.  Rather, it requires the addition of the positive.”  

When I read that statement I thought of our walk with God.  Many times we are tempted to read the Bible as a book of “don’t”s.   I need to stop doing this... quit that... get rid of this habit or that behavior.   And while there are many things God asks us not to include in our lives... only subtracting the bad leads to a life that is one-sided and lacking.  Scripture tells us that alongside the “no”s, we have to have some God-honoring “yesses”.  Colossians 3:10 says to “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.”  Want to grow more like Christ?  Be more spiritually healthy?  Get rid of what is holding you back.. and in turn.. fill your heart with things like love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and patience.   Out with what’s bad and in with what’s good.  And before long both mind and heart will be healthier (and more Godly) than ever.  

Emptying the Ocean

“But will God really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!” - King Solomon in 2 Chronicles 6:18

A little boy was playing in the sand on the seashore. He dug a large pit in the ground and began to scoop water from the ocean into the freshly opened hole. He did this dozens of times before an elderly man approached him and asked “What are you trying to do by going back and forth from the ocean and pouring water into your pit?” The little boy said very enthusiastically, “Sir, can’t you see? I’m emptying the ocean!”

When we read this story we want to dismiss it as the naïve thoughts of a young mind. We all know that emptying the ocean into a small hole is impossible... that the majestic sea can’t be contained in one comparatively tiny area. Yet many of us try to do that with God. We attempt to take His majesty and contain it in a box the size of our faith at the time. 2 Chronicles 6 tells us that even the highest heavens can’t hold God. He is everywhere. Big enough to handle what hurts and close enough to hear the quietest desperate prayer. Resist the urge to think of God in finite constraints.... and praise Him that He is everywhere at one time... ready to help us as the loving Father that He is.