God Doesn't Make Junk

Have you been making God smile? I have…some of the time. More than one time a day so that’s good. We can always do more though, can’t we? All of us have such a capacity to love if we choose to love. Most times it is very hard to forget the hurts of the past though. Have you discovered that too? You are going along and BAM something or someone crosses your path and suddenly your world forever changes. You can’t go back but you can’t go forward either. You’re stuck in a limbo-like state. That’s when you really need God.

Do you let disappointment or failure derail you? Or do you learn from it? Most times I am not a quick study. I need to be bashed more than a few times before my thick skull is penetrated. And I guess that’s OK; that’s how God made me. Remember that old saying about God not making junk? Well, that’s all well and good when you are rationalizing about yourself: “I’m not so bad because God doesn’t make junk.” You pump yourself up to feel better.

But what about the other people in your daily path? Are they junk? Did God make them? Well then, there’s your answer. But it’s so hard sometimes – really, really hard. Do you have a co-worker who drives you absolutely nuts? A family member? A fellow church member, even? Do they push all the right buttons to make you crazy on a regular basis?

Here’s an added challenge to accompany your April commitment: next time you see that “special” person dig deep within yourself, look deeply within them and try your level best to find out what God could possibly like about them. There’s got to be something. Keep looking and looking until you find it (or until they think you are a looney tune and run away). Either way – you tried.

Remember: God really does not make junk. He makes people very different from ourselves, that’s all. We like the likable. We like the familiar. We like what makes us happiest, not what makes us work the hardest. We are most comfortable around these types of people. Why wouldn’t we be? So don’t beat yourself up as you enjoy the company of your best friends. Just don’t slam the door in the face of another. It takes less energy to let the door stay open than to slam it to smithereens. Take it from a door slammer from way back. Nothing gives such satisfaction as slamming a real solid wooden door to emphasize a point. Just be sure one of God’s own is not on the other side.

~ Maureen :)

The 30 Day Challenge

April 1st. A new month. A clean slate. A new beginning. What will you do with it? I challenge you to do something out of the ordinary. Depending upon where you are on your journey with God will dictate which road you take. Are you young or older? Are you in a relationship with God already or do you need a nudge? Each one of us is somewhere different along our faith continuum.

But this is a “one size fits all” challenge: do one thing each day for the next 30 days that you will be doing for the express purpose of making God smile. You know, being God must not be the easiest job in the world. He could use a little cheering up I’m sure when He looks out upon His people to see some of the horrors of this world – His world. So let’s cheer Him up.

How do we cheer God up? I can hear the question through cyberspace. We do for others. Pick one “other.” Could be the same other for 30 days. Could be various others with whom you come into contact. Could be anyone at any time – friend or stranger, spouse or child. What will you do to make the life of another better? What are you, your very own self, willing to do to help the other? This is not something you would ordinarily do. For instance, I’m supposed to make dinner for my family. That’s a given. That doesn’t count. What would count is if I visited a neighbor sharing some of that dinner, or better yet, invited the neighbor here to share dinner and conversation. Unfortunately, in this world at this time one does not have to look very far at all to find someone who could benefit from a little TLC. Tender Loving Care? Or The Love of Christ? Same thing, don’t you think?

So the challenge is put to you. You can be happy that Lent is over and you can again eat meat on Fridays and settle back into your Christian “routine,” or you can take your faith a step further and BE Christ to the other.

Do the unexpected. Be bold in your thoughts, and your actions will follow. Be open to the presence of God for He is everywhere. You will find someone whose day can be brightened by your presence. Do you live with other people? Give them each a big fat kiss and tell them you love them. It’s as easy as that. If you live alone, pick up the phone and strike up a conversation with someone you’ve been neglecting due to your busy schedule. Give them 15 minutes. You have 15 minutes. You do. So do it! No excuses this time.

I wish you well in these next 30 days. Remember, all you have to do is make God smile one time every day. Good luck!

~Maureen :)