Searching

I recently had a great weekend eating and laying around the pool at my sister’s house.
While lying out by the pool I decided to catch up on my daily Bible reading and with my wet fingers began to turn those thin Bible pages. They of course started sticking together. I quickly learned…dry hands before reading Bible at pool…I’m really quick like that.
I had taken my hearing device (also know as a hearing aid…I just can’t use that term) out and laid it on the table before I went in for a swim and when I was ready to go in the house I grabbed all my things and headed upstairs. Once there, I realized I did not have my hearing device. So I went back down to get it from the table. It was not there. I searched all around the table and could not find it. Went back upstairs and checked all my clothing….nothing. My sister and brother-in-law both spent considerable time in the blazing hot sun searching the grass around the edge of the decking…nothing. I went to an event…came back and searched more…nothing….except frustration and disappointment. We worked hard to find that thing and we were earnest in our search but …nothing.
So I left and drove four hours to my home feeling pretty upset that I had lost a three thousand dollar ear piece and that tomorrow I would be back at working saying things like “I’m sorry can you repeat that?” What? I’m sorry what?” etc. etc.
The next morning I sat down with my cup of coffee and my Bible to start my day with my daily reading. When I opened my Bible the hearing device fell out…I was shocked relieved and very thankful. Because I had read it with wet sticky hands the device got stuck between the pages. I had even thumbed through it kind of quickly to see if it might be there. But I had not seen it.
I see a parallel to life in this story. Everything I was looking for was hidden in God’s word. A really diligent look in His word and I would have found exactly what I needed. I was just looking, diligently, in the wrong place.
No matter how diligently we search for things that will make our life better…no matter how sincerely we exert our efforts…and no matter how often we go searching or how long we search…we will not find real peace, happiness or contentment…our search can leave us feeling frustrated and disappointed with life. When in fact, all the answers, everything we are looking for has been securely tucked away in His word…just waiting to be discovered.
Look there….a quick thumb through and you will miss it… take your time...search...find...what you are looking for.

If you look for me, really search for me, you will find me”
                                                                               God

Be the Answer

Its good to search for answers...its noble to be an answer.
We say every day we are looking for an answer or waiting on an answer. And many times we are stalled in life while we look and wait for an answer. But what if today...instead of looking and waiting for answers you just decided to be one...to..be an answer. There are people everywhere looking for answers to some of life's most basic issues...Many are praying that God will send an answer...they are desperate...they really don't know what to do next...but you and I have a lot of power...we could be an answer today...for someone out of work...for a single mom...a person that has a lot of children and a limited income...the disabled...the homeless.
A few ideas...

Buy a sack of groceries
Pay the next light bill
Manicure a lawn
Replace a damaged front door
Give a prepaid gas card
Offer to pick up this months prescriptions
Give some tired parents a night out...$50 and baby sit the kids!
Get a cell phone...for a college kid that just can't afford it.
Buy a set of tires...
Send a family that could never afford it to Disney World.

Acts of completely unreasonable love.

There are literally thousands of people with these and many other similar situations. And they are looking for answers...right now...and right now these situations loom as impossibilities...they are praying for answers...so be one..give and don't look back...expect nothing...just seize the opportunity to be an answer!

Believe in the improbable
Be a part of the impossible