I almost NEVER go on YouTube. But I saw one of these on Cheryl's blog and got totally hooked.
Its a little bit like that obsession I had with Flash Mobs a few weeks ago...
I also think I may be in love with this guy...
HAPPY SATURDAY!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
I wish I could see the big picture...
Usually I can - I am a "big picture" kind of gal.
Its one of my strengths, being able to look at a problem and see the bigger picture. I think it makes me more laid back, flexible, and more adaptable. I definitely think it makes me a better social worker. Seeing the big picture also helps me accept when things are not going the way I wish they would - because I can look at the big picture and see the good things that have come out of certain situations.
I wish I could see the big picture in everything.
I wish I could see the big picture in this.
Or this.
Or this.
Recently I've noticed that my local news stations has been airing tragic story after tragic story. Its been incredibly depressing - so much that I have often sat on my couch before work and wondered what the world is coming to and when it will end.
And when I saw this happened yesterday, I was beyond upset. I obviously have a strong reaction to anything involving our troops - but I usually only have to worry if they are in war zones, like my brother in Iraq. But on American soil, on a military base, defenseless soldiers being gunned down by one of their own? It just doesn't seem to make sense and I can not see the big picture.
And it is times like these that I am grateful that I have faith in a loving and all knowing God.
My facebook status yesterday read: I am thankful for God's protection over everyone at Ft. Hood tonight.
I worried that some people might disagree with me or take offense. After all, 11 people died, over 30 were wounded, and hundreds terrorized. It is the question that plaques so many people, believers and non believers alike -
Why, if there even is a God, does He allow things like this to happen?
Here is what I believe:
As much as I think I can see the big picture - God can sees infinitely more of it. He sees the details that we can not even imagine, much less see with our motal eyes. He does not turn a blind eye - He is making the hard decisions about who will live, who will be injured, who will survive. He is delaying trains, turning off alarm clocks, and canceling meetings. He is reaching out to comfort those who will be affected, those who have lost loved ones, and those of feeling helpless as we stare at our TVs in disbelief.
God doesn't just see the "big" picture - God sees the WHOLE picture.
Please take note of this point, I want to make this very clear. I do not believe that God orchastrates evil - it is not God's 'fault' or his will that any person suffers. I believe we suffer because sin is so rampant in our lives and therefore in the world as a whole. Even suffering that is not "done to or by us" such as illness or natural disasters are simply a product of the existence of evil in the world. Sometimes it is the work of Satan himself - trying to pull humanity further and further from God. I believe God allows these things to happen - but I do not believe it was is his will. I believe God grieves for us when we suffer and He hurts when we hurt. And then He goes about bringing good out of the evil and suffering. Because of this belief, I think we need to be very careful when we say that God intended certain things to happen.
For example, one that I hear very often - "God intended for our foster/adopted child to be with us, she was always meant to be part of our family".
Does that mean that we believe God intended for that child to be abused or neglected? That it was God's will that a birthmother did not have the resources to raise her child? That a birthfather be addicted to drugs? Was it God's intention for a child to have 14 "homes" before coming to their final place? Or that God wants a countries poverty and policies to seperate thousands of children from their biological families?
Absolutely not - these atrocities are not God's will for His children! But he will bring good out of them and He will use even these horrific situations to serve his ultimate plan. But it is a plan that I can not neccesarily see or comprehend.
God already knows what will come of these incidents - God may allow bad things to happen, but they are never out of his control. God already knows what the effects, both short and long term, will be for each and every situation. He knows what they will be for the war widow, or to the sole survivor of a car accident, the man stricken with cancer or in the life of an abused child. He can see the effects of those decisions years, decades, and generations into the future.
And he has promised each and every one of us that he has plans to "prosper and not to harm" and to give us a "hope and a future".
I will never see the "whole picture" - whether it be the tragedies I encounter in my work or the terrible events that continue to appear on the news every night.
But I can rest assured that God does - and He has it all under control.
**Have a blessed weekend**
Its one of my strengths, being able to look at a problem and see the bigger picture. I think it makes me more laid back, flexible, and more adaptable. I definitely think it makes me a better social worker. Seeing the big picture also helps me accept when things are not going the way I wish they would - because I can look at the big picture and see the good things that have come out of certain situations.
I wish I could see the big picture in everything.
I wish I could see the big picture in this.
Or this.
Or this.
Recently I've noticed that my local news stations has been airing tragic story after tragic story. Its been incredibly depressing - so much that I have often sat on my couch before work and wondered what the world is coming to and when it will end.
And when I saw this happened yesterday, I was beyond upset. I obviously have a strong reaction to anything involving our troops - but I usually only have to worry if they are in war zones, like my brother in Iraq. But on American soil, on a military base, defenseless soldiers being gunned down by one of their own? It just doesn't seem to make sense and I can not see the big picture.
And it is times like these that I am grateful that I have faith in a loving and all knowing God.
My facebook status yesterday read: I am thankful for God's protection over everyone at Ft. Hood tonight.
I worried that some people might disagree with me or take offense. After all, 11 people died, over 30 were wounded, and hundreds terrorized. It is the question that plaques so many people, believers and non believers alike -
Why, if there even is a God, does He allow things like this to happen?
Here is what I believe:
As much as I think I can see the big picture - God can sees infinitely more of it. He sees the details that we can not even imagine, much less see with our motal eyes. He does not turn a blind eye - He is making the hard decisions about who will live, who will be injured, who will survive. He is delaying trains, turning off alarm clocks, and canceling meetings. He is reaching out to comfort those who will be affected, those who have lost loved ones, and those of feeling helpless as we stare at our TVs in disbelief.
God doesn't just see the "big" picture - God sees the WHOLE picture.
Please take note of this point, I want to make this very clear. I do not believe that God orchastrates evil - it is not God's 'fault' or his will that any person suffers. I believe we suffer because sin is so rampant in our lives and therefore in the world as a whole. Even suffering that is not "done to or by us" such as illness or natural disasters are simply a product of the existence of evil in the world. Sometimes it is the work of Satan himself - trying to pull humanity further and further from God. I believe God allows these things to happen - but I do not believe it was is his will. I believe God grieves for us when we suffer and He hurts when we hurt. And then He goes about bringing good out of the evil and suffering. Because of this belief, I think we need to be very careful when we say that God intended certain things to happen.
For example, one that I hear very often - "God intended for our foster/adopted child to be with us, she was always meant to be part of our family".
Does that mean that we believe God intended for that child to be abused or neglected? That it was God's will that a birthmother did not have the resources to raise her child? That a birthfather be addicted to drugs? Was it God's intention for a child to have 14 "homes" before coming to their final place? Or that God wants a countries poverty and policies to seperate thousands of children from their biological families?
Absolutely not - these atrocities are not God's will for His children! But he will bring good out of them and He will use even these horrific situations to serve his ultimate plan. But it is a plan that I can not neccesarily see or comprehend.
God already knows what will come of these incidents - God may allow bad things to happen, but they are never out of his control. God already knows what the effects, both short and long term, will be for each and every situation. He knows what they will be for the war widow, or to the sole survivor of a car accident, the man stricken with cancer or in the life of an abused child. He can see the effects of those decisions years, decades, and generations into the future.
And he has promised each and every one of us that he has plans to "prosper and not to harm" and to give us a "hope and a future".
I will never see the "whole picture" - whether it be the tragedies I encounter in my work or the terrible events that continue to appear on the news every night.
But I can rest assured that God does - and He has it all under control.
**Have a blessed weekend**
Wanna win...
a Ipod Touch, Ipod Nano, or a $50 Target gift card?
Wanna help someone get safe housing and a fresh start?
Please head on over to Once Lost's Blog and enter her raffle!
Nov 14th is the last day so GO NOW!
Wanna help someone get safe housing and a fresh start?
Please head on over to Once Lost's Blog and enter her raffle!
Nov 14th is the last day so GO NOW!
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