Reasons to Believe

The decision to be a Christian has a public relations crisis.

There are too many reasons for people to choose not to believe. Honestly it is not too appealing to be a Christian.

It really requires a commitment to be a believer in today’s world. People easily look for reasons not to believe.

Why not find reasons TO believe?

Don’t look at other people who claim to be believers.
Don’t decide based on church affiliation.
Don’t make a decision for political reasons.

There’s only one reason to believe. It’s plain and simple. It is all about one person.

Jesus

No other reason.

We are all free to make our own choice but don’t look at the negatives to rule Him out. Look for the reasons to believe.

Belief doesn’t require debate.

Simply believe.

Belief doesn’t mean you have to be weird and no snake handling required. Let Christ make you be the best version of you that He has created.

We all have a place in the world.

I know what it is like to deal with the doubters. Some want to discredit the Bible and say it isn’t the divine Word of God because it was written by men and how can it be accurate? The only way the Bible makes sense is through a relationship with our Creator. You won’t be able to understand it without that relationship. The Holy Spirit - not a degree in Theology - is the only way you can understand it.

In this day of fake news, Artificial Intelligence and social media, it’s hard to know what is true. They make us question and doubt anything we see or hear. We can’t let it shake us. These things don’t establish our faith.

You either believe or you don’t. I’m not going to convince you. My words here on this blog won’t make a difference to you. You have to make your own choice but are you basing it on the right thing?

Don’t take my word as a reason to believe, look for it yourself.

Thoughts About Medical Appointment Waiting Rooms

I have spent a lot of time in various waiting rooms for medical appointments and I have observed many issues that annoy me about these experiences.  I am convinced that nobody cares about the people around them.  

Here are some simple waiting room rules of etiquette that I would like to implement:

1. If you are sick (which most are) and hacking/coughing you should WEAR A MASK!  I don't care about any politics or whatever.  Wear a mask!  Don't spread your germs all over the dang waiting room.
2. Please don't discuss you ailments out loud with others or on your speaker phone.  We don't want to hear it.  We have our own issues we are dealing with and don't need to hear more.
3. While we are on the subject of using the phone, if you need to use your phone listen to music or watch videos put in some ear buds/headphones.  We don't all agree on music or your choices on videos.  
4. If there are enough seats in the waiting room, you don't have to plop down right next to someone.  Give some space.  None of us want to be there and this isn't a special club we're in.  At least allow one seat space.  

I know no one is going to do this but just wanted to vent.  Even if these rules were posted on the wall, people still wouldn't follow them and the staff wouldn't enforce them.  In fact, we often go to one waiting room where there is a sign posted that it is a "quiet zone" but it is ignored.  Even the television volume can be heard down the hallway.  

Waiting is never any fun and even less fun when you are sick.  It doesn't take much effort to think of others while you are waiting.

When Prayer Requests Get Stale

Growing up in church I remember many services when someone would say “please pray for my loved ones”.  Just a routine prayer request.  

Prayer requests are good when they are fresh and new but when time passes and there is nothing positive to report, we tend to lose steam and the newness wears off. 

I’m feeling that now.  

When I first made my request for prayer people were interested but now that it has been a month, the interest has gone away.  It’s old news now.  No miracles to report so people lose interest.  

Unfortunately for those of us going through the desperate moments of our lives, the prayers are urgent and fresh every day because we are face-to-face with it.  

People want good news and positive results when they pray.  When they don’t or when things get worse they lose momentum.  

Sometimes prayers aren’t answered immediately and they become long term endeavors. There aren’t any magical prayer words or rituals.  You just take each day and have faith that God will help you get through it.  People may lose interest in praying for your request but it doesn’t mean God loses interest.  We hold on to the hope we have in Him.  

I try not to ask many people to pray for my needs.  I know how it is.  If it doesn’t affect you personally you lose interest.  That’s not being mean, it’s just human nature.  We aren’t very patient even in praying for others.  

Praying requires effort.  Some days it’s just not easy.  

I can tell you that I have very rarely had prayers which were answered immediately. Most of my experiences have required marathon intercessory prayers.  I can’t say I’m good at it.  I get weary.  

If you’re like me.  You are a results oriented person.  You desire to see progress.  It bolsters your faith when you pray and something happens.  When you pray and it doesn’t, it becomes demoralizing. You wonder if God even hears your prayers. 

All I can do is my best.  I never claimed to be good at this.  Sometimes I don’t even know if I’m even doing it right.  I want to feel something.  It’s hard to press through when my prayers aren’t yielding results.  

When people grow weary of praying for our request we can’t lose heart.  We need to practice in casting our burdens on Jesus.  We don’t always have to pray in words but we can simply rest and be still instead of forcing our prayers.  

There are no magic formulas.  People write books with steps to getting your prayer answered or unusual methods but prayer is just doing it.  

When you and others are tired and you feel like your prayers are not moving, you can trust that His grace will sustain you.