too difficult for God?

I was reading in Genesis recently and was stopped by a question that was asked.

In Genesis 18, God is promising Abraham that he would have a son by his wife, Sarah, by this time next year. Abraham and Sarah were well past child-bearing age by this time, so it seemed like it would be impossible for it to happen. Sarah is listening to Abraham's conversation with God's messenger and laughs at the idea that it would even be possible for her to bear a child at her age. In Genesis 18:14, God's messenger then asks the question:

"Is anything too difficult for the Lord?" (NASB)

When I read that question, I stopped there for a while. It was a question that challenged me and that I have been thinking about since.

I know in my head that there is nothing that is too difficult for God to do. But, it does not easily become something that I believe in my heart, something that becomes a part of who I am. I do not want it to stay just something I acknowledge in my head. I want it to become something that I act on. But, that change does not always come easily.

When you hear things from God that seem impossible, difficult, or crazy, what is your usual response? Do you respond with laughter and disbelief as Sarah did? Or do you respond with faith? Do you hold back and stay where it is safe? Or do you step out trusting God, even in the midst of fear?

"Is anything too difficult for God?" (Genesis 18:14, NASB)

Sarah did go on to have a child, just as had been promised. I wonder if sometimes she looked back and wondered if that year between being told she would have a child and that child being born would have been different if she had believed God's messenger from the beginning. I know I can think of times in my life where, when I look back now, I wonder if it would have been different if I had believed God and trusted Him right from the beginning. But, I am also realizing that I cannot go back and change them; all I can do is learn from them for the next time. So that next time I believe God right from the start.

"Is anything too difficult for God?" (Genesis 18:14, NASB)

online community? is it authentic?

As it seems like our world has moved more and more to interacting online, I have started to wonder about whether the online community can truly exist? Is it authentic? Or are we trying to convince ourselves that it is, even though it is not?

There are many things that have made it easier to keep in touch with people who live a great distance away from us. And that has its benefits. The family that lives across the country or is on the mission field can communicate much easier than was previously available. It is much easier to keep connected with old school friends - whether from high school or college or university. It is easier to keep up to date on the happenings of family and friends that live nearby as well.

But, can online communication really provide any form of community? Or does it make it too easy to hide what is really going on?

As I think about these questions, I cannot help but think about the interactions among readers that happen on another blog that I follow and comment on often. I would say that there is community that happens on that blog. People post genuine prayer requests and others pray for them, encourage them - do what we are called to do in community. There is a sense that it is a safe place to be honest and real. Over time an identity as a group has formed and it does feel like I am getting to know some of the other women who comment there.

But, does this replace face-to-face community? Community where people can be there physically for you when needed?

I do not think so. There is nothing that can replace having friends and family who will sit with you or give you a hug when you need it. We need that kind of community. We need for people to physically be there for us. But, I do feel that in our increasingly busy and spread-out, yet inter-connected world there is a place for online community. It can be real and honest and authentic. It can provide us the challenge and encouragement and prayer that we need. It just cannot be used instead of ever having people who we sit across the table from and talk about life with. That will always be needed. But, online community can happen and can help to keep us connected to others.

new year's resolutions

New Year's Resolutions . . . often they are made with the best of intentions. We want the new year to be better in some way than the previous year. But, how often do we get to the end of January and find that we have not kept any of them? And as we look at that list of things we intended to do, but failed to do for even one month, it is pretty easy to get completely discouraged.

As I was reflecting on 2010 and looking ahead to 2011 in the last couple of weeks, I found myself looking at New Year's Resolutions in a different way than I have in the past. Rather than making a list of things I wanted to change for 2011 that I would try to do on my own, I asked God what He wanted for me in the coming year. Out of that came a much shorter list. A list that seems must easier to manage for a year, but is in many ways more difficult than what I would have put on the list myself. The difference is that I know that God wants me to do this and that He will be the One who makes me able to do this. I cannot do it on my own. That I know, from my attempts at New Year's Resolutions in the past. But, with God directing this one I know that I can.

Having this one thing that I know God has for me in this coming year does not mean that I am not open to anything else God may bring my way. As I reflected on 2010, there were many things that God brought to me that I never would have guessed and that were challenging, but were worth embracing with God. I know that 2011 will be the same. God will bring things my way that I have no idea about now, and if He told me about them now, I would probably do my best to avoid them. But, when they come, it will be the right timing.

Maybe you are one of those people who refuses to make New Year's Resolutions anymore because you have never kept them before. And, really, who wants to get to the end of January (or sooner) and feel like they have failed because they have not kept nay of their New Year's Resolutions. But, maybe, you can stop and ask God for one thing that He has for you this year.

Having just one thing does not necessarily mean that it will be easier than any other year has been. When we are following through with what God wants for us, that can seem more difficult if we try to do it in our own strength. But, with God, it is do-able.