Message from Andi O'Dell, Junior High Teacher

“Crazy Love” by Francis Chan

I think the second chapter of this book was written for me (or anyone else that worries).

On any given day, I live caught up in myself; my schedule, my to-do list, my problems. I live as though my life will go on forever. I need to be reminded that my life is “a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”. James 4:13-14

I am the worrying kind. If there’s a “worst case scenario” that’s what I think I’ll need to deal with. To “rejoice in the Lord always” is a command I need to be reminded of…often!

When I am thinking about my problems---my life, my job---I show that I think the situations are more important than God’s command to always rejoice. It’s like I have a “right” to disobey God because my problems and responsibilities seem so important.

Chan says, “Worry implies that we don’t quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what’s happening in our lives.”

“Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.”

This means that I think it is okay to sin and not trust God because the trouble in my life is somehow exceptional.

Life is to be about God and not about me…at all! To be honest, it doesn’t really matter what situation I find myself in, right now, my part is to bring Him glory! The point of my life is to point to Him.

To God be the glory!