I Once was Blind....

Before I left people would come say to me, "Cat, this will be a life changing experience." or "Your life will be completely different when you get." I even had one person say, "I hear these trips are life changing, why would you want to do that?" I didn't quite know how much this trip would change me, but but all of my senses have changed.

Since I've been home I've been struggling. Struggling with how life is in America. Of course the culture shock was extremely difficult to get over. Americans are never satisfied and ALWAYS want more. We're always looking for the next best thing and never seem to be happy. Where as Fijians don't have much. A 30'x30' home, steel walls, matted floors, and some rickety wooden doors. Not much for material possessions. The clothes they have they share. We had to be careful, because in their culture if you compliment something of theirs, they will give it to you. They didn't have much, but they would give you the shirt off their back. They didn't have much, but they had faith in God, and that is all they needed.

I admit that I lose sight of what's really important. In fact I felt guilty that I lived in a nice home and had my own car, a good job. God has been working on that side of my heart for awhile now and I realize that I don't need much. Enough to live and survive but those material possessions don't mean much when we're six feet under. What really matters is where and what we're putting or time and money into.

If we look at our checkbook and see where most of our money is spent, is it for God driven purposes or self driven purposes? Is most our time spent in the word or with friends, TV, or work? I was shown the truth this summer. Fiji put life into perspective.

Television/movies/media, friends, Internet, drugs/alcohol, celebrities, work, money, and love are just SOME of the idols of today. I didn't realize how prevalent all of these and more are in our society, and how much weight our society places on these fallacies. No wonder why people are blind to our God. No wonder why we can get pulled away from church, quiet times, witnessing, prayer, or God Himself. We are bombarded by false idols hourly and need to recognize them as that. Being away from all of that this summer and being thrown back into America, I got a FRESH perspective of how our world runs, and it's scary.

Where are you spending most of your time and money? If we love God why aren't we spending that time with Him, in prayer, in word, in conversation? The next time you have time to sit and watch TV, could you be using your time in a better way to honor God? When you reach for that People magazine, could you be reading something to honor God instead? When you're driving in your car, could you use that time to honor God?

When I went to blog tonight, I had something else in mind, but apparently God has His own motives. I admit that I have changed. Fiji has changed me. In one sense I have changed...For I once was blind, but now I see.

ShUUsh!

We all have our own coping mechanisms to deal with issues or problems. I run, listen to music, run and listen to music, become mindlessly numb watching TV, go out with friends, or consult friends. I would always say 'time heals wounds' and 'move on.'

While I was out in Fiji all of my 'coping mechanisms' were not available. I couldn't run without a buddy, and all of my buddys couldn't run more than a quarter mile(i run about 3). Of course TV, movies, friends/going out weren't available. There was no 'running' from my problems. I couldn't turn to anyone because I felt no one understood. That's when I turned to the only possible solution, God. I began to put ALL my trust and fears into Him. I started to turn to Him first. For the first time in my life I began to rely on Him more and more each day.

How many times do we run to others for encouragement, strength, or resolution? How many people do we consult before we confide in God? One of the biggest issues I faced in Fiji was feeling left out. A step behind the group. An outsider. And however tough it may have been, I was forced to be dependent on God's strength. God's love. God's will. Romans 8:18-30

In our world today we tend to confide in others first rather than confiding in God. Sure we can sit, pray and read His word, but sometimes our quiet times are not quiet. Music deafens, sermons interrupt, and excuses destroy our precious time with God. Even Jesus himself needed silence. Luke 5: 15-16; 6:12-13

So there comes a time where we need to sit, be STILL and LISTEN to what He has to say. Proverbs 10: 19; 19:20