Bam

Three chapters into Crazy Love by Fancis Chan. I must say this book is very powerful. I think this book will probably have just as great an impact on my life as Million Miles did. There is so much he has already talked about and I have only one idea of where to start

In the beginning, he talks about how a lot of our American views of God are just the regular things that you get great joy from. You know, graceful, loving, providing ect. He is all of those things, but we need to remember that He is also a sovereign God. He doesn't need help to stand. He is the perfect entity. Jesus, His son, was the perfect man. We can't stand on our own. We need help. God does what he wants. God also is more than just the nice, loving God. He also is a just God. Those who disobey Him find this out the hard way. I think if we all remembered everything that God really was, we would not only love Him, but we would definitely fear Him. Think about it, God can do what he wants. If God really, really wanted to, He could end all life right now as we know it. He could end our existence, and we would never have another day on Earth. Reason this doesn't happen? The exact thing everyone sees. The loving God, and forgiving God.

Chapter 2 Francis talks about how we jump into prayer and just talk at God. We just talk, talk, talk, talk, talk. We never really take the time to listen to what God might have to say about what we're saying. Yes, prayer is definitely the time you take to talk to God. It's like a conversation though. You must take a step back, and listen to. The best example I can give of this is my friend Quentin. Q gives a very good definition to the real reason we all have two ears and one mouth. Quentin is a very quiet guy. He doesn't say much until he feels it's a good thing and time to say it. He listens to everyone. He might be the best listener I've ever seen. Many of us are very extroverted. In the sense that we talk way too much. People tend to think that if you don't talk much, you must not have many words to say or something to that effect. Thing is Quentin is a very smart guy. He can usually think of just the right thing to say, and that is because he's such a great listener.

Chapter three, he gets into how wide God's love actually is for is. Like it says on the book and all, God is love. He is Crazy, Relentless, All powerful love. That's the kind of love God has for you. For parents, the child you have is YOUR child. We in that sense are God's children. God created us, and He has loved us from the start. The beginning of time start. He has known each and every one of us personally, intimately, and fully since the beginning of time. He has known where our screw ups are going to happen. He knows every single word that has, does, and will ever come out of your mouth. He also loves us enough to give us the freedom of choice. He doesn't force us to love Him back. He just wants us to. Wouldn't you want your kids to love you back. Chan illustrates in the book if our child came up to us one day, and straight out said "I don't love YOU, I love the things you give me". Many of us tend to fall more in love with the blessings God gives us, rather than falling deeply in love with God. We need to see that if we are just falling in love with God's blessings, then we are missing the bigger picture in which God is also calling us to do things in His son's name. When we get caught up in the blessings that God has given to us, we tend not to think about what He wants us to do.

This happens to everyone. Not a single person in the entire world can say they have never had that time in their life where they started to just love the blessings they were given because it brought them great joy. Then when the time of joy wore off, they were back to an unpleased person because they didn't think God loved them anymore, or something. God does give blessings, yes. He also wants us to not become content with what He gives us. A lot of people don't realize than when God calls us to do something for Him. If we decide that we will do it, and do it to the best of our ability, then the blessing we receive from that will be 10 times greater than the one He gives us just because He's God and He can. I know there are times where when I feel totally blessed, and I never want to leave this great feeling time, I have tended to become content and lazy. When the time wears off, then I feel like something has been taken away. Now I tend to look at it as, you can bless yourself by doing many things. I have noticed that the greatest blessings come when you give freely. When you just put yourself below others and give out what you have that another might not. I emplore you guys to just go out one week, and do something for someone. Whether it be mowing their grass for them, shoveling snow, or giving money, or food. Don't expect anything in return. You will have a great sensation come about you. Believe me, if you don't get that feeling, you were probably giving things because you thought you had to. I know if I think I have to do something I'm less likely to feel good about it.

Just another thing that I want to say is that God has the best timing in the world. Don't believe me? Listen to the people around you talk about stuff. If you're struggling with something, go to a friend, or maybe a Church pastor, or even the school counselor. Really listen to what they have to say about the subject. I know that many a time, I have been struggling with things and God has spoken to me through many different people. God always knows when you're hurting, so when you need a friend, He will always be the person you do have to lean on. Think about it, He's bigger than the all the universe, He created the universe, and everything in it. I know that I have had a little bit of trouble with something lately, but God has shown me straight through that by just having me read a few books. The things I have learned from these books have removed the thoughts that I couldn't remove by myself, because God knew that those books would help me to get a better insight than if I had just tried to go it on my own. Believe me, when you need something, God has the best timing in the world. You also have to count that He does things in HIS timing, not ours.

That's all I have for you guys now. Hope you guys liked this.

Love you guys.
TJ