Tonight was an interesting night.  I came home early from class in Chattanooga because of the snow, and was planning on a fun game-night with my soccer team at my coach's house.  Then, as I was talking to one of my friends, he invited me and some other friends to come over to his house for a while--before the game-night.  I talked to my mom about it and she said that I couldn't go to either, because she didn't want me out on the roads in the snow. 
   Bummer.  What was going to be a fun-filled evening became a bleak future.  It was really too bad, because I was looking forward to both.  So I was trying to have a good attitude about all this, and then mom said that if my friend was okay with it, he could come over to my house, spend the night, eat pancakes in the morning, and we could hang out.  So, what looked like a bleak evening then became a bright future.
   He said he was going to come at about 8:30, and would call before he came.  Mom and I decided to watch a movie together while we waited.  It was a good time.  But, 8:30 turned into 10:00 and my friend still didn't show up.  I called him and he said that he couldn't get a hold of me to tell me that the roads were too icy, so he wouldn't be able to make it.
  Bummer.  So that's where I'm at right now.  Looking at it from a Christian perspective, it's a little puzzling.  I mean, first God provides me with a fun activity for the evening (the game-night), then He takes it away.  Then He substitutes it with another fun activity (my friend coming over) only to take it away again.  Thankfully, I still had a good time with Mom, and He's helped me to not really get bummed out about my friend not coming over.  But it still is confusing why He did what He did.
   I know it sounds like a trivial thing, but it has real connotations for the Christian life.  Many times God will take something away from us, and we won't understand why.  We know that He loves us and works everything out for our good, but His actions don't seem to make sense.  Especially when it seems like He's toying with us.  Have you ever experienced that?  But, since we can do nothing about it, we sit back and wait for God to show us why.  However, it doesn't always work that way.  God doesn't always show us why He does what He does.  He doesn't always give you a reason.  He may never fully reveal His reasons for His actions.  We may never get the answer to our 'why'.  And this is the key.  It is in this moment where we are called not to question, not to doubt, not to turn away, but to humbly say as Job did, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the Name of the Lord."   God won't always give you the answers.  He won't always let you know why He does why He does.  But remember this, He DOES love you and He WILL work everything out for your good.  Blessed be the Name of the Lord.    

Question: Why were we created?  Answer: To glorify God.  Pretty simple ain't it?  God made us for His own glory.  I forget that a lot.  We all do.  So here's a reminder for you guys, cause I assume that you forget it too sometimes. :-)               Unfortunately, knowing that we were made to glorify God doesn't necessarily mean that we will live a God-glorifying life.  Many times, we desire to glorify ourselves.  And accordingly, when others don't treat us the way we want them to we get bummed out.  We think--"How dare they treat me like that.  Don't they know who I am?"  When we are criticized we get defensive--"How dare you say that I was in the wrong."  We get our feelings hurt because our IMAGE is hurt.  We're not being glorified like we think we should and so we get angry or defensive. 
  Image is important.  God created man in His image, which is about the biggest gift that can be given.  Many times you see in Scripture God angry because His people are not presenting a good image of Him to the other nations.  Image is very important to God, because He desires to be glorified.
  Notice whose image I am referring to.  It's not your image that I'm talking about--it's God's image.  It's God's glory that's important--not our own.  Sure, it's important that you have a good image--but only to the extent that God's glory is a greater focus than others' opinion of us.  Too many times we get upset when people criticize us or make fun of us or don't give us the respect that we think we deserve.  Basically, our happiness is tied to our glorification.  "I'm happy when others like me or respect me."  "I'm not happy when people disrespect me or criticize me."  Our happiness is directly tied to our image--our glory.
  What brought these thoughts on?  I was with my cousins a while back, and they started to tease me and represent me wrong.  I left with a feeling that they didn't think much of me, and didn't really give me the respect I deserved.  I was upset.  But then I asked myself--"Is God glorified, even though I'm not.  Is God happy with me, even though my cousins aren't?"  Yes, He is. SO WHY AM I UPSET?  Why am I upset that people aren't glorifying me when the God of the Universe is glorified?  Why am I upset that people aren't happy with me when the God of the Bible is happy with me? 
  The next time you start to get frustrated or upset because other people aren't treating you or respecting you like you think they should, instead of getting upset, ask if God is glorified through you.  If He is, then there is nothing to be upset about.  If He isn't, then ask His forgiveness and don't worry about how other people view you.  If God is happy with you, then it doesn't really matter if people are happy with you.  This can be very hard to apply.  Let's face it, the Christian life can just be hard sometimes, but if you get discouraged remember this: "I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Phil 1:6).  God sees your desire to live for His glory, and He will be with you every step of the way--guiding you, strengthening you, and keeping you safe.  God bless.