appealing

Everything seems to be okay. I didn't even go back to sleep after Chris left this morning. I have been cleaning house, ironing, sorting receipts, and applying for jobs. Saturday I mailed about eighty thank you notes, and got the rest in the mail today. Sometimes I have temporary mental collapse sometimes (see?), but it never lasts more than a few minutes. I think I tell people the same things over and over, but so far everyone has been super nice.

Yesterday in our group discussion in Sunday School, we were asked to describe a personal encounter with God. Several people shared some good stuff. I thought I could share one of my experiences without crying, but when I tried, I could barely choke out the words. Then I looked around and half of my group was crying, too. I didn't mean to make people cry, I was trying to share my experience. So maybe I can share it here, and make it make sense. I have shared a little in a previous post, but I am going to give the detailed version.

Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24
I read this verse while sitting in my mom's hospital room. I remember telling God, "God, I DO believe what I pray. I PROMISE! Just fix it! I want all of this to get better!" And God was like, "Okay, Amanda, what are you really praying for, because THAT is what you need to believe." After thinking about that for a while, I realized my prayer was for my mom to not have any pain or suffering, and that I just wanted her to be okay. Then the following Monday night (the night before she died), while reading my mom's Max Lucado book, I realized that God DOES say no to what we ask Him for, but it is all for His glory. I am not going to lie, that was tough to swallow because I knew at that moment what was going to happen. I think I already knew it, it finally sank in though. Then I thought back to that Friday...My prayer was for my mom to be okay...and God DID answer my prayer because she is MORE THAN OKAY! I just cried and cried, because I felt RELIEF that my mom was going to be with the Lord. I am at peace with that. I still miss her like crazy, but God provided in more ways than I can count.

THAT is what I tried to say in Sunday School. Chris says that I am a better blogger than speaker, so I guess that is why I put that on here. I am pretty sure that I couldn't say it aloud and make it sound like it needs to, and I am not even sure if all of that makes sense to anyone but me, but hopefully it does. Feel free to leave a comment with a personal encounter with God if you want to share.

Last year I took a personality class, which was the most ridiculous class ever, but I did gain a different perspective (thank you, sociology). We were talking about different religions. Christianity is THE ONLY belief that focuses on a PERSONAL relationship with God. Other religions believe in reincarnation or the followers are viewed as a mass or other things. After I die (physically) my soul will be in heaven, I will be the same being, only better. I won't turn into a cow, or fade into darkness. I will worship HIM eternally! I had never really thought about it like that. I took for granted how great salvation is! Anyway, I said all that to point out that (even though the class was outrageous) I found one more appealing thing about loving God!