Have you ever felt like you lived in a bubble? I feel like that often. We have an awesome church community. Most people that we interact with on a daily basis passionately love Jesus. I'm not talking about a "normal" mundane christian lifestyle. I'm talking about 8 a.m corporate prayer meetings EVERY morning. If you know anything about prayer it will most definitely cause you to go deeper and burn more bright! I love prayer. Not only that but we each have our own personal prayer, worship and reading time. I love reading the bible!

When I leave my home in Hamilton, Al and go to another city...regardless of where it is I feel like I am in a culture shock! I am quickly humbled! When I get outside of my comfort zone and out of my bubble and take a look at the "real world"...what we live in I am in absolute shock. Why can't my bubble be the "real world". I believe it will and is going to look like my bubble one day! It's just not yet. I've been on this crazy journey with the Lord. I've been learning to understand atheism and agnostics. Why do they feel the way that they feel? What causes them to question who God is? Or simply not believe??

Of course God had to take me on my own personal journey with Him and myself first. I had to be strengthened in my heart and mind. I had to KNOW who I was and who God was. Now I have a heart for those who literally claim not to believe. And I love it!

Did you know that most atheist outlook on christianity is this: We're in 2010! We need to move past the whole "Jesus" thing. If you "fall into" the christianity gimmick you're weak!

I know, I know...it makes me sick too! I so want those who have questions to find answers. I believe that if you are an atheist or agnostic that you are not weak if you "fall into" christianity. I believe that it takes a very strong person to believe in God. It takes discipline and endurance. Most of the time I do not understand God at all! But I have this supernatural grace and perserverance that He's given me to be content with not understanding! And to keep loving Him and the mystery of His person.

Casey Doss taught a message a couple of months ago about "Blind Bartimaeus". It rocked me!
First of all, Blind Bartimaeus is not his name! His name actually means "Son of a noble man". Bartemaeus KNEW who He was supposed to be. But here he is broke and blind on the side of the road. He hears that Jesus of Nazareth is near by and begins to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" People started to tell him to be quiet but he only shouted louder! Again, he shouts to Jesus. When Jesus hears Bartimaeus he stops and tells him to come to him. Bartimaeus jumps up and runs to Jesus! On this particular day during this teaching, Casey says, "What if God just wants to see how bad you want Him?!" All of our enduring and perservering is NOT in vain!

If only atheist and agnostics could keep seeking! If only they would not give up. I'm not saying sit on your butt and expect God to just SHOW UP! (Which I totally believe He would do) BUT to say, "You know what!? I want you God. I want to have encounters with you !...I want YOU!" I know that He hears us. And I know that He will come on the 4th call as fast as He'd come to the 1st. I look at it like this: Girls tend to make guys chase. You know what I'm talking about! You want them to think you're important enough that they will do anything and everything to have you. Nothing and no one is as important as you are. I so believe that God wants that too! For us to be so head over heels for Him that we will shout His name over and over again until He says, "Your faith has healed you!" ...(or whatever you want at that time) haha. Then He wants us to follow Him down the road just like Bartimaeus.

Man, I would fan Him with palm leaves and wash His feet...and be blind all at the same time. Just to have Him near!!! But thankfully He's given me 20/20 eyesight and I can have Him whenever I want....somedays it takes a lot of endurance and sometimes I get tired of waiting but if I wait long enough...He'll come! Sometimes I just start to think about what I'm about to pray and BOOM! Holy Spirit is on me like white on rice! (southern statement). Sometimes I can't even speak I'm so encompassed by Him. Whew!!

So I kind of got off of my initial statement but my conclusion on this blog today is this: Get out of your bubble sometimes and take a look at the world we live in and REMEMBER what we're praying for. Remember that there are lost people who are scared and confused. They are in their own bubble of comfortable. I think God likes for us to be uncomfortable(: To find Him in the craziness of life. Remember who you are and who He is.