“The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.” 2 Peter 3:9The Fall 2009 India Blitz team (Kim, Margie, Don, Dena, Carla, Sean, Janet, Phil) at the Alumni Dinner - Chennai
In the 1960’s Dr. Walter Mischel designed a doozy of an experiment; for four year olds. In the psychology realm it is known as the “Marshmallow Test.” The design was simple; place a marshmallow in front of a four year old child and tell them “leave it alone for 15 minutes and get another.” If the child chose to eat the first treat, there wouldn’t be a second when Mischel returned.
Two thirds of the more than 400 tempted preschoolers were unable to wait. Oh, some waited several minutes – but ended up eating the marshmallow; some one agonizing nibble at a time. Only one third of the group had the ability to delay gratification.
Dr. Mischel followed these children into adulthood. What he observed was those who had learned delay gratification tactics/skills were more popular, adventurous, confident and dependable. AND, when comparing SAT scores, the group who received two marshmallows when they were four, scored an average of 206 points higher fourteen years later. http://www.smartparentshealthykids.com/blog/?p=412
American society is not geared toward delayed gratification. If it isn’t easy, quick, simple and microwavable most aren’t interested. If it isn’t supplied fully assembled and ready to go - it isn’t purchased. If sweat-equity, long term investment, and little to no short-term benefits describe the pre-payoff status – over 70% of the crowed would seriously reconsider involving themselves.
If you were born in the US after 1965 you were raised in the “McDonalds Culture”; quick, easy, little-investment lifestyle. Go to the counter, pay your money, get your food; go in, order, and get out in less than three minutes.
I have also observed that this “quick and easy” mentality has spawned an attitude of entitlement. We want what we want and when it isn’t presented immediately, or the person who has it doesn’t bestow it in a timely manner, we feel cheated. We feel denied. We feel robbed of what was rightfully ours.
I think this culture of easy, quick and simple paired with entitlement has really skewed our view of God and how he works. I have heard complaints of how God “doesn’t answer,” how God has “checked out,” doesn’t care, and “isn’t listening anyway.” When I probe a bit deeper as to why they have this opinion I find that God didn’t work within their timeframe, their parameters; he didn’t hop into the neat box they had created for him.
What have you asked God for recently? Are you looking for it to appear in your timing, your pre-set boundaries? Do you have an idea how you want the answer to appear, to look, to work, to function?
God isn’t a puppet we control. God isn’t a dog we command, regulate to a kennel and pay attention to when it suits us. God is God. He is big, universally present, all-knowing, massive and in-control. I think we forget this when we start operating on our timeframe and policies instead of his.
God is good (Nahum 1:7) – all the time - and he isn’t slow in keeping his promises. What has he promised you? What are you waiting for? What does your timeframe/ parameters /expectations look like in comparison to his?
Updates:
Condo – Still for sale.
Work – Recruiting! Events, applications, documents – yep it is that time of year! Learn to be a minister/pastor in your workplace…http://repurposing.biz/how-to-enroll/
Visitors – My parents had a short visit on the 21st and I was able to show them my new little cottage, have lunch with them and my aunt and uncle, and enjoy a leisurely dinner at the Mint Leaf in Saratoga (highly recommend the place). Jamie is coming on the 8th – yippee!
Requests:
Condo – It needs to sell and I need the monthly mortgage payment to come in. I have been trusting God since July and he has paid it every single time…I wish the condo would just be snatched up by some lovely buyer and I wouldn’t have to think about it anymore.
Work – we are in need of training recruits for the next cycle and for a training lead to coordinate the local and international training (alumni needed).
Websites - If you would like to RSS my update vs. getting them by email visit my blog site http://www.denaandrews.blogspot.com/. To find out more about rēp visit http://www.repurposing.biz/ for information.
PS – Happy Thanksgiving to the Americans!
Two thirds of the more than 400 tempted preschoolers were unable to wait. Oh, some waited several minutes – but ended up eating the marshmallow; some one agonizing nibble at a time. Only one third of the group had the ability to delay gratification.
Dr. Mischel followed these children into adulthood. What he observed was those who had learned delay gratification tactics/skills were more popular, adventurous, confident and dependable. AND, when comparing SAT scores, the group who received two marshmallows when they were four, scored an average of 206 points higher fourteen years later. http://www.smartparentshealthykids.com/blog/?p=412
American society is not geared toward delayed gratification. If it isn’t easy, quick, simple and microwavable most aren’t interested. If it isn’t supplied fully assembled and ready to go - it isn’t purchased. If sweat-equity, long term investment, and little to no short-term benefits describe the pre-payoff status – over 70% of the crowed would seriously reconsider involving themselves.
If you were born in the US after 1965 you were raised in the “McDonalds Culture”; quick, easy, little-investment lifestyle. Go to the counter, pay your money, get your food; go in, order, and get out in less than three minutes.
I have also observed that this “quick and easy” mentality has spawned an attitude of entitlement. We want what we want and when it isn’t presented immediately, or the person who has it doesn’t bestow it in a timely manner, we feel cheated. We feel denied. We feel robbed of what was rightfully ours.
I think this culture of easy, quick and simple paired with entitlement has really skewed our view of God and how he works. I have heard complaints of how God “doesn’t answer,” how God has “checked out,” doesn’t care, and “isn’t listening anyway.” When I probe a bit deeper as to why they have this opinion I find that God didn’t work within their timeframe, their parameters; he didn’t hop into the neat box they had created for him.
What have you asked God for recently? Are you looking for it to appear in your timing, your pre-set boundaries? Do you have an idea how you want the answer to appear, to look, to work, to function?
God isn’t a puppet we control. God isn’t a dog we command, regulate to a kennel and pay attention to when it suits us. God is God. He is big, universally present, all-knowing, massive and in-control. I think we forget this when we start operating on our timeframe and policies instead of his.
God is good (Nahum 1:7) – all the time - and he isn’t slow in keeping his promises. What has he promised you? What are you waiting for? What does your timeframe/ parameters /expectations look like in comparison to his?
Updates:
Condo – Still for sale.
Work – Recruiting! Events, applications, documents – yep it is that time of year! Learn to be a minister/pastor in your workplace…http://repurposing.biz/how-to-enroll/
Visitors – My parents had a short visit on the 21st and I was able to show them my new little cottage, have lunch with them and my aunt and uncle, and enjoy a leisurely dinner at the Mint Leaf in Saratoga (highly recommend the place). Jamie is coming on the 8th – yippee!
Requests:
Condo – It needs to sell and I need the monthly mortgage payment to come in. I have been trusting God since July and he has paid it every single time…I wish the condo would just be snatched up by some lovely buyer and I wouldn’t have to think about it anymore.
Work – we are in need of training recruits for the next cycle and for a training lead to coordinate the local and international training (alumni needed).
Websites - If you would like to RSS my update vs. getting them by email visit my blog site http://www.denaandrews.blogspot.com/. To find out more about rēp visit http://www.repurposing.biz/ for information.
PS – Happy Thanksgiving to the Americans!
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