clouds of uncertainty roll in

I want to express my thanks to everyone who gives me a hard time about not posting enough. The fact that you are the least bit interested in what I have to say, and what is on my heart does mean a lot to me. So much as happened since we have last gathered here on "somethingtomarinateon" that I haven't felt the need to provoke any other thoughts to occupy our time, we have had enough as is. Not that today is any different because there is still plenty to think about (when isn't there) but if anything else happens here hopefully perspective will be brought to the table. I am guessing that most the readers of this post have been effected by confusion, frustration, hurt, anger, happiness, joyfulness, etc. not to long ago. It seems more then appropriate for us to bring to question where may God be in the midst of all these trying times in our lives. I can only offer you one answer that I will not make me feel like I am misleading anyone, and that is simply, I don't know where He is. Even if we knew exactly where He is I don't know if that is really the comfort that we are truly seeking anyway. I have been challenged lately in my prayer life drastically. How often do I end up treating God like the genie in a lamp? When things come up then of course the first guy I call on is God to the rescue. To me it seems like I are really cheapening what it means to have a real relationship with God. I like way Larry Crabb thinks on this one. He gave the illustration of sitting in front of a fire place on a cold January night with his wife. At that moment asking his wife to do anything for him is the last thing he wants to do. Simply snuggling next to her and being with her is the best way of spending their time together. That leaves us with one question, when we are with God how much of that time is asking Him to do things for us? As hard has it may be, I hope that in the midst of all the confusion that we find ourselves in, we are able to sit next to God on the couch and realize how awesome it is to have a relationship with Him.