There's a children's computer game I've got that's really cute. You may have heard of it or even played it with your kids. It's called "Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? I love that title because it catches the feeling of just having no clue where someone or something is. And that's the whole point of the game, of course. In the game, you are a detective who must get clues about Carmen's whereabouts by asking questions of bystanders in a scene. In the answer given is a hint about her geographical whereabouts as well as her physical attributes. The game takes the player all over the world, anywhere from Brazil to Austria to India. The neat thing about it is that you are learning all about the geography of the world in the process of looking for clues. And then eventually, if you don't give up that is, you'll find her, that elusive Carmen Sandiego!
Have you felt that way about God sometimes? You just wonder, "Where in the World is God?!" You look around and see the ecological disasters, the wars, sickness, unemployment and maybe an empty wallet. It's only natural to dispair, to question, to even doubt at times. Even the Psalmist literally cried tears as he searched for God in his desperate situation. He was surrounded by people who mockingly said "Where is your God." And so he questioned. And you question. And in your emptiness you think, if God is for real, then where has he gone?
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the U.S. and from Canada also. Our office hours are from
8:00 am to 5:00 pm Central Time
1-866-JOY-8486
We will be happy to take an order or answer
any questions you may have about our
"God Is For Every Day" stories and songs.
This devotional is free to be reprinted for use in church newsletters or sermons, for use on personal networking sites, or for email forwarding. For other reprints, permission may be obtained by contacting JoySoul Corporation at 1-866-569-8486, author Carol Loperena at carol@joysoul.com or editor Lois Monson at lois@joysoul.com.
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"And as you wonder, you do what the Psalmist did; you remember a time when you found God's clues."
And as you wonder, you do what the Psalmist did: you remember a time when you had found God's clues. The author of Psalm 42 remembered the land of Jordan, the majestic Hermon mountain range and the sound of the waterfalls there. You look at the sky and you remember a time when you sat on the grass and you looked at every cloud. Every cloud was different and made funny shapes and then moved on to be replaced by another, more interesting cloud.
In another prayer, the Psalmist has realized the presence and the greatness of God. He goes on to say, "O God, you have been my teacher from the time when I was young; and I have been talking of your works of wonder even till now." In the song, "Where is God?" we take children on a musical journey to find out where God is. We go to North Dakota, Minnesota, Alabama and a lot of other states. We'll learn that we can find Him in many, many places. But you can be sure of this one thing; we'll always end up finding Him in the very best place, our hearts.
But of course the old skepticism takes over sometimes and I doubt, "How can I find God in an ecological disaster like an oil spill?" Then I read a story about a church in the Florida panhandle, whose minister took her congregation out to the waters in St. Andrew's Bay to pray. And not only
that, but they used the opportunity to have an animal rescue group come talk to them about how they could start helping to save the animals of the Gulf Coast. It struck me then, like the game, that while they were looking for God in the oil spill they were also learning. .
that, but they used the opportunity to have an animal rescue group come talk to them about how they could start helping to save the animals of the Gulf Coast. It struck me then, like the game, that while they were looking for God in the oil spill they were also learning. .
That started my day looking for more clues about God. I found a thankyou card from someone close, that blessed me at just the right time when I needed it most. I found another clue when my cat purred and curled up in my lap. I heard the baby cry in the apartment next door and remembered the new life that we are given, the second chances, and even the chances to start over alltogether. There was a church bell, a choir, a prayer, and an answered prayer. I love this game!
"If you
look carefully you'll find that God leaves
clues
pretty
much everywhere.
look carefully you'll find that God leaves
clues
pretty
much everywhere.
Or I see a clip on the news of a minister in Missouri who was really paying attention. Already knowing how God has a way of finding us, and not the other way around, he looked for what God might want him to do. The clue turned up when he was driving by a motel one day. He noticed children getting on a school bus in front of a motel and found entire families living in motels, day after day, week after week, year after year. And that started an entire mission of reaching out to people who are the hidden homeless. Within that mission he, along with community support not only are converting a hospital into a transitional living facility, but now provide the transitional guests with an opportunity to learn how to reach their financial goals. Maybe that's really the question I need to ask myself; not "Where is God?" but "What is He teaching me?"
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Musical Arrangement by Lois Monson. Lyrics and Melody by Carol Loperena. Musical arrangement is for the piano. Guitar chords included. Four verses with refrain.
Verse sample: Where is God? He's everywhere; He's in the air! I feel Him there when people show they care. I want Him in my heart. Refrain Everywhere I've been: North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Ohio. Everywhere I'll go: Alabama, California, West Virginia, Idaho. I know that God is there. Call 1-866-569-8486 for more info.
Verse sample: Where is God? He's everywhere; He's in the air! I feel Him there when people show they care. I want Him in my heart. Refrain Everywhere I've been: North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Ohio. Everywhere I'll go: Alabama, California, West Virginia, Idaho. I know that God is there. Call 1-866-569-8486 for more info.
The song, Where is God?, takes your child on a trip to look for God in many different states. Guess what? Your child will find God everywhere he's been and everywhere she goes! Great fun! Written in the key of C. For preschool through primary.
If you look carefully you'll find that God leaves clues pretty much everywhere. Why just this morning I awakened to an amazing sight. Right outside my window were millions of blades of green grass and on the tippy-top of every single blade was a drop of glistening dew.
Take a tour of the River
of Refuge and listen to what Pastor Wiley says happens when "somebody oughta."
of Refuge and listen to what Pastor Wiley says happens when "somebody oughta."
Go in depth about how God can provide the clues needed to see where He is and where we should be.
Citations:
Where Is God?