Mariah is afraid to leave her stoop! The church is afraid to leave its stoop!
What the heck was I dreaming about when I woke up Sunday morning chanting this? Stuck in my head, but it gave me quite the revelation...
Seriously, am I just a scaredy pants? Am I Stoop Kid, scared to leave my comforts, to step out, to be judged, to get things taken from me, and scared to fail? Am I just a scared little Christian girl, who is too scared to trust God and to leave the stoop of my own selfishness?
So what if, like Stoop Kid, I was limiting myself to my stoop, and keeping myself from seeing this whole world of LOVE that God has created? Would I step off?
In the video, Arnold hears Stoop Kid's cries (like God hears ours). Then he proceeds to show Stoop Kid what things are beyond his stoop (like God wants to do for us). Thennnnn Arnold encourages Stoop Kid to leave the stoop and experience the world (which God also does). ANDDD THENNNN Arnold never gives up on Stoop Kid, keeps his faith, and never leaves his side (hmm... kinda like God).
Joshua 1 says "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
So Mariah, ya know... theres a whole world out there beyond your stoop... If you can just get beyond your self, and step into the world of love, and put yourself out there so people can see Jesus, theres wayyyyy more glorious stoops for you too see. Remember 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God did not give us the spirit of fear and timidity, but of POWER and LOVE and SELF-CONTROL." SO SIT ON THAT STOOP, FEAR!
Alright, Lordy. So hold my hand and lead me off of this stupid stoop! Help me to know what you are always there, and that you know what is good for me. And even though it's painful, and scary and I don't waaannnnnaaa, please continue to encourage me that its okay, and that the world is beautiful beyond my little selfish stoop. I don't want to be like Stoop Kid, I want to be the person you created me to be, with power and love and without fear and selfishness.
And Church, you too! Don't let the world get this impression of you, that you are just some scary, selfish Stoop kid, who just wants to judge people, sucker them in and make them all drink the Kool-aid. Step off your stoop and pour out your love. Yeah, its scary, but Daddy's won't let ya down. Dont let Jarold (or in this analogy, the world), get the wrong impression, get off your stupid, comfortable, safe stoop, and tell the world for realz.
It takes a lot of courage to pray that prayer in the second to last paragraph. I guess I'm scared that it will work. Scared that I'll actually have to do some work. Sitting on the stoop is wayy easier. It's predictable. It's fun. But there is so much more to the life God wants us to live. I want to wanna get off. Great use of the Hey Arnold show as a basing point. It made the whole post way more fun.
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