I know its been awhile since I last posted on here. The past month or two has been a whirlwind of going and coming and doing and decision making.....BUSY to say the least. But I am back in action!!
So over the past couple weeks a new situation has arisen where God gave instruction and it was our (Mike and myself) choice to follow or not. In the world's eyes the decision is a BIG one that shouldn't be taken lightly, as far as Gods concerned...its just a matter of DO or DONT. So in our conversations about making this decision an interesting topic came up that really got me thinking. When Mike first came to me and said "This is what God is telling me to do....", I have to admit I wasn't completely on board. Not because I don't want to follow God, but because I was scared and every bit of my thinking said "That's Crazy!" "There's no way God would say that!" We started talking and a statement that I have heard time and time again came up. "God gives you a brain and common sense" Whether it be family or friends or just random people I have talked to over the years, this is a common bit of advice I have been told. When it comes to making big decisions "have faith and trust BUT, you should really think and use the brain God gave you." It has stuck in my head and will play over and over each time I come to an important choice to make. I totally understand the concept. Wisdom is important, there is no questioning that. Time and time again the scriptures tell us to seek out wisdom. In Proverbs wisdom is said to be better than precious stones and even gold, that the Lord founded the earth by wisdom. God gives us wisdom when we seek it out and when we are willing to listen to it. However in pondering this bit of advice, it seems a little contradictory. If God is telling us to make a move, shouldn't wisdom tell us to obey regardless of how crazy it seems. I started reading over Hebrews 11, the Heroes of the Faith, trying to gain some insight on how they made their decisions.....was common sense a part of the process.
Look at Noah: God told him to build a HUGE ark and prepare for rain (something they had NEVER had, by the way). Would common sense say it was a good idea to make yourself the laughing stock of the neighborhood? To commit all your time an attention to building this gigantic boat just because God said He was going to bring a flood? NO, common sense says that's nuts! However, Noah being a righteous and faithful man, obeyed and GOD was true to His word. The flood came and Noah's family was safe on the ark.
Look at Abraham: God told Him to take his son (who was a promise to him) to a place he would be told later and sacrifice him. WHAT? Where does common sense say that's a good idea. Isaac was a fulfillment of God's promise that Abraham would be the father of many nations and he is supposed to go sacrifice him??? And whats up with the whole "go to Moriah to a mountain i will tell you about" Common sense says i need to know where I am going and why...plus....where does common sense say killing my only son makes any sense at all?? Common sense says if i kill my ONLY son, i cant father many nations. But Abraham rose early the next morning and did as he was told. In the end, Abraham was stopped just before sacrificing his son and a lamb was provided. Abraham was then told his offspring would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the shore.
Lastly look at Jericho: Joshua was told that he would conquer Jericho by telling the people to march around the city 7 days in a row. On the 7th day they should blow the trumpets and shout and the walls would fall down. HAHA! I dont know about you, but if I was Joshua and I had to go tell the people that was our great war strategy, I would be a lil concerned. I would be afraid they would laugh me out of my position and right into the nut house. Common sense tells us that yelling loudly at a wall isn't going to make it fall. However, Joshua, being obedient and having faith told his people the plan. Early that next morning they did as they were told. In the end, they marched, they yelled and blew the trumpets, and guess what....the walls fell down.
These three situations are just a few......there are countless stories where God told His people to act, and they did, no matter how crazy it sounded. So i have come to a new conclusion. Common sense isn't going to do us any good when it comes to following God's direction. In fact i think it will more often than not, talk us out of being obedient. Common sense will convince us that what we heard wasn't of God, that its too crazy to be of God, and that others will think we are nuts for believing God would tell us to do something so off the wall. Noah was given instructions by GOD that didn't make sense, and if he wouldn't have obeyed....all of man kind would have been destroyed. God tested Abraham to see how willing he was to do WHATEVER God asked of him. If Abraham would have let common sense rule, he wouldn't have been given the promises that GOD gave him. Sometimes i think we are given instructions by God just to see if we are willing to obey what HE says. Joshua was given instructions on how they would conquer Jericho and make their way into the promised land. He did as he was told and it wasn't the yelling that made the walls fall down, it was GOD who knocked them down b/c of the peoples obedience to His direction. Through our obedience to HIM when HE gives direction we show GOD how committed we are to HIM and how much we truly trust HIM. We need to seek wisdom through reading HIS word and growing closer to Him, so when He speaks we KNOW it is Him. When God tells us to move, we have faith that He sees the whole picture beginning to end and we obey....period.
Looking back at the journey that GOD has had us on the past couple years I can see over and over again where our decisions to obey HIM made no sense at all. So from here on out I want to have that reckless abandon to just obey, no strings attached. I want to be willing to do whatever HE says do, knowing its of HIM, and trusting HE knows all the details. I dont know about you, but I don't want to miss out on a blessing or an opportunity to bless others around me, just because common sense said it was a crazy idea. Go where God says go, do what He says do, move when He says move no matter how big, how crazy, how insane! So.... I choose to have faith .....minus the common sense! :-)
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
We are ALL beautiful in HIS sight!
"I have nothing fancy to wear"
"They will look down on me because of my tatoos"
"I have done some horrible things in my past"
"I dont deserve love"
"When people find out where I have been and what i have done, they will not accept me"
These are just some things i have heard over the past year. Women who want to change, who want something more for their lives, but are afraid. They aren't afraid of changing, they are afraid of the people in the church and what they will think. Seriously?? I thought that the church, the living breathing body of Christ is where people should be able to find the unconditional love and acceptance that Christ gives. Christ did not look down on anyone who came to Him. Regardless of a persons past, where they had been, what they had done......He gave them all the same love. Christ offered the same forgiveness to every person who asked regardless of the crime committed. He healed all of those who had faith, not worrying about where they were last Friday night. Christ calls us to be like Him. To not worry about the details of a persons past or appearance, but to show them love and to show them Christ.
I think we women are the worst. We are always looking each other up and down, critiquing outfits, hairstyles, makeup, shoes, etc. We are always trying to spread the latest gossip we heard about someone else. We love to tear everyone around us down. We dont wanna offer forgiveness to someone else, because that might cause us to have to change something about ourselves. We dont want to befriend someone in need because of the stigma that might be attached to them. We are too worried about what others will think about and say about us, to really look at the needs around us.
WAKE UP!! We are ALL children of GOD, each and every person on this planet was created by HIM. We all are loved by HIM and are offered the same forgiveness. On top of that, we are ALL SINNERS!!! **gasp** **shock** Yes i said we are all sinners. I'm a sinner, you're a sinner, we are ALL sinners. There is no denying that. And the cool thing, in GOD's eyes, we are all SINNERS....no one is labeled a "Big sinner" or a "Lil sinner" or a "Part time Sinner" We are all on the same playing field, regardless of the sins we commit. Who are we to put levels to a persons sin and try to judge them on it. Matthew 7:3 says "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye but don't notice the log in your own eye?" We are all making mistakes EVERY day. We lie, we gossip, we think nasty thoughts about those we come in contact with, we dont obey instruction God has given us, we covet the nice things people around us have.....the list goes on......we have committed adultery, we have murdered, we have been drunk, we have used drugs, we have been addicted to pain pills, etc. All of those things and the many more not listed.....are sins. It doesn't matter how we disobey GOD, if we sin, we sin. There are no levels, no rating system that says a person who has an addiction is worse than someone who lies. Nothing that reads a person who lies is more deserving of love than someone who has committed adultery. We really need to get to a point where we start loving people where they are at. Welcoming those who want to know more about Christ. Stop condemning those who enter the church building because of the way they look or the things they have done that we don't like. Start loving on each and every person who we meet because Christ loves us. We need to start looking at others as our equal, our brother or sister in Christ. God is our father, we are His children. He loves each and every one of us, flaws and all. He will judge our hearts and our actions. He alone is responsible for determining a persons salvation. We are simply called to love, to teach, to disciple. If you are the one judging every person who crosses the threshold of the church.....stop it. Look at each person as a child of GOD, as an opportunity to make a difference, as an opportunity to show the love of Christ, to make a new friend, to impact the Kingdom. If you are the one afraid to come to the church because you think you have too many faults.......stop it. You are beautiful in HIS sight. He created you special and He loves you despite all your flaws. Come to Him and He will make you new. Come to Him just as you are and allow Him to build you up. Serve Him and allow Him to use you to impact others lives for Him.
"They will look down on me because of my tatoos"
"I have done some horrible things in my past"
"I dont deserve love"
"When people find out where I have been and what i have done, they will not accept me"
These are just some things i have heard over the past year. Women who want to change, who want something more for their lives, but are afraid. They aren't afraid of changing, they are afraid of the people in the church and what they will think. Seriously?? I thought that the church, the living breathing body of Christ is where people should be able to find the unconditional love and acceptance that Christ gives. Christ did not look down on anyone who came to Him. Regardless of a persons past, where they had been, what they had done......He gave them all the same love. Christ offered the same forgiveness to every person who asked regardless of the crime committed. He healed all of those who had faith, not worrying about where they were last Friday night. Christ calls us to be like Him. To not worry about the details of a persons past or appearance, but to show them love and to show them Christ.
I think we women are the worst. We are always looking each other up and down, critiquing outfits, hairstyles, makeup, shoes, etc. We are always trying to spread the latest gossip we heard about someone else. We love to tear everyone around us down. We dont wanna offer forgiveness to someone else, because that might cause us to have to change something about ourselves. We dont want to befriend someone in need because of the stigma that might be attached to them. We are too worried about what others will think about and say about us, to really look at the needs around us.
WAKE UP!! We are ALL children of GOD, each and every person on this planet was created by HIM. We all are loved by HIM and are offered the same forgiveness. On top of that, we are ALL SINNERS!!! **gasp** **shock** Yes i said we are all sinners. I'm a sinner, you're a sinner, we are ALL sinners. There is no denying that. And the cool thing, in GOD's eyes, we are all SINNERS....no one is labeled a "Big sinner" or a "Lil sinner" or a "Part time Sinner" We are all on the same playing field, regardless of the sins we commit. Who are we to put levels to a persons sin and try to judge them on it. Matthew 7:3 says "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye but don't notice the log in your own eye?" We are all making mistakes EVERY day. We lie, we gossip, we think nasty thoughts about those we come in contact with, we dont obey instruction God has given us, we covet the nice things people around us have.....the list goes on......we have committed adultery, we have murdered, we have been drunk, we have used drugs, we have been addicted to pain pills, etc. All of those things and the many more not listed.....are sins. It doesn't matter how we disobey GOD, if we sin, we sin. There are no levels, no rating system that says a person who has an addiction is worse than someone who lies. Nothing that reads a person who lies is more deserving of love than someone who has committed adultery. We really need to get to a point where we start loving people where they are at. Welcoming those who want to know more about Christ. Stop condemning those who enter the church building because of the way they look or the things they have done that we don't like. Start loving on each and every person who we meet because Christ loves us. We need to start looking at others as our equal, our brother or sister in Christ. God is our father, we are His children. He loves each and every one of us, flaws and all. He will judge our hearts and our actions. He alone is responsible for determining a persons salvation. We are simply called to love, to teach, to disciple. If you are the one judging every person who crosses the threshold of the church.....stop it. Look at each person as a child of GOD, as an opportunity to make a difference, as an opportunity to show the love of Christ, to make a new friend, to impact the Kingdom. If you are the one afraid to come to the church because you think you have too many faults.......stop it. You are beautiful in HIS sight. He created you special and He loves you despite all your flaws. Come to Him and He will make you new. Come to Him just as you are and allow Him to build you up. Serve Him and allow Him to use you to impact others lives for Him.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
When will we ever learn??
You know having children can teach us a lot about our relationship with God. Out of our 5 beautiful children....three of them are are in the rebellious, push the limit stage. Ages 5, 4, and 2 make for an interesting mix of emotions. We have a list of all the house rules with pictures for the younger ones. They know what is expected of them. At the top of the list is "Put God first in everything you do." That rule alone should warrant good behavior, but we go on to include others such as "Furniture is for sitting, not gymnastics" "Climbing is for monkeys, not lil boys and girls" "We use our hands for helping and loving" "Use your walking feet inside" and the list goes on. They are simple rules that will make the house a peaceful, loving place and keep everyone safe. I dont ask them for anything complicated or make them do anything that is crazy or over the top. We simply ask them to follow those rules, treating every one with respect and love.
God, our Heavenly Father, does the same for us. He has laid out simple rules for us to follow, nothing complicated, mere guidelines for our daily living to keep us safe and keep us at peace with those around us. "Have no other gods" "Do not make idols" "Dont take His name in vain" "Keep the Sabbath holy" "Honor your father and mother" " Do not murder" "Do not commit adultery" "Do not steal" "Do not lie" "Do not covet your neighbors stuff" and above all "love your neighbor as yourself" I mean really, those arent hard things to do. He goes even further throughout the Bible to give us guidance on how we can do it all, ways to make it easier.
Going back to my beautiful babies.....with such simple rules to follow, why is there not a constant state of peace and tranquility in my home, lol? Why is it that day in and day out i must discipline them for breaking multiple rules? And sometimes for breaking the same rule 2 or 3 times in a matter of 15 minutes??? It can be really frustrating and i will ask them "Why cant you just do what you know is right????" They love to sit in front of the rules and recite them to me over and over again, so proud that they can "read" (even though they are just lookin the pictures). They are quick to tell me when their brother or sister breaks a rule, making sure to go point it out on the list. They know the rules by heart and can tell me what they did wrong every time they get in trouble. YET, they continue to break the rules in the heat of the moment, continue to mess up when they think no one is watching, continue to do what they KNOW is wrong. Then, the funny part is they dont understand why they must be disciplined. Why do they have to sit in time out, why do they have to lose their privileges, why is mommy so mean?!? LOL. Then I lovingly must explain to them that they knew the rules and they made a CHOICE to disobey. I love them too much to let them continue to do wrong and i must guide them towards obedience. Life would be much easier if they would just think before they acted and weigh the outcome of disobedience versus obedience.
We do the same thing to our Father. We know the rules. We are quick to point out what everyone else is doing wrong. Point out the faults in those around us to get them into trouble. We can even cite scripture verses to prove they did wrong. We know right from wrong, no question about that. BUT, and its a big BUT, we CHOOSE to do what is going to get us into trouble. We make the choice to talk nasty about those around us, we choose to say hurtful things to those we love, we knowingly think thoughts we have no business thinking, we choose to step outside of the will of GOD. We choose to make life more difficult for ourselves when we choose to disobey. And then GOD has to lovingly correct us, disciplining us for what we have done wrong. We then get mad when life is not going our way, when things get difficult, when things start to go crazy. We look at GOD and say WHY?!? Then HE must lovingly reply, because you chose to disobey. He loves you too much to let you continue in your disobedience without consequence. He wants you to succeed and wants you to do well. So, when you do wrong, HE must discipline.
Will we ever learn to think before we act? Will we learn to weigh out the consequences of our actions? Will we start to understand that when we step outside of the will of GOD and do our own thing.....it will lead to trouble? Will we ever learn that GOD loves us and HIS way will ALWAYS be a better choice than our own?
God, our Heavenly Father, does the same for us. He has laid out simple rules for us to follow, nothing complicated, mere guidelines for our daily living to keep us safe and keep us at peace with those around us. "Have no other gods" "Do not make idols" "Dont take His name in vain" "Keep the Sabbath holy" "Honor your father and mother" " Do not murder" "Do not commit adultery" "Do not steal" "Do not lie" "Do not covet your neighbors stuff" and above all "love your neighbor as yourself" I mean really, those arent hard things to do. He goes even further throughout the Bible to give us guidance on how we can do it all, ways to make it easier.
Going back to my beautiful babies.....with such simple rules to follow, why is there not a constant state of peace and tranquility in my home, lol? Why is it that day in and day out i must discipline them for breaking multiple rules? And sometimes for breaking the same rule 2 or 3 times in a matter of 15 minutes??? It can be really frustrating and i will ask them "Why cant you just do what you know is right????" They love to sit in front of the rules and recite them to me over and over again, so proud that they can "read" (even though they are just lookin the pictures). They are quick to tell me when their brother or sister breaks a rule, making sure to go point it out on the list. They know the rules by heart and can tell me what they did wrong every time they get in trouble. YET, they continue to break the rules in the heat of the moment, continue to mess up when they think no one is watching, continue to do what they KNOW is wrong. Then, the funny part is they dont understand why they must be disciplined. Why do they have to sit in time out, why do they have to lose their privileges, why is mommy so mean?!? LOL. Then I lovingly must explain to them that they knew the rules and they made a CHOICE to disobey. I love them too much to let them continue to do wrong and i must guide them towards obedience. Life would be much easier if they would just think before they acted and weigh the outcome of disobedience versus obedience.
We do the same thing to our Father. We know the rules. We are quick to point out what everyone else is doing wrong. Point out the faults in those around us to get them into trouble. We can even cite scripture verses to prove they did wrong. We know right from wrong, no question about that. BUT, and its a big BUT, we CHOOSE to do what is going to get us into trouble. We make the choice to talk nasty about those around us, we choose to say hurtful things to those we love, we knowingly think thoughts we have no business thinking, we choose to step outside of the will of GOD. We choose to make life more difficult for ourselves when we choose to disobey. And then GOD has to lovingly correct us, disciplining us for what we have done wrong. We then get mad when life is not going our way, when things get difficult, when things start to go crazy. We look at GOD and say WHY?!? Then HE must lovingly reply, because you chose to disobey. He loves you too much to let you continue in your disobedience without consequence. He wants you to succeed and wants you to do well. So, when you do wrong, HE must discipline.
Will we ever learn to think before we act? Will we learn to weigh out the consequences of our actions? Will we start to understand that when we step outside of the will of GOD and do our own thing.....it will lead to trouble? Will we ever learn that GOD loves us and HIS way will ALWAYS be a better choice than our own?
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
"I'll be praying for you".......REALLY???
"hey there how are you?"
"oh...not so good"
"really, whats up?"
"well i only have enough money to pay the bills this month, but nothing left over for food or gas. Our savings was depleated when the car broke down and needed major repairs. I just dont know how we are going to make it the next few weeks on the little bit of food in our cabinet. Im just hoping for a miracle or something"
"oh how aweful. i am so sorry to hear that. i know that must be tough."
"yeah"
"Well.... I will be praying for you. Let me know how that turns out"
UUGGHH!! " i will be praying for you" is one of the most played out lines that sometimes has the same effect as fingernails on a chalk board for me. :-o I believe we should definitely lift up in prayer those around us. Praying for those who are sick and hurting and in need. Being ever thankful for the many blessings that GOD has given us. Being in agreement with the prayers of those around us. HOWEVER......Ya know, sometimes prayer isn't all that's needed. Sometimes GOD places a person or people in your path for you to do more than just pray for. Our society has gotten so caught up in having the best, making the most, and getting the greatest......we seem to have forgotten what God has called us to be as Christians. Jesus tells his disciples in Matthew 19:30 those who are first will be last. To me, it sounds like we shouldn't be spending all our time trying to be the greatest. Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying we shouldn't strive for excellence in what we do. I am simply asking for a priority check. If we are always trying to "get ours" how are we able to look around us for those who are in need? If we spend all our energy on making the most money to buy the biggest toys, when do we have time to serve to HIM? Are your priorities on the world and money and your job and fast cars and big TVs and boats and fancy clothes and the newest electronics???? Or are you kingdom minded, focused on serving HIM in all that you do? See your income as a gift from God for you to use to bless others. Look at your vehicles as an opportunity to bring those with no transportation to church. See your stuff....as stuff. You dont take it with you, so why put so much importance on it. Put your time and energy and $$$(ouch) into things and people that will have an impact on the kingdom, that will have a heavenly reward. Stop telling others you will be praying for them, just so you feel better about yourself, and start DOING more to help others. What if we started to act like the people in acts......even if just slightly.....who sold all their possessions and shared it among the church so that no one had need. Dont believe me? Acts 2:45...see for yourself. Take your prayer to the next step, ACT when you see a need. DO more when the opportunity presents itself. "a little less talk, and a lot more action"....sorry seemed fitting :-) Imagine how many lives we can change if we stop talking about the needs and start meeting them!! Just a thought....
"oh...not so good"
"really, whats up?"
"well i only have enough money to pay the bills this month, but nothing left over for food or gas. Our savings was depleated when the car broke down and needed major repairs. I just dont know how we are going to make it the next few weeks on the little bit of food in our cabinet. Im just hoping for a miracle or something"
"oh how aweful. i am so sorry to hear that. i know that must be tough."
"yeah"
"Well.... I will be praying for you. Let me know how that turns out"
UUGGHH!! " i will be praying for you" is one of the most played out lines that sometimes has the same effect as fingernails on a chalk board for me. :-o I believe we should definitely lift up in prayer those around us. Praying for those who are sick and hurting and in need. Being ever thankful for the many blessings that GOD has given us. Being in agreement with the prayers of those around us. HOWEVER......Ya know, sometimes prayer isn't all that's needed. Sometimes GOD places a person or people in your path for you to do more than just pray for. Our society has gotten so caught up in having the best, making the most, and getting the greatest......we seem to have forgotten what God has called us to be as Christians. Jesus tells his disciples in Matthew 19:30 those who are first will be last. To me, it sounds like we shouldn't be spending all our time trying to be the greatest. Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying we shouldn't strive for excellence in what we do. I am simply asking for a priority check. If we are always trying to "get ours" how are we able to look around us for those who are in need? If we spend all our energy on making the most money to buy the biggest toys, when do we have time to serve to HIM? Are your priorities on the world and money and your job and fast cars and big TVs and boats and fancy clothes and the newest electronics???? Or are you kingdom minded, focused on serving HIM in all that you do? See your income as a gift from God for you to use to bless others. Look at your vehicles as an opportunity to bring those with no transportation to church. See your stuff....as stuff. You dont take it with you, so why put so much importance on it. Put your time and energy and $$$(ouch) into things and people that will have an impact on the kingdom, that will have a heavenly reward. Stop telling others you will be praying for them, just so you feel better about yourself, and start DOING more to help others. What if we started to act like the people in acts......even if just slightly.....who sold all their possessions and shared it among the church so that no one had need. Dont believe me? Acts 2:45...see for yourself. Take your prayer to the next step, ACT when you see a need. DO more when the opportunity presents itself. "a little less talk, and a lot more action"....sorry seemed fitting :-) Imagine how many lives we can change if we stop talking about the needs and start meeting them!! Just a thought....
Here we GO!!!
Never thought i would start a blog. Not really the blogging type. However, I enjoy sharing CHRIST with those around me and trying to break down those religious walls that man has built. You may not agree with me or even like what i say, if thats the case.....stop reading, lol. Just thought i would start sharing whats on my heart in hopes that it might help someone look at things in a different way.
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