Making Time For Him

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  Romans 12:1

When I first read that verse my mind wants to think of a living sacrifice as simply taking care of myself:  eat right, exercise, get plenty of sleep, etc.  Yeah, yeah....I got that.  But really, what is the sacrifice that God is looking for?  TIME!  That make's me think of the rabbit in "Alice in Wonderland".  "Time?!  Time?!  Who's got the time?!"

Giving Him time is the sacrifice He wants from me.  Time means I give my mind to Him.  I think about Him.  I included Him.  I need Him.  It's the least I can do ("your reasonable service"), considering all that He has done for me.  What does that entail?  If you're like me you might be thinking, "I have so little time as it is!"  Oh yes, we have SOOO much going on in our lives.  Shuttling children around, taking care of our homes, spending time with friends and family, working, exercising, and the list goes on and on and on...  But name one thing on your list that is more important than spending time with God.  I know I can't.  

How do we do it?  Here's a start...and this is a HUGE step in the right direction...TURN OFF THE T.V.!  I believe this is one (if not THE) single biggest problem with American Christians today.  When I gave up secular t.v. programming I freed my mind of the garbage that Satan wants me to focus on rather than God.  Yes, our family still owns a t.v. (eh hmmm...okay, more than one...), and yes, we have satellite programming.  But of all the 300+ channels, we probably watch 10 of them.  Seven are Christian programming, one is PBS (educational children's programming), two are Disney (and the jury's still out on the necessity of that one - quality has gone WAY down in recent years), and then there's the news (which is becoming less and less important because of all the smut stories in it).  I can't even remember the last time I watched the FOOD Channel and I love cooking shows!  But the thing is, even a cooking show can pull me away from time with God.  Instead, if I'm looking for a particular recipe, I'll search for it on Pintrest and then I've saved myself some time.  

I'm not saying that watching something like the Food Channel or a DIY show is a sin, but it's worth asking the question...does it consume time that I can be spending with the Lord?  Do I walk away closer to Him?  Well, there is probably some gray area there.  We can use the knowledge we gain from it to bless others and in turn bless God.  I'm not saying STAY AWAY from it.  Just judge the time spent on it. Everything in moderation.  

And then there is the just, plain darkness of t.v.  That's where things get heavy.  I will NOT waste anytime with crime dramas, murder mysteries, reality shows, crude humor, mindless sitcoms, soap operas, anything that focuses on witch craft, vampires, zombies, sex, fortune telling, or infidelity.  Basically, anything that does not include the Lord and glorify Him.  I just won't do it.  It fills the mind with darkness and is of the devil.  How can I grow closer to God if I'm filling my mind with such oppressive material?  If I truly claim to be a believer in Jesus, but entertain myself with things of the world, I'm not walking the walk.  I'm holding myself back.

I'm also not going to fill my mind with music, movies, books, or magazines that glamorize the above listed things.  They all hold me back.  How can I have the mind of Christ, when I'm filling with songs about "cheatin' hearts" or getting drunk?

Here's the follow-up verse, for the above reference one:

And do not be conformed to this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

You know, it is possible to be entertained without having to give our thoughts over to things of the devil.  As a family, we do enjoy movies and entertainment that includes God; that have an ounce of morality to them.  We come away feeling blessed.  I can't say that about those other "so-called" forms of entertainment.  In fact, I wouldn't even call them entertainment.  I see them simply as the devils hooks.  I won't let him get a hold on me anymore!

 

 

"Love Your Enemies" ...Say what???

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."  Matthew 5:43-48

 I read this passage of scripture and it almost brings tears to my eyes.  Never has it been more needed than at this moment.  When I feel beaten down Christ gently reminds me of what true commitment to Him is.  I love Him more that anything and I want nothing more than to please Him.  I know the price He paid for me; the suffering, the pain, the humiliation, and the rejection.  Every hurt that I have ever known, whether it be physical or emotional, He has felt it...tenfold. So knowing that, and knowing that He forgave His enemies (in fact, He died for them) helps me to move to a place of forgiveness towards my "enemies", and not just forgive, but to love them.

How can we possibly "love" our enemies?  Well, I seriously doubt we are suddenly expected to send roses their way.  No...it's a different kind of love.  It means praying for them.  And I don't think that prayer involves the words, "Lord, please give 'em what's coming to 'em!"  I believe it means praying for their souls, first and foremost, and that the Holy Spirit will shine a light into their dark world.  It also means praying for blessing from God, and that they might see His grace through it.

So why even bother - human nature would really enjoy seeing revenge played out.  Well, for one thing, it frees us.  It lets God be who He is while we sit back as trust Him to do His will, for us and for them.  It also means we believe Him.  Sure, it's easy to say we believe in Him, but what about when we have opportunity to show we BELIEVE Him.  Hasn't He promised He would never leave us or forsake us?  That means He has us in His perfect care even when our enemies strike us. It also proves that our love for Him is authentic.  Like the scripture says, anyone can love those who love them back, but  loving the "unlovely" is a true reflection of Christ and it can only be done through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Again, that means we give it to the Lord and when we do He gives us all the ability we need.

And why am I so emotional about this passage now?  Because I'm given first-hand opportunity to put it into action.  In the month of April my husband and I have been working through the sale of our house and waiting for it to close.  When the title report came in we were saddened to see that two separate parties have clouded our title.  Both of these parties have made it clear that they would like to see the sale of our home not go through.  Plain and simple, they want to harm us.  It is pure hatred and their actions are vindictive. So with that said, we can sit here and cry and ask, "why, why, why?"  Or, we can give it to the Lord and let Him lead us through it.  I can't say for sure how it will all turn out.  I just know (because I have the promise of His Word and it has never failed me) that our faith in His goodness outweighs the outcome of the situation.  One way or another...we will be blessed.

Love Never Fails...

Those are three powerful words that seem to be etched in my brain right now.  Does love ever fail you?  Do you ever fail at love?  Well, when the question is put before me like that, I can answer "yes" on both accounts.  However, there's a key element that needs to be added.  The love of Christ never fails.  Christ-like love can only come from...Christ.  Through the power of His Holy Spirit, we can love like He does; unconditionally.

I can't love like that on my own.  I fail.  I get rude.  I get impatient. I am unkind.  This all happens when I try to love with my human heart; my imperfect, selfish, deceitful heart.

To some, that might sound like self-abuse.  "Don't be so hard on yourself!  You're a good person!"  Am I?  Don't I roll my eyes at my husband?  Don't I snap at my children?  Don't I get annoyed at the person in front of me at the grocery store checkout?  Where's the love!

Sure we all have bad days, but we can overcome the excuses for our behavior when we just realize that we can't love unconditionally...not on our own.  We need Jesus!  I need Jesus!

I leave you with this:

The Greatest Gift

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

What If Everything Was Taken Away...

Is Jesus enough?  If everything else in my life was gone, if tragedy struck, would Jesus be enough?  The only way to know the answer to that is to fully submit to Him now; to give Him my all.  "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you" - James 4:8.  I don't need the things of this world.  I can imagine living without them, but I can NEVER imagine living without my Lord.  Never.



I freely give up the FaceBook, the Starbucks, the Nordstrom, the ungodly TV, the movies that don't edify, the books that take up wasted space in my brain, the music that turns me away from the Lord.  I...don't...need...any...of...it!  And if the loves ones I cherish so dearly were gone tommow, I would still trust Him with my life.  I just need You, Jesus!

The Air I Breathe

Watch "Maranatha - The Air I Breathe" on YouTube

The Choice Is Ours

courtesy of Teen Challenge

 Teen Challenge


I was so blessed to hear testimonies from men with Teen Challenge yesterday at church.  Each one was so encouraging.  However, I couldn't help noticing a trend with all their stories.  The stories all started with the fact that they were raised in Christian homes.  They all went to church (some even on Wednesday - oh, that's when we get really holy, right), they knew Jesus, knew some scripture, etc, etc, etc.  Wow!  That is a wake up call!.  How naive we can be if we think that just "raising" our children in a so-called Christian home seals their future as something righteous and holy.

I, of course, used this opportunity with our 14-year old daughter.  I asked her if she notice something that they all had in common.  I then pointed out the fact that they all grew up as "Christians" yet, they still had to make their own choices (usually around the age of 12 or 13).  It's not up to parents or church or anyone else.  We are all responsible for how we live out our faith, if at all.  We are responsible for the choices we make; for the friends we choose, for the things we fill our minds with (t.v., movies, books, music, video games), we are responsible for our decision to trust the Lord with our whole life.

What a great teaching opportunity we had!

It's Been Two Years...

I remember the day vividly…my brother called in the morning, but I missed his call. I knew what he was going to tell me. I decided I would call him back when I had a chance to be alone. When I finally did, I heard him say, "Mom died this morning." I don't know what pain was harder at the moment; the fact that my mom was gone or that my brother had the difficult job of telling me the news. Either way, it was a pain I will never forget. Although the hurt of losing a loved one is not the work of God Himself, the healing sure is. I suppose I cling to that pain a little by choice. It reminds me of how far I have come. It marks a major milestone in my life, my faith, and my need for the Savior.

Even though my mom has been gone for two years now, I can honestly say that God has blessed me like never before. It wasn't His choice to bless me more because of that painful event, but rather my choice to turn to Him and trust Him. As a result, I have seen His grace and mercy over my life in such a new and wonderful way.

How has God blessed me in the past two years? Well, take a look at the journal entry I wrote on the day my mom passed away:

Dear Heavenly Father,

You took my mother home today. I prayed that you wouldn't, I prayed that you would give me more time with her. I prayed that we would have another chance to start over. You knew how my heart ached to hug her and tell her I loved her. You knew how much I wanted to bless her with knowing her grandson. But you still took her and all I can hope for now is that you will come for all the rest of us. I pray, Lord, that you will take my whole family home. I spent the past 3 1/2 years praying for her, now what do I do with that? That was a prayer that feels very unanswered to me right now. I'm sorry, Lord, but I just don't know why you had to take her so soon. What do I know? Not much, I don't know much of anything about her life in Mexico. I want so much to believe it was a happy one for her, but if she was so happy, why couldn't she share that with me? Jesus, all I can pray for now is that you bless her soul in Heaven. I want to be with her there some day.

Wow! I really did not know God as well as I thought I did. I accused Him of my mother's death! He didn't kill her. Glory to God, He was her Savior! In the past two years I have learn how the enemy, Satan, comes to "steal, kill, and destroy" (John 10:10), but we who believe in Christ will overcome the world, just as Christ did Himself (John 16:33). God is GOOD, and His Word is true, and He keeps His promises of eternal life. That alone gives me the encouragement to seek and know the Lord even more...daily. His Word has come alive in my life!

One thing I will never understand is how a person can go through the trial of losing a loved one without relying on Jesus. I know I couldn't. He makes all the difference. Scripture tells us we will have hardships here on earth, but if we believe in Him, we will overcome them…and walk in Paradise WITH Him someday!

The Friends List

Facebook has really become an opportunity for ministry. If you happen to see me logged in, chances are, I'm praying for one or more of my friends. I read through the status updates and see a snapshot of that person's life. Sometimes, I'm blessed and encouraged by what I read because the person is truly being used by God and I pray that He will continue to use them and bless them. Most of the time, however, I read the updates with a sense of urgency to pray for an individual who is hurting, lonely, searching, depressed, desperate, or just plan lost.

There is more to life than "woohoo, it's Friday" or "great dinner…now off to bed"**. There can be joy when Monday hits. We don't have to start the week with "where did the weekend go". We can live with fulfillment everyday. It grieves me to see that joy is so many times associated with the temporary experiences in life. Yes, it's great to enjoy a good meal or have fun on the weekend. But the problem with that thinking is that it is just that…temporary. If we allow ourselves to focus so much on those temporary things then we just find ourselves living from one short-term fulfillment to the next, never totally feeling lasting joy.

So here's the simple recipe to pure, unending happiness…Jesus! That's all there is to it! Giving our life to Him and allowing Him to control us frees us from relying on the temporary pleasures of this world. It gives us that eternal HOPE; a future to live for, and also a supernatural strength to endure the hurts and challenges of life. It turns the mundane into opportunity to grow in faith. When HE leads us through life, we see it through a whole new lens.

And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation. Psalm 35:9

**These are not actual status updates! ;-)

How My Life Has Changed...For The Better...

My prayer is that I never stop growing in faith; never stop moving closer to God each day. In the past year I have made some changes to my life that have greatly impacted my relationship with the Lord and drawn me closer to Him. In return, I feel more blessed and loved than ever before. In the natural realm, I still have struggles and challenges. Life's not perfect by any means. But in the spiritual...amazing things are happening! I would like to share with you the steps I've taken that have brought me to this precious place...

1. About a year ago I made a commitment to read the Bible all the way through, word for word. The prideful part of me hesitates to share that with you, because I can't help but think to myself how behind I am in this area. Here I am, almost 40, spent most of my life in church and as a Christian, and I am just now able to say, "yes, I have read the Bible." But now I know just how important of a step that was. God has shown me some wonderful things in His Word that I would never have understood by reading a scripture here or there, or listening to a Sunday sermon. For instance, He truly is a God of Love! People who don't know the Bible want to believe that the God of the Old Testament is a God of wrath. Not true at all! He's patient, forgiving, and His love never ends.

2. Another thing that I've done is taken advantage of the Christian programming on t.v. There are some wonderful Bible teachers out there and they are sharing their knowledge with me right through the t.v. I'm not likely to sit down and watch too many of them, but I will have them on in the background while I'm doing other things. It's so much more enjoyable than the evening news, which is nothing but negativity these days. In fact, the news can be down right depressing. Not only that, but many times I've had to change the channel QUICK if my kids were in the room and some report about someone being murdered or something came on.

3. The next thing I've started doing is listening to the Bible. I feel so blessed to be able to have an audio version of the Bible on my phone! We live in a wonderful time in history where modern technology allows for this. Scripture says, "faith comes by hearing" (Romans 10:17), and boy, do I believe it! At any given time during the day, when I'm doing mindless activities (like laundry, making dinner, cleaning the bathroom, etc) I can just plug in my headphones and "turn on" the Word. This has brought changes into my life that I didn't expect. I now crave filling my mind with edifying thoughts. It's helped me better control negative thoughts. It gives me a deeper discernment towards things that want to pull me away from an ever growing faith. Which leads me to the next step...

4. Here's a big one for me...I no longer watch t.v. programs or movies that aren't edifying and don't bring me into a closer relationship with the Lord. At one time this would have been a struggle for me. I'll be honest...I really liked my t.v. But since I've truly starting seeking God whole-heartily I don't desire it anymore. You know the old saying, "garbage in, garbage out"? Well, I believe it's true. In fact, the Bible says something similar in Matthew 6:21-24, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" What possible benefit can we get from being entertained by all those crime dramas and medical dramas on t.v.? I used to enjoy watching those movies on the Lifetime Channel (you know, the channel for women). But those movies torment the mind with wrong thoughts...thoughts about husbands cheating, wives fighting addiction, children being abused. It's easy to believe it's just a story, it could never happen to me. But the truth is, anything that doesn't draw us closer to God, pulls us away from Him and it opens up a door for the devil. He is a master at deception. Not only that, but seeing those images on t.v. desensitizes us and that can cause us to lower our guard. If we let our guard down we make ourselves vulnerable to attack. I'm human, and I know that no amount of "faith" is going to be worth it's salt if I feed my mind with negativity. My basic rule of thumb is this...would I want my children seeing and hearing what is on the t.v.? If it's not good enough for their tender minds, it's not good enough for me! And that goes for music. What a difference it has made to be listening to music that praises God, rather than something that is about "cheatin' hearts" or "it's all about me". To some, I might sound like I've become a bit of a "bore". I don't care really. I've never felt more full and content with life than I do now. My joy comes from what the Lord gives me...Hollywood could never come up with a script so good!

5. Prayer life, and the study of it, has really helped me. One of my favorite Bible teachers, Andrew Wommack, has said that 95% of his prayers are just about praising God. I agree with him whole-heartily! It wasn't until recently that I started praying that way and it has made such a difference. It has helped me learn that God wants to give us what we ask for, but when we feel we have to ask over and over again, it reflects a lack of faith. Now, I simply come to the Lord with my request and BELIEVE that it will be given to me. And while I am waiting for that prayer to manifest in my life, I spend my prayer time praising Him for how good He is and thanking Him for all that He has blessed me with. And I do so in an audible voice. Speak it LOUD! The devil hates that! I also believe the single greatest weapon in defeating depression is praise to God. It's so simple. Satan is the author of depression, but when we audibly praise the Lord, it weakens his power over us. I have seen it first hand. No man made drug can have that kind of healing power.

6. Resist Satan! All of the things listed above contribute to this, but sometimes I just come out and say, "Satan, I resist you!" Oh, there is such power in audibly knocking him off his block! God has given us the power to do so, and praise the Lord, I'm gonna use it! The more we do it, the less power he has, and the more he knows he can't mess with us. I know I'm starting to sound redundant here, but I believe that it can't be stressed enough. James 4:7 says, "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." He does not have any authority over us, we have it over him! 1 Peter 5:8-10 warns about how important it is to resist him. "Be self‑controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

7. Believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. Many times our battles are spiritual ones. We NEED the Holy Spirit to get through them, just as the disciples did after Jesus ascended to Heaven. They were about to go into the world and face severe condemnation and persecution. Had they not had the power of the Holy Spirit in them...there would be no Christianity today.

So how exactly have these steps changed my life. Well, first and foremost, I'm closer to God than ever. I'm in constant communion with my Heavenly Father and He loves that! I don't have guilt over things like, "oh I should really read my Bible", or "I need to spend time in prayer". I don't believe the lies and deception that Satan is always trying to throw at me, such as, "this happened to you because you didn't pray to God" or "You're not going to get this prayer answered because you sinned and God doesn't think you deserve it. He's going to punish you for it." I also have less of a desire for worldly things or things that pull me from God. I'm more aware of the things in my life that were causing strife and allowing an opening for the enemy to come into my family and cause damage. I live with more peace in knowing that God truly wants good things for me AND I don't have to "do" anything to earn them. I'm more aware of how I have cast doubt on His promises. Doubt equals lack of faith! As a believer...that is my greatest sin!

Jesus is the author and the finisher of my faith. Every difficult thing that Satan tries to throw at me I can endure because of my CHOICE to seek God first. There's a saying that comes to mind..."build your house before the storm." The key word is "BEFORE". How effective is my faith if when I'm in the midst of a storm and pray to God, "oh, please help me God" without taking the steps before hand to endure it?

Faith Like Abraham

Genesis 22
Abraham Tested

1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.

2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”
3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.

5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together,

7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

It used to be that when I read this passage I couldn't help but think about if I were in Abraham's position and how I don't know if I could be so obedient. In fact, the thought is unfathomable. But what made Abraham so obedient? How could he give up his son like that? It wasn't until recently that I was taught the full meaning of that message. There's a lot more to the story...

Abraham never thought for a second that God would take his son away. Let's not forget the promise that God had made to him for many, many years before hand. Genesis 17:4 says, “As for Me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations." God continues with His promise in verse 19 and gets even more specific, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him."

Abraham was told by God that he was going to be the father of many nations through Isaac! He never doubted God for a second! He didn't hesitate because he had complete faith in God's promise.

Just as Abraham had a promise from God, we too, have one. And even better...we have it in writing! I still struggle with having the kind of faith that Abraham did, but at least I have the knowledge of how faithful God is to ALL His children. I want that FAITH!

Making Prayer Simple

When you go to God in prayer what is your purpose? Is it to ask Him for something? Is it for healing or deliverance? Is it for financial needs or wisdom? Isn't that what prayer is for? Well...that's what I used to think prayer was all about, but lately I've been doing a deeper study of what it really is.

Scripture says to "pray without ceasing". How can that be? We can't be on our knees, locked in a closet all the time! We have responsibilities, God! We have families to take care of. Remember, Lord, YOU gave them to me! We have work! Do You want me to stop paying my bills and just spend all my time praying to You? Of course not!

Prayer doesn't have to be the complicated thing we tend to make it. According to Andrew Wommack, Bible teacher and author of "Better Way to Pray", 95% of our prayers should just be praising God. "I love You, Lord", "You are so good", "Thank You, Lord, for the blessings that You have given to me and have planned for me". This form of prayer can be done anytime, anywhere and throughout the day. We can sing praises to Him. We can shift from wasting out time watching garbage on T.V. (sorry, but the majority of stuff on T.V. is just a big waste of time), and we can fill our living rooms and cars with sounds of edification. This is all forms of being in communion with God and it blesses Him.

When we shift our focus off of asking for things all the time and just focus on praising God, we will naturally see His blessings unfold. He already knows our needs and desires. He intends to bless us. We just have to let go of the pleading form of prayer.

Picture a child coming to a father and begging for something. Most parents know that begging is not an effective way of asking for something. As parents, we want to give to our children and we intend to, sometimes even more than our children ever expect. In fact, as a parent, we delight in giving to our children. That's how I see my Heavenly Father. He loves me so much already. I don't have to beg for something, I just have to believe He wants good things for me.

There is so much more to this topic. But my promise was to keep my posts short and simple. So here's the basic rule, taken straight from the Word of God, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

What's So Great About Married Love Anyway?

The other day my husband said to me that he likes it when I admit my faults. If you don't understand what Christian married love is about, you might think that statement is meant as something negative. But we need to realize that we ALL have faults and that none of us is perfect. A spouse knows this better than anyone because they see who we truly are. There's no fooling that person and the harder we try, the harder we make life with them. So when he said that to me, I understood that he was merely reflecting the love that Christ has for us. He loves us no matter what. He also knows our faults, but when we confess them to Him, we are opening up to that love even more. It is a completely unconditional and no earthly love can compare to it. However, the committed love of two married people who have also committed their life to Christ is something that mirrors it. In fact, there is a reason why Christ is referred to as the Bridegroom and His people (the church) are the bride.

Ephesians 5 explains the marriage relationship and how it is to mirror the relationship we have with Christ.

So back to what my husband was saying...because I understand what he meant, I know that what he was telling was that he loves me even MORE if I admit my faults to him. I don't have to pretend! There is such freedom in knowing he has that kind love for me.

This kind of love can ONLY happen between two people who have made that marriage commitment in front of God. Two people simply living under the same roof cannot know or understand it because their relationship does not mirror His love, therefore it is not blessed by Him.

So, yes, married love is the closest thing to the perfect love of God and God IS love. What could be greater?

Sometimes Life Can Be Just Plain...HARD!

Maybe it was the fact that is was Monday...or maybe it was that I woke up to a house that was 50 degrees...or maybe it was the moment my husband told me that he needed to extend his business trip and would not be coming home on Tuesday. What ever is was, I ended the day feeling nearly defeated. How does the song go? "Momma said there'd be days like this..."

We all have those days; when it seems like everything happens at once. We feel so small, so out of control. Those moments when we open the mailbox and pull out a letter from the insurance company that tells us our last visit to the doctor will not be covered. Or the moment we turn on the washing machine and see water seeping out from underneath. Or that moment when the dog looks up at us in complete misery and we find he has a mysterious limp. And it seems that these "moments" have an uncanny way of heaping themselves together...as if to gang up on us and hit us all at once. The thought might cross our minds that maybe we are being tested, to see what our breaking point might be.

With Christ, there doesn't have to be a breaking point. I had a choice. I could either give up and give in to the pressure...or I could give it to Him.

Many are the affilctions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Psalm 34:19

K.I.S.S. (Keep It Short and Simple)

You may have noticed me posting more these days and I intend to do it even more regularly. Most of my postings will be geared towards my faith (hence the title) since it is the most important part of my life. In fact, I have dedicated this blog to the Lord as a way of blessing Him by sharing how He has blessed me. Call it a form of ministry, if you will; I believe all Christians should strive to share God's Word and His love in any way they can.

So, in writing this blog, if I want to be successful I have to remind myself to just keep it simple. I'm not a theologian discussing deep interpretations of the Bible. I am just a student, ever learning, and as I learn and grow I feel a desire to share. I love what God is showing me so much that I can't keep it to myself...and I want to be obedient to Him.

But the word of God grew and multiplied. Acts 12:24

One way I plan to keep it simple (and to keep the attention of the reader) is to just make the posts short. I realize people are busy and my posts should only take about 2-3 minutes to read. I know when I read a post on another person's blog, if it takes more than a few minutes to read I tend to skim down to the end or just quit reading all together. I just don't have the kind of time to read lengthy (and sometimes drawn out) writings.

I shall make my point, share the Word, and we can all go about our other business of the day! :)

Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 106:1

Beneath The Dirty White Snow...

Here in Wisconsin, Spring is somewhat resistant. In fact, as I write this, my weather app is flashing out of the corner of my screen, indicating that there is yet another winter storm warning in effect. It prompts me to say, "make up your mind." Is it going to be spring or winter today? And as I ask that question, it's good for me to ask the same of myself, am I going to be like the harshness of winter or the hopefulness of spring? Spring offers newness and a tender rebirth of things. Hidden beneath that dirty layer of snow out there are fresh shoots of life waiting to break through the ground. In some areas of our yard where the snow has melted, they have already shown themselves, giving hope to a ravaged ground that has seen such bitter cold for so many months.

God gives us such wonderful object lessons! No matter what storms I go through, He is there, steady and constant and ready to renew my soul. So with that...I choose...

You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the earth. Psalm 104:30

Loving The Unlovable

Do you want to hear a sad story about a frivolous lawsuit? A couple of years ago we put up a new fence. Our next-door neighbor, a very liberal feminist-type, decided she didn't like it, so she proceeded to sue us for a four inch strip of OUR property. Yes, that's right! Four inches! After thousands of dollars in legal fees, three land surveys to confirm the property line, and an attorney (hers) who passed away in the middle of it, we thought the cased was closed, especially when it was dismissed by the court this past July (apparently time had run out on it). Then a couple of weeks ago we were presented with the lawsuit AGAIN! She went and found a new attorney and has obviously decide to throw thousands more dollars into refiling the lawsuit!

We try our best to lay low with her, telling our children to "play quietly" when she's around so they don't disturb her and ignoring the torments of her three boys when they throw things over our fence. However, there is part of me that knows how challenging this can be when she clearly hates us. That's the "human nature" in me wanting to take over and give her a good "talking to".

Yet, with all that said, I cannot help but have compassion for this poor woman. In fact, I have to think about what it could be that would make her such a bitter person. She clearly does not have Christ in her life, and knowing that makes it so much easier to endure her attack on us. I KNOW there is an emptiness in her life and she needs to be prayed for. If nothing else, it is a test from God to love the unlovable. Christ's words are pretty clear on the matter. We can all love those who bless us, but having a truly loving heart is only proven when we can also love those who give us nothing but grief in return. Only then can we say the Holy Spirit resides in us and we are of Christ.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48

Feeling "Locked Out"?

It's taken me a while to realize this, but there is incredible value in a lock on the bathroom door. I found this out when our four year old son started using our bedroom as his playroom. Knocking before entering is just something he's not wired to do…yet. Although we try to remind him, he still just barges into every room like he owns it. So the other day, while I was in the shower, it didn't surprise me that he got a little hot under the collar when he couldn't just walk in to get something from me. He started banging on the door, yelling, "let me in!" And then came the crying, "Mommy!" Of course, I had to calmly respond, "Robbie, you'll have to wait a minute. When I’m done in the shower, I'll let you in." And then his response was, "no, now!" It would not have been the right time to explain to him that I wasn't going to get out of the shower, soaking wet, reach over and unlock the door…not to mention, he's becoming a little too curious about bodily differences (if you know what I mean) and he just doesn't need to be seeing them right now. He wouldn't have wanted to hear all that, he just wanted in.

This scenario reminded me of my own relationship with God lately. I've felt like I've needed Him to do things for me and I needed them done now. God has been saying, "You'll have to wait." He has no intention of explaining it all to me, because He knows that I can't quite comprehend it all. When the time is right, He will unlock the door and let me in. "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has put in His own authority." Acts 1:7

Now, in the meantime, there are two things I can be doing…I can either bang on the door and scream, "no, now!" OR I can trust His word, wait, and believe that He will do as He said He would and my needs will be met.

James 1:2-4 says, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have it's perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

As a parent, I know how option two blesses me. If my son is obedient and can exercise trust and patience, he will have a very happy and proud mommy. Of course, I would love him no matter what, but I would, most likely, respond with nothing short of a good scolding if he continues to pound on the door! I shouldn't expect any less of the Heavenly Father. I want Him to be proud of me and reward my trust and patience in Him. He knows my situation way better than I do. He knows what I'm up against. Would he do anything to deliberately hurt me? No! I know this is true, because even us earthly parents would never do that to our children. How much more loving is He?

Just or Unjust...that is the question.

I'm going to have to remember this point if I ever come across an atheist and find myself in a "discussion" with them. One of their arguments is "how can there be a just God when there is so much unjust in the world?" But here's a chance to answer a question with a question...who makes the standard of what just is? Who decides what makes a person just? How is Mother Theresa considered to be a better person than Adolf Hitler?

It comes from Moral Law and who wrote that law?

We ALL know the answer to that question...and it ain't no atheist!

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good."
Psalms 14:1

"The atheists are for the most part imprudent and misguided scholars who reason badly who, not being able to understand the Creation, the origin of evil, and other difficulties, have recourse to the hypothesis the eternity of things and of inevitability....."
Voltaire

Cool Water

When I was about six or so I starting this on-going prank with my dad. When he would be taking a shower I would sneak in with a glass of cold water, dump it over the curtain on him, and then run out giggling. He was always a good sport about it, so naturally, when I got married I decided to carried on the same tradition with my husband, who was also a good sport. However, payback did come... I've learn to appreciate the symbolism in that prank.

Like a cold glass of water in the shower, life can be just as startling. Imagine standing there under the warm flow of comforting water, lost in thought (some of my best ideas come from my time there), and then suddenly you're hit with shocking cold water. At first it takes your breath away and you might let out a holler. Then, surprisingly, there is a bit of refreshment, like jumping into a lake. It's that refreshment that I'm applying to life right now.

How wonderful a glass of cool water would be to someone traveling through the desert. That is just how life has seemed to Robin and me over the past few years. Many "shower scenes" have felt like a shock to the system at first and then have turned out to be refreshment from God. I love it when He leads us through these teachable moments. Now, nothing I say would have much significance if I didn't apply scripture to it. So here it is...

"Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land." Proverbs 25:25

So take that and put it in your canteen!

What death is teaching me.

I have this picture of my mother on the wallpaper of my Blackberry. It is the last picture that was taken of her before she passed away. Every time I look at it, which is about 20 times a day, a little sting hits me inside and I am reminded that she really is gone. I keep hoping that this sting will fade, but it hasn't yet...and with that, I cannot bear to change the picture to something else.

I am starting to learn how valuable that picture can be in helping me with my (ever growing) faith in God. Along with those stinging moments, are the ones where I actually break down in a tearful rant and ask God the simple question, "why?" I usually find myself locked in the bathroom, safely away from my little ones who need to see Mommy strong. But during those moments, something is beginning to materialize in my mind. I can't change the fact that my mother is gone, but I can use those moments to remind myself of the opportunities I have with the rest of my family. I'm starting to let it be a reminder to me that these loved ones in my life are very precious. Not one single person on this earth knows for sure how long they or their loved ones will live. I realize that is a startling statement, but it should be. It is a wake-up call...make the most of what you have. You do not know how long you will have it.

If you have lost someone close to you, you know that feeling. The one that hits you suddenly, out of the blue, and reminds you of the finality of your loved one's passing. I can only describe it like a sucker punch to the stomach. You feel it deep inside and it takes your breath away. Next time you find yourself having one of those moments, use it to remember what you do still have...and act of it. Hug your spouse, take your child's face in your hands and say "I love you", or call someone up that you care about and just say "hi".

Remember, you only have today.