The highest act of love…
The greatest sacrifice…
The best ever given…
For the most undeserving…
Thank you, Lord Jesus. Your death for me….is a gift I can never repay.
Archive for March, 2013
To the Cross
Friday, March 29th, 2013Defend Your Faith & Your Facebook Posts
Thursday, March 28th, 2013Have you ever heard the saying….You better stand for something or you'll fall for anything? It's true! While I believe each person has a core that makes up who they are, it's been proven time and again that people will bend & sway when necessary.
Especially on beliefs. Or what they post on Facebook.
I'm a Christian. I believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a life of perfection….died a painful death on a cross and rose again 3 days later. Because of His love for me and His sacrifice I am assured of eternity with Him in heaven forever. I place the highest value on HIS WORD (my Bible) and I try as best as I can to follow Him in every way by being obedient to the truths found in scripture.
I trust Him and I want to obey Him because that's what He expects of me.
The world around me doesn't agree. Many people call themselves Christians but twist what scripture says to fit their needs. This week I've read numerous posts on Facebook & Twitter regarding the same sex marriage debate. Stuff like this just remind me how watered down faith can become for those who claim to follow Christ but live otherwise. What do I mean?
I read a post from a Christian guy that said something about 'being a new kind of Christian just means you're an old kind of heretic.' The point, I believe had something to do with Christians falling for the lie that accepting people as homosexual is okay. While I don't disagree with loving people regardless of their lifestyle choice….I do find it directly in disagreement with God to call that choice acceptable. Nor do I accept what the world is trying to cram down my throat by way of marriage equality.
Not now….not ever!
Here's my problem with the post on Facebook: If you're going to speak up for God and I assume that's what this person was doing when he said that statement. Then don't be afraid to defend yourself & your faith!
I believe that each of us will be held accountable for what we've said and not said in our life journey. It's not necessary for any of us to be a honking horn to honor God. But if you're going to throw out JESUS quotes, know why. Then, back them up!
By the way, I responded to that post with a comment. I said, "…there just isn't a way to bend the truth when it comes to God's word." Which opened the door for a challenger to respond with "So no one bends the Old Testament, ehh?" The owner of the FB post tuck-tailed his response to that by saying he didn't mean it like that. Sadly, I couldn't comment because it "wouldn't let me" for some strange reason (Ahem, blocking possibly). The glaring truth of it is that not everyone is equipped to fight the hecklers that challenge on faith issues.
And I ask….WHY NOT?
To answer the challenger's OT question.
When pointing out how something can't be wrong if we're not willing to follow OT rules we need to understand the difference of what the intentions were of that time. In the OT there were different kinds of laws; civil & ceremonial. Those concerning religious sacrifices and penalties for unacceptable behaviors were time-bound and limited to the people of Israel. Just like my rules as a mom for my kids when they were 5, 7 & 9 are different than they are today at their young adult ages. They were a specific set of guidelines to fit that time in their life. In OT, sacrifices and ceremonies were given as a "foreshadowing" of the Messiah's ministry, death, burial & resurrection. They are no longer necessary….thanks to Jesus!
Jesus came to set the sinner free. His birth, life & death changed everything! We have a NEW COVENANT with God because of Jesus. To which I say, thank you! I certainly don't want to have to follow some of the crazy rules mentioned in the OT, do you? Sell my daughters into slavery? Naaah! Burn a bull on an altar as a sacrifice? No thanky!
The OT isn't obsolete! It's just as important as the New Testament. But aren't you grateful that God sent Christ to make a way for you & me? That we don't have to follow rules that don't fit us and the times we live in now? I am!
READ YOUR BIBLE! STUDY GOD'S WORD! KNOW THE TRUTH!
I’m No Fool
Wednesday, March 27th, 2013To the world….it doesn't make sense when (Christians) forgive someone whose hurt them. It's baffling to see a family that struggles financially continue to give back to God. They don't get it when a person walks away from a succesful job or career to follow God into mission work. Society is programmed to think of self first. The world is an oyster! Take what you can, right?
Have you ever felt like someone saw you as foolish for following God? Or just didn't get it?
Following God can seem weak or strange to someone who doesn't know Christ personally. I mentioned to my Bible Study gals the other night something that my hubby said to me during a rough time in our lives. We were struggling with a ton of decisions and really had what felt like blinders on — we couldn't see past to know JUST WHAT TO DO! He said, "I wish I could be like every other person on the earth! The ones who never give God a second thought….so I could just choose what it is I want to do and not worry about it ever again! Life would be so much easier if I didn't care about pleasing God!"
Now before you get all in a huff at how ungodly that thinking is let me challenge you further. Non-believers never have to weigh the choices they make. They just do whatever feels right to them and move on. Followers of God spend time praying, listening and seeking guidance to just about every decision. Especially life impacting decisions. It's part of who we are as His children. No one wants to be out of God's perfect will!
As Christians we believe God has a plan for our lives and it's easy to take things into our own hands and CHOOSE something that isn't best for us. People do it every day!
God had reached a point of utter disappointment in Genesis. He realized that all the people could think of was evil…all the time (Gen. 6:5). He regretted ever making man in the first place! Wow, that's pretty bad. Especially when I think of all the sin and disgust that goes on in our world right now. God decided to wipe the slate clean and start again….with just one family. Noah's!
Which brings me to the looking weird or foolish part of following God. Noah took a ton of ridicule for obeying God and building that huge ark. People just didn't get it! But Noah did and so did his family that worked alongside him. I can only imagine what people whispered as they walked past.
Obeying God should be our ultimate goal. Even if it makes us look crazy. His ways will never lead us in the wrong direction.
Never be afraid…to be different.
Happy Spring Break
Monday, March 25th, 2013It's SPRING BREAK here in Alaska Indiana!
Can't you tell?
Imagine green grass & leafy trees here because in just a few weeks that's what this view will be.
I'll just keep enjoying the view as I peek out my windows.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:7
Besides, I have plenty of this…and who doesn't love having that —->
I'm not doing any complaining about weather. Spring break has been my light at the end of the tunnel for weeks. After this week, I have to conquer 37 more SCHOOL DAYS until summer break. During those crazy weeks I'll have the chance to be WHO GOD NEEDS ME TO BE to all the students & staff within my reach. (A task that I don't take lightly) Because of my dear friend Stephanie Lee, I don't take my opportunities to love like Christ for granted.
The way I see it…I get 37 more days with my students and co-workers to love them like Jesus would. For now though….I'm going to rest up and enjoy the people & pets I love at home!
Hosanna!
Sunday, March 24th, 2013PALM SUNDAY
Here HE comes! Not on a prancing steed and not wearing royal robes. Humbly, on the clothes of the poor and needy. The Messiah was He….only the ones calling out Hosanna! would soon turn and yell, "Crucify Him" when He refused to lead them in a massive revolt against the Roman occupiers. They were looking for a different kind of King.
You can't please everyone.
Jesus' reason for riding into Jerusalem in the first place was to make public who He was (THE MESSIAH) as told in Old Testament prophecy. This is where Jesus no longer tells the disciples to keep quiet about Him. It's time to shout & worship who He is, to everyone!
As Christians, we celebrate doing that very thing today.
Zechariah 9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your KING comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, on the foal of a donkey!".
Jesus instructed two of his disciples to go into the village ahead and find the donkey and the colt tied together and bring them back to him. They did as told and when they brought them back, took off their cloaks and Jesus sat on them.
Ever rode on a donkey? What about one that's never been "broken"? {JESUS YOU ARE the LORD!}
As Jesus rode along… the crowds went ahead of Him. They threw down their cloaks. They cut branches and laid them down! They shouted, "HOSANNA TO THE SON OF DAVID! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST!".
Man, I wish I could've been there!
He entered the Temple where He would teach, heal & run out those who were turning it into a "den of thieves". Imagine Jesus flipping tables because that's exactly what He did! His Holiness in this act is a challenge to every person to be honest in everyway (to me, anyways).
God sees everything.
Thanks to those shouting that day as Jesus rode into Jerusalem, "Hosanna!" I'm reminded that God is not some customized entity that can do or not do the things I beg of Him when I'm in need. HE IS THE MESSIAH! WHO CAME TO SAVE THE WORLD! HE TOOK AWAY MY SIN & YOURS!
Let's celebrate Jesus….
HOSANNA! HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST!
Lord,
Thank you for my salvation. Your journey into Jerusalem that day marks a week of preparation for the sacrifice of your life for mine. A debt I can never repay. May I never be the same…because of You!
Amen
One Dude
Friday, March 22nd, 2013Did you know that one person can totally make or break your day? Of course, you did. Everyone's experienced a pain in the buttoosky at some point or another. So, what can you do to keep from pulling your hair out? Or better yet, hurting them?
Pray.
Walk away.
Smile.
Think happy thoughts.
Imagine them on fire. Just kidding!
Pretend you gave birth to them.
Love them.
I know, I know. It can be so hard to tolerate an untolerable person. I've just spent the last hour-and-a-half with a person that literally makes me fantasize about quitting my job! (I'm not doing that….but this dude…..oh boy!)
I know it's a heart issue on my part for feeling so aggravated and I'm riddled with guilt for letting him get under my skin. But seriously…
I'm reminded at times like these to adjust my own obnoxious behavior. I don't want to be the person that totally drives people crazy! Or puts another person in a position of near madness. (Even you, honey) So, what I'm going to focus on right now is THANKFULNESS!
I'm thankful that God trusts me enough to put difficult people in my path and that HE LOVES ME ENOUGH to remind me to love them. Just as they are! Afterall, that's exactly what He does with me. 
Happy Friday!
