When I hit post the computer clock will say it is like 11pm or something , but it is really 2 am. I can' t sleep. I miss my friends, my old church, my routine. Everything seems so new and fragile to me right now. I'm in that in between stage of things where I am not in contact with my old friends as much, and my newest friendships are so new that they lack the intimacy I deeply desire to have with people. I feel disconnected right now and this is a uncomfortable place to be.
I am not discontented. I just feel like a freshly transplanted plant...experiencing a little shock and wanting to sink my roots deep into my new soil.
"1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper. "
Lord, help me to delight myself in You and Your Word. I want my roots to be deeply planted in You. Help me to be fruitful for your glory. And help me to develop genuinely intimate, Christ- centered relationships with the new people that you are bringing into my life.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Just a Worm
There seems to be a life theme for me every week lately. Something that God is impressing upon me. This last week's revelation was a doozie! The Holy Spirit revealed to me that I am prejudice! My prejudice was against people who claim the name Christian and live less "pious" lives than I do. Of course this sounds awful when I say it out loud...and it is terribly embarrassing to confess!
This past week I had the opportunity to meet a financial need of someone who is going through a hard time... but I actually hesitated and battled the decision because this person smokes. And in my carnal mind I began to judge this person for their habit and I came to the conclusion that the reason that they don't have the money for the things that they need is because they spend it on cigarettes. Just as I finished thinking the thought, the Holy Spirit slapped me up the side of my spiritual head!!!!
"Who do you think you are?"
All week long our family devotional time had been on 1Peter 2:17 "Show proper respect to everyone,". My attitude did not in any way reflect that I was letting God's Word change my heart. After some wrestling between flesh and spirit, God helped me to see that I was prejudice and that I had no reason to be so concerned about the splinter in my brother's eye when I obviously had a tree trunk stuck in mine!
God is so good to receive us as we are, and even better to not let us stay that way! I realized anew this week that I am just a worm; no better or worse than any other worm. I'm grateful that God sent His son Jesus to die for worms like me.
To reconfirm His lesson to me, our Lifegroup study last night was on Galatians chapter 6...
"Bear one another's burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, (nothing but a worm that is!) he deceives himself."
(I apologize to any of my friends and family who smoke. Please forgive me for my tree trunk! I have prayed and asked God to forgive me and give me a new heart concerning my problem with false piety. I know that it stinks in God's nostrils!!!)
p.s. God gave me a joy in being able to meet the need of this person and also an opportunity to get to know them better. It is amazing how my heart changed toward this person after just spending a little time with them! If we are willing to invest a little love in our "neighbor", we will come to realize that we are all the same...just struggling and in need of God's great grace!
This past week I had the opportunity to meet a financial need of someone who is going through a hard time... but I actually hesitated and battled the decision because this person smokes. And in my carnal mind I began to judge this person for their habit and I came to the conclusion that the reason that they don't have the money for the things that they need is because they spend it on cigarettes. Just as I finished thinking the thought, the Holy Spirit slapped me up the side of my spiritual head!!!!
"Who do you think you are?"
All week long our family devotional time had been on 1Peter 2:17 "Show proper respect to everyone,". My attitude did not in any way reflect that I was letting God's Word change my heart. After some wrestling between flesh and spirit, God helped me to see that I was prejudice and that I had no reason to be so concerned about the splinter in my brother's eye when I obviously had a tree trunk stuck in mine!
God is so good to receive us as we are, and even better to not let us stay that way! I realized anew this week that I am just a worm; no better or worse than any other worm. I'm grateful that God sent His son Jesus to die for worms like me.
To reconfirm His lesson to me, our Lifegroup study last night was on Galatians chapter 6...
"Bear one another's burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, (nothing but a worm that is!) he deceives himself."
(I apologize to any of my friends and family who smoke. Please forgive me for my tree trunk! I have prayed and asked God to forgive me and give me a new heart concerning my problem with false piety. I know that it stinks in God's nostrils!!!)
p.s. God gave me a joy in being able to meet the need of this person and also an opportunity to get to know them better. It is amazing how my heart changed toward this person after just spending a little time with them! If we are willing to invest a little love in our "neighbor", we will come to realize that we are all the same...just struggling and in need of God's great grace!
Monday, June 25, 2007
Wanted: Old Ladies :)
I have been so blessed to always have had older godly women to walk along side of me throught the many seasons of my life thus far! There is of course one who has been a constant...my mom. Her faithful example, godly instruction and ferverent prayers for her children has had everything to do with where and who I am today! Because of the physical distance between me and my mom thought, the Lord has always been good to also place other "mom type" ladies in my life to help keep me focused. I can think of a half dozen ladies that He has used in my life to exhort and to model for me what it is to follow Christ, as a wife, mother, disciple . I am so grateful for these women and their faithful service to our Savior and to the Body of Christ.
Well, it seems that I find myself in a new season of life now...and as I was looking around my surroundings yesterday, and examining my new routine, there was something missing...an older woman. Of course, mom is still there via phone; but I am looking for my "older lady." It seems that I am surrounded by peers, young women and new believers right now. Granted, as I very quickly approach 40 (ouch...hard to admit), I realize that I am becoming the "older lady" for others...but I want an older, godly lady for myself! So please join me in praying for my "older lady".
Titus 2
3Likewise, teach the older women (old ladies :) ) to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."
Well, it seems that I find myself in a new season of life now...and as I was looking around my surroundings yesterday, and examining my new routine, there was something missing...an older woman. Of course, mom is still there via phone; but I am looking for my "older lady." It seems that I am surrounded by peers, young women and new believers right now. Granted, as I very quickly approach 40 (ouch...hard to admit), I realize that I am becoming the "older lady" for others...but I want an older, godly lady for myself! So please join me in praying for my "older lady".
Titus 2
3Likewise, teach the older women (old ladies :) ) to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."
Monday, June 18, 2007
Will the Real Church Please Stand Up?
The true Church of Jesus Christ is not a building made with hands, rather it is composed of individuals who have repented of their sinful state of being and have decided to follow after Jesus Christ. This Spiritual manifestation of the Body of Christ is best represented when Christ's followers gather together to obey the mandates He left for us in Scripture.
As a follower of Christ, for 17 years, I have spent countless hours studying the Scripture, looking for things that Christ is asking me to do. I desire to be pleasing to Him...so I search for the things that make Him happy and ask for the Holy Spirit's help to do them. Jesus did say that, "If you love me,you will keep my commandment."
Recently my attention has been drawn to the commands in Scripture that include the words "one another". I heard once that there are 88 such commands in the Scripture. I have made it my homework to find them all. Of course, that means that I will have to ask God to help me to obey them all too! Anyway...just thought that I would share some of the ways that the Real Church interacts with "one another"...
Show mercy and compassion to one another.
Love one another.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Honor one another above yourselves.Live in harmony with one another.Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.
Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
Greet one another.Instruct one another.
Agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Serve one another.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Brothers, do not slander one another.
Love one another deeply, from the heart.
All of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Greet one another with a kiss of love.
We should love one another.
Love one another as he commanded us. Wow...I think He wants us to love one another!
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
I ask that you love one another so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
And do not forget to do good and to share with each other, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
As a follower of Christ, for 17 years, I have spent countless hours studying the Scripture, looking for things that Christ is asking me to do. I desire to be pleasing to Him...so I search for the things that make Him happy and ask for the Holy Spirit's help to do them. Jesus did say that, "If you love me,you will keep my commandment."
Recently my attention has been drawn to the commands in Scripture that include the words "one another". I heard once that there are 88 such commands in the Scripture. I have made it my homework to find them all. Of course, that means that I will have to ask God to help me to obey them all too! Anyway...just thought that I would share some of the ways that the Real Church interacts with "one another"...
Show mercy and compassion to one another.
Love one another.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Honor one another above yourselves.Live in harmony with one another.Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.
Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
Greet one another.Instruct one another.
Agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Serve one another.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Brothers, do not slander one another.
Love one another deeply, from the heart.
All of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Greet one another with a kiss of love.
We should love one another.
Love one another as he commanded us. Wow...I think He wants us to love one another!
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
I ask that you love one another so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
And do not forget to do good and to share with each other, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Border Control
Should we close our borders? I really don't have a decisive answer to this question. I just pose the question because it seems such a hot topic lately wherever I go. I have a heart felt response, but my educated, researched response is still evolving.
In the past 10 years I have had the opportunity to share the Gospel with numerous undocumented aliens. Being bilingual has opened doors for me to share Christ with many Spanish speakers, and also disciple them to Christian maturity. Some of them are still in the US, others have moved back to their countries of origin.
The other day I was speaking with a brother in Christ who supports the closing of our borders and the profiling of Middle Eastern people. Our conversation left me wondering about the thousands of Muslim people that come to our country and the great opportunity we as Christ's disciples have to come along side of them and share the Truth. (I need to add that my friend and brother is not a racist. I just think he is missing a Kingdom building opportunity.I love you man!) Shortly after this conversation I read an article in a magazine, ParentLife. The article entitled, How Racism Impacts Your Family stated that 91% of Muslim-background Christians (Muslims who become Christians after coming to the US), worship in English-speaking churches. That is great, I thought! We have ex-Muslim brothers and sisters. I rejoice when I hear that! I also realize that God used their coming to the US as an opportunity to open their spiritual eyes to their lostness and to Jesus Christ!!
Just the other day a pastor friend shared a statistic with me that also excited me. He said for every person you lead to Jesus Christ, you open the door to an average of 10 more people who will be directly impacted by that new believer! Wow...that is exciting!
So...my heart felt response to the border question is let them come, and let true followers of Christ be busy about reaching them with the Good News of Jesus! I know that it sounds uneducated and simple, but I just want everyone to have an opportunity to know Jesus.
I'm sure that there will be many who can respond, and point out the many flaws in my thinking, but I thought that I would be a little brave in my post this week! This is my contribution to the freedom of speech. May you feel free to speak too!
In the past 10 years I have had the opportunity to share the Gospel with numerous undocumented aliens. Being bilingual has opened doors for me to share Christ with many Spanish speakers, and also disciple them to Christian maturity. Some of them are still in the US, others have moved back to their countries of origin.
The other day I was speaking with a brother in Christ who supports the closing of our borders and the profiling of Middle Eastern people. Our conversation left me wondering about the thousands of Muslim people that come to our country and the great opportunity we as Christ's disciples have to come along side of them and share the Truth. (I need to add that my friend and brother is not a racist. I just think he is missing a Kingdom building opportunity.I love you man!) Shortly after this conversation I read an article in a magazine, ParentLife. The article entitled, How Racism Impacts Your Family stated that 91% of Muslim-background Christians (Muslims who become Christians after coming to the US), worship in English-speaking churches. That is great, I thought! We have ex-Muslim brothers and sisters. I rejoice when I hear that! I also realize that God used their coming to the US as an opportunity to open their spiritual eyes to their lostness and to Jesus Christ!!
Just the other day a pastor friend shared a statistic with me that also excited me. He said for every person you lead to Jesus Christ, you open the door to an average of 10 more people who will be directly impacted by that new believer! Wow...that is exciting!
So...my heart felt response to the border question is let them come, and let true followers of Christ be busy about reaching them with the Good News of Jesus! I know that it sounds uneducated and simple, but I just want everyone to have an opportunity to know Jesus.
I'm sure that there will be many who can respond, and point out the many flaws in my thinking, but I thought that I would be a little brave in my post this week! This is my contribution to the freedom of speech. May you feel free to speak too!
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