Trusting in Chariots

    "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God."  Psalms 20:7

      So...I've been on hiatus while I stressed over Christmas, tried to fix my internal and external aches and pains and put figurative band-aids on my husband and children.  In other words, I've been stuck down in a pit and trusting in chariots.  Where was God in all of this?  Still there.  I was busy making my pit more comfortable instead of reaching my hand out to Him to pull me out.  I'd forgotten He desires to hear my prayers and pleas.  He knows my every thought but wants me to talk to Him.  Maybe I've been afraid of His answers and timing.  Control freak, maybe?  Can you relate?

     In our humanness, we use every earthly tool available to cure our ills.  But I was reminded of the many stories of the Old Testament where God desired His children to trust in Him alone.  Inevitably, they'd believe that He wasn't enough.  They trusted instead in  power, weapons and pride to defeat their enemies.  It never worked out very well for them.  When they finally listened and trusted in God alone, they didn't even have to use a weapon to see their enemies crumble beneath their feet.  Slow learners then, slow learners now. 

     I have been resistant to His words.  I pray that He changes my heart and I can trust in His provision alone.  Take a listen to what He's told us....

"Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3: 5, 6.  "He who trusts in His own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered." Proverbs 28:26

The Best Evangelist

Worried about a wayward child, spouse or close friend?  Feel like you've exhausted all your resources?  Maybe you have.  I need to remind myself that I am not capable of saving anyone...even my own children.  But...

There is no better evangelist in the world than the Holy Spirit." ~D.L. Moody

The Christmas Connection

     Jesus is not like an ornament to be unwrapped and placed on the tree and considered for a season.  May He be front and center of our lives at Christmas and always.  His gift to us is not only salvation, but unconditional love and acceptance.  As we walk in grace, we will give others the same love and acceptance that we have received from God because we are in Christ.    It's a freedom from death and a freedom from earthly perfection.  We've received His life as our gift.  He is perfect for us..this Christmas and always.



"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2: 8-9

Does It Matter Who We Pray To?

 When the kids were small, I began looking for a church to attend.  I wanted that church to be tolerant of differences and open to all lifestyle choices.  It needed to be accepting of those who prayed to Jesus, Buddha, the Universe or themselves.  After all, who was I to judge?  I had been recently enlightened, you see.  Those who believed Jesus was the only way to God were judgmental, narrow-minded and exclusive.  I wanted church, but I wanted a church of my own making.  I believed everyone was entitled to their own "truth" and that prayers to Allah, mother earth or Jesus all reached the same place.  I liked Jesus best, but the Jesus I had created in my own mind would certainly agree with my idea of utopia here on earth.

     God had specific plans for my life (just as He has for yours) and I stopped looking for that church.  I couldn't get away from the fact that Christianity rises and falls on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  If this event is historically true, it makes all other religions false.  Jesus claimed again and again that He was the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one could know God except through Him.  I chose to listen,  turn away from all my confusion and follow Him.   If we want a secure hope, we must choose the God who really exists and the evidence stacks up for Jesus Christ.   Yes, Christianity is exclusive in it's claims to be the only truth.  But it is free to every living person who has a bit of faith and chooses to put their trust in Him.  And the gift is peace on earth and eternal life.

    I've done my research and have been open to anything that tickled my itching ears.  But all those other religions and all those other so-called gods were lacking the one thing most needful:  Jesus Christ.  I had forgotten, but was blessedly reminded that "there is no name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."  Acts 4:12.  Do you want answers to your questions?  Seek them and He's promised to show you the answers.  What are you waiting for?

Favorite Sin

Today's blog is a guest post that features the words of my friend, Kelly.  I receive weekly emails from her and they are always thought-provoking and wise.  This one was particularly exceptional.  I've always considered her a spiritual mentor.  Thanks for allowing me to snag this, Kelly!

What’s your favorite sin?  What’s the one thing you have the hardest time resisting?  Everybody has at least one, usually several, areas of weakness, that we continually give in to.  For instance, maybe you are kind, loving to the less fortunate, generous with your money, but a glutton or sexually immoral or lazy.  Or you’re self-controlled, meticulous about never stealing or cheating on anything, even your employer’s time, and you keep your word, but you want to be rich and comfortable, and you covet that lifestyle and sacrifice relationships if necessary to get it.

The sin itself is so delicious or so dear to us that we don’t want to deny ourselves the indulgence.  There’s a possibility we might go to hell because of the sin, but apparently we’re willing to take that risk when we continue to keep that “pet” sin.

What’s the problem here?  Why aren’t we motivated to give up the sin?  I think it’s because we’re afraid of missing out.  If we don’t go ahead and indulge here on earth, we’ll miss our chance.  In other words, we don’t believe God’s reward, his heaven for us, will be adequate to make up for what we’ve missed.

Psalm 84:10 says:

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;

 I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Let’s have faith that whatever we sacrifice for God will be amply rewarded by the God who can do “above all that we ask or imagine.” (Eph. 3:20)

Don't Be Scared

     I hear it all the time.  People are scared.  We worry that America is in a moral decline.  We worry that our government has so much power and such a humanistic agenda that God will be booted out altogether.  Some worry that the rich people will be in charge and forget the little man.  I read the scared and desperate postings of facebook friends who fear the end is near and the world will win. I hear the vitriolic speech on the news channels and radio shows.   

     Do you trust in God and believe what He said is true?  If so, we surely know that God has not given us the spirit of fear.  Instead, He's given His children power, love and a sound mind.  The word of God is a slow moving yet relentless force that will eventually topple every power and authority that stands against it, no matter how mighty they appear at the time. 

     The word of God will continue to increase and spread no matter how much the world tries to stop it.  God has it under control and He will be the final judge that rights every wrong.  Paradoxically, if we fear God, we have no reason to fear what will happen to us on this earth.

 

Daily Grace-Injection

     It's so weird.  I totally understand grace.  I really "get it".  In fact, I could even say it came to me in a God-given epiphany!  So why do I go back to the old ways and the old feelings as often as I change my socks?  Why is the fallacy of "earning" God's love and "earning" salvation embedded so deep within us?

     Do you struggle with any of this junk?  This came from the writing of C.J. Mahaney (who has recently gone through some yucky stuff, I might add). 

1. You are more aware of and effected by your past sins than the finished work of Christ.
2. You are more aware of areas you need to grow in than the finished work of Christ. In other words, you figure that if you can just spin enough "discs" (Bible reading, prayer life, meditation, family worship, serving others, church ministry) on your fingers then you’re more accepted with God.
3. You live thinking, believing, and feeling that God is disappointed with you.
4. You assume His acceptance is dependant upon your obedience.
5. You experience regular condemnation.
6. Your sin in the morning ruins/condemns everything you might seek to do for the Lord that day.
7. You have an undue concern of what others think about you. For example, someone confesses sin in a small group, and though you struggle with the very same sin, you remain quiet.
8. You lack joy. You think that joy in the Christian life is based on your worthiness rather than the finished work of Christ. 

     But I come back to "grace" every time and am just as astounded the thousandth time around as I was the first.  That's why it's so amazing.  That's why we call the gospel "the greatest story ever told".  It's seems impossible that it could be true.  We can't live the Christian life.  Period.  But Christ lived it perfectly and wants to live it for us. 

"He who knew no sin became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God."  2 Corinthians 5:21.  I hope that gets me through the day.  I'll have to pinch myself again tomorrow to remind myself that I really am that blessed and His grace really does cover me.

    

    

It's Not That Complicated

     Help!  How do we reach those who have never heard?  How can we even begin to make a difference in a broken and suffering world and show them who Jesus is?  Doesn't God care that our task here on earth seems hopeless and insurmountable?  How do we begin to fulfill the Great Commission in our crazy, hectic lives?

     I try to answer these questions with statistics I've stored in my mind, preachers I've heard or books I've read.  Book learnin'.   And then I think of Jesus.  And I take time to read His words.  And it all begins to make sense.  He doesn't need us to worry about the details of how His kingdom will come. He has that all figured out.  He is God of the universe, after all.  Jesus wants me to use my hands and feet to love His children. He wants me to use my mouth to proclaim His glory.   In Matthew 25, Jesus shared a parable of the goats and the sheep and He tells us:

  " I was hungry and you fed me,
   I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
   I was homeless and you gave me a room,
   I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
   I was sick and you stopped to visit,
   I was in prison and you came to me.
 Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was Me—you did it to Me."

     This is how I'll begin to serve.  It doesn't have to be complicated but He never said it was easy.  We need patience in the process to become like Him and faith that He will finish the work He has started in us.

~Yes, I Believe in God~

Another story about God revealed through great suffering...

"Seventeen-year-old Cassie Bernall, who died in the Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, Colorado, confronted the fear of sharing her faith as few have. When Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris held their weapons in her face and asked, "Cassie, do you believe in God?" the girl was faced with the most difficult of choices: to deny her faith and possibly live or to profess her love of God and most certainly die.

According to some reports, before Cassie became a Christian, she was considered an outcast herself. But when Cassie asked Jesus to replace the darkness in her life with His light, everything changed. She became like Jesus. Her family witnessed her life change. Her friends were amazed by it. Her teachers commented on it. And Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris watched it-and took note. When they spotted Cassie in the school library and asked her whether she believed in God, the two killers knew the answer. Cassie's life had already lived the answer out loud. What Cassie could not have known when she verbally responded, "Yes, I believe in God," was that her testimony would be heard around the world long after the sound of the fatal gunshots ceased. But before she uttered her final words, Cassie knew, without a doubt, that no bullet could separate her from the love of God or the eternal life He promised her when she gave her life to Him. With everything at stake, Cassie gave her life for the name of Jesus- just as Jesus had given His life for her.

The world was forever changed because of the death of Jesus, and now more lives have been changed because of a 17-year-old girl would not remain silent about her faith in God. Even in the face of certain death." Jesus By Heart

A Light in the Darkness...Happy Reading!

As promised, here is a story of a woman who was in the middle of the worst pain and suffering a human can endure. And yet, God worked through the suffering and used it for good. I was floored and also changed when I read how Corrie Ten Boom and her sister were thankful, bold and enpowered to use this time in the concentration camp to share the Gospel with dying women who were so receptive to the message. You can read the whole story if you haven't in "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom.

Corrie Ten Boom - Light In The Darkness

Without a doubt, anyone who has heard the word "Holocaust" knows that it refers to one of the darkest times in history. The stories that you hear are generally depressing and filled with only suffering and sheer hatred. But this is the story of two women who were able to share light in one of the darkest concentration camps. In this place were Corrie Ten Boom and her sister, Betsie.

Holocaust - A Ray Of Home
"We must go everywhere, and tell everyone." There is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still." Elizabeth Ten Boom ("Betsie") stared into her sister, Corrie's eyes with the pure love that she was.

Ravensbruck was one of the worst concentration camps in Germany. Fleas and lice were so thick that upon entering the bunkroom, one became swarmed in them. The stench of burning flesh from those that were murdered without warning was a constant stare into the face of death. The food was one half pound of bread and one half liter of soup per day. The work was so hard that the women had swollen legs and were losing circulation in no time.

To make matters worse, the women fought one another for everything. They cursed, pushed, and shoved each other. Even if someone was simply stepped on or bumped. Rarely donated clothes and blankets caused horrible uproars. The few nurses who had access to items such as soap, vitamins, and underwear charged prices such as a week's bread ration for undergarments, 25 gilders for soap, and two days' bread for any pills.

So Was There A Ray Of Hope In This Awful Place?
"The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it."
Betsie had been frail from birth and was so weak that she was staggering from the weight of a small pail filled with rocks. The guard laughed at her and imitated Betsie's walk. Some of the prisoners laughed as well. Her sister, Corrie, was astounded. Betsie, too, was laughing! "That is me all right," She said. "But you better let me keep going - any more and I will stop all together." The guard was enraged and began mercilessly whipping Betsie. She cried out repeatedly in pain, but her eyes were filled with compassion.

Corrie and Betsie had smuggled a Bible into the camp and traded it back and forth during the day. If the guards found one or caught anyone having meetings, they were to be executed. At first, the women held these meetings very timidly. But as the weeks wore on and no guards came into the bunkroom, they grew bolder. Corrie marveled at this.

Why was it that no guard came in?

Betsie excitedly told Corrie, "I found out for sure, Corrie. I overheard two guards. The guards will not step foot in the bunkroom because of the FLEAS! Thank God for the fleas!" she exclaimed. The women added that to their prayers daily.

The difficult prices for basic things, commodities that few consider of value, remained the same. But the ray of hope was changing something else. Instead of shoving, clawing, pushing, kicking, or cursing each other, the women were responding with "Sorry! That's okay! No harm done! Excuse me please!" What a change this ray of hope brought in by two women had made.

But How Had Such Gentle Souls Found Themselves Here?
Corrie and Betsie lived with their father, Casper, in Harlem Holland. Casper was a watchmaker and a man of great wisdom. His heart was kind. He was an abundant giver to all in need and well respected in all of Harlem. It was he who went in line and got a star, although he was not Jewish. A Jew in line became angry with him. He replied simply: "If we would all wear them, no one would know the difference between Gentile and Jew."

The Ten Boom house had seven rooms. The roof was right outside Corrie's bedroom window. This was where the "secret room" used to save the lives of hundreds of Jews was hidden. Casper, Corrie, and Betsie took in even the high risk occupants, such as babies and the elderly with breathing problems. They turned no one away.

It was critical to have constant drills, because they never knew when a raid would come. Bedding had to be turned over. No warm spots were to be felt. Others in the house must not be suspected. All waste baskets had to remain empty and trash had to be burned. Food plates must be taken with the people into the secret room, and no food was to be spilled. Can you imagine all this done in under two minutes?

Casper, Betsie and Corrie were arrested and drilled with the same questions over and over again. Corrie was especially drilled by a young, intelligent Lieutenant. He tried to get to her by offering comforts, sitting her in a cozy chair next to a warm fire. Corrie was also very ill at the time, so you better believe that fire felt very good in contrast to her stone cold, lonely cell. The Lieutenant continued to probe, "Tell me about your OTHER work."

"Oh, you mean my work with retarded children?" she would respond. "How we taught them about God in our Bible class."

"Where is your secret room? Where are the Jews?"

"We have no secret room." Corrie was steadfast. No matter how hard and cleverly the guard tried, not one of them ever revealed that there were people in hiding.

Papa - What Is It Like To Die?
Casper Ten Boom was so feeble that he was almost not able to climb into the carriage that took them to the prison. Seeing this, the guard who arrested them said: "Ten Boom, give me your word you will behave yourself, and you can die in your bed, old man, where you belong."

Casper met his cold gaze with an unblinking look. "If I stay behind, I will open my door to anyone who knocks for help."

Shortly after, the family was split apart. "God be with you Papa," the girls called out as he was being dragged away from them, and they from him. "And with you, my daughters." This was the last time they ever saw him.

Casper died, taking ill only ten days after being imprisoned. He was denied medical treatment, and his body was thrown into a pauper's grave.

When given the news of her father's death, Corrie pictured in her mind one of the times where her father's faith and wisdom gave her great peace. Her mother had taken her sister, Nollie, and her with her to comfort a friend who had just lost an infant to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Corrie was really struck by the cold, lifeless body that was clearly in sight. You see, in that culture death was a fact they didn't try to hide.

When he was tucking her into bed that night, Corrie asked: "Papa, what is it like to die?"

Papa Ten Boom did not look away from her, but held his gaze into her eyes. "When we go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?"

Corrie considered this well before answering. "Just before we get on the train."

Still holding his steady gaze, he said to her: "When the time comes, your Heavenly Father will give you all the strength you need."

Free Before The New Year
Corrie sometimes was very tempted to hate all the cruel men around her, particularly the guard who made life extra hard for them. Betsie constantly told her, "No hate, Corrie. Don't look at it. You know you can only give it to Jesus."

The horrible conditions were weakening Betsie's already feeble body. But the weaker she became physically, the stronger her faith became. It did not take long for her to be excused from work, only waiting for her temperature to reach the required admission level - 104 degrees - And then she must wait for a bed to become available.

Betsie began to talk about a plan. "There has to be a plan, Corrie. We must go everywhere and tell everyone. They will believe us, because we were here. There is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still."

Betsie saw a vision and described it to Corrie. In it was a concentration camp - not the one where they were, but another - becoming a place of refuge for all who had endured as they had, that they might be free. She also described an elaborate house, much bigger than the one she and Corrie grew up in, that would be used for the same purpose. And she saw in the vision that both of them would be free before the New Year.

Betsie died in the hospital before the New Year.

Corrie was released very shortly after, also before the New Year. She found out that just one week after her release, all the women her age were taken to the gas chambers.

Corrie commented later: "When they called out 'Prisoner 66730, Ten Boom Cornelia,' I did a double-take. I hadn't been called by my name in so long."
Can You Believe It?
Corrie later learned that her release came through a "clerical error." She was not supposed to get released at all.

Corrie went into over 60 countries and fulfilled both of Betsie's visions. She told her story to anyone who would listen.

This light that they brought with them is Jesus.

His love gave Corrie what it took to forgive that nasty guard who harassed Betsie and her while they were naked in that freezing shower. The same man who beat Betsie mercilessly. She was able to forgive that man only because of Him.

Senseless Nightmare?

If this is the only life there is, it is truly a senseless nightmare. How can anyone believe God is loving and just when we hear about human suffering and atrocities every day. One thing is for sure, I don't have all the answers. I just know that God has revealed some things to me personally and it has affected me enought to share. Human suffering was a stumbling block to my belief in a creator. How could God allow the Holocaust? How could God be in control when a sexual predator kidnaps a young girl and rapes and tortures her for years?

I realize this may seem insensitive to those who have suffered, but as I've mentioned before, I became a believer because of a school shooting. I believe God's ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts. He can wipe out a whole nation in order to show us He is God and to let us know that His kingdom will reign. He knows what awaits us on the other side. If Christianity is true, our earthly, temporal lives are but a brief prelude to a life that is going to go on forever. Earth is a small part of a bigger story and our present sufferings simply can't be compared to it. In Romans 8:18, we are told, " I consider that our present suffering are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us."

God wants His followers to be part of the solution. As we are transformed, we become ambassadors to a hurting world. We are His arms and legs in actively alleviating the suffering of others. Paul tells us, " Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

For the next week or so, I want to share some stories of individuals who have suffered or died and how God used thier tragedies for His kingdom that will never, never end. If this has been a stumbling block for you also, I hope this will help to answer your questions and bring understanding to why a loving God would allow suffering.

I Can't Do It

I became so discouraged the other day. I was trying so hard to love the seemingly unlovable and it just wasn't happening. And I was trying to fix a problem with all my might and I just couldn't fix it. I prayed and begged for help from God. I wanted to be more like Him but it was and is so very hard. What was wrong with my Christian walk?

I was kind of blown away when He answered me that very night. In my reading, I read these very words..."We can't simply make up our minds to love others. The only way we can love the way God wants us to is when the Holy Spirit loves through us, when we give up control of our lives to Him." This may not seem like much to others, but it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was the answer I was seeking and I thanked Him for His grace in answering my pleas.

You and I can't love perfectly. It is impossible. And we can't fix our problems although we sometimes think we can. How do we do something we're incapable of doing? How do we live the Christian life when we are so imperfect? Simply put, we can't. "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." Mark 10:27

And that's where grace comes in yet again. God will do it for us. Apart from Him we can do nothing. When we surrender our life to Jesus, He loves others through us. He fixes our problems in ways we may not be able to see or fathom. But we have to give up our human control.

We can do nothing on our own, but others will see Him in us when we let Him lead. God will shine through you when you love your spouse more than you love yourself. Others will see Him when we pray to follow His will, not our own. With God, we can take the hand of the hurting and sick and share the pain. In these everyday acts, He is glorified. But the key is...give up your human tendency to be perfect. Cause you can't be. But with God, all things are possible.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Simple, relevant... enough.  If you have a few minutes, this one will be worth your time.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ from Way of Life on Vimeo.

Artificial Life?

     Sometimes, what I have to say is not nearly as good as what someone else has already so eloquently written.  I'm borrowing this blog post (with permission)  from a really cool blog I follow:  https://www.aaronmatthew.com/blog.  Hope no one finds it offensive, but I believe it is quite true. 


     Get All of Your Worth and Life from Jesus Christ

Throughout my life, I have witnessed people who call themselves “Christian” using things other than Christ as sources of life and personal worth.  They value these things so highly that an attack against these is perceived as an attack/offense against their person.  I too, have at times fallen into this way of thinking and living.  This has caused me to regularly examine and question what I am getting worth from and to re-focus on what I SHOULD BE getting life from.

Here are just a few of the MANY artificial life sources that Christians mistakenly focus on and use:

Denominational Distinctive. I have seen “Christians” who are really consumed and concerned with their identities as Pentecostals, Baptists, Catholics, etc.  Their denominational distinctive has become their source of identity and personal worth. They live to prove why their group is the right one and why/how other groups are “lacking” or “in error”.

Political ideologies. Whenever their political party loses, some folks are devastated; they view it as a personal loss. Whenever someone on TV attacks or mocks their position, they take it as a personal offense.  These folks derive life from seeing political opponents lose and also from the expansion and implementation of their political agendas.

Secondary Christian Beliefs.  These may include important christian teachings about the “end times”, creation (i.e. literal genesis interpretation), predestination and forms of baptism. While these are all important things to study and discuss, they should never be the focus or a “source of life”.

Extreme patriotism. I know I may be treading on thin ice with some folks on this one, so please hear me out as I cautiously explain. There is NOTHING wrong with loving our country. We are commanded by God to love everyone. The problem arises when we love our country MORE than Christ OR when we try to “serve two masters” (i.e. God and country).  Christ was quite explicit that we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).  Our christian love for others must extend BEYOND our country to the ENTIRE WORLD. The way some folks express their patriotism is almost idolatrous. Though Christ did occasionally mention his Jewish heritage, HE never went “out of his way” to FOCUS ON or express his Jewish patriotism.  If anything, He went out of his way to verbally chastise the Jews and point out their arrogant and idolatrous patriotism. If we aren’t careful, our patriotism can become a form of idolatry and a form of pride as well as an artificial life source.

If you’re a true follower of Christ, you have to concede that none of these things were designed by God to give you life or give you worth.  At some point EVERYTHING WILL FAIL YOU.  This is a promise!  The only true source of life is JESUS CHRIST.  Christ came to “give life and life in abundance” (John 10:10) HE IS THE FOCUS. HE IS THE REASON. ONLY HE GIVES MEANING AND VALUE TO LIFE.

All other things only provide ARTIFICIAL LIFE.  What is more, if you are receiving life from any other source, YOU HAVE MADE AN IDOL OUT OF THAT THING.  An idol is ANYTHING that takes the place of God. God is the “giver of life”. We should look to HIM as our life source and NOTHING ELSE.

If you are getting all of your life and all of your worth from Christ, then nothing else really matters. Your politics can be attacked, secondary beliefs can be disproved, your denominational distinctives can be scrutinized or even ridiculed without you feeling like you personally are being attacked or discredited.

God is still on the throne and HE is still in control. Get all of your worth and all of your life from Jesus Christ.

What things am I “getting life and worth” from that I shouldn’t be? This is a question that we should ask ourselves regularly.

Tough Thoughts

     I recently had a long dialogue with an atheist. At the end of our discussion, I told her I respected her for not being lukewarm. I'm tired of lukewarm. I'm tired of people saying they'll pray for someone but will make fun of God in a group of people. I'm tired of watching people make the effort to attend church but you know in your heart they don't believe a word of it. Why bother at all? Hey, at least allow yourself the luxury of sleeping in on Sunday if you hate the creator!

     I know I'm sharing a lot of Francis Chan but his book "Crazy Love" has hit a nerve with me and challenged me to get off the fence. God is loving and forgiving to those who want to live for Him, but the Bible tells us He will spit lukewarm Christians out of His mouth! No kidding! This list from Chapter 4 of "Crazy Love" may make you feel really yucky...I know it hit me right where it hurts. And for those who are reading this who are not believers, I hope this list helps you realize that not everyone you know who claims to be a Christian is one.

1. Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe good Christians do, so they go.

2. Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church as long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so, After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right?

3. Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives.

4: Lukewarm people don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don't genuinely hate sin and aren't truly sorry for it; they're merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one.

5. Lukewarm people are moved by stories of people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for extreme Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people call radical what Jesus expected of all His followers.

6. Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion.

7. Lukewarm people gauge their morality or goodness by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren't as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street.

8. Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives, their money, and their thoughts, but he isn't allowed to control their lives.

9. Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn't really possible for the average person; its only for pastors and missionaries and radicals.

10. Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love for others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is a little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, whose kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached.

11. Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give.

12. Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today's to-do list, this week's schedule, and next month's vacation. Rarely, if ever do they intently consider the life to come.

13. Lukewarm people are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor.

14. Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, to be good enough without requiring too much of them.

15. Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them from sacrificing and risking for God.

16. Lukewarm people feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America.

17. Luke warm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don't have to trust God if something unexpected happens-they have their savings account. They don't need God to help them they have their retirement plan in place. They don't genuinely seek out what life God would have them live they have life figured and mapped out. They don't depend on God on a daily basis-their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn't look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God.

18. Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren't very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn't be more wrong.

Jesus said “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (Rev 3:15-17)

     But we can never be perfect enough for God and that's where grace comes in. When we give Him our lives, He looks at us as though our sin is not there at all. And when you truly understand the implications of how amazing that is, you will never want to be lukewarm again.

Confessions of a Former Christian Athiest

     Not long ago, I was focused on "stuff".  I wanted my house to resemble Pottery Barn and my kids to have the latest fashions.  I constantly sought out new ideas for making as much money as possible to buy myself more stuff. 

     Not long ago, I was focused on politics.  I read editorials, books and listened to the news constantly.  I worried about where the world was headed and stayed angry at politicians bent on taking away our liberties.  I wasted many precious hours stewing over how evil and bad our nation's leaders were becoming.  Being mad was a constant state of being.

     Not long ago, I was focused on "fixing" all the problems that would arise in my life.  I felt as if I could handle every problem with the right method or the right self-help book.  When the problem wasn't fixed, I'd feel insecure about my parenting skills or inadequate as a person.

     Not long ago, I thoroughly enjoyed talking about people.  Gossip was my middle name and gossip sessions with the gals were my game.  By talking about the faults of others, I felt better about myself in the short term.

     So am I saying all this to say I'm perfect now and don't do any of these things anymore?  Are you kidding?  Daily... no hourly, I sin.  There could not be a more imperfect person than me.  I'm saying this to explain the change in my worldview.  I started thinking about the claims I was making for myself.  I considered myself a Christian.  And yet, I was living as if He didn't exist.  I was a Christian athiest.  If I truly believed and relied on Him, I wouldn't fret about the future, worldly problems or amassing stuff.

     But I did believe and realized that belief had to change the very core of my being.  Did He not command the galaxies and speak every cell in my body into existence?  Did He not give us the simple commands to love Him, love our neighbor as ourselves and to use our gifts to further His kingdom?  Did He not tell us that this life will pass away and only what's done for Him will last?

     The God of the Universe doesn't deserve our leftovers.  Author and pastor, Frances Chan said, "our greatest fear as an individual should not be of failure, but of succeeding in life at things that don't really matter."   My worries, fears and sins have been about this world and my obsession with it.  But guess what?  Those things really just don't matter so much.  I personally know people who have suffered more loss and pain than any human should ever go through.  But I fully believe that in their suffering, He showed His power.  God knows their suffering is only for a time.  Great will be the rewards of those who love Him. Nothing in this life will ever matter unless it is about loving God and loving the people He has made.  

     Since "getting it", my life has changed significantly.  During a heated political debate, I sometimes just leave the room.  God is in control and He doesn't want us to live in fear.  I simply don't care much anymore.   I've read the back of the book and I'm pretty sure He wins in the end.  I still like pretty things, but amassing them and having more or better than others holds no appeal.  Pursuing pleasure is not why we were created.  Putting God right there in the front and center of your life starts to change you from within.  The Bible can become more interesting than the latest bestseller.  Hearing about God is better than any movie. 

     Living eternally can allow us to let go of our worries and  God will forgive us of our lukewarmness.  The gospel brings joy, not just from the fact that we are forgiven but also in knowing that our imperfect obedience in this life is covered by the blood of Jesus.  Don't live for the worries and pleasures of this life.  They are fleeting.  I pray I use my earthly time to love God, love and serve others and to share the gospel.  Eternity is forever.


*the video above is Francis Chan speaking about a chapter in his book, "Crazy Love".  It happened to go along well with the points I was trying to make.

Simply the Word

     When you read the Bible which is a living, breathing document...it will come alive in your hands and cause your heart to be convicted and changed.  No other book can make those claims.  I know everybody has access to a Bible, but sometimes when I read a passage, I just want to make sure everyone has heard it.  It's that exciting!  If you never pick up your Bible, maybe these words will inspire you to do so.  In this passage, Jesus had just been resurrected and the apostles had witnessed it.  They had seen, loved and touched the living God and He had poured out His spirit to them and was giving them power to be bold witnesses even when threatened with beatings, jail and death.  They simply didn't care if they lived or died.  They only knew they were going to tell everybody they saw about the Messiah.  The Chief Priest didn't know what to do with them.  They couldn't be stopped.  So they put them in jail to shut them up.  Read on....

Acts 5:  ^17-20Provoked mightily by all this, the Chief Priest and those on his side, mainly the sect of Sadducees, went into action, arrested the apostles and put them in the town jail. But during the night an angel of God opened the jailhouse door and led them out. He said, "Go to the Temple and take your stand. Tell the people everything there is to say about this Life."
   Promptly obedient, they entered the Temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.
 ^21-23Meanwhile, the Chief Priest and his cronies convened the High Council, Israel's senate, and sent to the jail to have the prisoners brought in. When the police got there, they couldn't find them anywhere in the jail. They went back and reported, "We found the jail locked tight as a drum and the guards posted at the doors, but when we went inside we didn't find a soul."
 ²⁴The chief of the Temple police and the high priests were puzzled. "What's going on here anyway?"
 ^25-26Just then someone showed up and said, "Did you know that the men you put in jail are back in the Temple teaching the people?" The chief and his police went and got them, but they handled them gently, fearful that the people would riot and turn on them.
 ^27-28Bringing them back, they stood them before the High Council. The Chief Priest said, "Didn't we give you strict orders not to teach in Jesus' name? And here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are trying your best to blame us for the death of this man."
 ^29-32Peter and the apostles answered, "It's necessary to obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, the One you killed by hanging him on a cross. God set him on high at his side, Prince and Savior, to give Israel the gift of a changed life and sins forgiven. And we are witnesses to these things. The Holy Spirit, whom God gives to those who obey him, corroborates every detail."
 ^33-37When they heard that, they were furious and wanted to kill them on the spot. But one of the council members stood up, a Pharisee by the name of Gamaliel, a teacher of God's Law who was honored by everyone. He ordered the men taken out of the room for a short time, then said, "Fellow Israelites, be careful what you do to these men. Not long ago Theudas made something of a splash, claiming to be somebody, and got about four hundred men to join him. He was killed, his followers dispersed, and nothing came of it. A little later, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared and acquired a following. He also fizzled out and the people following him were scattered to the four winds.
 ^38-39"So I am telling you: Hands off these men! Let them alone. If this program or this work is merely human, it will fall apart, but if it is of God, there is nothing you can do about it—and you better not be found fighting against God!"
 ^40-42That convinced them. They called the apostles back in. After giving them a thorough whipping, they warned them not to speak in Jesus' name and sent them off. The apostles went out of the High Council overjoyed because they had been given the honor of being dishonored on account of the Name. Every day they were in the Temple and homes, teaching and preaching Christ Jesus, not letting up for a minute.

*this is from The Message version of the Bible.  You may enjoy another version better but I love to hear these stories in our modern, everyday words.

The Lord our God, the Lord is One

 I recently read a five-book series about the kings of Judah... particularly Ahaz, Hezekiah and Manassah.  Fabulous beyond words but this isn't a book review.  I was simply reminded of them last night when reading scripture that happened to be the theme of the books and should be the theme of our lives.  It is certainly the theme of the Bible.  Read it and put it deep inside you.  Say it over and over as you go about your busy day.  God's chosen people would quickly forget but when the going got tough, they were reminded that Yahweh was the one true God.  While we don't worship golden images or sacrifice our firstborn, we are also guilty of creating idols to take the place of the ONE which should be center of our lives.  He alone is God.   

"Hear, Oh Israel:  The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."  Deuteronomy 6:4-9

In the Trenches

     My, my, my.  It was so much easier to love God and love my neighbor as myself this summer when life was simple and stress-free.  Now, I'm back in the trenches and I feel defeated already.  My workload is such that I can't seem to get to the top of it, some of the kids are beginnning to drive me crazy and even the crazy, neighbor man has made me angry and spiteful.  I catch myself talking about the people driving me crazy instead of loving them.  I see friends in need but haven't had time to care for them.  How do I show the love of God in times of stress?  I'm not sure, but would love some of my readers to offer suggestions. 

     As for now, I know God hasn't left me alone. He's still there and He is in control of every detail of my day.  I will begin by asking forgiveness for wrong thoughts and deeds.  I pray this verse aloud, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord, My Rock and my Redeemer"  Psalms 19:14 ESV.   I will also pray for patience and wisdom.  He will never leave me or forsake me.  And love will win because He is in control of my life. 

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. I Corinthians 13

Grace by the Skit Guys

Since Grace seems to be my theme, I thought I'd share this particularly awesome little video which is a skit showing a portrayal of Jesus and the unmerited grace He gives to Peter after He is resurrected.  It was recently shown in my church and I thought I'd pass it on.  I like these guys.  

This One is Important

We know the story.  Jesus was teaching the crowds of people and a teacher of the law asks Him a question.  "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"  Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this:‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12: 30-31 NIV

What a perfect and brilliant answer!  If we love God with all we have and love our neighbor as ourselves, the other commandments will take care of themselves.  We will never worship idols, commit adultery, covet, lie or use God's name as a curse word.  Did you know the Bible tells us 8 times to love our neighbor?

But how do we do this?  Is it even possible?  It is not possible with our old, sinful nature.  Actually, it's a staggering commandment because in order to really love our neighbor, something earthshaking must happen in our souls.  Something supernatural.  But if Christ is central in our lives, we will desire to be more like Him each day and it will happen.  We begin to recognize that everyone is part of His creation.  We must love them enough to desire their salvation just as He does.  When we love our neighbors, we are a witness to Him because they can see Christ in us.  We love Him first and don't want to grieve Him or sin against Him.

God places great significance and seriousness on these commandments.  In fact, All of scripture and All His plans for history hang on these two commandments:  that we love Him with all our heart and that we love each other as we love ourselves.   I pray that my life begins to reflect His perfect love. 

The Bible for Dummies Part 3/ Hidden Truths Revealed

    # 3 Truth I've Learned About the Bible: (His Truths are Revealed to Believers)

 There was a time when I'd stare at the pages of the Bible and remain confused and angry.  Oftentimes, I'd just avoid reading it altogether because I didn't see it as relevant.  But then I became a true believer and chose to make Him the center of my life and a really cool thing happened.  The Holy Spirit allowed me to see those same words but I understood them. 

     I'm not talking about miraculous illuminations or direct revelations.  And I'm not talking about twisting scripture so it will align with one's man-made interpretation of truth.  He awakened me to His truth and alerts me to the Bible's promises.  It has become like a big, juicy novel I can't wait to pick up again.  It's no longer like reading someone else's mail but is speaking specifically to my heart. 

     You see, to unbelievers the truths of the Bible remain foolishness and make no sense.  Unbelievers can't see because they are choosing to remain in darkness. If you haven't already, I urge you to place all your faith in your creator and ask for wisdom to understand the Bible.  He will send His Holy Spirit to be your guide and you will wallk in the light.




"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path"
Psalm 119:105.

It has been a busy week to put it mildly.  In keeping with my past two blogs about the Bible, I thought this link was well worth sharing until my next post.  It details how the Bible should be our authoritative standard by which we judge all our other sources of input.  Hope you will take a minute to read.  Happy Monday and God Bless.

Building a Biblical Worldview

By Randy Alcorn

Acts 17:11 says that "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." We should come to God's Word with "great eagerness." If we're more eager to watch a sitcom or the evening news than to read God's Word, inevitably our worldview will be more influenced by sitcoms and the evening news than by God.

We should "search" the Scriptures—we must probe deeply, not just skim the surface and quote verses out of context which back up our worldview. We must search the Scriptures, not simply always accept what others say about the Scriptures. The Bible should always be my primary source, and all other sources secondary. If I let secondary sources shape my worldview, I will not have a biblical worldview. I need a worldview informed by and corrected by God's Word. We need to see culture in light of God's Word, not see God's Word in light of culture. Our conclusion may or may not be politically correct (that changes with cultural winds), but we shouldn't care—what it should always be is biblically correct.

We should "search the Scriptures daily." Many other sources of input come at us daily—the media and the opinions of professors, family, and coworkers. If we study the Bible only partially and occasionally, it will shape our worldview only partially and occasionally. Our worldview will be determined by whatever we choose to expose our minds to. Unless I establish a strong biblical grid, a scriptural filter with which to screen and interpret the world, I'll end up being worldly in my thinking.

The Bereans searched the Scriptures daily "to see if what Paul said was true." Now, if ever in human history you were going to assume that another person's words were true, if you were ever going to take someone's word for it, not finding it necessary to double-check against the Scriptures, surely it would be with the apostle Paul. Yet the Bereans were commended for carefully scrutinizing Paul's words in light of Scripture. This reminds us that we should hold up under the scrutiny of the Scriptures not only the suspicious claims of an ungodly culture, but the well-intentioned words of godly parents and godly Christian leaders. If Paul's words needed to fall under the judgment of God's Word, so do all of ours.

Notice what happens here. Instead of God's Word being one more influence on us, God intends it to be authoritative over all other influences. It is not simply that I watch Seinfeld and read Time, the newspaper, Stephen King and Hemingway, and also get some input from the Bible. No—God intends that I read the Bible very differently than I read these others. I read it not simply as one more source of input, but as the Source and the authoritative standard by which I judge all other input.

Now, if I'm immersed in God's Word and biblically based literature, then and only then am I able to discern from the newspaper and Time and Hemingway and movies what values are being communicated and whether or not those values are true. Scripture becomes my grid, my moral filter by which I judge all other claims to truth. I can now pick and choose what is right based on my knowledge of God's Word.

But If I do not spend sufficient time in Scripture, or if I fail to realize the essential authoritative difference of Scripture and all else, or if I interpret Scripture in light of Seinfeld or Hemingway or Gladiator, then I will be led astray. If I am biblically grounded I can read the Book of Mormon and a book by the Dalai Lama and evaluate it appropriately. If I'm not, by reading such things I run the risk of believing untruths and being sucked into anti-Christian heresy.

This is why so many Christian young people "lose their faith" in both secular and Christian colleges. Being insufficiently trained in the Scriptures, they fail to screen out what their professors and textbooks and peers are saying (and how they are living). They absorb and end up adopting from the college a false worldview, usually a specifically anti-Christian worldview. Some reject their faith entirely and seldom come back to church, but many more become nominal Christians who have adopted a worldview that overshadows and undermines their faith—even if they remain church-goers.

It all comes down to this: is the Bible my authority, and how much time am I investing into knowing the Bible, so that I can interpret everything else in its light? Or am I giving my mind unfiltered access to all else, which will then dim the light of Scripture and cause me to be undiscerning and embrace that which is contrary to God's truth?

To be a biblical Christian, I must not simply affirm the inspiration of God's Word (that is necessary, but not sufficient). I must consciously critique everything else in light of Scripture (otherwise all else will unconsciously conform my mind to the world, the flesh and the devil). I must make a conscious effort to evaluate all my beliefs and my lifestyle preferences in the light of God's Word.

I must commit myself to making an examination, no matter how painful, of all my dearly-held beliefs (e.g. a loving God cannot send people to an eternal hell). And whenever they do not stand up to Scripture, I must abandon those beliefs. If I do not, then despite whatever I may profess to the contrary, my true authority is not the Bible, but my background, upbringing, peer group, the media, and schools that have influenced me. In short, I make myself and my culture (the flesh and the world) my authority.

The Bible for Dummies Part 2

    #2 Truth I've Learned About the Bible (It's All About Him)

      I have found it easier to read the Bible since understanding that God's greatest goal for us is to pursue His glory in all parts of our lives.  From Genesis to Revelation, He is center stage...the Alpha and Omega, The Beginning and the End.  It is truly all about Him.

     In the Bible, He reveals Himself as creator and and the first commandment tells us to have no other gods before Him.  He blesses us first for His glory, not just for our benefit.  He alone calls and saves His people.  He calls us to advance His kingdom for His glory. 

     He tells us that His judgements and mercy is "that you may know that I am Lord".  Ezekial 6:10.  Paul tells us to give Him glory in everything we do.  Even as we eat and drink.  "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."  1 Corinthians 10:31.

     I've also learned that eternity will be centered around worshipping our savior.  "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever." Revelation 5: 11-14

     We can read the Bible and understand our daily lives much better when we realize He allows events to happen for His glory, not ours.  Every word of the Bible teaches us more about Christ and teaches us to trust Him and fellowship with Him. May our ordinary, everyday lives reflect His majesty, power and glory.  And we will find that pursuing His glory and allowing Him to be the center of our lives gives us boldness, humility and hope.

The Bible for Dummies

  I'm one of the dummies.  And I'm certainly no expert or Bible scholar.  But certain truths I've learned have allowed Bible reading to become a delight and not a duty and I think they are worth sharing.  For the next few posts, I want to explain some of the things I've learned as little snippets of information in hopes that you can become an insider in God's conversation with His people.  In the Bible, God uses His words to form and bless us, teach and guide us, and to forgive and save us.  We don't want to miss this.

#1 Truth I've Learned about the Bible (The Old Testament and New Testament Distinctions):

Our ways of thinking are not God's ways of thinking.  It's easy to read the Old Testament and become angry at how unfair it seemed.  But God has an agenda for all of history and I believe that even the deaths of large groups of people was necessary in order to reveal God's overall plan of redemption to His people.  It's also good to remember that the death of His people was not the end of their lives but really the beginning of their afterlives with God.  I could go on and on, but what I'm really trying to get to is the distinction of the Old and New Testaments.  In the Old Testament, God used his judgements and mercy to show He was Lord and to reveal His plan for redemption.  It's meant for us to read but we must understand that we are not bound by the Old Testament Laws today.  We are to live by the New Covenant or the New Testament.  It's really very simple although I haven't always understood this.

Both testaments are ushered in with the shedding of blood.  The Old Testament foreshadows again and again the coming of the Messiah.  But in the Old Testament, God used elaborate plans and rituals with His people and it was necessary that they sacrifice animals in just the proper way to be perfect enough to cleanse their sins for a time.  In the New Testament, that PERFECT sacrifice comes and there is no more need for animal sacrifices and exact rituals and laws.  This particular verse explains it beautifully:

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. ... And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.  But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.  For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." Hebrews 10:4, 11-14

We now have a far superior covenant in the New Testament.  It explains what we must do to be saved and to live as Christians.  But we can still read the Old Testament with wonder at God's elaborate plan for His people.

Good News/Bad News

     At this point, I think my readers are a mixture of Christians and Non-Christians so I'm not always sure which way to target my posts.  For those who know me very well, you'll forgive me for giving "TMI"  (too much information).  The good news right now is that I haven't had a seizure in 3 months!  That is a miracle in itself.  My epilepsy is mostly caused by my hormones.  The bad news is I'm probably not having seizures because I seem to be beginning early menopause!  Can anyone say "hot flashes"!  It has been a trying summer on many levels, but I found this article that helped me put things in a better perspective.  It's sometimes hard being a woman and the mother of a challenging teen while your hormones are out of whack!  Maybe you will gain something from this sweet little article also.


 A Time to Grow by Carolyn Mahaney                                               
There are few times I feel less spiritual than when I face physical and hormonal challenges such as PMS and (now) menopause. I feel tired and irritable, my sin sometimes spilling over onto those around me.
My strategy has often been to try and wait it out. Once this is over, I tell myself, then I’ll get back to making progress in the Christian life. I forget that I am smack in the middle of God’s plan for my life! God has ordained these hormonal days along with all the others! Menopause isn’t simply a trial to get through. It’s an opportunity for testing faith and spiritual growth.
Elizabeth Prentiss beautifully expresses this point:

“God never place us in any position in which we can not grow. We may fancy that He does. We may fear we are so impeded by fretting, petty cares that we are gaining nothing; but when we are not sending any branches upward, we may be sending roots downward. Perhaps in the time of our humiliation, when everything seems a failure, we are making the best kind of progress.”

The best kind of progress. Far from precipitating a spiritual decline, we often grow more in these difficult seasons than when life is easy, and we feel like we’re flourishing (remember, those feelings can’t be trusted!)
That’s why the apostle Paul sees weakness as an opportunity for boasting in the Lord:

“But [God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

For the sake of Christ, we are to boast in our weaknesses, we are to be content in menopause or PMS or postpartum depression. For when we are weak, it is then that His power rests on us. What an opportunity!

But My Sins Are Too Big To Be Forgiven

       No matter how bad your sin seems in the eyes of people, you can rest in the fact that Jesus is bigger, greater and more powerful than any sin.  It doesn't matter what you've done as long as we ask Jesus to cleanse it all away.  The only unforgivable sin is to refuse to believe in Jesus Christ. This is not to say that there aren't consequences to sin.  Of course there may be and there usually are.  Sin leaves scars.   

     Remember the thieves on the crosses beside Jesus.  One of them mocked and denied Him.  The other couldn't change a single moment of the life he had lived or the choices he had made,  but he called on Jesus to remember him in His kingdom. And Jesus did.  Jesus told him that today he would be with Him in paradise.  If Satan has stolen most of your life on earth, don't let him steal your eternity. 

     Because we live in a fallen world, all of us are sinners.  When given a choice, we all choose sin each in our own way.   Some of them seem particularly nasty and evil and some of them seem benign.   One person might battle with adultery or even murder while another can't control their gossipy tongue.  But your sins are no greater than my sins and my sins are no greater than your sins in the eyes of God.  They keep us separated from Him.  Thankfully, God made a provision for us to break free and be saved from our sins through His death and resurrection.  We must be willing to turn from our sin and turn to the One who saves us from them.  He will look at us as though they were never there at all.

"Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered. 
Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them"  Romans 4: 7-8

It Is Well With My Soul

     I was deeply moved when I heard the story behind this beautiful hymn some years ago.  Many of you probably already know the story.  If not, please take a minute to read it and listen to one of the most inspired and beautiful hymns of all times.  The God who sustained him will give us peace also and we can rest in the knowledge of the wonderful eternity He has prepared for those who love Him.

     Many folks have heard and sung the classic hymn by Horatio Spafford, It Is Well With My Soul.  But I would imagine few people know the tragic yet heartwarming story that inspired Spafford to write it.
Spafford was a successful Chicago attorney with profitable investments in Chicago real estate.  On October 8, 1871 the Chicago fire ripped through the city and destroyed nearly all Spafford’s real estate investments.
Two years later Spafford decided he and his family deserved a family vacation. They chose London as their destination. Spafford’s good friend Dwight L. Moody was scheduled to preach there that fall, so the trip would be a special one for Spafford and his family.
Business delayed his departure, but he sent his wife and their four daughters, 11, nine, five and two ahead on the steamship, the Villa Du Havre. On November 22, 1873 an iron sailing vessel crashed into the steamship. In the mishap 226 people lost their lives.
When his wife, Anna, reached the European shore she sent a telegram to Spafford with only two words: Saved Alone.
Spafford sailed to Europe to be with his wife. He took the same route across the sea as the Villa Du Havre. Spafford asked the ship’s captain to tell him when they crossed the spot at sea where his four daughters perished.  Spafford waited by the railing.  When the captain informed Spafford they were crossing his daughters’ watery graves, Spafford penned the words to his beloved hymn, It Is Well With My Soul.