I want a do-over. I need a do-over. If I could just go back...all the way back...and have the Word of God in my life from the get-go.
Women's lib? Be independent! Take care of #1. Climb the corporate ladder. Have money. Have things. The world is your playground. Do what makes you feel good. I'm O.K./You're O.K. Don't let a man stand in your way. Demand equal pay. Demand equal rights.
Whoever started the bra burning campaign to have women replace men in the world, I would like to punch right in the nose. We've been climbing for about 50 years. How is that working for us girls? We are over-worked, over-scheduled, over-stressed, financially unstable, on the verge of a nervous breakdown with great lip gloss, shoes, and handbags that say...I am great!
How is all that Prozac working for you, Ms. Woman's Lib? Have you figured out just the right amount of vodka to drink in the course of the day to be productive, but too numb to feel? Have you isolated yourself to the point no one can reach you, even though you are always in a crowd? Have you enjoyed the benefits of Eve replacing Adam?
Now, please do not misunderstand me, and if you already hit exit I will be forever misunderstood. The Proverbs 31 woman had it going on...both at home and at work. I am not saying to be Godly is to be Betty Crocker. I am certainly not saying to be Godly is to submit to the ungodly. I am saying God created man. God created woman. God instituted marriage very early on. He did not just create us and then say, "Hey, watch Oprah and figure all this out." God has left us with scripture to give us explicit instruction on how to be happy and blessed in our marriages. God's way leads to fulfilment; the world's way leads to depression, anxiety, and self destructive behaviors.
I am a very, very strong and independent woman. I am well-educated. I am a career girl. I have made a wreck out of my marriage because I did not know what God said about my role. I didn't even know He said anything about my role in marriage. I am not the head of my household. Even as I type the words, the old me battles to disagree. Let me say it again. I am not the head of my household. My husband is. My husband is to be our spiritual leader, financial provider, and decision maker. That does not mean I don't have good ideas. That does not mean I can't express my wants and opinions. My husband loves that I am a thinker. Bless his heart, he sometimes loves that I express every thought in my head.
In God's economy there are some very clear cut rules. Marriage is between a man and a woman. Sex is to be the gift of intimacy and relationship and expression between a husband and his wife. Sex is to be enjoyed. Sex is to be great and wonderful and private...as in please stop doing it on every T.V. show, commercial, and movie known to man. According to God's will, the man loves his wife, treasures his wife, cares for his wife, provides for his wife. The wife loves her man. Takes care of her man. Raises the children. These things can all happen if just the husband works or if both of you work. God' s plan can be fulfilled if neither of you work.
What we have to realize is that our actions do not set the stage. God set the stage. It is my attitude, my thought, and my withholding love from my spouse because the world has an agenda anti-God. It does not matter what our W2's say...unless I think my W2 structures my family. It doesn't matter what whose job titles are, or the size of our offices, or who has a company vehicle. The man has a purpose. The woman has a purpose. God's plan is to bless it, but He cannot bless what goes against Him.
I so wish I could do things over. I would trade vacations, cars, homes, stuff for peace, joy, and contentment any day. Again, I am not saying you can't be rich and be Godly. You absolutely can. However, the mindset must be that all things good come from God...not from you. You, Ms. Christian (talking to myself here), did not earn a job, get yourself a promotion, land a good salary. You did not pick the right man, create the right child/children. ALL things good come from God. We should be so thankful of our many blessings...in good times and bad.
This life is not heaven. There will be times of trouble. However, you can have God every step of the way IF you don't block Him out or separate yourself from Him. Girls, let's put our bras back on. In fact, let's put a whole lot of clothes back on. Let's let our husbands lead. Let them care for us. Let them love us. Doing so does not make us weak. Women who are submissive and love their husband's through the grace of God are the strongest, fiercest things on the planet. Go back to letting God's will for your life be enough. You will find peace, joy contentment. The more we let go of our culture and society, and give ourselves to God's will, the more our joy will grow. The verse says my cup runneth over. I know it does not run over every day, all the time. Don't you love the moments when it does though? Don't you want more of those moments?
Forget women's lib...what a crock! Dig into God's Word...Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Genesis, Psalms. You will be very, very surprised at how little God left to the imagination on marriage. Stop trying to do it all and just do what God wants from you!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Ultimate Spectator
I recently stopped watching the news..with the exception of a little Weather Channel. That may not sound like a big deal, but for a girl who only watched Fox, CNN, ESPN, and The Weather Channel it has been a major change. I didn't do it for Godly reasons...ha ha! Well, at the time I didn't realize it was God.
One particular weekend the broadcasting and reporting was pretty bad. All the major networks were reporting the same story, but the guests who were invited to speak, and even the anchors, were so ignorant of the topic it was nauseating. I thought...there isn't news anymore. It is all about sensationalism. What can we say and do to get the biggest reaction?
Well, that weekend I decided that was it...no more. I haven't watched for close to a month. Guess what? My life did not end. My world did not collapse. The more I lose touch with the www the more in focus my own surroundings have become. Over the weekend, my son prayed for the victims of the India airplane crash. I had no idea what he was talking about. In that moment, God said, "You had become the ultimate spectator."
You see nothing new is going on in the world today. There is no cycle that has not already been repeated. However, the media allows us an awareness of what is going on all over the world. Fifty years ago most of us would have no idea about the devastation in Haiti or what the Koreans were up to.
Now we sit around staring at our T.V.'S and computer screens worrying about everything but doing nothing. I pray for those in Haiti. I pray for those in N and S Korea. What am I doing for my family? What am I doing for my neighbor? What am I doing for my co-workers. There is certainly nothing wrong with praying for the world, but watching and worrying is not a ministry.
The world has become the ultimate spectator. We have stopped relating and stopped living in order to observe. The problem with that is it is not living. It is certainly not fullfilling the purpose God created me for. Not watching the news has been refreshing and enlightening. I can either observe, or I can live.
What about you?
One particular weekend the broadcasting and reporting was pretty bad. All the major networks were reporting the same story, but the guests who were invited to speak, and even the anchors, were so ignorant of the topic it was nauseating. I thought...there isn't news anymore. It is all about sensationalism. What can we say and do to get the biggest reaction?
Well, that weekend I decided that was it...no more. I haven't watched for close to a month. Guess what? My life did not end. My world did not collapse. The more I lose touch with the www the more in focus my own surroundings have become. Over the weekend, my son prayed for the victims of the India airplane crash. I had no idea what he was talking about. In that moment, God said, "You had become the ultimate spectator."
You see nothing new is going on in the world today. There is no cycle that has not already been repeated. However, the media allows us an awareness of what is going on all over the world. Fifty years ago most of us would have no idea about the devastation in Haiti or what the Koreans were up to.
Now we sit around staring at our T.V.'S and computer screens worrying about everything but doing nothing. I pray for those in Haiti. I pray for those in N and S Korea. What am I doing for my family? What am I doing for my neighbor? What am I doing for my co-workers. There is certainly nothing wrong with praying for the world, but watching and worrying is not a ministry.
The world has become the ultimate spectator. We have stopped relating and stopped living in order to observe. The problem with that is it is not living. It is certainly not fullfilling the purpose God created me for. Not watching the news has been refreshing and enlightening. I can either observe, or I can live.
What about you?
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Bittersweet
Today has been the strangest day...no not strange...exceptional. It was like looking at life under a microscope. Maybe is was like looking at life through God's eyes. He sees all-all the time. That is what today was like. We started in Sunday School. My husband and I taught the same lesson, but to two different groups. I always love preparing to teach when he is doing the same thing. Our lessons are always different. God speaks to us in different ways through the same text, yet keeps the meaning He wants presented. Then my husband and I taught the 1's and 2 year olds during worship service. Maybe taught is not the right word. Potty patrol while singing Jesus Loves Me is probably a better description. We have 1 year olds who don't talk yet, but they can sing Jesus Loves Me. Then my family and I went home for some lunch and a little down time before returning to church.
Tonight we buried a brother in Christ, a mentor, and a friend who lost a long battle with cancer. Before the service, our church had its annual VBS meeting. What an awesome thing God did. You see, we met our friend in adult VBS a few years ago. Here we were planning for another VBS event, yet minus one who was so dear. His service was beautiful. It magnified a dual love story: he and his wife; both they and their Savior.
We laid him to rest and then went to dinner with dear friends, church family,the ones we do life with - not just parallel schedules. We laugh together, cry together, and with every opportunity pray together.
Today was a little of the older and the younger, a celebration and a painful loss, restful and busy. It was a day of polar opposites and by God's grace we embraced it instead of being devoured by it. This life is just temporary. With every breath we breathe, we are closer to our last. We are not promised tomorrow. Don't waste another moment being lost in this crazy, dying world. Let go. Release yourself to God. Throw in the towel. Cry mercy! Let God have His way with you so that this life is not your joy but your warm-up.
We love you, Mr. Don and will see you soon!
Tonight we buried a brother in Christ, a mentor, and a friend who lost a long battle with cancer. Before the service, our church had its annual VBS meeting. What an awesome thing God did. You see, we met our friend in adult VBS a few years ago. Here we were planning for another VBS event, yet minus one who was so dear. His service was beautiful. It magnified a dual love story: he and his wife; both they and their Savior.
We laid him to rest and then went to dinner with dear friends, church family,the ones we do life with - not just parallel schedules. We laugh together, cry together, and with every opportunity pray together.
Today was a little of the older and the younger, a celebration and a painful loss, restful and busy. It was a day of polar opposites and by God's grace we embraced it instead of being devoured by it. This life is just temporary. With every breath we breathe, we are closer to our last. We are not promised tomorrow. Don't waste another moment being lost in this crazy, dying world. Let go. Release yourself to God. Throw in the towel. Cry mercy! Let God have His way with you so that this life is not your joy but your warm-up.
We love you, Mr. Don and will see you soon!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Not Perfect...Glorious
The awesome thing about scripture is it constantly reveals new things to you. You might think you have read every word and suddenly come to a passage you never remember having read. You may read something you have read a hundred times and suddenly have new meaning. What I am starting to realize is how much of the New Testament is instruction on how Christians need to address Christians. The gospels are for the lost so that they may understand how relationship is restored to God. However, from Acts thru Revelation, there is a whole lot of instruction to the church. Although we are to love EVERYONE, you certainly cannot interact with a believer as you would a non-believer.
Why in the world do you think the church needs so much instruction? We are NOT perfect!!! We get angry, we retaliate, we refuse to forgive, we argue, we worship ourselves. I struggle to make God the center of my world instead of myself. It certainly is a process that happens in the crockpot. We beat ourselves up and feel guilty over sin. What we need to do is stop trying to be perfect...we can't even be good...and be glorious to God. Make everything (or at least more) of what you do glorify God. I can glorify Him when I am hanging out with friends, working with AWANA, having dinner with someone, and certainly at work. Does the way I talk glorify God? Do I have friends who glorify God? Do I drive like I am glorifying God (I did let 2 people out in traffic, but I ran 10 off the highway)?
I have got to change my mindset from doing good to glorifying the One who wakes me up every morning. After all, that is what He woke me up for in the first place!
Why in the world do you think the church needs so much instruction? We are NOT perfect!!! We get angry, we retaliate, we refuse to forgive, we argue, we worship ourselves. I struggle to make God the center of my world instead of myself. It certainly is a process that happens in the crockpot. We beat ourselves up and feel guilty over sin. What we need to do is stop trying to be perfect...we can't even be good...and be glorious to God. Make everything (or at least more) of what you do glorify God. I can glorify Him when I am hanging out with friends, working with AWANA, having dinner with someone, and certainly at work. Does the way I talk glorify God? Do I have friends who glorify God? Do I drive like I am glorifying God (I did let 2 people out in traffic, but I ran 10 off the highway)?
I have got to change my mindset from doing good to glorifying the One who wakes me up every morning. After all, that is what He woke me up for in the first place!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Crockpot Girl
What would you rather have...some chicken nuggets from the microwave or roast, carrots, and potatoes from the crockpot? We are so busy today, we often run for our microwaves. Even though the food will be dryer and tougher, we want that quick fix. Microwaved food also loses its heat quickly. You pull that plate out, and it is too hot to hold. Within 5 min though, it has cooled off to the point you think of warming it back up. Now, the crockpot is not difficult. It just takes more time to get the result. There is no comparison in the result. The food is hot for a long time, tender, juicy, and good for the body.
Spiritual maturity works the same way. When we are first saved or have recently rededicated our life to Christ, we are on that revelation high. We sign up for everything and attend anything. We try to talk the talk for which we don't walk the walk. Before we know it, we have cooled off like a yucky plate of nuked french fries. Spiritual maturity needs the simmering of a crockpot that is set for all day. What is the crockpot? The Word. You don't have to memorize everything your first month as a Christian. You don't need to catch up...just catch on. Our relationship with God takes time...a lifetime. It is not meant to be the express button to quick fixes and fads for the moment. When we stay involved in the Word and in the body of Christ, we slowly but surely become the hot, tender, wonderful passion of Christ. God knows just the right temperature setting for you. Don't rush. Just keep cooking.
***ive never felt so convicted to blog something. God brought this concept to me about a week ago. I kept intending to get on the computer, but ended up doing other things. Tonight, my sis-in-law called me and said she had just gotten out of a service with the most awesome message. She said the preacher spoke about your faith being developed in a crockpot instead of a microwave!!! Well, I looked at the ceiling (from where I had passed out on the floor) and said, "Yes, sir!" So here I am blogging on my BB with one eye open. Whoever is reading, God really went out of His way to give this message to you. Please don't shrug it off as anything less than a message from the Holy of Holies!
Spiritual maturity works the same way. When we are first saved or have recently rededicated our life to Christ, we are on that revelation high. We sign up for everything and attend anything. We try to talk the talk for which we don't walk the walk. Before we know it, we have cooled off like a yucky plate of nuked french fries. Spiritual maturity needs the simmering of a crockpot that is set for all day. What is the crockpot? The Word. You don't have to memorize everything your first month as a Christian. You don't need to catch up...just catch on. Our relationship with God takes time...a lifetime. It is not meant to be the express button to quick fixes and fads for the moment. When we stay involved in the Word and in the body of Christ, we slowly but surely become the hot, tender, wonderful passion of Christ. God knows just the right temperature setting for you. Don't rush. Just keep cooking.
***ive never felt so convicted to blog something. God brought this concept to me about a week ago. I kept intending to get on the computer, but ended up doing other things. Tonight, my sis-in-law called me and said she had just gotten out of a service with the most awesome message. She said the preacher spoke about your faith being developed in a crockpot instead of a microwave!!! Well, I looked at the ceiling (from where I had passed out on the floor) and said, "Yes, sir!" So here I am blogging on my BB with one eye open. Whoever is reading, God really went out of His way to give this message to you. Please don't shrug it off as anything less than a message from the Holy of Holies!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Give Me Revelation
I warned my S.S. class this morning they were going to think I had totally lost my mind. You think you know something, but you maybe don't REALLY know. Agreeing is not necessarily the same thing as knowing. Well, the new-found knowledge that came out of today's S.S. lesson was the equivalent of me saying, "Wow, I just realized Diet Coke is sugar free!" Well, duh!!! I've been drinking Diet Coke forever BECAUSE it is sugar free.
So here goes... If you are a Christian, what do you believe happens when you die? What do you believe happened to Jesus when He died? Most everyone will say we go to heaven. But specifically what happened to Jesus once he died on the cross? His soul separated from His body. What happened three days later? HIS BODY WAS RESURRECTED!!!!
We Christians don't just believe our souls go to heaven. We also believe in BODILY resurrection. I recently participated in a study on the Book of Daniel. I had a very hard time understanding the timeline (not dates, people, just order of events of judgement and who is going where when. I kept reading and reading, but couldn't get things to fall into place.)
Well, the problem was I had not truly realized what I believe. I believe it because the Bible says it. My soul will go to heaven (we'll argue about the exact word for this later), but my physical body will come later...unless of course I live through tribulation.
I cannot tell you how much today's S.S. lesson helped my understanding of scripture. Matthew Chapter 25 and 1 Corinthians are full of info on the resurrection. Jesus saved us in very specific and supernatural ways. Not only are we as Christian immortal, our physical bodies will also be restored to us in an unflawed, perfect, beautiful way. Ya'll, praise God He is so awesome and so amazing, Praise God He goes beyond what we silly humans can only imagine!
Part II: The Bible is for Christians. I know I say this all the time, but that just blew my mind when I realized that fact today. I get really bogged down sometimes when particular verses tell us to do one thing and then seem to say another. Now, I KNOW the Bible DOES NOT contradict itself. So, when I feel this way I start to dig into commentaries and pull out two or three translations (funny story at the end). What I have started to see over and over is that most of the apostle Paul's statements are to Christians about Christians. You know we make the mistake of thinking once someone is saved she becomes sin proof. NOT. We still play tug of war between human and holy every day. Just because we are Christian doesn't mean we act it all the time. Scripture is for our instruction and encouragement. There is a verse that says you can't even understand it until you are saved. So, please, for the love, don't sling verses at the lost. They have no idea what you are saying. However, dig deep into the Word with your Christian brothers and sisters. Revelations is for the saved!
Funny story: this may be one of those moments when I think something is hilarious, and everyone else just thinks I am nuts. Here is a great reason to read the Bible in different translations. Our Daily Bible Walk group is in 1 Kings right now. Well, in 1 Kings 12:10 there is a verse that just cracked me up. I mean you talk about a too much testosterone moment... It is WAY better though in NASB.
"My little finger is thicker than my father's loins."
Well, my goodness. Tell us how you really feel. Those were just plain old fightin words, sister. I have laughed at that all day. Simmer down, Rehoboam.
So here goes... If you are a Christian, what do you believe happens when you die? What do you believe happened to Jesus when He died? Most everyone will say we go to heaven. But specifically what happened to Jesus once he died on the cross? His soul separated from His body. What happened three days later? HIS BODY WAS RESURRECTED!!!!
We Christians don't just believe our souls go to heaven. We also believe in BODILY resurrection. I recently participated in a study on the Book of Daniel. I had a very hard time understanding the timeline (not dates, people, just order of events of judgement and who is going where when. I kept reading and reading, but couldn't get things to fall into place.)
Well, the problem was I had not truly realized what I believe. I believe it because the Bible says it. My soul will go to heaven (we'll argue about the exact word for this later), but my physical body will come later...unless of course I live through tribulation.
I cannot tell you how much today's S.S. lesson helped my understanding of scripture. Matthew Chapter 25 and 1 Corinthians are full of info on the resurrection. Jesus saved us in very specific and supernatural ways. Not only are we as Christian immortal, our physical bodies will also be restored to us in an unflawed, perfect, beautiful way. Ya'll, praise God He is so awesome and so amazing, Praise God He goes beyond what we silly humans can only imagine!
Part II: The Bible is for Christians. I know I say this all the time, but that just blew my mind when I realized that fact today. I get really bogged down sometimes when particular verses tell us to do one thing and then seem to say another. Now, I KNOW the Bible DOES NOT contradict itself. So, when I feel this way I start to dig into commentaries and pull out two or three translations (funny story at the end). What I have started to see over and over is that most of the apostle Paul's statements are to Christians about Christians. You know we make the mistake of thinking once someone is saved she becomes sin proof. NOT. We still play tug of war between human and holy every day. Just because we are Christian doesn't mean we act it all the time. Scripture is for our instruction and encouragement. There is a verse that says you can't even understand it until you are saved. So, please, for the love, don't sling verses at the lost. They have no idea what you are saying. However, dig deep into the Word with your Christian brothers and sisters. Revelations is for the saved!
Funny story: this may be one of those moments when I think something is hilarious, and everyone else just thinks I am nuts. Here is a great reason to read the Bible in different translations. Our Daily Bible Walk group is in 1 Kings right now. Well, in 1 Kings 12:10 there is a verse that just cracked me up. I mean you talk about a too much testosterone moment... It is WAY better though in NASB.
"My little finger is thicker than my father's loins."
Well, my goodness. Tell us how you really feel. Those were just plain old fightin words, sister. I have laughed at that all day. Simmer down, Rehoboam.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
What I Can't Wait For
You know church has its own lingo. I guess any group of people who spend any amount of time together develop their own, little language. You definitely see that at church. You have two language groups. One group says it because they have studied God's Word, know EXACTLY what they are saying, and mean what they say. The other group is just repeating what they hear from the other group. They really don't know the Biblical significance, or what the words are to mean to the listener.
Let me give you some examples:
auto response to any problem: We'll pray for you.
Now, group #1 knows there are some steps before praying can happen. They know God set some guidelines and parameters to effective praying. This group intends to intentionally come into God's presence, clear their consciences and ask for forgiveness from sins, forgive anyone they haven't yet. These things are not easy, but are necessary for prayer to be heard and answered...ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD ANYWAY. Now, group #1 is going to get into a right relationship with God, and then they are going to really pray for that person and problem...and probably pray pretty regularly about it.
Group #2 has no idea there are any kinds of steps to effective praying, or that their prayer won't even be heard because they have not even asked for their sins to be forgiven...might not even be aware of some of the sins. That's O.K. though because group #2 is not really ever going to pray for you...never intended on it...I'll pray for you was just a nice little, churchy response.
auto response to indecision: if it's God's will
Now, group #1 is going to search scripture to see what God says about a particular situation. They are also going to see what more mature Christians say about a matter. They will also look for signs that they are on the right track or the wrong track. This group will play close attention to strong feelings that may be the sense of conviction from the holy Spirit.
Group #2 is not totally clear what God's will is because they have not read enough scripture to know. This group will also make mostly emotional responses...if it feels good, do it! Very, very dangerous.
auto response to a really bad day: wish Jesus would come right now.
*This one is my favorite. Now group #2 will NEVER say this, but will shudder when group #1 says it. Well, I shouldn't say never. They may say it on occasion, but definitely won't mean it. You have to have read and studied books like Daniel and Revelation to really know what God has planned for us in eternity. My first few years in church (which weren't that long ago), I hated to hear people say, "I wish Jesus would come right now."
He can't come right now. I have things to do. I mean...I have a nail appointment on Tuesday, and the next new season of Criminal Minds is next week. I also intend on another promotion or two in my life and a swimming pool.
Good gracious, now that I have spent some time in the Word, I realize how right now pales to eternity. There is just not strong enough terms to describe how #@!$^ our life is now. I'm not cussing, There just isn't a word to use here. Maybe there is one in Hebrew.
People talk bout getting a new body in heaven and how we won't hurt, have pain...we might even be drop dead gorgeous! Here is what I can't wait for...the end of the tug-of-war. Do you realize as Christians, we have the spirit of God in us, but it is wrapped up in the flesh and emotions of Desperate Housewives? Our earthly selves are wired to love self, please self, and choose self...even when the choosing is sinful...sometimes especially when the choice is sinful. The beauty of Christianity is it is a love story that overcomes. We shouldn't be able to love God, worship Him, praise Him, love Him because we are wrapped in sinful selves, but God made the way through Jesus and the Holy Spirit for love to overcome. It is insane how I can be praying, or blogging,and my mind start wondering about purses, and T.J. Max, and things I would never tell another soul because they are so bad. Anyway, that is what I'm looking forward to in eternity...all that sin being gone so that love is pure, and effortless, and better even than Godiva chocolate or a kelly green, leather handbag with bold accent pieces!
I'm not knocking group #2 in this email. It's where you start. It just doesn't need to be where you stop. I've spent most of my Christianity in group #2, but spending time in God's Word will deliver you into group #1. It is amazing to know what you are saying and to mean what you say. Open those Bibles. Just read a little EVERY day. Get a translation you understand. If you don't get KJV, then don't try to read that version. Open those books and read, download it on your computer, but it on a CD. Expose, immerse, and be changed!!!
Let me give you some examples:
auto response to any problem: We'll pray for you.
Now, group #1 knows there are some steps before praying can happen. They know God set some guidelines and parameters to effective praying. This group intends to intentionally come into God's presence, clear their consciences and ask for forgiveness from sins, forgive anyone they haven't yet. These things are not easy, but are necessary for prayer to be heard and answered...ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD ANYWAY. Now, group #1 is going to get into a right relationship with God, and then they are going to really pray for that person and problem...and probably pray pretty regularly about it.
Group #2 has no idea there are any kinds of steps to effective praying, or that their prayer won't even be heard because they have not even asked for their sins to be forgiven...might not even be aware of some of the sins. That's O.K. though because group #2 is not really ever going to pray for you...never intended on it...I'll pray for you was just a nice little, churchy response.
auto response to indecision: if it's God's will
Now, group #1 is going to search scripture to see what God says about a particular situation. They are also going to see what more mature Christians say about a matter. They will also look for signs that they are on the right track or the wrong track. This group will play close attention to strong feelings that may be the sense of conviction from the holy Spirit.
Group #2 is not totally clear what God's will is because they have not read enough scripture to know. This group will also make mostly emotional responses...if it feels good, do it! Very, very dangerous.
auto response to a really bad day: wish Jesus would come right now.
*This one is my favorite. Now group #2 will NEVER say this, but will shudder when group #1 says it. Well, I shouldn't say never. They may say it on occasion, but definitely won't mean it. You have to have read and studied books like Daniel and Revelation to really know what God has planned for us in eternity. My first few years in church (which weren't that long ago), I hated to hear people say, "I wish Jesus would come right now."
He can't come right now. I have things to do. I mean...I have a nail appointment on Tuesday, and the next new season of Criminal Minds is next week. I also intend on another promotion or two in my life and a swimming pool.
Good gracious, now that I have spent some time in the Word, I realize how right now pales to eternity. There is just not strong enough terms to describe how #@!$^ our life is now. I'm not cussing, There just isn't a word to use here. Maybe there is one in Hebrew.
People talk bout getting a new body in heaven and how we won't hurt, have pain...we might even be drop dead gorgeous! Here is what I can't wait for...the end of the tug-of-war. Do you realize as Christians, we have the spirit of God in us, but it is wrapped up in the flesh and emotions of Desperate Housewives? Our earthly selves are wired to love self, please self, and choose self...even when the choosing is sinful...sometimes especially when the choice is sinful. The beauty of Christianity is it is a love story that overcomes. We shouldn't be able to love God, worship Him, praise Him, love Him because we are wrapped in sinful selves, but God made the way through Jesus and the Holy Spirit for love to overcome. It is insane how I can be praying, or blogging,and my mind start wondering about purses, and T.J. Max, and things I would never tell another soul because they are so bad. Anyway, that is what I'm looking forward to in eternity...all that sin being gone so that love is pure, and effortless, and better even than Godiva chocolate or a kelly green, leather handbag with bold accent pieces!
I'm not knocking group #2 in this email. It's where you start. It just doesn't need to be where you stop. I've spent most of my Christianity in group #2, but spending time in God's Word will deliver you into group #1. It is amazing to know what you are saying and to mean what you say. Open those Bibles. Just read a little EVERY day. Get a translation you understand. If you don't get KJV, then don't try to read that version. Open those books and read, download it on your computer, but it on a CD. Expose, immerse, and be changed!!!
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