Well, Merry Christmas! This was my first Christmas as a born again. I knew it would be a blow out! It was fantastic, reading the Bible these past 11 months, and understanding now that beginning with Genesis, the Bible is preparing us for the Messiah's birth. It was always about Jesus! The Word became Man. I praise God that I understand these most eternal Words that have now changed my destiny. I am on a different course. I am growing and stretching and reaching. And obviously you can tell from my blog that I am sure the heck praising and evangelizing.
Oh Lord, thank you for coming to the earth in man-form to Bethlehem so many years ago. Thank you God, for feeling our every suffering, disappointment and temptation, in the form of Jesus. You suffered on the cross. Thank you for the Christmas story, revealed to us in completion and perfection, untouched through the ages. I have complete faith that your Holy Book is absolutely true and each chapter is a story about my life. I am living through your breathing book.
I hope that on your faith journey, you are opening your mind further and further and exposing all of those rooms in your heart to the Lord. I have a general prayer that "Oh Lord, please expose to me any hidden sins that I may have. Please unearth any items that I need to deal with". Don't be fearful of doing that. Say it with intensity. Pray with passion. Really concentrate. Pray when you are not doing anything else. Yes, pray also during the day, during your daily duties. But, I think it is important to pray boldly to Him.
Being a new born again, I knew this Christmas would be the best one I have ever had. Yes, in the past I always had my nativity scene up and said "Merry Christmas" more that "Happy Holidays". And many years I got to church, but also, many years I did not on Christmas. (sometimes our pain is too great--but any pain that comes my way now, I will truly let God shoulder it also with me. PTL)
I list at the bottom of my blog the lyrics of Christmas songs that really hit me as a born again Christian. (the term "born again", came into my heart in May of this year. I did not label myself. The Holy Spirit labeled it for me).
These lyrics are amazing, because most of them are at the end of the hymns. Many times we may not have sung them. I went through all of the Christmas songs I could think of, and found all of these, with reference to born again status and also, our earthly-dwelling, fallen angel, satan. (Yes, he resides here, please read your Bible and quit ignoring the truth. Fear God more than satan. I now am. )
Well, being a lifelong Christian, I probably did sing these hymns and glazed over the true meaning. I "had it". I knew John 3:16 by heart. I "had it covered". I didn't even search those lyrics for what they really mean, behind the curtain.
One way a friend of mine puts it: "It's like The Wizard Of Oz. You spend your life a Christian or non-believer. You are on a journey on a yellow brick road to find what you are looking for. You meet people on the way who are looking as well for "it". You get there. And find a phony. A guy pretending to be almighty, pulling strings, scaring everyone. He is behind the curtain, Mr. Oz. You are disappointed, because you found out the truth is in you. No person can do that for you. He can't put a heart in you or a brain or take you home. Humans can't do that. They can't change the insides of you."
Being filled with the Holy Ghost first begins with God choosing you. But, you MUST BE OPEN TO THIS INVITATION.
I don't know why He chose me. I am very, very happy He did. I am not arrogant by saying that I was chosen. My 19 year old son (home from college) got overdosed on my new "self" and made a snide comment on Christmas Eve about this. He said that he didn't want me to become self righteous because of my religion. It hurt a little. But I thought about it. He is still not knowing where I am coming from. I was him not that long ago. It's ok. I pray for all of my children and grandchildren to be born again, and I also pray a "blanket prayer to cover them", until they do, as a power of a parent, still rearing her children.
I love what is behind the curtain for Melissa. Forget Oz. I read my Bible and it has a heartbeat. It is alive. I see behind the curtain now. I am open to this, the seen and unseen. I want God to take me where He wants. He has revealed to me many things and I am an actress now in his dramatic play about real love. Love for a Father I want to obey. Love beyond what I ever knew. And loving me back as no man or child of mine can. I dare you to realize that there is so much more than what you have been led to believe. Read these lyrics and see that satan is real and he is having a hay day here on this planet, through your TV, radio, People magazine and unqualified church leader. That is just the beginning.
May I suggest Joyce Meyer ministries? She is so Holy Spirit driven, I have confidence in that. I will not raise her to too much of a pedestal, but she is someone I truly look up to and listen to her conferences approximately 5 times a week online. Make her your church for now if you can't get out to church or if you are in too much pain to worship with people. She moves me so much that I praise out loud watching her in my house. I put my hand in the air, cry, and say alot of "amens" out loud. I can't help it. I am born again. Come join me. Please, be open to what you are missing. The curtain and veil are mentioned many times in the Bible, in different references. Open that Book and see for yourself.
O Little Town Of Bethlehem: Verse #3: O holy child of Bethlehem, descend on us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in; be born to us today. We hear the Christmas angels, The great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide in us, Our Lord Emmanuel.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman: Verse #1: God rest ye merry, gentlemen; let nothing you dismay. Remember, Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day. To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray.
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing: Verse #2 Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by. Born that man no more may die. Born to raise the sons of earth; Born to give them second birth.
Oh Holy Night: Verse #3 Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, And in His name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus rise we, Let all within us praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord, Then ever, ever praise we; His power and glory ever more proclaim, His power and glory ever more proclaim.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel: Verse # 2 O come, thou rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny. From depths of Hell Thy people save, and give them victory o'er the grave.
As With Gladness Men Of Old: Verse # 4 Holy Jesus every day keep us in the narrow way. And when earthly things are past, bring our ransomed souls at last. Where they need no star to guide, Where no clouds Thy glory hid.
Monday, December 26, 2011
What's Your Yoke Like Today?
Praise and Glory to God our Father who sent His Son to us! Merry Christmas. We had a glorious service Christmas Eve at a new church I am attending. I know it's good there because I have Holy Ghost tears every time I sing there and the third verse of O Holy Night really got me! Please check out that verse. We no longer have chains and the slave is not our brother.
I have been intrigued with the term of "yoke" lately.
Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.
Matthew 12:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened , and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
2 Corinthians 7:14- Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
These three verses really pull us in different directions. The first verse (Galatians) speaks so much to new believers. I very well remember my yoke of slavery. It just lifted from me this spring. I felt that pull and weight for my entire life. I thought it was normal to feel guilty as a Christian. To ask over and over for forgiveness from God for the same sins, yet still feel ashamed . And the #1 question I couldn't answer: "If you died today, Melissa, where will your soul go?" I could not answer that question until this spring/summer. Now I can answer that it will be with my Father in heaven (Amen, precious Father).
Galatians warns us not to fall into the satan trap of religious rituals to free us again. The other trap is to fall back into our fleshy ways. Numbing ourselves with substances, buying our happiness with possessions, and in general: Letting the world tell us how to be happy. Others: Sexual sin, Hollywood obsessions with the elite, falling into marketing techniques that sway our "feelings", idolizing people including our children, husbands and wives. Falling in love with power and importance at work. All of these things can put the feeling of a yoke back on our shoulders.
The second verses from Matthew are so well known. My mom was an artist and was taking lessons in South Carolina from a well known water color artist near her community. She had a painting she gave to me and it depicts slavery. It shows slaves and slave owners both, going to Belin's Black Mingo Church near Hemingway, South Carolina. (Black Mingo is a creek also) I visited this church once. The church was burnt down a few years later. We visited the site after the destruction. The tomb stones are still there. The structure is not. The painting shows this church in slavery times. The slaves can go to church with the white folk, but they have to sit in the balcony (this is according to history my parents understood. History they learned of the deep south, living there from 1987 to 1998). The verse is written on the painting. The Belin Black Mingo Church stood tall and strong from 1843 to 1993. No one had worshiped there for years prior to the burning. But, we would go there to walk on the grounds, to see the graves of the slaves and their masters. The "good" slaves would get tombstones. If they were the "best" of slaves, they got an inscription such as "Here Lies Bill Smith's Loyal Slave, David".
The third verse can raise a few eyebrows (2 Corinthians). I think it takes a more mature Christian to understand this. I am starting to understand it. Do you? Do you think you can continue to spend hours a week with friends and family that are negative, don't believe in Christian growth, use "innuendos" to cut you down? (Oh, but don't take things so personally..........). I love the word innuendo now. It completely describes what so often happens to us tender hearts. And they say it's all in good fun. It is not. Not on my end. Words either instruct, question, build up, or tear down.
Do you think you can continue to spend time in arenas that encourage flirting, gossiping and over indulging? I found, myself, that I was getting more and more perturbed at only getting face time with friends and families at bar/restaurants, parties or beer gardens. You can't hear the conversation, someone in the group has too much to drink and insults or ruins the evening. I backed out of these gatherings more and more over the last three years. Now, primarily if someone wants to get together, I try to offer a coffee shop or a restaurant without alcohol. I guess you find out who your true family and friends are after you make a move like that. I did.
So there are the three yoke references I found quickly in the Bible. That is alot
I will tell you; the guilt that lifts, the grime, the scarlet letter, the divorce decree, the DHS report, the bruise you had to hide once upon a time, the regrets, the religious people that shamed you. These will all float away.
And now, when you are born again (pray for this to happen), you will sin, and you will now repent quickly (I do either in writing to my Father, or say it out loud to my Father and usually the person I sinned against) and THE GUILT GOES AWAY AND DOESN'T BUILD UP. It can't. You are living in the light now. And you are in God's precious, strong hand.
Please, pray a Believer's Prayer if you have not. Do this even if you are a Christian and you still feel a yoke of burden. There are many forms of Believer's Prayers, but essentially you need to admit you are a sinner. You also need to confess your sins and then repent for them. You should state that you know the only way of rescue is through a relationship with Jesus Christ, not religion and not rituals. You need to submit to Him, your life now. And ask for direction on how to walk in the light now that you have done this.
Go out and buy a Bible you can understand. My suggestion in a Life Application Study Bible in the NIV version. Go to the books that the apostle Paul wrote. They are so easy to read and will make sense. You will find so, so many references regarding being born again. It will amaze you. You will understand what your prayer you just said means and that those written words in the Bible describe God's love for you. Selfishly, you!!!!
Grab a hold of Jesus! He is so in love with you. He already did the work for you that you are trying to do, to be good enough for Him. You don't have to do that. You will naturally want to please Him after you are born again, and it becomes easier to not sin. I promise. I am an example of a Christian sinner, born again after 43 years. Yoke bearing, trying to do it all by myself, while my world kept crumbling around me.
My general prayer now is for you to look at all of this differently now that I explained it from my perspective. I was in your shoes. Now, I share my yoke, which is light, with my Creator. And it is so much easier!!!
PTL!
I have been intrigued with the term of "yoke" lately.
Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.
Matthew 12:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened , and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
2 Corinthians 7:14- Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
These three verses really pull us in different directions. The first verse (Galatians) speaks so much to new believers. I very well remember my yoke of slavery. It just lifted from me this spring. I felt that pull and weight for my entire life. I thought it was normal to feel guilty as a Christian. To ask over and over for forgiveness from God for the same sins, yet still feel ashamed . And the #1 question I couldn't answer: "If you died today, Melissa, where will your soul go?" I could not answer that question until this spring/summer. Now I can answer that it will be with my Father in heaven (Amen, precious Father).
Galatians warns us not to fall into the satan trap of religious rituals to free us again. The other trap is to fall back into our fleshy ways. Numbing ourselves with substances, buying our happiness with possessions, and in general: Letting the world tell us how to be happy. Others: Sexual sin, Hollywood obsessions with the elite, falling into marketing techniques that sway our "feelings", idolizing people including our children, husbands and wives. Falling in love with power and importance at work. All of these things can put the feeling of a yoke back on our shoulders.
The second verses from Matthew are so well known. My mom was an artist and was taking lessons in South Carolina from a well known water color artist near her community. She had a painting she gave to me and it depicts slavery. It shows slaves and slave owners both, going to Belin's Black Mingo Church near Hemingway, South Carolina. (Black Mingo is a creek also) I visited this church once. The church was burnt down a few years later. We visited the site after the destruction. The tomb stones are still there. The structure is not. The painting shows this church in slavery times. The slaves can go to church with the white folk, but they have to sit in the balcony (this is according to history my parents understood. History they learned of the deep south, living there from 1987 to 1998). The verse is written on the painting. The Belin Black Mingo Church stood tall and strong from 1843 to 1993. No one had worshiped there for years prior to the burning. But, we would go there to walk on the grounds, to see the graves of the slaves and their masters. The "good" slaves would get tombstones. If they were the "best" of slaves, they got an inscription such as "Here Lies Bill Smith's Loyal Slave, David".
The third verse can raise a few eyebrows (2 Corinthians). I think it takes a more mature Christian to understand this. I am starting to understand it. Do you? Do you think you can continue to spend hours a week with friends and family that are negative, don't believe in Christian growth, use "innuendos" to cut you down? (Oh, but don't take things so personally..........). I love the word innuendo now. It completely describes what so often happens to us tender hearts. And they say it's all in good fun. It is not. Not on my end. Words either instruct, question, build up, or tear down.
Do you think you can continue to spend time in arenas that encourage flirting, gossiping and over indulging? I found, myself, that I was getting more and more perturbed at only getting face time with friends and families at bar/restaurants, parties or beer gardens. You can't hear the conversation, someone in the group has too much to drink and insults or ruins the evening. I backed out of these gatherings more and more over the last three years. Now, primarily if someone wants to get together, I try to offer a coffee shop or a restaurant without alcohol. I guess you find out who your true family and friends are after you make a move like that. I did.
So there are the three yoke references I found quickly in the Bible. That is alot
I will tell you; the guilt that lifts, the grime, the scarlet letter, the divorce decree, the DHS report, the bruise you had to hide once upon a time, the regrets, the religious people that shamed you. These will all float away.
And now, when you are born again (pray for this to happen), you will sin, and you will now repent quickly (I do either in writing to my Father, or say it out loud to my Father and usually the person I sinned against) and THE GUILT GOES AWAY AND DOESN'T BUILD UP. It can't. You are living in the light now. And you are in God's precious, strong hand.
Please, pray a Believer's Prayer if you have not. Do this even if you are a Christian and you still feel a yoke of burden. There are many forms of Believer's Prayers, but essentially you need to admit you are a sinner. You also need to confess your sins and then repent for them. You should state that you know the only way of rescue is through a relationship with Jesus Christ, not religion and not rituals. You need to submit to Him, your life now. And ask for direction on how to walk in the light now that you have done this.
Go out and buy a Bible you can understand. My suggestion in a Life Application Study Bible in the NIV version. Go to the books that the apostle Paul wrote. They are so easy to read and will make sense. You will find so, so many references regarding being born again. It will amaze you. You will understand what your prayer you just said means and that those written words in the Bible describe God's love for you. Selfishly, you!!!!
Grab a hold of Jesus! He is so in love with you. He already did the work for you that you are trying to do, to be good enough for Him. You don't have to do that. You will naturally want to please Him after you are born again, and it becomes easier to not sin. I promise. I am an example of a Christian sinner, born again after 43 years. Yoke bearing, trying to do it all by myself, while my world kept crumbling around me.
My general prayer now is for you to look at all of this differently now that I explained it from my perspective. I was in your shoes. Now, I share my yoke, which is light, with my Creator. And it is so much easier!!!
PTL!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Chalk Talk--Being a maverick for Christ
Praise to God! I have not blogged lately, but I here I am. I see many viewers on my stats. I love to see the consistent Russian viewers. Please join in officially or comment. I would love feedback. Am I making a dent? I hope so. I am compelled to spread this Good News. Please join me in this powerful movement. Don't you see it in sports? Tim Tetow? So many professional athletes are giving the praise to our Lord for their achievements. I never appreciated that until being born again, myself. I used to think "How dare they give God the credit?" I can't believe what a flip I have made in my thinking. It was easy to imagine these born agains as being arrogant/chosen. Why am I not good enough? Will they praise God when they lose? Well, yes, I see that most do. Externally we have put on our armor (Ephesians 6:11) We deflect "feelings". We are driven by the Holy Spirit. Each and every day is a step more in faith, in growth. Oh, how the Bible is our best tool. Please, if you are not reading it daily or near daily, that is the missing link. Please understand how you cannot water the seed without the Word. It will be so difficult, you may just shrink back and not be effective for our Lord. Worse yet, you will be a poor example of what Christian life is. We need to do our part and God will do the rest. Share the yoke!
I have a friend who is doing an amazing thing in the public school! I will not submit any further information, so his mission will not be squashed by our lovely government, lawyers, rigid parents and board members. He simply writes a verse from the Bible on the chalk board. What he does not do is label its source! Boy, do the kids love it. It creates great conversation.
I imagine he is careful about which scripture to write on the black board, but you can imagine Proverbs or Psalms would be great for morality boosters.
I read in Dr. David Jeremiah's book "I Never Thought I'd See The Day" about The New-England Primer. This was a textbook that was used in the schools extensively into the 18th and 19th centuries. You may remember the prayer (I grew up with this one):
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.
This was first published in the New England Primer.
Here is a poem that children learned the alphabet with in 1690 circa:
A: In Adam's Fall we sinned all.
B: Heaven to find, the Bible mind.
C: Christ crucified for sinners died.
D: The deluge drowned the Earth around.
E. Elijah hid by ravens fed.
Imagine that! Now, yes there is so much more for me to say about these textbooks, including The Protestant Tutor. But, you need to go to the library and research or check out the internet, or even read Dr. Jeremiah's book for this great history information.
What happened is that these books were replaced little by little, removing the Biblical portions.
If you want to compare our homes and schools to how they were functioning approximately 60 years ago, I guess you could say we have a problem. But, more disastrous is that our churches are functioning even worse. They seemed to have lost the Bible somewhere in the sanctuary! Darn, they better go get it and bring it out every Sunday. How about encouraging everyone to bring one as well.
I say this with zest because I was brought up in churches that did not have Bibles in worship. I feel I was robbed. Who can I ultimately blame? Guess who? Satan. He has even so carefully removed them from our pastors hands as he leads his flock.
I say this because as a born again this last 8 months, I have experienced incredible spiritual growth. That is why I am writing these blogs. That is why I am doing alot of my "mini missions". I have a sense of urgency. It is really wearing on me. (and yes, I am filled with such incredible joy I have never experienced in life! It is heavenly joy, possible on earth) My alarm is for what is happening. But, by golly Satan got the churches screwed up within the first few years, according to Acts. So, this is not a new problem, but we have generations of believers that are not reading their Bibles because their parents didn't, their pastors didn't drill it into them, they did not see it practiced in church. What you get is a short snippet of scripture, decided for you, typed on a bulletin. Very little discussion about what was really happening in that time of history. No real confirmation that what the Bible states is absolutely, positively true. I have had many Christians tell me without wincing these last 8 months that the Bible is simply a book of stories. And "We don't take it literally". Whose words are those coming out of their months? Does that make God cry? (Yes, God cries if we can cry).
Do what you can now to spread the message of our Beautiful Love Story, written for US. Personally. (It is hard for us Lutherans turned Catholics turned into Jesus Followers to believe that Jesus is talking to us!!) He is wanting to guide us, hold our hands, love us. How can He do that if we don't believe The Word? Don't get me started on miracles and prayers answered............
Satan's greatest trick against Christians is to keep them too busy. Too busy to read the Bible. Too busy to be quiet with God.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
I have a friend who is doing an amazing thing in the public school! I will not submit any further information, so his mission will not be squashed by our lovely government, lawyers, rigid parents and board members. He simply writes a verse from the Bible on the chalk board. What he does not do is label its source! Boy, do the kids love it. It creates great conversation.
I imagine he is careful about which scripture to write on the black board, but you can imagine Proverbs or Psalms would be great for morality boosters.
I read in Dr. David Jeremiah's book "I Never Thought I'd See The Day" about The New-England Primer. This was a textbook that was used in the schools extensively into the 18th and 19th centuries. You may remember the prayer (I grew up with this one):
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.
This was first published in the New England Primer.
Here is a poem that children learned the alphabet with in 1690 circa:
A: In Adam's Fall we sinned all.
B: Heaven to find, the Bible mind.
C: Christ crucified for sinners died.
D: The deluge drowned the Earth around.
E. Elijah hid by ravens fed.
Imagine that! Now, yes there is so much more for me to say about these textbooks, including The Protestant Tutor. But, you need to go to the library and research or check out the internet, or even read Dr. Jeremiah's book for this great history information.
What happened is that these books were replaced little by little, removing the Biblical portions.
If you want to compare our homes and schools to how they were functioning approximately 60 years ago, I guess you could say we have a problem. But, more disastrous is that our churches are functioning even worse. They seemed to have lost the Bible somewhere in the sanctuary! Darn, they better go get it and bring it out every Sunday. How about encouraging everyone to bring one as well.
I say this with zest because I was brought up in churches that did not have Bibles in worship. I feel I was robbed. Who can I ultimately blame? Guess who? Satan. He has even so carefully removed them from our pastors hands as he leads his flock.
I say this because as a born again this last 8 months, I have experienced incredible spiritual growth. That is why I am writing these blogs. That is why I am doing alot of my "mini missions". I have a sense of urgency. It is really wearing on me. (and yes, I am filled with such incredible joy I have never experienced in life! It is heavenly joy, possible on earth) My alarm is for what is happening. But, by golly Satan got the churches screwed up within the first few years, according to Acts. So, this is not a new problem, but we have generations of believers that are not reading their Bibles because their parents didn't, their pastors didn't drill it into them, they did not see it practiced in church. What you get is a short snippet of scripture, decided for you, typed on a bulletin. Very little discussion about what was really happening in that time of history. No real confirmation that what the Bible states is absolutely, positively true. I have had many Christians tell me without wincing these last 8 months that the Bible is simply a book of stories. And "We don't take it literally". Whose words are those coming out of their months? Does that make God cry? (Yes, God cries if we can cry).
Do what you can now to spread the message of our Beautiful Love Story, written for US. Personally. (It is hard for us Lutherans turned Catholics turned into Jesus Followers to believe that Jesus is talking to us!!) He is wanting to guide us, hold our hands, love us. How can He do that if we don't believe The Word? Don't get me started on miracles and prayers answered............
Satan's greatest trick against Christians is to keep them too busy. Too busy to read the Bible. Too busy to be quiet with God.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Onward Christian Soldiers-Did we forget what that song is about?
Praise and Glory to God above! He is most high, reining over all the heavens and earth, all above and below! Happy Thanksgiving. Now into the most glorious Christmas time. This will be a very special Christmas for me. Born Again in Christ. I hear every lyric, I see God's light shine in others, I am so hopeful for his return and have the ultimate faith in that. Going into Christmas, in my new created self, I will not ever forget what this is about. All of the years I missed church on Christmas due to MY pain. Now, I am on fire for the Lord. I am so touched by his everlasting gift. To even think I am worthy of His dying on the cross. Praise the prophets of long ago, who listened to God, telling us to just wait and hope. A Messiah would be born. And there it happened! For many of these prophets, I cannot imagine the impatience, in their crumbling worlds of hunger, war, doubt, sinful societies. Praise for that God Man! He had dirty diapers. He was a stumbling teenager. He was everything we are. But, He was spotless. Even though He felt every pain we have ever physically or mentally felt and He felt pangs of temptation of EVERY sin we do: He walked the earth to ultimately be man, and went to the cross and felt every pain of every whip, every nail, every thorny crown. Only for US! Isn't that just amazing? It is not human to completely understand that. But, I am taking that gift and sharing it with anyone I get the appropriate opportunity to do so with. Please do that as well. Please read Paul's letters for instruction. Please, advance the kingdom!
Part of the wonderful conversion process for me was the "scales fell from my eyes". (Just as it did for Saul/Paul). I will continue to blog about this because it is so important for all peoples to understand the Bible will come to life to you, eventually. And along with immersing yourself in His Word, whether you are reading the Bible and this has not happened, or you are very aware of what I am talking about, other items you look at will also show that you had scales on your eyes.
You look at the world as though in an entirely different sense. You won't miss important opportunities, because your ears hear differently, your eyes see VERY differently, and your mouth will be singing love songs to the Lord!
Please hang in there with me if this has not happening yet. I pray it will. (some days I do a general prayer for all to obtain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ) Keep seeking God. Let barriers down that may be blocking this life changing experience. Get rid of your secrets. Confess your sins. Mend fences with foes. Don't be afraid to talk to your parents about your childhood pain. Tell your kids what YOU are sorry for. Get rid of hangups about other folks. Don't worry about who isn't perfect in your eyes. Just wake up, start praising God for all you have. Again, read the Word daily if you can. Just 15 minutes. Talk to God!
The lyrics of songs just stick out at me like a 3-D movie. Onward, Christian Soldiers! I loved this song, growing up in the Lutheran Church. It really moved along. It was a forceful song of our faith. I felt good singing it. I sang along. And now............I think I understand what this war is about!!! (please read anything that John Eldredge writes)
It is about today. Yesterday. Tomorrow. We are at war. Can you guess who we are at war with? I guess as a kid, I saw this as a song about a long time ago. And maybe Martin Luther or someone was marching against non-Christians, or something like that, I thought. Who is the enemy?
Satan is the enemy. We are the saints, (Romans 1:7 and 1 Corinthians 1:2). We need to see this song as happening today. And I plea with you to look at any part of the New Testamanent in that light.
Neil T. Anderson, author, has helped me to grasp many more concepts. This was interesting. I never thought of myself as a saint. Do you have trouble with that as well? But, as I read the Word, I see exactly that saints do not necessarily need to be beatified. We, as sons and daughters of Christ are saints. And we are still alive!
I googled "What does the Bible say about saints?" and I got a weird array of articles. Most direct you quickly to the Catholic church. But, another site says saints were only from New Testament times. Dr. Neil T. Anderson differs with that opinion.
It is so hard for many peoples and churches to let this be a personal relationship with Jesus! It's always someone else the Bible is talking about, some other time......Not "these" days. Wow. Just read Philipians 4:21.
If we continue to keep those scales on our eyes and not seek, we will continue to have The Father Of Lies deceive us. We will think there is no war. That we are doing fine. We have our salvation and "we are already there". So us born agains........be gone! You are making me uncomfortable! Why do I make you uncomfortable?
As Joyce Meyer states, (I JUST LOVE HER)...."God uses crack-pots like you and me to shine His light through"!!!! Praise God to the gifted people such as Joyce and all of the authors I mention. Lord, you gift them with your Spirit and they are using that gift to reach so many of us. They could have refused their gift! Keep them safe from the Enemy.
Please keep seeking the Lord. Be aware of The Deceiver, who wants you to be content in your "religion". Your monotone prayers. (I used to juice up the monotone in the Lutheran and Catholic churches by slightly singing them. Shame on me!) And I wasn't born again, yet! God knew I was still discontent with "religion". With check marks and church "clubs". Have to sit in this pew every week. Have to fast. No communion if you don't get an annullment if you remarry. Printed statements passed out before mass, showing how much financial contribution everyone gave for the year. Clubs, be gone! I will worship where they speak of Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. And if I find that The Enemy has penetrated my church, I will relocate to another church. I will know!
Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war. With the cross of Jesus, going on before. Christ the royal master, leads against the foe; Forward into battle, see His banners go.
Like a mighty army moves the church of God. Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod; We are not divided, all one body we, one in hope and doctrine, one in charity. (chorus)
Onward, then ye people, join our happy throng, blend with our yours voiced in the triumph song; glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King: (chorus)
Acts 9: 15-19 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit". Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after some food, he regained his strength.
Philippians 4:21-22 Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.
Part of the wonderful conversion process for me was the "scales fell from my eyes". (Just as it did for Saul/Paul). I will continue to blog about this because it is so important for all peoples to understand the Bible will come to life to you, eventually. And along with immersing yourself in His Word, whether you are reading the Bible and this has not happened, or you are very aware of what I am talking about, other items you look at will also show that you had scales on your eyes.
You look at the world as though in an entirely different sense. You won't miss important opportunities, because your ears hear differently, your eyes see VERY differently, and your mouth will be singing love songs to the Lord!
Please hang in there with me if this has not happening yet. I pray it will. (some days I do a general prayer for all to obtain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ) Keep seeking God. Let barriers down that may be blocking this life changing experience. Get rid of your secrets. Confess your sins. Mend fences with foes. Don't be afraid to talk to your parents about your childhood pain. Tell your kids what YOU are sorry for. Get rid of hangups about other folks. Don't worry about who isn't perfect in your eyes. Just wake up, start praising God for all you have. Again, read the Word daily if you can. Just 15 minutes. Talk to God!
The lyrics of songs just stick out at me like a 3-D movie. Onward, Christian Soldiers! I loved this song, growing up in the Lutheran Church. It really moved along. It was a forceful song of our faith. I felt good singing it. I sang along. And now............I think I understand what this war is about!!! (please read anything that John Eldredge writes)
It is about today. Yesterday. Tomorrow. We are at war. Can you guess who we are at war with? I guess as a kid, I saw this as a song about a long time ago. And maybe Martin Luther or someone was marching against non-Christians, or something like that, I thought. Who is the enemy?
Satan is the enemy. We are the saints, (Romans 1:7 and 1 Corinthians 1:2). We need to see this song as happening today. And I plea with you to look at any part of the New Testamanent in that light.
Neil T. Anderson, author, has helped me to grasp many more concepts. This was interesting. I never thought of myself as a saint. Do you have trouble with that as well? But, as I read the Word, I see exactly that saints do not necessarily need to be beatified. We, as sons and daughters of Christ are saints. And we are still alive!
I googled "What does the Bible say about saints?" and I got a weird array of articles. Most direct you quickly to the Catholic church. But, another site says saints were only from New Testament times. Dr. Neil T. Anderson differs with that opinion.
It is so hard for many peoples and churches to let this be a personal relationship with Jesus! It's always someone else the Bible is talking about, some other time......Not "these" days. Wow. Just read Philipians 4:21.
If we continue to keep those scales on our eyes and not seek, we will continue to have The Father Of Lies deceive us. We will think there is no war. That we are doing fine. We have our salvation and "we are already there". So us born agains........be gone! You are making me uncomfortable! Why do I make you uncomfortable?
As Joyce Meyer states, (I JUST LOVE HER)...."God uses crack-pots like you and me to shine His light through"!!!! Praise God to the gifted people such as Joyce and all of the authors I mention. Lord, you gift them with your Spirit and they are using that gift to reach so many of us. They could have refused their gift! Keep them safe from the Enemy.
Please keep seeking the Lord. Be aware of The Deceiver, who wants you to be content in your "religion". Your monotone prayers. (I used to juice up the monotone in the Lutheran and Catholic churches by slightly singing them. Shame on me!) And I wasn't born again, yet! God knew I was still discontent with "religion". With check marks and church "clubs". Have to sit in this pew every week. Have to fast. No communion if you don't get an annullment if you remarry. Printed statements passed out before mass, showing how much financial contribution everyone gave for the year. Clubs, be gone! I will worship where they speak of Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. And if I find that The Enemy has penetrated my church, I will relocate to another church. I will know!
Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war. With the cross of Jesus, going on before. Christ the royal master, leads against the foe; Forward into battle, see His banners go.
Like a mighty army moves the church of God. Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod; We are not divided, all one body we, one in hope and doctrine, one in charity. (chorus)
Onward, then ye people, join our happy throng, blend with our yours voiced in the triumph song; glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King: (chorus)
Acts 9: 15-19 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit". Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after some food, he regained his strength.
Philippians 4:21-22 Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Shoveling Anger. Mowing Anger.
Glory to God! My son says it is snowing up a storm in Minneapolis, and he is happy about it! What else can we do, but rejoice in the change of seasons in the Midwest. We have such a variety. We had quite a mild day in Iowa. We hang on tight, enjoy every weekend we have free of snow and slush, as we shop and prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
One thing I noticed as I had my transformation this last year is identifying functions that were powered by negative voices that really were not my own.
I can say that it was a relief to catch on to this. I hope this blog is helpful for you, so that you may identify when you are screaming and groaning inside, and you don't even realize it.
One task I do that I noticed this happening was shoveling snow. I think part of that is that my two marriages ended in November. I was alone in November twice. And had snow to shovel. Large driveways. And was angry. I found myself for years shoveling "anger". I was crabbing and growling inside. Sometimes I would curse my ex's for leaving and gifting me with trying to move snow so I could get to work.
Another time I notice this behavior is when I mow, when I am trying to turn a screw and when I am doing some other hard labor around the house.
I find myself thinking of situations which include all kinds of people in my life, that made me upset, made me angry. The thoughts in my head go on for most of the time doing this intense labor at home.
I caught on to this, this spring! This was about the time that a general sense of well being came upon me, around the time I understood I was born again.
I wrote in my journal the day in May 2011, that I noticed the negative voices leaving me. The "you are so stupid", "you are so arrogant", "you have so many people that hate you", "you are crazy" just to name a few of the statements that would continually run as a tape in my head, especially during hard labor at home.
This is not a psychiatric condition. This is evil speaking to me, putting me down and taking away my joy. My entire life. Making me think I had it so rough, that I was being cheated, that I would never measure up anyhow, that the problems were just way too big to be solved.
One activity my entire life that took me away from my mental pain was playing the piano. To play the piano takes every bit of my concentration. I totally blank out of the world while playing. It is so pleasurable. I have had this gift since age 8, playing piano. Now, I have added reading as a hobby, in a mostly silent house. I lose myself in wonderful books about faith and faith journeys and born again journeys. I have read so many books since my awakening. Now I have two precious hobbies.
What if you identified that you have negative voices? If you become keen enough, you will pinpoint them. I think for me, I realized with the hope I uncovered in reading the Bible and finding a hope filled, Jesus walking church, that I knew I did not deserve negative voices. They were not of my heart. They were not Holy Spirit filled. They were only from a dark place. A place that wanted me to fail. And the Lord wants us to flourish. Be filled with joy. Hope. Love.
Get quiet. Often. And do an inventory on what you hear. Nothing? Good thoughts? Or dwelling on situations in your past that hurt you? Or worry of the future?
Yes, it is perfectly normal to be "human" and worry about things. And like I put it, I have "shivers" of regret. Short moments of a regretful situation in my past that left a scar. I actually shiver. I think some of these things will just span out, farther and farther as my journey continues. I certainly learned from them. And know I will not go back to some of these situations. I feel too good now, I wake up without regret daily.
Yes, there is appropriate anger. Maybe my shoveling anger isn't so harmful. I am sweating out my anger. I am not cursing at anyone. I actually am silent through this exercise induced anger. Some anger is appropriate. And what we do with this anger is what comes next. Jesus anger as stated in John 2: 14-16:
In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves, he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
John Eldredge's new book, Beautiful Outlaw, describes so fiercely this anger that our Lord had in this scene. So often, we are softened by his appearance as seen in paintings, and what the world has made him out to be: A sandal wearing, love everyone without boundaries and direction, make him fit us and our transgressions kind of hippie. That He is not. He is the Son of God. One of the Holy Trinity. He IS God.
Jesus had righteous anger here. Clearing the temple. Think of Him in these facets as well.
Is my anger every justified when I read these verses? No.
I need to think of my anger in ways that..... I need to forgive. Forgive those that hurt me. Keep praying those forgiveness prayers. Having ultimate trust in Jesus to show me how to continue to walk more like Him. And obviously, if we are in our walk with Him, these types of behaviors will either cease or lessen.
I have so much hope in this. Amen, Lord Jesus Christ. I am not even worthy to be asking to be a light to others. I am to always point them to Christ, the Light. I am trying to be a witness to the Light.
Have a blessed Sunday.
One thing I noticed as I had my transformation this last year is identifying functions that were powered by negative voices that really were not my own.
I can say that it was a relief to catch on to this. I hope this blog is helpful for you, so that you may identify when you are screaming and groaning inside, and you don't even realize it.
One task I do that I noticed this happening was shoveling snow. I think part of that is that my two marriages ended in November. I was alone in November twice. And had snow to shovel. Large driveways. And was angry. I found myself for years shoveling "anger". I was crabbing and growling inside. Sometimes I would curse my ex's for leaving and gifting me with trying to move snow so I could get to work.
Another time I notice this behavior is when I mow, when I am trying to turn a screw and when I am doing some other hard labor around the house.
I find myself thinking of situations which include all kinds of people in my life, that made me upset, made me angry. The thoughts in my head go on for most of the time doing this intense labor at home.
I caught on to this, this spring! This was about the time that a general sense of well being came upon me, around the time I understood I was born again.
I wrote in my journal the day in May 2011, that I noticed the negative voices leaving me. The "you are so stupid", "you are so arrogant", "you have so many people that hate you", "you are crazy" just to name a few of the statements that would continually run as a tape in my head, especially during hard labor at home.
This is not a psychiatric condition. This is evil speaking to me, putting me down and taking away my joy. My entire life. Making me think I had it so rough, that I was being cheated, that I would never measure up anyhow, that the problems were just way too big to be solved.
One activity my entire life that took me away from my mental pain was playing the piano. To play the piano takes every bit of my concentration. I totally blank out of the world while playing. It is so pleasurable. I have had this gift since age 8, playing piano. Now, I have added reading as a hobby, in a mostly silent house. I lose myself in wonderful books about faith and faith journeys and born again journeys. I have read so many books since my awakening. Now I have two precious hobbies.
What if you identified that you have negative voices? If you become keen enough, you will pinpoint them. I think for me, I realized with the hope I uncovered in reading the Bible and finding a hope filled, Jesus walking church, that I knew I did not deserve negative voices. They were not of my heart. They were not Holy Spirit filled. They were only from a dark place. A place that wanted me to fail. And the Lord wants us to flourish. Be filled with joy. Hope. Love.
Get quiet. Often. And do an inventory on what you hear. Nothing? Good thoughts? Or dwelling on situations in your past that hurt you? Or worry of the future?
Yes, it is perfectly normal to be "human" and worry about things. And like I put it, I have "shivers" of regret. Short moments of a regretful situation in my past that left a scar. I actually shiver. I think some of these things will just span out, farther and farther as my journey continues. I certainly learned from them. And know I will not go back to some of these situations. I feel too good now, I wake up without regret daily.
Yes, there is appropriate anger. Maybe my shoveling anger isn't so harmful. I am sweating out my anger. I am not cursing at anyone. I actually am silent through this exercise induced anger. Some anger is appropriate. And what we do with this anger is what comes next. Jesus anger as stated in John 2: 14-16:
In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves, he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
John Eldredge's new book, Beautiful Outlaw, describes so fiercely this anger that our Lord had in this scene. So often, we are softened by his appearance as seen in paintings, and what the world has made him out to be: A sandal wearing, love everyone without boundaries and direction, make him fit us and our transgressions kind of hippie. That He is not. He is the Son of God. One of the Holy Trinity. He IS God.
Jesus had righteous anger here. Clearing the temple. Think of Him in these facets as well.
Is my anger every justified when I read these verses? No.
I need to think of my anger in ways that..... I need to forgive. Forgive those that hurt me. Keep praying those forgiveness prayers. Having ultimate trust in Jesus to show me how to continue to walk more like Him. And obviously, if we are in our walk with Him, these types of behaviors will either cease or lessen.
I have so much hope in this. Amen, Lord Jesus Christ. I am not even worthy to be asking to be a light to others. I am to always point them to Christ, the Light. I am trying to be a witness to the Light.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Help, I've fallen....but.. I CAN GET UP!!!
Praise and Glory to our Lord on this warm and balmy Sunday! I had wonderful worship today. There was a band called "Saved By Grace" and they really made me sing out in worship. And dance! It was just great. There were all kinds of people doing sorts of Snoopy dances!
I wanted to be honest and say that even though I post all kinds of things on how to succeed, be healthy, grow in your faith, I fall. I find excuses. I lose motivation. We can't always be our best. Sometimes we just are trying to get through the week. I know for me, structure is important or I get out of sync. That happened. I am hoping to turn that around.
This fall has really brought a gloomy curtain down. It is lifted, but I sure noticed it from about mid October until recently. The fall was gorgeous. We had leaves glowing, I swear. Some leaves are still on trees and look pretty (not many left of those). We had many days of sunshine. It was warmer than normal many days. But, when you look at your bed at 6:30pm and either long to just lay in it, or turn the covers back WAY before you should, you know you need to get a boost of something.
It's that feeling of grogginess. Yawning. Sighing. Hmmmmm. What do I do with myself even though the house is a wreck, I need to buy birthday presents that are weeks overdue, and I am not exercising, which would ultimately make me feel better.
I am trying to get back on track, and people exercise for different reasons. I exercise to keep limber, loose and to help my immune system. My family is plagued with cancers and auto-immune diseases. I only have one relative live to age 81. My parents passed away in their 60's, and my grandparents in their early 70's. I woke up in pain many times the weeks I did not exercise. My hips lock up, my back spasms. I have to say, keeping moving is the best thing I can do.
To be honest, about six years ago I was on so many medications, I can't tell you how many. It could be 8-10. I know that is not that abnormal. I have asthma and allergies and then a lupus type disorder, along with a female version of hemophilia. I don't try to own these illnesses. I try to not take medicine for them. I couldn't believe it when I had a very respectable pastor tell me back then (not many people will tell you this) that "You can get off of these medicines. You need to quit owning your disease. Positive thinking, eating right and exercise are so powerful."
I walked away a little beguiled. And hurt. Am I a faker? Am I being needy?
I did eventually over the years get off of most medicines. Right now, I take a vitamin D and C and over the counter allergy pill. If I need my asthma meds, I take them. But, I told my doctor I don't want to take them every day. I know when things are acting up, and then I take them. To have that go in and out of my body every day isn't necessary. I am not a doctor, but he is listening and trusting me.
Am I shortening my life? I don't know? Will I die of an asthma attack? Doubt it. What if lupus flares? Who really knows much about lupus anyhow? The wolf, as it is called, comes with vengeance. You cannot predict when it will come and how long it will stay. Apparently, I have the antibodies that could develop any of the chain of diseases associated with lupus. And guess what? I grew tired of obsessing about it and worrying about it. The farther I put that behind me, the better I feel. It has been seven years since that diagnosis. And I understand if you do not have an acute flare for over five years, it looks very promising.
I am filled with the Holy Spirit now. I wasn't then, when I decided to gain some personal strength and tell a very intelligent rheumatologist that I did not want any more expensive blood tests (my insurance plan makes me pay more and more of the co-pay as well), and I wanted to go off of the medicines.
I wasn't filled with the Holy Spirit back when I told Mayo I was not coming up for regular checks for my bleeding disorder.
I AM filled with the Holy Spirit power now, and I plan on trusting the Lord, taking care of myself with as few chemicals as possible, exercise and decent diet, and enjoying each day, not waiting in a line of cars in Walgreen's drive through pharmacy. I know this could be fleeting. If you need these medicines, I am not trying to make you feel anything at all. I just know I very well survived without mine. I am saving alot of money, I am not worried about side effects and I feel I am not dependent on them. It feels great to now also not have a craving for alcohol. The Holy Spirit has assisted in that. It just doesn't make any sense any longer, to drink alcohol. One here and there. What a relief and answered prayer.
(Notice the beautiful, state of the art pharmacies popping up everywhere?) Just take note of that. I'll let you take it from there.
When I have people make comments about my weight and "how lucky I am" and "you don't need to exercise", I don't understand. I have been overweight before. My metabolism sometimes works in my favor, but at my age, the clock is running out on any favor that may have shown me. My metabolism has not worked in my favor before. If I am in a crotchety mood, I do blurt out the absolute truth: "I exercise and try to eat right because I want to live longer than my parents did. " I have countless relatives that are overweight. It is certainly a risk factor for me, obesity.
You simply need a lifestyle change, not a diet or a crash exercise program. I scrape frosting off of my cake to cut calories and I want to taste the cake! Just like salad. Get the dressing on the side, and dip the lettuce. Taste the veggies! And easy one: Get a kids meal at the fast food place and never, ever get cheese on your burger. Diet drink or water. You have a treat and are not killing yourself.
Eat breakfast! I didn't for most of my life until about 8 years ago. I put the healthy things I need to eat in front of my keyboard at work. I am looking at apples, carrot sticks, raisin bread and bananas many days. I don't keep naughty snacks in my office. If I take potato chips to work or a fun snack, I put it in a small bag, giving me a small serving.
I love coffee! I get some calcium and vitamin D because I make strong coffee (many times 50-50 caffeine) and add alot of milk to it to make a latte at home.
I practice these kinds of things and have for years: Avoid mayo-use ketchup or mustard. Pepper your food, don't salt it so much. Light yogurts, peanut butter, lean meats to fill you up. Carbs will not make you feel full. Keep the skins on everything. Mashed potatoes with skins on, apple crisp with skins on.
Don't keep ice cream in the house if you have a weakness. Or chocolate. Just drive to the gas station and pay a little more when you need a treat. You won't be scraping that awesome melted ice cream out of the gallon bucket all night because you don't have it around. Just buy a smaller ice cream, and drive to buy it.
Take the stairs. Always try to take the stairs, not the elevator. Walk for enjoyment. No Ipod. Walk to walk with a friend and catch up. I used to walk the kids in the stroller or bike ride to keep sanity for me, to work off anxiety or depression or a bad day at work. I was with the kids, getting them fresh air, and helping myself in so many way. Or just walk to look at the beauty from our Creator. And hear the sounds of the country or neighborhood. You can hear God more if you have quiet.
I don't know all the answers. I am not playing Russian Roulette. If I need to see a doctor, I go. If I need medicine, I will take it. I would not mess around with hypertension or diabetes or kidney diseases. I would continue to seek many opinions on medical issues.
I have fallen off the exercise wagon all of my life. I have went months and years without exercising. It is not fun for most of us to exercise. It is hard to imagine being a runner and when I see them I just am happy that they really like to do that!
My "Read The Bible In One Year Plan" is not going to happen. I am keeping track of where I am in the process. One problem is that I so enjoy the Life Application part of my Bible that I always read that also. It appears it may take me two or three years to get through it.
One revelation I had with that is that I will never be done reading the Bible anyhow! I can't imagine not reading it now that it speaks to me directly. It is such a necessity. I will read it over and over and get something new every time. The pressure is off. I will do my daily reading with my devotion, and on the weekends get much more in with the reading plan.
I am now trying to keep self correcting my behaviors which so easily fall into the "checklist" type of religious person. It sneaks in so often and quickly.
I am working also on "not falling down" when it comes to just trying to practice love. Love like Jesus. Not worry so much about who is paying taxes, who is not working, who is driving without a license, who is abusing some state program, who has better health insurance than I do.
To keep upright with the Lord is to continually do an inventory. Keep your Christian brothers and sisters near and have them help you hold you accountable. Get involved in your church. Keep looking outward to who needs help. Praise God for what you have, because as a single mom of three and a grandma of two, I have so much! I have a car that starts 99% of the time, my house is warm, I can buy groceries and even steak for once in awhile, I won't panic at Christmas, financially. Part of being so thankful is doing a devotion daily and always it lands on my heart that "I have more than I need". Wow. Thank you, Lord Jesus.
I wanted to be honest and say that even though I post all kinds of things on how to succeed, be healthy, grow in your faith, I fall. I find excuses. I lose motivation. We can't always be our best. Sometimes we just are trying to get through the week. I know for me, structure is important or I get out of sync. That happened. I am hoping to turn that around.
This fall has really brought a gloomy curtain down. It is lifted, but I sure noticed it from about mid October until recently. The fall was gorgeous. We had leaves glowing, I swear. Some leaves are still on trees and look pretty (not many left of those). We had many days of sunshine. It was warmer than normal many days. But, when you look at your bed at 6:30pm and either long to just lay in it, or turn the covers back WAY before you should, you know you need to get a boost of something.
It's that feeling of grogginess. Yawning. Sighing. Hmmmmm. What do I do with myself even though the house is a wreck, I need to buy birthday presents that are weeks overdue, and I am not exercising, which would ultimately make me feel better.
I am trying to get back on track, and people exercise for different reasons. I exercise to keep limber, loose and to help my immune system. My family is plagued with cancers and auto-immune diseases. I only have one relative live to age 81. My parents passed away in their 60's, and my grandparents in their early 70's. I woke up in pain many times the weeks I did not exercise. My hips lock up, my back spasms. I have to say, keeping moving is the best thing I can do.
To be honest, about six years ago I was on so many medications, I can't tell you how many. It could be 8-10. I know that is not that abnormal. I have asthma and allergies and then a lupus type disorder, along with a female version of hemophilia. I don't try to own these illnesses. I try to not take medicine for them. I couldn't believe it when I had a very respectable pastor tell me back then (not many people will tell you this) that "You can get off of these medicines. You need to quit owning your disease. Positive thinking, eating right and exercise are so powerful."
I walked away a little beguiled. And hurt. Am I a faker? Am I being needy?
I did eventually over the years get off of most medicines. Right now, I take a vitamin D and C and over the counter allergy pill. If I need my asthma meds, I take them. But, I told my doctor I don't want to take them every day. I know when things are acting up, and then I take them. To have that go in and out of my body every day isn't necessary. I am not a doctor, but he is listening and trusting me.
Am I shortening my life? I don't know? Will I die of an asthma attack? Doubt it. What if lupus flares? Who really knows much about lupus anyhow? The wolf, as it is called, comes with vengeance. You cannot predict when it will come and how long it will stay. Apparently, I have the antibodies that could develop any of the chain of diseases associated with lupus. And guess what? I grew tired of obsessing about it and worrying about it. The farther I put that behind me, the better I feel. It has been seven years since that diagnosis. And I understand if you do not have an acute flare for over five years, it looks very promising.
I am filled with the Holy Spirit now. I wasn't then, when I decided to gain some personal strength and tell a very intelligent rheumatologist that I did not want any more expensive blood tests (my insurance plan makes me pay more and more of the co-pay as well), and I wanted to go off of the medicines.
I wasn't filled with the Holy Spirit back when I told Mayo I was not coming up for regular checks for my bleeding disorder.
I AM filled with the Holy Spirit power now, and I plan on trusting the Lord, taking care of myself with as few chemicals as possible, exercise and decent diet, and enjoying each day, not waiting in a line of cars in Walgreen's drive through pharmacy. I know this could be fleeting. If you need these medicines, I am not trying to make you feel anything at all. I just know I very well survived without mine. I am saving alot of money, I am not worried about side effects and I feel I am not dependent on them. It feels great to now also not have a craving for alcohol. The Holy Spirit has assisted in that. It just doesn't make any sense any longer, to drink alcohol. One here and there. What a relief and answered prayer.
(Notice the beautiful, state of the art pharmacies popping up everywhere?) Just take note of that. I'll let you take it from there.
When I have people make comments about my weight and "how lucky I am" and "you don't need to exercise", I don't understand. I have been overweight before. My metabolism sometimes works in my favor, but at my age, the clock is running out on any favor that may have shown me. My metabolism has not worked in my favor before. If I am in a crotchety mood, I do blurt out the absolute truth: "I exercise and try to eat right because I want to live longer than my parents did. " I have countless relatives that are overweight. It is certainly a risk factor for me, obesity.
You simply need a lifestyle change, not a diet or a crash exercise program. I scrape frosting off of my cake to cut calories and I want to taste the cake! Just like salad. Get the dressing on the side, and dip the lettuce. Taste the veggies! And easy one: Get a kids meal at the fast food place and never, ever get cheese on your burger. Diet drink or water. You have a treat and are not killing yourself.
Eat breakfast! I didn't for most of my life until about 8 years ago. I put the healthy things I need to eat in front of my keyboard at work. I am looking at apples, carrot sticks, raisin bread and bananas many days. I don't keep naughty snacks in my office. If I take potato chips to work or a fun snack, I put it in a small bag, giving me a small serving.
I love coffee! I get some calcium and vitamin D because I make strong coffee (many times 50-50 caffeine) and add alot of milk to it to make a latte at home.
I practice these kinds of things and have for years: Avoid mayo-use ketchup or mustard. Pepper your food, don't salt it so much. Light yogurts, peanut butter, lean meats to fill you up. Carbs will not make you feel full. Keep the skins on everything. Mashed potatoes with skins on, apple crisp with skins on.
Don't keep ice cream in the house if you have a weakness. Or chocolate. Just drive to the gas station and pay a little more when you need a treat. You won't be scraping that awesome melted ice cream out of the gallon bucket all night because you don't have it around. Just buy a smaller ice cream, and drive to buy it.
Take the stairs. Always try to take the stairs, not the elevator. Walk for enjoyment. No Ipod. Walk to walk with a friend and catch up. I used to walk the kids in the stroller or bike ride to keep sanity for me, to work off anxiety or depression or a bad day at work. I was with the kids, getting them fresh air, and helping myself in so many way. Or just walk to look at the beauty from our Creator. And hear the sounds of the country or neighborhood. You can hear God more if you have quiet.
I don't know all the answers. I am not playing Russian Roulette. If I need to see a doctor, I go. If I need medicine, I will take it. I would not mess around with hypertension or diabetes or kidney diseases. I would continue to seek many opinions on medical issues.
I have fallen off the exercise wagon all of my life. I have went months and years without exercising. It is not fun for most of us to exercise. It is hard to imagine being a runner and when I see them I just am happy that they really like to do that!
My "Read The Bible In One Year Plan" is not going to happen. I am keeping track of where I am in the process. One problem is that I so enjoy the Life Application part of my Bible that I always read that also. It appears it may take me two or three years to get through it.
One revelation I had with that is that I will never be done reading the Bible anyhow! I can't imagine not reading it now that it speaks to me directly. It is such a necessity. I will read it over and over and get something new every time. The pressure is off. I will do my daily reading with my devotion, and on the weekends get much more in with the reading plan.
I am now trying to keep self correcting my behaviors which so easily fall into the "checklist" type of religious person. It sneaks in so often and quickly.
I am working also on "not falling down" when it comes to just trying to practice love. Love like Jesus. Not worry so much about who is paying taxes, who is not working, who is driving without a license, who is abusing some state program, who has better health insurance than I do.
To keep upright with the Lord is to continually do an inventory. Keep your Christian brothers and sisters near and have them help you hold you accountable. Get involved in your church. Keep looking outward to who needs help. Praise God for what you have, because as a single mom of three and a grandma of two, I have so much! I have a car that starts 99% of the time, my house is warm, I can buy groceries and even steak for once in awhile, I won't panic at Christmas, financially. Part of being so thankful is doing a devotion daily and always it lands on my heart that "I have more than I need". Wow. Thank you, Lord Jesus.
Friday, November 11, 2011
My Trip To Sheol And Back. BTW: Glad to be back.
Praise and Glory to our Lord! He is so good! I hope your faith journey is bringing you maturity. If you back-slide, that's ok. Just get back on the bus.
I'm going to be courageous by blogging about what I assume was a near death experience. This does take alot for me to type this. I may pull this one down if it doesn't feel just right. But, for now I will be raw and honest about what happened to me. It has apparently happened to many. I wonder if God was speaking to me in this experience about what I was doing with my life. I am open to that possibility.
As you may know, I have been on a very fast track the last few months. This is a healthy fast track. I have been turned inside out and it is still occurring. The acute pain of that is now subsiding. (and the mourning of my old life) At this time, it is just a continual renewal of things I have hid in my heart from the Lord. So, I am dealing with those things, but the joy I now feel, having the Holy Spirit living in me, ever present, is the most wonderful thing imaginable.
Let me explain a few things: I had been having palpitations and all kinds of "heart" sensation problems for months prior to this experience. I also am certain I have sleep apnea. I gasp for air, wake up snorting, snoring. In addition, I am a sleep walker and have hypnagogic hallucinations. (I learned about these first on an educational channel such as A & E years ago.). So, to iron out this experience, which happened during sleep, is a little tricky. But, it is worth sharing.
I was in Mexico at my nephew's wedding. It was July and very hot. We had arrived in Mexico in the evening and the next day woke up early for an excursion. That included a full day of sight seeing and snorkeling. The heat was incredible.
One of the snorkeling experiences was very scary. It was in a cave, and at times, no natural light. We were in the cave, some without life jackets, for about an hour. Luckily, I asked for a life jacket. We swam into the caves thousands of feet from the outlet. We did have flashlights. It was as deep as 20 feet at times. And the head clearance at times was almost zero. We had to duck to not hit our heads on the stalactites. (we had to immerse our head under water and try to maneuver the snorkel with just inches clearance between the rock and the water) I did hit my head, but only got a small contusion. One of the persons with us (this was in the wedding party of about 15 in number), was an experienced snorkeler. She had a panic attack. She is in excellent physical shape. My ex-brother in law had an asthma attack. One of the party members had to stop early. The steel rod in his leg was aching severely because of the cold water and sudden cold conditions in the cave. There was wide spread fear in our group. At times we could not find each other. At times, all I could hear was Spanish speaking men, in the dark cold water. I don't know where they came from! We all decided after we got off the bus of this EdVentures experience that it seemed unsafe and poorly explained. And it wasn't fun to hear that there were Mayan sacrifices done in this very cave. (found out while we are in the cave and many miles and hours from our hotel).
We also visited the ruins of Tulum. That was such a beautiful view of the ocean there. The most beautiful view I have to say that I have experienced yet in my lifetime. But, no water to swim in, and very hot.
I mention the activities of the day to explain we were probably dehydrated. And anxious about our safety.
I saw a cardiologist when I returned from this trip. I had been worked up in February and wore a Holter Monitor and it did show runs of arrhythmias and palpitations. Nothing severe, but I did go on a medicine to help.
The cardiologist does believe in NDE's. (Near Death Experiences). He does believe it could very well be that I had a very low potassium (dehydrated from the flight the day before and from the extreme heat), had a severe arrhythmia, and possibly went out for a little while. I was supposed to follow up again with additional tests, but I decided not to. I feel that things are better and arrhythmias are sometimes hard to catch if they are sporadic I will see him again if I had any more problems.
Here is what I documented as soon as I could after the event. Please be certain I made a decision to not explore the Internet or anything else before I wrote down exactly what happened to me. I wanted to not be swayed away from what I saw and felt "there". Here it goes:
"Slowly lowered, floating this entire dream, no natural light, in a cave type rock structure, (it seemed never ending in size, height and length). It was hollow in the center. It appeared to be a span of about 500 feet, maybe more, across from one ledge to the other. There were at least hundreds of ledges that I could see. There were thousands of people, beings having different conversations at once. You could hear all of these hundreds of conversations at one time. It was just a low murmur of chatting. No one was anxious at all. They seemed peaceful. There were colonies of people on each ledge. Just waiting and talking. A few times I seemed to float closer to a few of the ledges, but then I floated away against my will. I was trying to look at them closer, but I didn't have any success at doing that, or landing on the ledge. The colors were black, white and gray. There was no fear in these beings. These beings did not resemble people. But I knew they were people. I didn't identify any of these beings as anyone that I knew personally. They all seemed to look exactly the same as one another. They did appear to be male and female in gender. I couldn't narrow in on their conversations, but there was not any great emotion in anything they were saying. They just seemed to be waiting patiently. They emitted a glow. That was the only light I could recognize in the cave structure. They produced the light.
I was being pulled down. I was not afraid, I was curious. But, cautious. I kept being pulled down by a force, lowered against my will. It was a force pulling me, not a being or a person that I could see. I was only going down and it seemed to me like it was going to be a one way street, down. An eternal journey.
I felt the pull getting more intense and my fear and strength were increasing. I was being lowered into this eternal hollow hole. I believe in my senses (in my dream state), that I had an inclination that this was hell, hades or purgatory I was going to. I started to fight hard to rise up in this hole. I was thrashing and I can tell you that I have never fought physically for anything so hard in my life. I feel I was being made to stay against my will or better judgement. A voice was (or a sense of knowing-I am not sure which), was proclaiming that I was staying down there and I realized my life on earth was ending.
I pulled and fought the force and leaped out of my bed in this hotel in Mexico. My sister witnessed how far I leaped from the bed. It terrified her. I was still in a dream state, grabbed her in the bed next to me and told her "Pam, they want to take me against my will and I don't want to go, don't let them take me". She said my hand was hot. She prayed for me.
I woke up to some degree in the bathroom, after walking in there. But, not completely awake. I went to bed again.
The next day she was very concerned and told me exactly what I said to her. Then I recalled the dream completely, resurrecting it. I was horrified.
I share this with you for many reasons. I do think it was more than a dream. Yes, I was snorkeling in a cave like structure the day of this dream, so there is some coincidence there. But, the Lord has spoke to me in dreams before. Usually, that is instruction that he gives me. This dream was not fun, it took me months to get over.
I started proclaiming to be a born again Christian just two months prior to this dream. I wasn't yet "walking the walk". I was trying to live in both worlds. I thought I could straddle the fence and have my earthly pleasures and proclaim to be born again. I was the ultimate hypocrite. I can vividly remember three times I was stopped dead in my tracks, realizing I was not going to be able to continue this behavior, even though it was modified now. Really, I was stopped dead in my tracks. I knew that the Holy Spirit was warning me to wake up, don't waste any more time and don't try to manipulate God.
My Mexico all inclusive resort included drinking all of the top shelf drinks you wanted, fine dining all day, all night, buffets, spoiling. It was spoiling like I had never known. I had never been on such a lavious trip. But, the last day of our trip, I watched the sun go down all alone. It was so beautiful. I took a picture of it. My camera batteries died exactly after I took that photo. (interesting , huh?) I cried. I knew that this was ending. And I needed to really end my cocktail lifestyle and indulging myself when others all over the world and even in my back yard don't have enough. I knew this was the turning point of my life. And until recently, I didn't recognize that this dream happened in Mexico as a possible warning. To walk in the light, because I am so valuable to Him. He brought me this far. And I am proclaiming the Good News. Now, I better walk the walk. Or face a consequence of unknown destiny. Doing all of this with urgency, trying to spread the good news of the Gospel.
I wish no one to go to Hell. No one.
James 3: 9-12 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
2 Corinthians 7: 10-11 Godly sorrow brings repentence that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this Godly sorrow has produced in you; what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.
I'm going to be courageous by blogging about what I assume was a near death experience. This does take alot for me to type this. I may pull this one down if it doesn't feel just right. But, for now I will be raw and honest about what happened to me. It has apparently happened to many. I wonder if God was speaking to me in this experience about what I was doing with my life. I am open to that possibility.
As you may know, I have been on a very fast track the last few months. This is a healthy fast track. I have been turned inside out and it is still occurring. The acute pain of that is now subsiding. (and the mourning of my old life) At this time, it is just a continual renewal of things I have hid in my heart from the Lord. So, I am dealing with those things, but the joy I now feel, having the Holy Spirit living in me, ever present, is the most wonderful thing imaginable.
Let me explain a few things: I had been having palpitations and all kinds of "heart" sensation problems for months prior to this experience. I also am certain I have sleep apnea. I gasp for air, wake up snorting, snoring. In addition, I am a sleep walker and have hypnagogic hallucinations. (I learned about these first on an educational channel such as A & E years ago.). So, to iron out this experience, which happened during sleep, is a little tricky. But, it is worth sharing.
I was in Mexico at my nephew's wedding. It was July and very hot. We had arrived in Mexico in the evening and the next day woke up early for an excursion. That included a full day of sight seeing and snorkeling. The heat was incredible.
One of the snorkeling experiences was very scary. It was in a cave, and at times, no natural light. We were in the cave, some without life jackets, for about an hour. Luckily, I asked for a life jacket. We swam into the caves thousands of feet from the outlet. We did have flashlights. It was as deep as 20 feet at times. And the head clearance at times was almost zero. We had to duck to not hit our heads on the stalactites. (we had to immerse our head under water and try to maneuver the snorkel with just inches clearance between the rock and the water) I did hit my head, but only got a small contusion. One of the persons with us (this was in the wedding party of about 15 in number), was an experienced snorkeler. She had a panic attack. She is in excellent physical shape. My ex-brother in law had an asthma attack. One of the party members had to stop early. The steel rod in his leg was aching severely because of the cold water and sudden cold conditions in the cave. There was wide spread fear in our group. At times we could not find each other. At times, all I could hear was Spanish speaking men, in the dark cold water. I don't know where they came from! We all decided after we got off the bus of this EdVentures experience that it seemed unsafe and poorly explained. And it wasn't fun to hear that there were Mayan sacrifices done in this very cave. (found out while we are in the cave and many miles and hours from our hotel).
We also visited the ruins of Tulum. That was such a beautiful view of the ocean there. The most beautiful view I have to say that I have experienced yet in my lifetime. But, no water to swim in, and very hot.
I mention the activities of the day to explain we were probably dehydrated. And anxious about our safety.
I saw a cardiologist when I returned from this trip. I had been worked up in February and wore a Holter Monitor and it did show runs of arrhythmias and palpitations. Nothing severe, but I did go on a medicine to help.
The cardiologist does believe in NDE's. (Near Death Experiences). He does believe it could very well be that I had a very low potassium (dehydrated from the flight the day before and from the extreme heat), had a severe arrhythmia, and possibly went out for a little while. I was supposed to follow up again with additional tests, but I decided not to. I feel that things are better and arrhythmias are sometimes hard to catch if they are sporadic I will see him again if I had any more problems.
Here is what I documented as soon as I could after the event. Please be certain I made a decision to not explore the Internet or anything else before I wrote down exactly what happened to me. I wanted to not be swayed away from what I saw and felt "there". Here it goes:
"Slowly lowered, floating this entire dream, no natural light, in a cave type rock structure, (it seemed never ending in size, height and length). It was hollow in the center. It appeared to be a span of about 500 feet, maybe more, across from one ledge to the other. There were at least hundreds of ledges that I could see. There were thousands of people, beings having different conversations at once. You could hear all of these hundreds of conversations at one time. It was just a low murmur of chatting. No one was anxious at all. They seemed peaceful. There were colonies of people on each ledge. Just waiting and talking. A few times I seemed to float closer to a few of the ledges, but then I floated away against my will. I was trying to look at them closer, but I didn't have any success at doing that, or landing on the ledge. The colors were black, white and gray. There was no fear in these beings. These beings did not resemble people. But I knew they were people. I didn't identify any of these beings as anyone that I knew personally. They all seemed to look exactly the same as one another. They did appear to be male and female in gender. I couldn't narrow in on their conversations, but there was not any great emotion in anything they were saying. They just seemed to be waiting patiently. They emitted a glow. That was the only light I could recognize in the cave structure. They produced the light.
I was being pulled down. I was not afraid, I was curious. But, cautious. I kept being pulled down by a force, lowered against my will. It was a force pulling me, not a being or a person that I could see. I was only going down and it seemed to me like it was going to be a one way street, down. An eternal journey.
I felt the pull getting more intense and my fear and strength were increasing. I was being lowered into this eternal hollow hole. I believe in my senses (in my dream state), that I had an inclination that this was hell, hades or purgatory I was going to. I started to fight hard to rise up in this hole. I was thrashing and I can tell you that I have never fought physically for anything so hard in my life. I feel I was being made to stay against my will or better judgement. A voice was (or a sense of knowing-I am not sure which), was proclaiming that I was staying down there and I realized my life on earth was ending.
I pulled and fought the force and leaped out of my bed in this hotel in Mexico. My sister witnessed how far I leaped from the bed. It terrified her. I was still in a dream state, grabbed her in the bed next to me and told her "Pam, they want to take me against my will and I don't want to go, don't let them take me". She said my hand was hot. She prayed for me.
I woke up to some degree in the bathroom, after walking in there. But, not completely awake. I went to bed again.
The next day she was very concerned and told me exactly what I said to her. Then I recalled the dream completely, resurrecting it. I was horrified.
I share this with you for many reasons. I do think it was more than a dream. Yes, I was snorkeling in a cave like structure the day of this dream, so there is some coincidence there. But, the Lord has spoke to me in dreams before. Usually, that is instruction that he gives me. This dream was not fun, it took me months to get over.
I started proclaiming to be a born again Christian just two months prior to this dream. I wasn't yet "walking the walk". I was trying to live in both worlds. I thought I could straddle the fence and have my earthly pleasures and proclaim to be born again. I was the ultimate hypocrite. I can vividly remember three times I was stopped dead in my tracks, realizing I was not going to be able to continue this behavior, even though it was modified now. Really, I was stopped dead in my tracks. I knew that the Holy Spirit was warning me to wake up, don't waste any more time and don't try to manipulate God.
My Mexico all inclusive resort included drinking all of the top shelf drinks you wanted, fine dining all day, all night, buffets, spoiling. It was spoiling like I had never known. I had never been on such a lavious trip. But, the last day of our trip, I watched the sun go down all alone. It was so beautiful. I took a picture of it. My camera batteries died exactly after I took that photo. (interesting , huh?) I cried. I knew that this was ending. And I needed to really end my cocktail lifestyle and indulging myself when others all over the world and even in my back yard don't have enough. I knew this was the turning point of my life. And until recently, I didn't recognize that this dream happened in Mexico as a possible warning. To walk in the light, because I am so valuable to Him. He brought me this far. And I am proclaiming the Good News. Now, I better walk the walk. Or face a consequence of unknown destiny. Doing all of this with urgency, trying to spread the good news of the Gospel.
I wish no one to go to Hell. No one.
James 3: 9-12 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
2 Corinthians 7: 10-11 Godly sorrow brings repentence that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this Godly sorrow has produced in you; what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
"Tracks"--Laying down and building a railroad line to heaven...
Praise and Glory to God our hope and our strength! My heart is heavy today so I have decided to spend most of this Saturday with the Lord. My Father has decided to put some subjects on my mind today that are overwhelming. He has put me back into the "rock tumbler" (that will be a future blog to explain). He is shaking me up, sanding down the edges and making me wait for a better result of "me". I believe in Him, His entire Biblical word, the absolute power of prayer and miracles and I know this most wonderful Father is looking after me, loving me, but also, disciplining me. I will be a more sturdy soldier for Him after this. I will endure and His Helper I begged to be close by today. And I am not alone. He is with me. Praise you Lord!!!
I am sure you have encountered "tracks" in your past. Or some call them "God Tracks". I used to read some of these. Some I just threw away or ignored. I assumed they were not for me.
I feared they were from a religion that was trying to poison others. But, embarrassingly some of these I read were simply stating the fact that you must be born again in Christ. And I read it, and tossed it. I'm already there, I thought. Leave me alone. Bug someone else. I have already been baptized as an infant. And.....I am not doing all that bad compared to others.
Well, this born again beautiful, beautiful experience opened my mind! And here I thought I was open minded. But, to the evils of this world. I was open minded to all kinds of ways of life. You know: Live and Let Live, right?
The Lord opened my mind to read this type of material: I was at a Waterloo outdoor event with live music and beer this spring. I was starting on a new journey. I was just learning to try to take baby steps away from my old way of life. I was having some beers, socializing. I was also talking to others around me about religion and some of the things happening to me lately. I knew it was getting awkward to try to live in the old, and walk in the light. And I felt my days were numbered because the Lord was not letting me enjoy myself very much. He was giving me a headache over 1-2 drinks. He took away my craving for alcohol to a large degree. He made me bored with the shallow talkers over cocktails. He told me to quit wasting His precious time. And in that cocktail talk in the outdoor beer garden, my co-workers boyfriend handed me a piece of paper. He said it was a beer ticket. I took it and walked up to the beer stand, pulled it out and it was a track! It says "Free Ticket" and looks like a ticket.
Well, no beer for that, but I tucked it in my pocket and forgot about it. I thought that was strange. I don't know him, but he goes to a branch of a church I go to. His girlfriend (my coworker) and I were having a discussion about believers baptism, along with why women can't be church elders earlier in the evening. We didn't get real far with our conversation, but I could sense her protestant upbringing was really standing in her way to move forward with a walk with Jesus.
This "ticket" or track states such a simple and glorious gift message. "Free and worth everything! Today, right now you can have the world's best free gift." The final paragraph has the most gracious words anyone could ever hear: "Right now, if you trust in Jesus Christ as the One who died for you, was buried, and rose again, God will save you! Do it now! Your eternity depends on it!!
The paragraphs in between state the precious words of the apostle Paul (thank you heavenly Father for sending Paul into the world and letting him record such blessings of letters). There is scripture from Romans and Ephesians, along with the gospel words of John.
The most important typed message on this track is this: It mentions that you need to proclaim that you believe (trust) in Jesus Christ as our personal savior.
You won't get this life saving, easy to repeat, most ignored message in many, many churches. And I got it in a beer garden. It now is on my refrigerator door. I love it. It is part of my conversion. That man (don't know his name), helped save my soul through the work of the Holy Spirit in him. Period. This man is doing the work that God intended him to do.
Along with a weekly Bible study at work, attending Prairie Lakes Church and hearing the REAL MESSAGE there, a daily devotional and Bible reading practice, and people like this man, I was saved. The Lord decided to open my eyes to His written Word. I finally heard the Holy Spirit whispers. It has totally changed my life, forever. Praise God!!!
My personal mission field includes many creative ways to reach people. I knew I needed to utilize these tracks better. I read through them at Family Christian Book Store and found a packet of them that speaks exactly to Christians who have not accepted Jesus as their personal Savior yet. (and actually it speaks to anyone who cares to listen to this Biblical truth). I typed up on the computer additional information and stuck it inside each of them. It states something to the effect that I too used to see these booklets and ignore them. But, please read the track as it can save you. I explained I was a Lutheran and then a Catholic. But, I was not filled with the Holy Spirit. And the key was that a veil put over religion by satan has clouded Christians vision to see the only way to avoid Hell is with Jesus Christ. Period. Jesus Christ and our Father's Holy Word. Period.
My track does not include my name or any way to contact me. It just asks the person to please read the track and not miss what I missed all of those years by tossing those aside.
This blog is not a way for me to brag about what I do to try to gain points with God. (I have exited those religions forever). The Lord has told me to have loose lips for Him. (Yes, He told me that). I cannot ignore my Father's wishes. Wherever you are in your spiritual journey I use this blog to speak to a large audience to please consider these every day occurrences that I share to see that I was saved and these were the things leading up to it, and these are the things that I am now doing for the Glory of Our Father! All for Him and the spread of His kingdom.
James 5:20 Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover the multitude of sins.
Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age".
Luke 10:2 He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
I am sure you have encountered "tracks" in your past. Or some call them "God Tracks". I used to read some of these. Some I just threw away or ignored. I assumed they were not for me.
I feared they were from a religion that was trying to poison others. But, embarrassingly some of these I read were simply stating the fact that you must be born again in Christ. And I read it, and tossed it. I'm already there, I thought. Leave me alone. Bug someone else. I have already been baptized as an infant. And.....I am not doing all that bad compared to others.
Well, this born again beautiful, beautiful experience opened my mind! And here I thought I was open minded. But, to the evils of this world. I was open minded to all kinds of ways of life. You know: Live and Let Live, right?
The Lord opened my mind to read this type of material: I was at a Waterloo outdoor event with live music and beer this spring. I was starting on a new journey. I was just learning to try to take baby steps away from my old way of life. I was having some beers, socializing. I was also talking to others around me about religion and some of the things happening to me lately. I knew it was getting awkward to try to live in the old, and walk in the light. And I felt my days were numbered because the Lord was not letting me enjoy myself very much. He was giving me a headache over 1-2 drinks. He took away my craving for alcohol to a large degree. He made me bored with the shallow talkers over cocktails. He told me to quit wasting His precious time. And in that cocktail talk in the outdoor beer garden, my co-workers boyfriend handed me a piece of paper. He said it was a beer ticket. I took it and walked up to the beer stand, pulled it out and it was a track! It says "Free Ticket" and looks like a ticket.
Well, no beer for that, but I tucked it in my pocket and forgot about it. I thought that was strange. I don't know him, but he goes to a branch of a church I go to. His girlfriend (my coworker) and I were having a discussion about believers baptism, along with why women can't be church elders earlier in the evening. We didn't get real far with our conversation, but I could sense her protestant upbringing was really standing in her way to move forward with a walk with Jesus.
This "ticket" or track states such a simple and glorious gift message. "Free and worth everything! Today, right now you can have the world's best free gift." The final paragraph has the most gracious words anyone could ever hear: "Right now, if you trust in Jesus Christ as the One who died for you, was buried, and rose again, God will save you! Do it now! Your eternity depends on it!!
The paragraphs in between state the precious words of the apostle Paul (thank you heavenly Father for sending Paul into the world and letting him record such blessings of letters). There is scripture from Romans and Ephesians, along with the gospel words of John.
The most important typed message on this track is this: It mentions that you need to proclaim that you believe (trust) in Jesus Christ as our personal savior.
You won't get this life saving, easy to repeat, most ignored message in many, many churches. And I got it in a beer garden. It now is on my refrigerator door. I love it. It is part of my conversion. That man (don't know his name), helped save my soul through the work of the Holy Spirit in him. Period. This man is doing the work that God intended him to do.
Along with a weekly Bible study at work, attending Prairie Lakes Church and hearing the REAL MESSAGE there, a daily devotional and Bible reading practice, and people like this man, I was saved. The Lord decided to open my eyes to His written Word. I finally heard the Holy Spirit whispers. It has totally changed my life, forever. Praise God!!!
My personal mission field includes many creative ways to reach people. I knew I needed to utilize these tracks better. I read through them at Family Christian Book Store and found a packet of them that speaks exactly to Christians who have not accepted Jesus as their personal Savior yet. (and actually it speaks to anyone who cares to listen to this Biblical truth). I typed up on the computer additional information and stuck it inside each of them. It states something to the effect that I too used to see these booklets and ignore them. But, please read the track as it can save you. I explained I was a Lutheran and then a Catholic. But, I was not filled with the Holy Spirit. And the key was that a veil put over religion by satan has clouded Christians vision to see the only way to avoid Hell is with Jesus Christ. Period. Jesus Christ and our Father's Holy Word. Period.
My track does not include my name or any way to contact me. It just asks the person to please read the track and not miss what I missed all of those years by tossing those aside.
This blog is not a way for me to brag about what I do to try to gain points with God. (I have exited those religions forever). The Lord has told me to have loose lips for Him. (Yes, He told me that). I cannot ignore my Father's wishes. Wherever you are in your spiritual journey I use this blog to speak to a large audience to please consider these every day occurrences that I share to see that I was saved and these were the things leading up to it, and these are the things that I am now doing for the Glory of Our Father! All for Him and the spread of His kingdom.
James 5:20 Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover the multitude of sins.
Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age".
Luke 10:2 He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Sunday, October 30, 2011
It's Not Easy Bein' Me--A New Born Again.
Praise and Glory to God our Father! Let's go deep with Him. There is nothing shallow about a Jesus follower. I guess the Lord did prepare me, my entire life to be a future committed follower. (This is not a phase. I am finally on the Holy Spirit led journey). I was such a deep thinker my entire life, even as a kid. I have been condemned for this over and over again. I asked alot of questions my entire life. I asked questions that most adults cannot answer, but I still sought out. I did find out I was mostly surrounded by people that were not comfortable going deep. There was alot of hiding going on. Not alot of sharing. And not alot of hope.
I remember asking my mom about eternity. I must have been 10. I first talked about the element of time and eternity to her. And then about the sky. "Does it really not end?". She answered it pretty well. We got into a short talk about God. I can remember the pain and tears I had, realizing that there is a concept out there and it cannot be explained or experienced on this earth. And it is called eternity. My head hurt. I could not wrap my brains around it. It bothered me for days after that realization. Yes, I did cry.
My life has changed dramatically the last 15 months. I have girlfriends, family members and old boyfriends asking everyone but ME what is going on. They are all Christians. Some go to church, some do not. No one contacts me to ask me why I have changed. I quit joining in on the social circles. Nothing was getting accomplished. It had been bugging me for a few years. No one really talks about their achievements, their kids achievements or their faith journey, their goals with work. Just getting caught up on who's doing what. And where the next party is. I quit going to extended family gatherings that have proved year after year to be unpleasant. No, there is no sin in that. You need to protect yourself from one of the most powerful forces on earth: Negativity.
You see: I found I was not walking in the light. The Holy Spirit is quite helpful in correction once you do decide to walk in the light.
Once you proclaim Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, who has died on the cross for your sins so that you may have eternal life, well, you just can't say that, have the Holy Spirit fill you and keep doing the darkness. And it is depressing, the darkness you missed seeing that encompassed much of your "old" life. So much is "darkness" that I did not realize. Now, the veil has been lifted. But, it is overwhelming, all of this knowledge that you have.
I will tell you: Have faith my friends. Read your Bible with passion and the Holy Spirit will guide you, help you make decisions. Be daring and let go of the past people and circumstances if you need to. They may be drawn to you eventually, hoping to be more like you, in your new created self.
What if you are the only one in your family that is born again? What if your family is a weekly church going family and they still do not support you?
Again: Fear not. Many of the leaders in the Bible were babies of the family. Isn't that a relief? And even Jesus was questioned by his own family. That is why our Holy Book is so helpful!!! You will find that the stories (they are all TRUE stories) are guides for your life now. I love this!! I sometimes find myself thinking I am a Paul, or a Joseph or a David. (no, I am not being arrogant--this is what the Bible wants to do FOR YOU. Come to life!)
One problem I think "religious but not Holy Spirit filled" people do is have a hard time with born agains because they don't truly believe in 1) Prayer that really is powerful and works for you or your loved ones (how arrogant they say). 2) Having conversations with God through the Holy Spirit (how arrogant they say). 3) Conversions in other Christians that are so life-changing for others and not them (how arrogant they say).
Lord Jesus Christ, please help all Christians remove the veil that is obstructing their view from these miracles you want to expose here on earth in 2011!!!! It truly is my prayer some mornings!!! How much to miss.
If you are a born again, I would bet you can relate with this blog today. It is a hard journey. I could easily slip back into my past life. And also forfeit the progress I have made. And let alcohol and sexual immorality creep back in. And not spend this precious time with the Lord daily. And probably satan would leave me alone, on purpose. He would show me how EASY it is, by stopping his spiritual attacks on me and everyone around me. The gossip would stop and everyone would take a deep sigh of relief that Missy is ok now. "She was just obsessed with the religion thing for awhile".
Truly, I even have people in my life who I believed were on the road to being Holy Spirit Jesus Followers who are the most critical. You see, life got hard and they stepped back. One of these precious people hasn't went to church in years now.
Why is it that even in religious matters, let alone general achievement matters, peers cannot just support your journey upward? Women are so guilty of this. We almost wait for the bad news about the "other" women. Be honest. It is hard to be genuinely happy for others that have something that you do not.
And then when it comes to someone who is so excited about the Lord, we can't stand to be around them. Almost just make a cross with the index fingers of each hand to force them back away from you.
Why is that so uncomfortable? I can tell you I was uncomfortable with born agains around me. I didn't really have many in my life, but when someone mentioned in gossip circles that "so and so went wacko for the Lord and we think they are losing their mind", I probably avoided them. I had it all figured out, having my checklist complete for God: Baptized at birth, went to church off and on, taught religion class off and on, prayed a memorized prayer sometimes, didn't murder anyone and thought I was doing better than those criminals out there.......
That is where most Christians get stuck.
And people like me come from religions that do not open their Bibles. The Bible obviously has not come to life for many in my life. There is little support in my small, tight circle of relatives and friends.
That is where the gossip starts. They think your new church is a cult. They think "they" are brainwashing you. But, really, you are on your own because everyone that was weaved into your old life does not support your new life. You are being judgemental because you don't want to drink. You don't want to gossip. You want to be painfully honest and positive. You have contemporary Christian music on and TV crap off.
I am so happy for the generational healthy Christian families that are out there. I work with some. They are and always have been surrounded by deeply spiritual, Bible reading, prayer believing people. They produce these beautiful fruits. Their parents and grandparents produced this luscious fruit from the vine. I am not jealous. I am so happy for them. And keep on truckin' you glorious, healthy families!!!!
So, I do not have that. But a few people in my life have come to the Lord since I have. (Amen, Father! Father, You are so awesome and all praise to You!) So, since I do not have the immediate resources, I have to go out and get them. I need to buckle down and find a support group. I do have a Bible study weekly, I do read my Bible at least 5 days a week and I do try to keep Joyce Meyer Ministries on the TV daily, along with a devotion to praise God for all he does. I have a new plan. My new plan is just the beginning of a lifelong walk with God.
As some have put it to me: We (born agains) are the most powerful tool God uses to get more Christians and non believers over to Him. And those of us born again that do not come from Holy Spirit filled families, we are the most (in my opinion) radical and outspoken and excited. Because we simply cannot believe how good this feels and how different it is from the lies we have believed our entire lives!!!!!
Have Faith! Find resources. Read great books. Read your Bible! Don't waiver. Worship with all your might!! (It feels great to put your hand in the air during worship!)
If you have a bad day, remember it's just a bad day. Your old life would call that a day to turn back to evil things. Now, you have the Spirit living in you. Sometimes the work it is doing in you is not evident right away. I will never turn back, because this time the Word of God came alive to me in the Scriptures. He has provided me all I need. And I am continually handing him the wheel. Altar placing daily. Refining. Repenting. Praising. Praising!
Psalm 69: 18-20 Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes. You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you. Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.
Psalm 70: 3-4 May those who say to me "Aha! Aha!" turn back because of their shame. But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!"
I remember asking my mom about eternity. I must have been 10. I first talked about the element of time and eternity to her. And then about the sky. "Does it really not end?". She answered it pretty well. We got into a short talk about God. I can remember the pain and tears I had, realizing that there is a concept out there and it cannot be explained or experienced on this earth. And it is called eternity. My head hurt. I could not wrap my brains around it. It bothered me for days after that realization. Yes, I did cry.
My life has changed dramatically the last 15 months. I have girlfriends, family members and old boyfriends asking everyone but ME what is going on. They are all Christians. Some go to church, some do not. No one contacts me to ask me why I have changed. I quit joining in on the social circles. Nothing was getting accomplished. It had been bugging me for a few years. No one really talks about their achievements, their kids achievements or their faith journey, their goals with work. Just getting caught up on who's doing what. And where the next party is. I quit going to extended family gatherings that have proved year after year to be unpleasant. No, there is no sin in that. You need to protect yourself from one of the most powerful forces on earth: Negativity.
You see: I found I was not walking in the light. The Holy Spirit is quite helpful in correction once you do decide to walk in the light.
Once you proclaim Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, who has died on the cross for your sins so that you may have eternal life, well, you just can't say that, have the Holy Spirit fill you and keep doing the darkness. And it is depressing, the darkness you missed seeing that encompassed much of your "old" life. So much is "darkness" that I did not realize. Now, the veil has been lifted. But, it is overwhelming, all of this knowledge that you have.
I will tell you: Have faith my friends. Read your Bible with passion and the Holy Spirit will guide you, help you make decisions. Be daring and let go of the past people and circumstances if you need to. They may be drawn to you eventually, hoping to be more like you, in your new created self.
What if you are the only one in your family that is born again? What if your family is a weekly church going family and they still do not support you?
Again: Fear not. Many of the leaders in the Bible were babies of the family. Isn't that a relief? And even Jesus was questioned by his own family. That is why our Holy Book is so helpful!!! You will find that the stories (they are all TRUE stories) are guides for your life now. I love this!! I sometimes find myself thinking I am a Paul, or a Joseph or a David. (no, I am not being arrogant--this is what the Bible wants to do FOR YOU. Come to life!)
One problem I think "religious but not Holy Spirit filled" people do is have a hard time with born agains because they don't truly believe in 1) Prayer that really is powerful and works for you or your loved ones (how arrogant they say). 2) Having conversations with God through the Holy Spirit (how arrogant they say). 3) Conversions in other Christians that are so life-changing for others and not them (how arrogant they say).
Lord Jesus Christ, please help all Christians remove the veil that is obstructing their view from these miracles you want to expose here on earth in 2011!!!! It truly is my prayer some mornings!!! How much to miss.
If you are a born again, I would bet you can relate with this blog today. It is a hard journey. I could easily slip back into my past life. And also forfeit the progress I have made. And let alcohol and sexual immorality creep back in. And not spend this precious time with the Lord daily. And probably satan would leave me alone, on purpose. He would show me how EASY it is, by stopping his spiritual attacks on me and everyone around me. The gossip would stop and everyone would take a deep sigh of relief that Missy is ok now. "She was just obsessed with the religion thing for awhile".
Truly, I even have people in my life who I believed were on the road to being Holy Spirit Jesus Followers who are the most critical. You see, life got hard and they stepped back. One of these precious people hasn't went to church in years now.
Why is it that even in religious matters, let alone general achievement matters, peers cannot just support your journey upward? Women are so guilty of this. We almost wait for the bad news about the "other" women. Be honest. It is hard to be genuinely happy for others that have something that you do not.
And then when it comes to someone who is so excited about the Lord, we can't stand to be around them. Almost just make a cross with the index fingers of each hand to force them back away from you.
Why is that so uncomfortable? I can tell you I was uncomfortable with born agains around me. I didn't really have many in my life, but when someone mentioned in gossip circles that "so and so went wacko for the Lord and we think they are losing their mind", I probably avoided them. I had it all figured out, having my checklist complete for God: Baptized at birth, went to church off and on, taught religion class off and on, prayed a memorized prayer sometimes, didn't murder anyone and thought I was doing better than those criminals out there.......
That is where most Christians get stuck.
And people like me come from religions that do not open their Bibles. The Bible obviously has not come to life for many in my life. There is little support in my small, tight circle of relatives and friends.
That is where the gossip starts. They think your new church is a cult. They think "they" are brainwashing you. But, really, you are on your own because everyone that was weaved into your old life does not support your new life. You are being judgemental because you don't want to drink. You don't want to gossip. You want to be painfully honest and positive. You have contemporary Christian music on and TV crap off.
I am so happy for the generational healthy Christian families that are out there. I work with some. They are and always have been surrounded by deeply spiritual, Bible reading, prayer believing people. They produce these beautiful fruits. Their parents and grandparents produced this luscious fruit from the vine. I am not jealous. I am so happy for them. And keep on truckin' you glorious, healthy families!!!!
So, I do not have that. But a few people in my life have come to the Lord since I have. (Amen, Father! Father, You are so awesome and all praise to You!) So, since I do not have the immediate resources, I have to go out and get them. I need to buckle down and find a support group. I do have a Bible study weekly, I do read my Bible at least 5 days a week and I do try to keep Joyce Meyer Ministries on the TV daily, along with a devotion to praise God for all he does. I have a new plan. My new plan is just the beginning of a lifelong walk with God.
As some have put it to me: We (born agains) are the most powerful tool God uses to get more Christians and non believers over to Him. And those of us born again that do not come from Holy Spirit filled families, we are the most (in my opinion) radical and outspoken and excited. Because we simply cannot believe how good this feels and how different it is from the lies we have believed our entire lives!!!!!
Have Faith! Find resources. Read great books. Read your Bible! Don't waiver. Worship with all your might!! (It feels great to put your hand in the air during worship!)
If you have a bad day, remember it's just a bad day. Your old life would call that a day to turn back to evil things. Now, you have the Spirit living in you. Sometimes the work it is doing in you is not evident right away. I will never turn back, because this time the Word of God came alive to me in the Scriptures. He has provided me all I need. And I am continually handing him the wheel. Altar placing daily. Refining. Repenting. Praising. Praising!
Psalm 69: 18-20 Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes. You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you. Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.
Psalm 70: 3-4 May those who say to me "Aha! Aha!" turn back because of their shame. But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!"
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Challenge to all chuches--no worship unless the Bible is cracked open. And some fun Halloween nuggets are in this blog!.
Praise and glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! He has blessed me greatly, taken me into his arms, now a following daughter. There is a new Papa in the house!!!!
Halloween is fast approaching and the hype is really abundant, isn't it? Marketing techniques bring wares creeping into more and more isles of stores. Spooky commercials, gore galore. If my parents were alive I would like to again ask them how Halloween was when they were young. From conversations in past with them, they got apples, homemade goodies, nickels. Mom said there was no set time. You stayed out as late as the lights were on. You made your own costume. You did a trick if they asked you to and you got a treat if they liked it. It was once called All Hallows' Eve. Does anyone remember that? I think the scariest costume was a ghost, not like today, with demons roaming all over the neighborhoods. Not real comfortable with that. I think satan is. He is slowly transforming this innocent holiday into a costume ball for Hell. Not that I am being a poop, but more and more as I age, I am sitting back and studying what seems to really be going on. And when I have a gut feeling that something is getting out of whack, well, alot of times I am right. You will find the same. Learn to follow your gut. (Holy Spirit flank jabs).
Mom was an antique dealer. We had Halloween decorations that were pretty old. I would guess some were from the turn of the century. I remember seeing the inscription "Hallowe'en" on them. I understand that is the shortened version of All Hallows' Eve. These decorations consisted of jack o' lanterns, black cats and ghosts. Truly, that is all I remember. Maybe some witches, but the oldest decorations seemed to not include witches.
All I can say, is that I am aware of what Halloween seems to be becoming. I will not glorify satan. I will be on guard of his trickery. I truly have always gotten a little spooked this time of year, and I believe that is because of the lack of sunlight and the horror flick commercials and dying of the vegetation outdoors. It does equal a little bit of gloom. I am very sensitive, always have been.
My granddaughter is 13 months old. I had to take her into a huge Halloween store because my daughter needed to find something specific for her costume. I can tell you it was interesting. This innocent baby who has never seen a horror film and certainly can't remember last Halloween. She shook, hid in my arms and was very nervous her head going side to side, trying to find a safe place to fix her eyes on. There is something to say about what evil looks like. She has nothing to gauge it to. She viewed evil and it made her want to crawl out of her skin. And that was "fake" evil. Or was it?
This is my hope and faith: Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
1 John 5:18: We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe; and the evil one cannot harm him. We know that we are children of God, and the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
Yesterday I was blessed with having what is called "church". In my sister's home, she had a couple over that were seasoned Christians. My kinda Jesus Freaks! We had such good church time. Prayer, laying on of hands, suggestions for prayers for our children. It was uplifting and powerful. And we sure praised God for everything that we spoke of. Kept it in the context of His Word. That is what is missing. We need a Holy Bible Roll Out. Acts of the Apostles church time. Church in coffee shops, homes, McDonald's and on front porches. Many people do this and I am enjoying exploring this. That is what Jesus Church is. We fell away from that the last 75 or so years, in my estimation. Please keep reading, I want you to really be informed. Most of all, read your Bible if you quit reading my blog. I would be honored if you did that! That is where it's all at, baby.
I blog this and all of my blogs to reach out to you. To read your Bible for further information. (eventually to be so hungry that you can't quit reading it) To have the Bible come to life for you. To search and stretch and learn and confess and regroup---all continually and forever until the day we leave this earth. I am concerned about Christians, a Christian as I once was, who stopped with their infant baptism. Or stopped because they had communion four months ago. Or stopped entirely because of the pains of life. I almost missed this Holy Spirit Filling. Do I know why the Holy Spirit decided to enter me like a flood this spring? No, I only know that my Father decided that was the plan. I am so grateful my head hurts at times. Seriously. I hold my head in my hands because I now have REAL worries. Not earthly worries. But I now have experienced true joy in surrender (and continual surrender against my earthly flesh). I am so pumped about what a true intimate relationship is. And it is with the Father of the Universe!!
Luke 24:44-45 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
I think about who is not cracking open their Bibles. Even scores of churches. Denominations of churches. But fear not. I am visited many churches in the Cedar Valley and I am finding churches that parishioners bring their Bibles! And each and every service they all open that Love Story and read together. And that is part of how I believe I finally got my Holy Spirit Filling!
Yes, I know that Lutherans and Catholics (both I was at one time) have "readings". They have readings from the old and new testament and Gospel weekly. But it is read to you and it is printed on a piece of paper. And it is not discussed. There is a sermon or homily, but there is no Bible Study going on.
The churches I will now attend (and I am praying for a church home and have been for many months), have a very, very experience pastor reading this, you are reading it, and he is describing what is going on, and how it relates to your world now. You are are strongly encouraged to take notes. Love that!
I took my Bible for the first time to church this June. I was nervous. It was a step for me. Your Bible typically stayed in your house, never leaving the premises! How great is it for firsts! Lots of firsts, now being born again.
I hope you have more firsts coming your way. It feels so good to grow. What a relief. Everyone else is growing to, so there is no agenda.
And I do believe you can be born again in Christ and attend any Christian church, if that works for you. I find it hard to attend the Catholic church and I imagine I would have that problem attending a Lutheran, Methodist or Presbyterian Church. (I have attended all of these denominations in the past). Their format is similar and it does not involve charismatic music or open Bibles or open prayer or proclamations from the audience. It is very sterile. So go worship the Lord if that still works for you. Remember, I am very sensitive.
I see I have viewers from Tokyo and Russia. Please let me know how your spiritual journey is coming, in comments. Please don't give up. Americans, you have every freedom. You can have Bible study over an unpaid lunch hour (we do). You can attend any church without fear. You can stop and pray publicly any time. Don't forget that freedom, exercise it.
I am so fortunate and most days I journal that I have so much more than I ever need. Especially now. I have the ultimate gift of salvation. Investigate what born again means. It isn't probably what you thought it was. Throw out what your parents told you about "those" religious people. Born Agains are popping up everywhere. Mostly it is Christians who missed the Holy Spirit element. And when it decides to fill your being, it will provide you with so many answers and guidance.
Amen. It is so. Lord, please bless this blog.
Halloween is fast approaching and the hype is really abundant, isn't it? Marketing techniques bring wares creeping into more and more isles of stores. Spooky commercials, gore galore. If my parents were alive I would like to again ask them how Halloween was when they were young. From conversations in past with them, they got apples, homemade goodies, nickels. Mom said there was no set time. You stayed out as late as the lights were on. You made your own costume. You did a trick if they asked you to and you got a treat if they liked it. It was once called All Hallows' Eve. Does anyone remember that? I think the scariest costume was a ghost, not like today, with demons roaming all over the neighborhoods. Not real comfortable with that. I think satan is. He is slowly transforming this innocent holiday into a costume ball for Hell. Not that I am being a poop, but more and more as I age, I am sitting back and studying what seems to really be going on. And when I have a gut feeling that something is getting out of whack, well, alot of times I am right. You will find the same. Learn to follow your gut. (Holy Spirit flank jabs).
Mom was an antique dealer. We had Halloween decorations that were pretty old. I would guess some were from the turn of the century. I remember seeing the inscription "Hallowe'en" on them. I understand that is the shortened version of All Hallows' Eve. These decorations consisted of jack o' lanterns, black cats and ghosts. Truly, that is all I remember. Maybe some witches, but the oldest decorations seemed to not include witches.
All I can say, is that I am aware of what Halloween seems to be becoming. I will not glorify satan. I will be on guard of his trickery. I truly have always gotten a little spooked this time of year, and I believe that is because of the lack of sunlight and the horror flick commercials and dying of the vegetation outdoors. It does equal a little bit of gloom. I am very sensitive, always have been.
My granddaughter is 13 months old. I had to take her into a huge Halloween store because my daughter needed to find something specific for her costume. I can tell you it was interesting. This innocent baby who has never seen a horror film and certainly can't remember last Halloween. She shook, hid in my arms and was very nervous her head going side to side, trying to find a safe place to fix her eyes on. There is something to say about what evil looks like. She has nothing to gauge it to. She viewed evil and it made her want to crawl out of her skin. And that was "fake" evil. Or was it?
This is my hope and faith: Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
1 John 5:18: We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe; and the evil one cannot harm him. We know that we are children of God, and the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
Yesterday I was blessed with having what is called "church". In my sister's home, she had a couple over that were seasoned Christians. My kinda Jesus Freaks! We had such good church time. Prayer, laying on of hands, suggestions for prayers for our children. It was uplifting and powerful. And we sure praised God for everything that we spoke of. Kept it in the context of His Word. That is what is missing. We need a Holy Bible Roll Out. Acts of the Apostles church time. Church in coffee shops, homes, McDonald's and on front porches. Many people do this and I am enjoying exploring this. That is what Jesus Church is. We fell away from that the last 75 or so years, in my estimation. Please keep reading, I want you to really be informed. Most of all, read your Bible if you quit reading my blog. I would be honored if you did that! That is where it's all at, baby.
I blog this and all of my blogs to reach out to you. To read your Bible for further information. (eventually to be so hungry that you can't quit reading it) To have the Bible come to life for you. To search and stretch and learn and confess and regroup---all continually and forever until the day we leave this earth. I am concerned about Christians, a Christian as I once was, who stopped with their infant baptism. Or stopped because they had communion four months ago. Or stopped entirely because of the pains of life. I almost missed this Holy Spirit Filling. Do I know why the Holy Spirit decided to enter me like a flood this spring? No, I only know that my Father decided that was the plan. I am so grateful my head hurts at times. Seriously. I hold my head in my hands because I now have REAL worries. Not earthly worries. But I now have experienced true joy in surrender (and continual surrender against my earthly flesh). I am so pumped about what a true intimate relationship is. And it is with the Father of the Universe!!
Luke 24:44-45 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
I think about who is not cracking open their Bibles. Even scores of churches. Denominations of churches. But fear not. I am visited many churches in the Cedar Valley and I am finding churches that parishioners bring their Bibles! And each and every service they all open that Love Story and read together. And that is part of how I believe I finally got my Holy Spirit Filling!
Yes, I know that Lutherans and Catholics (both I was at one time) have "readings". They have readings from the old and new testament and Gospel weekly. But it is read to you and it is printed on a piece of paper. And it is not discussed. There is a sermon or homily, but there is no Bible Study going on.
The churches I will now attend (and I am praying for a church home and have been for many months), have a very, very experience pastor reading this, you are reading it, and he is describing what is going on, and how it relates to your world now. You are are strongly encouraged to take notes. Love that!
I took my Bible for the first time to church this June. I was nervous. It was a step for me. Your Bible typically stayed in your house, never leaving the premises! How great is it for firsts! Lots of firsts, now being born again.
I hope you have more firsts coming your way. It feels so good to grow. What a relief. Everyone else is growing to, so there is no agenda.
And I do believe you can be born again in Christ and attend any Christian church, if that works for you. I find it hard to attend the Catholic church and I imagine I would have that problem attending a Lutheran, Methodist or Presbyterian Church. (I have attended all of these denominations in the past). Their format is similar and it does not involve charismatic music or open Bibles or open prayer or proclamations from the audience. It is very sterile. So go worship the Lord if that still works for you. Remember, I am very sensitive.
I see I have viewers from Tokyo and Russia. Please let me know how your spiritual journey is coming, in comments. Please don't give up. Americans, you have every freedom. You can have Bible study over an unpaid lunch hour (we do). You can attend any church without fear. You can stop and pray publicly any time. Don't forget that freedom, exercise it.
I am so fortunate and most days I journal that I have so much more than I ever need. Especially now. I have the ultimate gift of salvation. Investigate what born again means. It isn't probably what you thought it was. Throw out what your parents told you about "those" religious people. Born Agains are popping up everywhere. Mostly it is Christians who missed the Holy Spirit element. And when it decides to fill your being, it will provide you with so many answers and guidance.
Amen. It is so. Lord, please bless this blog.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Is there anyone left who doesn't talk negative about marriage?
Praise to you! It is another glorious, sunny Sunday. I am continuing to practice Sundays the way they were meant to be honored. Worship in the morning, fire in the fireplace, soup, playing piano, family and reading. Please find ways to slow down and utilize Sundays for your family. You do not need to buy things as a hobby, a time waster, on Sundays. You don't need to have the TV on for background noise. You can make meals full of love for a few dollars. A warm meal you made for your family. Make traditions on Sundays. Even if it is just one Sunday a month.
I counted one week how many times married and unmarried people said something harmful about marriage in my presence. It was six times.
What do you think of that? Do you think that people need to "vent"? Blow off steam? No, it wasn't really that. They were just chiming in with our American culture, continuing the blows to marriage. Simple comments that they probably had no idea how harmful they were.
I have had countless numbers of Christian people say to me "Why would you ever get married again?" "You should just live with someone".
Addionally: "Melissa, you should marry for money. That's what I would do".
Other comments: "If my husband dies I'LL NEVER GET MARRIED AGAIN. It is too much work. I wish I was free like you". Wow. I hope your husband doesn't die. And if he did, do you already really have this completely thought through? What about the funeral arrangements?
"You don't know how hard it is in my marriage. You are lucky. You don't have to put up with what I do". (There doesn't seem to be any obvious physical, mental or substance abuse issues in any of these church going families)
When I am a little stressed about being a single parent, having no parents or grandparents alive to help me all of these years, I throw out a few comments about being alone and tired and worried about daycare and if my child (children) are sick. I have had married people say to me "Married people have spouses that don't help at all, so they are just as alone as you are and they are married". Wow.
We are so quick to have a comment roll off of our lips. They are almost automatic. Sometimes I wonder if the origin of these is from somewhere darker than we want to acknowledge. And yes, many of us repeat what someone else has said. It just sticks with us. Guard our tongues, Lord.
I was watching my only TV show, The Office this fall. There is a sitcom after The Office and it appears to be about a couple living in sin. Sorry, my parents and the generations before my parents called it that, and they are correct. It is called Whitney. The commercials are somewhat inappropriate and my 12 year old and I can't grab the remote quick enough, to get it turned off before we have to watch an unmarried couple act married.
I actually could go on and on and yes, I need to be careful. None of us are perfect. Some of us have had failed marriages. But, some of us want to be married and want our adult children to be married. But first, we need to believe in marriage.
I can say there is very, very little support for marriage in our generation or our children's. I applaud those of you that are doing something about it. A coworker of mine has organized at church a series of classes for married people. I also hear in sermons regularly at church about support for marriage between a man and a woman. Praise to all of you that make a conscious effort to stay positive about marriage. Our nation is crumbling in this department, and yes, you can do something about it with simple positive words on this Biblical principle, marriage. (and go see the movie Courageous!!)
TV shows: There is a show called King of Queens. It comes on. It is about a married couple. And they disrespect one another the entire show. That is the satire of the show. I feel like someone threw a bucket of mud on me and after I figure out why my mood is changing to hopelessness, in my kitchen, making a meal for my son, I get it turned off. I keep turning it off. Oh, yes, satan is behind all of this, by the way. Destroy, tear down what God intended.
As I told my boyfriend, I think the comments that keep coming at us about "Why wouldn't you just live together" are about this: People are equating that divorce is more sinful that living together. Here we go again. Legalistic Christians trying to weigh for others what would be a better, but still sinful option. I'm not buying it. And I am not planning on getting divorced again, anyhow.
I do remember when I was engaged in 1997, my fiance and I went to his priest. It was not my question, because I have never believed living together was an option and certainly is a dangerous option for a female, losing her heart to a man, playing married and getting no real commitment, putting herself financially in someone Else's mess, possibly. But, my fiance wanted to ask his opinion about living together. Luckily, the priest was very firm about the statistics of divorce in couples that lived together prior to marriage. And he also pointed out scripture. There is absolutely no support in the Bible for living together.
We left that visit with the priest with a clear understanding of our option. Get married before you live together.
I certainly am not the judge. I am being radical (this wasn't radical 50 years ago, speaking out against living together and speaking strongly for marriage). I am typing this blog to present my personal experiences so that you may grow closer in your relationship with Christ. Why I say I am not the judge is that many people are young and lack wisdom. They may have lived with someone and they regret it now. That's ok!! We all were young and made bad choices. Forgive yourself after you repent. Do it often, as I do. I feel pain for my past choices. He helps me reflect on my bad choices from my past so that I do cringe a little and then I thank Him for being such a loving Father. And I learned. I keep learning. Maybe at 43 I am still young and lacking wisdom. Ask me when I am 80!! I will say I didn't know anything yet, even at 43!!! Lord, help me get to 80 to say that!
Also, I made mistakes. I remember watching the cleaned up version of Sex In The City for years. It was on TBS, not HBO so there was no swearing or nudity. But this Manhattan culture of single ladies probably wore on me. I also had a counselor for years that I went to. I finally had to end our counseling relationship. As my counselor we could not agree that I said that I was never comfortable with sex outside of marriage. And her response was that there is nothing illegal about having sex outside of marriage. We finally agreed to disagree. She couldn't support my stand and I couldn't support hers. I now have found a Christian counselor who is also born again, who absolutely supports my opinion that sex belongs in marriage and outside of marriage it will only cause guilt, disease, shame and mostly, my God who loves me to be disappointed in me. And being born again, I feel this relationship with the Lord is a two way street. I want my Abba Father to be happy with my decisions and I feel I let him down when I fail.
I read a book this summer that was very, very helpful. It is called Every Woman's Battle. There is also a men's version, Every Man's Battle. It is specifically about what society does to women that makes single and married women less pure than God intended. It speaks of TV, advertising, romance novels, pornography for women, Passion Parties, you name it. It was very conservative in it's nature. It wasn't easy to read. But, I have to say, it was right on the money. It has Biblical references throughout. I would recommened this book to any woman. You would be surprised, even for your daughters what is out there that is pulling them away from the purity that has been especially lost the last few decades. We need to pay attention to how we dress, what we say, how long our glances are, and so forth. I read the book, I got some good nuggets out of it, and I would recommend it if you are ready to dive into a topic that is not often covered. It doesn't mean you have to buy into every book, editorial or article you read. That is the beauty of reading much and often. You just keep sorting your information that you read. And make an ever changing conclusion of the topics as you use the Holy Spirit to guide you.
I read through the Song of Solomon a couple of months ago and read it like I have never read it before. Such a delight. I found myself in past years jealous of couples at church, married couples in general. I have worked through that to a healthy place. So, reading this married love story is just wonderful. Praise to all married couples.
In closing, we need to support marriage. Our words are like weapons. Our children are hearing our negative opinions/comments about marriage. They are not finding healthy marriage situations on TV. Modern pop music never mentions it. Do not put your children first in your marriage. Put your spouse first, after God. Go to church as a family. Try not to separate yourselves to go to separate services. You married your spouse, so spend time with him/her. Be careful to not separate your interests too far from your spouses. And if you finally have the money and time to go on vacation, please go with your spouse! Keep the Lord close in your relationship. And let's all work on praising married people!
Ephesians 5:31-33 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
I counted one week how many times married and unmarried people said something harmful about marriage in my presence. It was six times.
What do you think of that? Do you think that people need to "vent"? Blow off steam? No, it wasn't really that. They were just chiming in with our American culture, continuing the blows to marriage. Simple comments that they probably had no idea how harmful they were.
I have had countless numbers of Christian people say to me "Why would you ever get married again?" "You should just live with someone".
Addionally: "Melissa, you should marry for money. That's what I would do".
Other comments: "If my husband dies I'LL NEVER GET MARRIED AGAIN. It is too much work. I wish I was free like you". Wow. I hope your husband doesn't die. And if he did, do you already really have this completely thought through? What about the funeral arrangements?
"You don't know how hard it is in my marriage. You are lucky. You don't have to put up with what I do". (There doesn't seem to be any obvious physical, mental or substance abuse issues in any of these church going families)
When I am a little stressed about being a single parent, having no parents or grandparents alive to help me all of these years, I throw out a few comments about being alone and tired and worried about daycare and if my child (children) are sick. I have had married people say to me "Married people have spouses that don't help at all, so they are just as alone as you are and they are married". Wow.
We are so quick to have a comment roll off of our lips. They are almost automatic. Sometimes I wonder if the origin of these is from somewhere darker than we want to acknowledge. And yes, many of us repeat what someone else has said. It just sticks with us. Guard our tongues, Lord.
I was watching my only TV show, The Office this fall. There is a sitcom after The Office and it appears to be about a couple living in sin. Sorry, my parents and the generations before my parents called it that, and they are correct. It is called Whitney. The commercials are somewhat inappropriate and my 12 year old and I can't grab the remote quick enough, to get it turned off before we have to watch an unmarried couple act married.
I actually could go on and on and yes, I need to be careful. None of us are perfect. Some of us have had failed marriages. But, some of us want to be married and want our adult children to be married. But first, we need to believe in marriage.
I can say there is very, very little support for marriage in our generation or our children's. I applaud those of you that are doing something about it. A coworker of mine has organized at church a series of classes for married people. I also hear in sermons regularly at church about support for marriage between a man and a woman. Praise to all of you that make a conscious effort to stay positive about marriage. Our nation is crumbling in this department, and yes, you can do something about it with simple positive words on this Biblical principle, marriage. (and go see the movie Courageous!!)
TV shows: There is a show called King of Queens. It comes on. It is about a married couple. And they disrespect one another the entire show. That is the satire of the show. I feel like someone threw a bucket of mud on me and after I figure out why my mood is changing to hopelessness, in my kitchen, making a meal for my son, I get it turned off. I keep turning it off. Oh, yes, satan is behind all of this, by the way. Destroy, tear down what God intended.
As I told my boyfriend, I think the comments that keep coming at us about "Why wouldn't you just live together" are about this: People are equating that divorce is more sinful that living together. Here we go again. Legalistic Christians trying to weigh for others what would be a better, but still sinful option. I'm not buying it. And I am not planning on getting divorced again, anyhow.
I do remember when I was engaged in 1997, my fiance and I went to his priest. It was not my question, because I have never believed living together was an option and certainly is a dangerous option for a female, losing her heart to a man, playing married and getting no real commitment, putting herself financially in someone Else's mess, possibly. But, my fiance wanted to ask his opinion about living together. Luckily, the priest was very firm about the statistics of divorce in couples that lived together prior to marriage. And he also pointed out scripture. There is absolutely no support in the Bible for living together.
We left that visit with the priest with a clear understanding of our option. Get married before you live together.
I certainly am not the judge. I am being radical (this wasn't radical 50 years ago, speaking out against living together and speaking strongly for marriage). I am typing this blog to present my personal experiences so that you may grow closer in your relationship with Christ. Why I say I am not the judge is that many people are young and lack wisdom. They may have lived with someone and they regret it now. That's ok!! We all were young and made bad choices. Forgive yourself after you repent. Do it often, as I do. I feel pain for my past choices. He helps me reflect on my bad choices from my past so that I do cringe a little and then I thank Him for being such a loving Father. And I learned. I keep learning. Maybe at 43 I am still young and lacking wisdom. Ask me when I am 80!! I will say I didn't know anything yet, even at 43!!! Lord, help me get to 80 to say that!
Also, I made mistakes. I remember watching the cleaned up version of Sex In The City for years. It was on TBS, not HBO so there was no swearing or nudity. But this Manhattan culture of single ladies probably wore on me. I also had a counselor for years that I went to. I finally had to end our counseling relationship. As my counselor we could not agree that I said that I was never comfortable with sex outside of marriage. And her response was that there is nothing illegal about having sex outside of marriage. We finally agreed to disagree. She couldn't support my stand and I couldn't support hers. I now have found a Christian counselor who is also born again, who absolutely supports my opinion that sex belongs in marriage and outside of marriage it will only cause guilt, disease, shame and mostly, my God who loves me to be disappointed in me. And being born again, I feel this relationship with the Lord is a two way street. I want my Abba Father to be happy with my decisions and I feel I let him down when I fail.
I read a book this summer that was very, very helpful. It is called Every Woman's Battle. There is also a men's version, Every Man's Battle. It is specifically about what society does to women that makes single and married women less pure than God intended. It speaks of TV, advertising, romance novels, pornography for women, Passion Parties, you name it. It was very conservative in it's nature. It wasn't easy to read. But, I have to say, it was right on the money. It has Biblical references throughout. I would recommened this book to any woman. You would be surprised, even for your daughters what is out there that is pulling them away from the purity that has been especially lost the last few decades. We need to pay attention to how we dress, what we say, how long our glances are, and so forth. I read the book, I got some good nuggets out of it, and I would recommend it if you are ready to dive into a topic that is not often covered. It doesn't mean you have to buy into every book, editorial or article you read. That is the beauty of reading much and often. You just keep sorting your information that you read. And make an ever changing conclusion of the topics as you use the Holy Spirit to guide you.
I read through the Song of Solomon a couple of months ago and read it like I have never read it before. Such a delight. I found myself in past years jealous of couples at church, married couples in general. I have worked through that to a healthy place. So, reading this married love story is just wonderful. Praise to all married couples.
In closing, we need to support marriage. Our words are like weapons. Our children are hearing our negative opinions/comments about marriage. They are not finding healthy marriage situations on TV. Modern pop music never mentions it. Do not put your children first in your marriage. Put your spouse first, after God. Go to church as a family. Try not to separate yourselves to go to separate services. You married your spouse, so spend time with him/her. Be careful to not separate your interests too far from your spouses. And if you finally have the money and time to go on vacation, please go with your spouse! Keep the Lord close in your relationship. And let's all work on praising married people!
Ephesians 5:31-33 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
God In-God Out. And what's with the demonic tattoos?
Praise and Glory from my home to yours! God has blessed us with an extension on summer. Melting ice cream, hot football games, grilling our suppers into mid-October and children playing outdoors without coats. We have so much to be thankful for.
I pray often that my blog will only glorify our Lord Jesus Christ. This is not of my talent, and my prayer is that this typing of words is just a channel of information from the Holy Spirit that I can compliment with my life experiences, along with Scripture, so that you might come along in your Christian journey another step (with me!) I try to read over my previous entries for appropriateness. I have made corrections and please privately contact me if you feel I stepped over a line that would hinder someone from moving forward with their faith. If I made you uncomfortable, it may also mean that you may need to reflect on exactly why that sentence or phrase touched you that way. Growth is painful. I experience those growing pains often since being born again. And as Paul states, we should welcome them.
I will warn you that I will soon be writing more about fathers and men. And it is not a stab at anyone in particular out there. My earthly father is deceased. I feel to share some crucial information about my upbringing may be a future blog that will likely help someone else. Also in regards to men, my future blogs about them will be an exact picture of how, in the past, I put men before God, and how sinful and destructive that was. And yes, in marriage, no man comes before God. Most humans cannot sustain a grand level of power or wealth. We are not God, and because of that, we fall very far and hard when we are given the reigns, as to say. Many, many women are doing this in marriage, in living together situations and dating situations. I am alarmed at what I am now uncovering about myself and am finding many women around me in "stressful" relationships. I see what is happening. They are putting the love of the man before their love for God. They are allowing mental and physical abuse to continue to occur, neglect, and even more common, the partner is constantly throwing a bucket of water on their dreams. And I see a direct link. They missed an intimate relationship with their earthly "daddy", so they didn't start an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, and now an earthly sexual partner is the road block. Over and over and over again I see this. Please consider this. And please check back for these future blogs. I feel compelled to type this information because it is critical for me to be genuine to you, to risk doing that so that someone else can make that faith leap that I finally did this last year. It feels so much better.
On to God In and God Out!! Some things are very clear to me. Some of these things have always been clear to me, but I was in denial and wanted to ignore and put off being healthy spiritually and physically. I decided to be a healthy eater in 1994. And I have actually improved my eating habits since then. It is a choice. I also decided in around 1993 that I needed to do more exercise. I bought a bike. I had always pushed the stroller around town with the kids after work, to get them fresh air, to give me some outside time, to just get rid of the stress from sitting in an office all day. I pushed strollers many years and when the kids could walk, we would go on walks. I now throw football and baseball with my 12 year old Ross. He laughs because he can't believe I can throw a spiral at age 43. He loves when I throw the baseball hard and it "smacks" his mitt just right. He just shakes his head and laughs. He has said to me that he knows that many moms won't do that.
We actually don't have a big yard, so we throw in the street. It is perfect. And I put myself out there, making mistakes for the neighbors, but I don't care. They can decide that this single mom cares and is and always has put alot of time being home with her children, and doing the things that many two parent homes don't do. They sit and watch TV and grumble about their jobs to their kids. How healthy is that? Let's put some God into those children instead by praising after work that we even have a job.
I sat at Long John Silver's last week, alone with a great Christian book. I had some quiet time and also had a great coupon for supper (No, that is not healthy, but I don't do that every day). I was reading and then an adult couple sat near me with an 8 year old boy. The father or male adult said the F word three times. One time was directly in yelling at the boy. Just over drinking his root beer too fast. They were talking about inappropriate things in front of the boy. I almost left the restaurant. But, I decided to eat quick and leave. In our society, in is very difficult to confront these parents making grave mistakes. I really, really wanted to calmly ask him to not swear in the restaurant. To have the boy see me or someone correct the dad would have been beneficial. That would have left an imprint on the boy for future reference. I weighed it out and decided that the dad was acting a little too stressed and he could be on some type of drug, so my safety was more important. As most of us wonder: When parents scream at their kids at stores and restaurants comfortably, what is going on in the house behind four walls? I cringe. People, get a handle on your emotions. Your kids are watching you.
I bought poster board many months ago and decided to use it to show the different things that seem to be the elements to success in life. I had not at the time read a specific book on this, but was aiming to get reading The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People. I wanted to FIRST see if I was on track with this.
I took sticky notes and wrote on them the elements that successful Christian people that I know, seem to possess. (Yes, I really do these things at home. I want to tap into what so many people seem to be gleaming over and missing)
You can imagine that regular exercise and general movement of the body are one. Healthy eating choices is one. Christian worship with a church home and activeness in that is another. Interest in growth in their career by reading, attending workshops, networking or attending classes. Healthy hobbies is another. Who you hang around with is another. Positive attitude and making a conscience decision to have a positive attitude is another. Staying away from addictive habits another: alcohol, cigarettes and gambling.
These came to mind for me after really observing certain people in society. I think you would agree that these are pretty basic truths. They make sense. But, people say "Who has time?". That is a crock!
I have found ways to at least walk, most of my life. Now, I put my work out days on my calendar. I look ahead at my week, many times during the month and plan my life. I write my work out in the planner to be as important as a meeting or church service. I work out at home. This does not require drive time, daycare or a membership fee. That simple!!
My hobbies I enjoy in my home. On purpose! It's cheap to read books or the Bible (on purpose). My piano is here. My kitchen loves me to cook in it. And food is healthier when you know how much salt is going into it, and using fresh items.
I find the television to be a very, very unhealthy hobby. The commercials alone are too sexual and commercialism is saturating us and we don't even feel alarmed by it anymore. I sit to watch about one hour of TV a week. I put the local news on when I get ready for work, and that is another 1/2 to 1 hour a day. But, I don't sit. I am making the bed and brushing my teeth.
There is such an addictive trait to the TV shows now. You have to keep tuning in to see who won the dance show or who "survived". That is fine and good if you DECIDE to control how much TV you will watch a week. Turn it off and listen to the sounds of your home. It is so wonderful! I like to hear the crunch of the carpet when my cat is entering a room. Is your home that quiet? How about having the TV off when the kids are in bed. I love to hear them breathing and snoring. It is so great! They are safe, they are sleeping and they don't need anything from me.
And then God In God Out in very obvious ways. This one is getting more and more popular. The demonic tattoos. Let's all put the mark of the beast in some artful way on our body! That one Satan LOVES! He is laughing at all of these 20-30 year olds. I shiver. I wish they knew the portal they are opening for him to keep enticing them, ever so quietly into his eternal web. It's people like me that he is really bugging, loudly. He is wanting to make me into a complete hypocrite as a born again and will try every way to make me doubt what I am doing with my life now. He wants me to drink. He wants me to gossip. He wants me to get distracted and get in front of the TV, find all kinds of idols, give up on the joy of life, be negative.
He is wrong. I am a Warrior for Christ. I am making plans to get my Bible read. I am doing my daily devotion. I am keeping my body healthy and strong (as much as I can control). I am spending as much time as I can with family. I am making a plan to get baptized (again). I am praying for my church home, but enjoying two local churches just wonderfully in the mean time. I am talking to God frequently through the day. Praising him for all the little and big things. I am keeping the Holy Spirit very near me. I am praying, praying for strength, for endurance. Praying for others more than myself.
I am putting tons of God In. And I hope you notice I am putting tons of God Out. Have a great Sunday night!
2 Corinthians 7: 1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
I pray often that my blog will only glorify our Lord Jesus Christ. This is not of my talent, and my prayer is that this typing of words is just a channel of information from the Holy Spirit that I can compliment with my life experiences, along with Scripture, so that you might come along in your Christian journey another step (with me!) I try to read over my previous entries for appropriateness. I have made corrections and please privately contact me if you feel I stepped over a line that would hinder someone from moving forward with their faith. If I made you uncomfortable, it may also mean that you may need to reflect on exactly why that sentence or phrase touched you that way. Growth is painful. I experience those growing pains often since being born again. And as Paul states, we should welcome them.
I will warn you that I will soon be writing more about fathers and men. And it is not a stab at anyone in particular out there. My earthly father is deceased. I feel to share some crucial information about my upbringing may be a future blog that will likely help someone else. Also in regards to men, my future blogs about them will be an exact picture of how, in the past, I put men before God, and how sinful and destructive that was. And yes, in marriage, no man comes before God. Most humans cannot sustain a grand level of power or wealth. We are not God, and because of that, we fall very far and hard when we are given the reigns, as to say. Many, many women are doing this in marriage, in living together situations and dating situations. I am alarmed at what I am now uncovering about myself and am finding many women around me in "stressful" relationships. I see what is happening. They are putting the love of the man before their love for God. They are allowing mental and physical abuse to continue to occur, neglect, and even more common, the partner is constantly throwing a bucket of water on their dreams. And I see a direct link. They missed an intimate relationship with their earthly "daddy", so they didn't start an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, and now an earthly sexual partner is the road block. Over and over and over again I see this. Please consider this. And please check back for these future blogs. I feel compelled to type this information because it is critical for me to be genuine to you, to risk doing that so that someone else can make that faith leap that I finally did this last year. It feels so much better.
On to God In and God Out!! Some things are very clear to me. Some of these things have always been clear to me, but I was in denial and wanted to ignore and put off being healthy spiritually and physically. I decided to be a healthy eater in 1994. And I have actually improved my eating habits since then. It is a choice. I also decided in around 1993 that I needed to do more exercise. I bought a bike. I had always pushed the stroller around town with the kids after work, to get them fresh air, to give me some outside time, to just get rid of the stress from sitting in an office all day. I pushed strollers many years and when the kids could walk, we would go on walks. I now throw football and baseball with my 12 year old Ross. He laughs because he can't believe I can throw a spiral at age 43. He loves when I throw the baseball hard and it "smacks" his mitt just right. He just shakes his head and laughs. He has said to me that he knows that many moms won't do that.
We actually don't have a big yard, so we throw in the street. It is perfect. And I put myself out there, making mistakes for the neighbors, but I don't care. They can decide that this single mom cares and is and always has put alot of time being home with her children, and doing the things that many two parent homes don't do. They sit and watch TV and grumble about their jobs to their kids. How healthy is that? Let's put some God into those children instead by praising after work that we even have a job.
I sat at Long John Silver's last week, alone with a great Christian book. I had some quiet time and also had a great coupon for supper (No, that is not healthy, but I don't do that every day). I was reading and then an adult couple sat near me with an 8 year old boy. The father or male adult said the F word three times. One time was directly in yelling at the boy. Just over drinking his root beer too fast. They were talking about inappropriate things in front of the boy. I almost left the restaurant. But, I decided to eat quick and leave. In our society, in is very difficult to confront these parents making grave mistakes. I really, really wanted to calmly ask him to not swear in the restaurant. To have the boy see me or someone correct the dad would have been beneficial. That would have left an imprint on the boy for future reference. I weighed it out and decided that the dad was acting a little too stressed and he could be on some type of drug, so my safety was more important. As most of us wonder: When parents scream at their kids at stores and restaurants comfortably, what is going on in the house behind four walls? I cringe. People, get a handle on your emotions. Your kids are watching you.
I bought poster board many months ago and decided to use it to show the different things that seem to be the elements to success in life. I had not at the time read a specific book on this, but was aiming to get reading The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People. I wanted to FIRST see if I was on track with this.
I took sticky notes and wrote on them the elements that successful Christian people that I know, seem to possess. (Yes, I really do these things at home. I want to tap into what so many people seem to be gleaming over and missing)
You can imagine that regular exercise and general movement of the body are one. Healthy eating choices is one. Christian worship with a church home and activeness in that is another. Interest in growth in their career by reading, attending workshops, networking or attending classes. Healthy hobbies is another. Who you hang around with is another. Positive attitude and making a conscience decision to have a positive attitude is another. Staying away from addictive habits another: alcohol, cigarettes and gambling.
These came to mind for me after really observing certain people in society. I think you would agree that these are pretty basic truths. They make sense. But, people say "Who has time?". That is a crock!
I have found ways to at least walk, most of my life. Now, I put my work out days on my calendar. I look ahead at my week, many times during the month and plan my life. I write my work out in the planner to be as important as a meeting or church service. I work out at home. This does not require drive time, daycare or a membership fee. That simple!!
My hobbies I enjoy in my home. On purpose! It's cheap to read books or the Bible (on purpose). My piano is here. My kitchen loves me to cook in it. And food is healthier when you know how much salt is going into it, and using fresh items.
I find the television to be a very, very unhealthy hobby. The commercials alone are too sexual and commercialism is saturating us and we don't even feel alarmed by it anymore. I sit to watch about one hour of TV a week. I put the local news on when I get ready for work, and that is another 1/2 to 1 hour a day. But, I don't sit. I am making the bed and brushing my teeth.
There is such an addictive trait to the TV shows now. You have to keep tuning in to see who won the dance show or who "survived". That is fine and good if you DECIDE to control how much TV you will watch a week. Turn it off and listen to the sounds of your home. It is so wonderful! I like to hear the crunch of the carpet when my cat is entering a room. Is your home that quiet? How about having the TV off when the kids are in bed. I love to hear them breathing and snoring. It is so great! They are safe, they are sleeping and they don't need anything from me.
And then God In God Out in very obvious ways. This one is getting more and more popular. The demonic tattoos. Let's all put the mark of the beast in some artful way on our body! That one Satan LOVES! He is laughing at all of these 20-30 year olds. I shiver. I wish they knew the portal they are opening for him to keep enticing them, ever so quietly into his eternal web. It's people like me that he is really bugging, loudly. He is wanting to make me into a complete hypocrite as a born again and will try every way to make me doubt what I am doing with my life now. He wants me to drink. He wants me to gossip. He wants me to get distracted and get in front of the TV, find all kinds of idols, give up on the joy of life, be negative.
He is wrong. I am a Warrior for Christ. I am making plans to get my Bible read. I am doing my daily devotion. I am keeping my body healthy and strong (as much as I can control). I am spending as much time as I can with family. I am making a plan to get baptized (again). I am praying for my church home, but enjoying two local churches just wonderfully in the mean time. I am talking to God frequently through the day. Praising him for all the little and big things. I am keeping the Holy Spirit very near me. I am praying, praying for strength, for endurance. Praying for others more than myself.
I am putting tons of God In. And I hope you notice I am putting tons of God Out. Have a great Sunday night!
2 Corinthians 7: 1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
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