My daughter changed everything...especially God.

What's God like? In your mind, what's He like? His love for me had been hard for me to understand over the years...until I had my daughter. Many times I look at her and wonder is there any greater love in existence than I have for this little girl? How could anyone love anyone more than I love her? THERE'S JUST NO WAY! But that's not true, God does. God loves me more than I love her. It amazes me that is even possible. If I look at God through the eyes of a parent, it all seems SO clear. I want what's best for her...even if she doesn't understand it or even like it. God feels the same about me. When she wants to climb up on something too tall and totally unstable I won't let her. The displeasure she feels from that can be heard several streets over. As a child of God, I've felt that way too; not getting my way, not being "allowed" to do things that I want to do is downright frustrating. It's so hard to understand sometimes. Why won't He just give me that one thing I "think" I want so much? Why doesn't He do what I ask Him to do? Why can't I do this or that...doesn't He know how happy it would make me? Ha ha ha!! That sounds so much like a child who doesn't have the understanding that a parent does. How did we as adults get so arrogant that we think we know it all? Why do we think we know what is best for us all the time? How is that any different then how our little children must feel? I know my daughter doesn't understand why I take things away from her that I know are dangerous or not good for her to have. I don't give her what she wants when it isn't right, just so she won't throw a fit. She will throw a fit, especially at this age, but she will be safe and better off when I stand my ground. We throw our own little fits too. Sometimes we are downright defiant too. Sometimes trying to fool ourselves that we know best. But we don't. God knows best. His rules, His time, His gifts, His saying "NO", is in our best interest...PERIOD. Just like the way a good parent parents. It is simple. Children do not always understand why we do what we do, most times they don't. Why do we think we are any different as His children (grown up or not)? He knows things we don't. He understands things we don't. He can foresee things we can't. He wants the best for us pure and simple. Nothing at all different than we do as parents to our children. It is a perfect parallel! I have learned so much about the heart of God from having my daughter in my life. I can't always let her have her way because I know her way can sometimes be dangerous, harmful, etc... He's the exact same way! I know things she simply does not. I understand things that she simply cannot. He's the exact same way!

So rest assured that you are in God's hands. If you follow His guidelines and live your life in a way that does not go against what He has set out for us in His Word, then you can know without a doubt you are doing what it is your very best interest...even if you don't understand it, agree with it, or sometimes even like it. But in my experience, the more you live this way, the more you appreciate what you are protected from and the happier your life will become. It works. It is simple. It is the same that happens in our children's lives when we hold them to the things that are in their best interest.

Allow God to be the parent you need (even though you are a grown up now). Use that mindset to live in a place that you are safest and happiest. (Wouldn't it be great if we could help OUR children to "get" that???)---God probably thinks the same thing! LOL.

Me...harsh?

Sometimes I wonder if my writing is perceived as...how shall I put it...harsh. Yeah, I'll go with "harsh" for lack of a better word. I have my reasons for wondering this which I'll keep to myself, but it's mostly a hunch. Don't get me wrong--I personally don't think they are too harsh. I have tried my best to be honest, to be blunt when I deem it is necessary, and to be biblically-based. However what I don't worry too much about it stepping on toes. Sound mean? It shouldn't. Jesus stepped on toes all the time. He did. Get out the Book. Check it out.

What I've learned in my life, (which is generally what I go by...) is that when my toes get stepped on...I needed it. Of course it's never easy to admit that at the time our toes are stepped on. It's not for me and I doubt it is for you either. However, I internally grow the most when I am questioned, challenged, have my toes stepped on, etc... Let me get one thing straight though--I do not spend much time contemplating, reviewing, or even entertaining thoughts of reflection if someone "tried" to step on my toes IF the stepper wasn't trying to help me, or was not doing so in the spirit of love, or with Biblical backup. BUT...if they are armed with any or all of those things, then that's a different story. If those things are there, then I do my very best to listen up, take note, and make adjustments. I hope that anyone reading a "hard-hitting" blog of mine does the same and hopefully knows I only speak out of love, concern, and do my very best to be love-motivated and biblically-based...even if it hits right between the eyes. (That's just a bonus...and we all need it sometimes!)

Thank you, drive-thru!

God-Vision Goggles

The series that has been going on at my church over the past few weeks has been phenomenal! As most people who truly know me well know that I don't feel that there is enough evangelism being taught, encouraged, and focused on in churches today. I feel sure I got that notion from my dad. Those of you who know him will probably wholeheartedly agree with that statement. However, the series Ed Young is currently doing at Fellowship church has hit the bulls eye in my opinion. He said something that really said it all--"Whose FOREVER are you changing?" It is so easy to just float along in life working, raising children, maintaining relationships, dealing with families and friends, attending children's events and practices, etc..that our REAL purpose in this life gets pushed aside far too often. If our hope and salvation means as much to us as it should, it should radiate from us. It should, as Ed said, spill out all over everywhere. We shouldn't be able to contain it. That doesn't mean we are to be in people's faces with it. Doesn't mean we should be Bible thumpers. It means that when others look at us they should see LIGHT. They should see it in our lives, in all that we do. There should be something so obviously different that it sticks out. It stands out. It should never go unnoticed. Whether it is the exceptional kindness we show to the not-so-great waiter/waitress at Chili's or the new neighbor that we make an effort to warmly meet and greet. The big things in life and the small things should radiate our happiness and hope in Christ and our enthusiasm to share that with EVERYONE. Who should be excluded from our outreach? Hmmm? Should we snub the rude woman who clearly stepped in front of us in the Starbucks line? Or should it be the girl your friend knows whose sexuality is NOT in-line with God stated it should be? Ooooh, how about the person who damaged your life in such a way that you never thought you'd heal? (Like the spouse who committed adultery and left you?) Each and every person walking around coming in and out of our lives or just the guy begging for money at intersection traffic light, are all souls. They are ALL souls that God dearly loves and Jesus died to save. Not one of us has been put in a position to decide who deserves our kindness and our outreach and who doesn't. God can change the heart of a murderer. God can change the heart of the women who turned to homosexuality after being deeply wounded by her philandering husband. God can change the unforgiving daughter of a incestuous father AND change the father as well. Things that no one thinks can ever be forgiven or healed--God can change. I've seen it. I've read about it. I've watched it. I have LIVED it. So we are to reach out and touch everyone, no matter what their place in life. We are not to decide who and what situations are worthy of sharing the Good News! We are to live it and share it with everyone! No picking and choosing. No deciding this situation is more "comfortable" than that one. Every human being on this planet is a soul that God loves. We should see people through God's eyes...NOT OURS! Ours are jaded, judgemental, prejudiced, and close-minded. Let's put on our "God-Vision Goggles" and just see all others as precious souls. Struggling, lost, souls! Wherever they are in life, whatever their sin..share with them the hope and salvation YOU have. Don't hide it. Don't decide they aren't worthy of it. God thinks they are. See each and every human being as a soul God loves. It will change everything you do. It will change how you live, how you interact, how you behave, and how you share Christ in our lost lost world. Soften your heart. Recognize your internal prejudices. They are there for all of us...Get rid of them and touch a soul. Share Christ with everyone through the Light that shines and radiates from within you. Christ lives in us and we should let Him spill out all over everywhere all over everyone. Change someone's forever! Start today. Whose forever are YOU changing? Stop looking through YOUR eyes, and look through God's. Put on your "God-Vision Goggles" and change the world!

More Than Conquerors!

Something has been on my mind for a while now. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." Romans 8:37. There are some people who are Christ-followers but do not have this mindset. This verse does not say we are victims. It doesn't say we are doomed. It doesn't say that we are whiners or losers. It says that we are not just conquerors but MORE than conquerors! Why choose to be the perpetual victim? We've all run across these people, even among Christ-followers. The ones who always seem to be beaten, downtrodden, those who think it is just their cross to bear for everything unfortunate to happen "to them". RUBBISH, in my opinion. I think so much of what goes on in our lives is DIRECTLY related to our thoughts, actions, and what is in our hearts. We are not just sitting ducks waiting to be blown away by the lurking hunter. If we were simply sitting ducks...then Romans 8:37 would be a lie. So what's the disconnect? Where do the wheels come off for those of us who have read and fully understand Romans 8:37 and yet seem to always have so much misfortune happening in our lives? How can that possibly happen? The truth is that there are some people whose identities have become tied directly to their "victim" mindset. God does not want for it to ever be that way for His children. However, when someone gets attention and handouts and pity over and over and over, they end up using others for their support instead of holding themselves up through the power God gives us. In their mind it seems "easier". The reality of it is though that they are not living life the way God designed for them. I can say with complete assurance that God does not ever design someones life to be a sad, downtrodden, whining, victim. So how do we help those we care for in these types of struggle? Do they even want to be helped? That's one thing we have to know for sure. Because God will help those who truly want to be helped. We need to be aware that there are those that do no want to be helped (even though they may say that they do). Sounds bizarre, but there are those that use their struggles, afflictions, whatever problems they have in their lives for attention, or to use as a crutch so they can't be or won't be held accountable. There are a myriad of reasons why some people deep down inside don't want to be healed or are scared to be healed. If they are healed, they might actually have to walk on their own, without the crutch, without the excuse, without the attention. That can be hard to give up. It seems easier to live without going through what it takes to get better, to live better, to be stronger. We have to wait on those folks. We have to be kind but not enabling. That's hard to do as a caring, concerned, Christian. We want to help. We want to sympathize. We want to help. However, we cannot help those who don't truly want it, and won't work to get it. God doesn't flip switches either. He doesn't just change things if we aren't willing to participate. He doesn't bring those things in to us on a silver platter, as we sit on our rumps waiting on Him. He does not work that way and it is insulting to Him, I believe, to treat Him that way. "Oh Lord, help me, but don't expect ME to actually get off my rear end and participate, I just want you to bring it to me on that silver platter." I know that would insult me and I imagine it does God too. So, that leaves us, only providing assistance and help and encouragement to those who truly want it, seek it, and work hard for it, trusting that God will provide the resources necessary to pull us out of our afflictions whatever they might be...but He won't do it like a genie granting a wish. I am asking everyone to stop enabling the victims and whiners in our world. You are not helping them at all, in fact you are providing a disservice to them, by making it easier and more comfortable to stay where they are. Be kind, be a friend, be stern if you need to, but do not feed their need to play the victim anymore! If you find one of those who truly want to be changed, healed, renewed; use every resource you have. I believe you will have more than you ever dreamed because in those cases, I know God will provide!!! I know there was a reason that Jesus asked the man by the pool in John Chapter 5 if He wanted to be healed. Seems like a strange question if you really stop and think about it. But, sometimes we all need to ask, "Do you want to be healed?" and not only listen, but watch for the answer! If you find they do...give it your all. If they don't, don't waste your time , energy, resources in a futile battle. Your resources and God's resources are much better spent on those who truly want to be healed! It is our job to use discernment. That is biblical. Use it. Be God's hands, legs, arms, feet here on earth, but do so wisely. Do not waste them. Pray for change in the others. Encourage them to stand up, to work hard, to get of out the comfort zone and GROW in the Lord. When they are ready to do so, then and only then...get in there with them, dig in hard, and watch what God can do in their lives. None of us, who are in Christ, should be victims, whiners, etc... anymore! "No, in all these things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS though Him who loved us!" Read it, understand it, believe it, and most importantly--LIVE IT!!!

Accelerant Scoffing

Have you ever had something said about you that was just completely wrong, inaccurate, simply not true? Was it ever said because someone had misjudged you or obviously didn't know you well? Moreover, have you ever done things in your life that you weren't proud of, things that were displeasing to God, and then repented of those things and changed your life--and only to have people who didn't believe in your transformation, perhaps even scoffed at it? This scenario occurred in my life just this week.
When I heard that my life-change and my goal of ministry was questioned and even scoffed at, my initial feeling was that of frustration. However, that was mostly, what I call a "knee-jerk" reaction; you know, that occurrence when the doc taps your knee with the little rubber hammer-thingy and your leg kicks as a reflex. That knee-jerk reflex is automatic, not caused my purposeful thought; and so was my initial frustrated feeling about this situation. It only took me a second or two to fight off that reflex and think the situation through. I realized/learned a few things in that moment of reflection that I'd like to share with you.
First, if you ever find yourself being misjudged or having someone not "buy into" a Christ-based transformation in your life, consider the source and viewpoint of the person with disbelief. In my case, this person only knew me in a time in my life when I had turned away from God, (my turning was not with purposeful intention to do so, I simply and quietly allowed myself to be led away by the enemy--Satan). This person only saw the sin and shame that was going on in my life at that time. They never knew the person I was before that point (brought up in a warm, caring Christian environment), and they don't know me today (as a fully transformed, forgiven, and cleansed follower of Christ). So with that limited view and understanding of ME, I can fully understand why a person, only having witnessed my life of sin would scoff at my new life and walk in Christ.
Second, I also know that this person has probably never had first-hand experience with the complete life-transforming power of my God. I also don't believe they've even seen it second-hand. This realization led me to another level of understanding as to why my new life is so unbelievable to them. It's foreign, it doesn't happen in the world this person currently walks in.
So I had to take their view, their lack of any experience, their pinpointed view of a small period in my life, and allow them to feel that way without my disdain or frustration, knowing that it was a completely understandable viewpoint, from where they were standing. But the biggest thing I realized is that my life now and going forward could be their first viewing of the power God has to change and transform lives. What an opportunity I have! The chance to be a living, breathing example of how God can take a miserable, hurting, very sinful soul, and through the blood on His Son, cleanse, renew, and transform it into something beautiful, alive, and NEW. This person may never see this anywhere else in such a powerful way. I have a responsibility here to keep fighting, to keep growing, and shining in a dark world. We never know who is watching, who may be waiting for us to fall, for the transformation to fail, so that they can say, "See, I was right about her and this God-thing, this Jesus-thing, this church-thing, all along". We are never to fail them that way! No I will never be perfect, but I also know I will never turn back to that life again. I know I have the strength of the God of the Universe in my corner. The power can be used to show Light in this dark world, and instead of them saying "See, I was right about her," maybe instead they'll say, "Wow! I want that! I never thought she could be changed. I want that for my life!" It may or may not happen for this person, only time will tell. All I know is that this person's initial scoff really fueled my fire to shine even brighter and stronger. I pray that my ongoing, unchanging example of what God can and will do with a willing spirit will be witnessed by all! I am fired up at the opportunity to be a very powerful and REAL-LIFE story/witness for my God and His Son who made it possible!
You have the same opportunity. Live your life and shine as bright as you can. People are watching and deeply wanting something better than who and where they are today. SHINE! SHINE! SHINE!

Jesus -- Manly Man!

Why is it that most "manly men" don't/won't go to church? If they do, they go begrudgingly...Why??? I believe that many good, Christian, single women struggle with wanting a manly kind of guy that also strives to have the heart of Christ. HARD to find. MOST women that I know, like a manly kind of guy. I am talking about the strong, capable, masculine men, never the weenie-boy cowering in the corner that couldn't change his own tire to save his life. But in most traditional churches today, you don't find many of those strong, speak-up, stand-up for what they believe in, do-it-themselves kind of men, that lots and lots of women swoon over. Why is that? I think that most of the men that those kind of manly-men think are in church are weak, probably dragged to church by their wives, and don't have an drop of testosterone left in their bodies. The problem is we aren't nearly as aware of what kind of MAN Jesus actually was. Yes, He was Baby Jesus meek and mild. But He's also the man that hand-made a whip and tore through the temple, turning over tables, and running everyone out. I doubt a little weenie-man could/would do that...and certainly not without getting his butt whooped! He's also the man who went to fishermen (you know that most fishermen, especially in those days weren't sissy boys) and said "Come, follow me" and THEY DID. Why? Do you think it was magic? Do you think if it was just some mild-mannered, soft-spoken, wussy-boy, they would've stopped what they were doing and followed Him? I don't think so. I think they would have laughed and made fun of Him, BUT they didn't. They followed Him! He must've have been someone that spoke and acted with power and authority. Think about it. Not someone who pulls his head in like a turtle when he's crossed or when things get sticky or uncomfortable! NO...He's strong and bold, outspoken and a leader. I don't know many men like that in our churches today. I could list the few that I personally know on one hand AND not use all of my fingers. I am not saying that to be a man like Jesus, you have to be big, physically strong, able to command fishermen...etc, but definitely someone who stands up, stands out, gets involved, reaches out and doesn't cower when it comes to sharing faith and fighting hard against Satan. Someone who will always speak up when they KNOW something is wrong. Someone who will not cower when God calls them to break out of their comfort zone. Someone who trusts God to provide the strength needed to be Christ-like, to be like the manly-man that Jesus truly was. Strong. Capable. Bold. Inspiring and leading. Never ever cowering in the face of wrong but always standing up and being a MAN....GOD'S MAN. I wish more men understood THAT is what Jesus was truly like...yes, He was gentle and kind and compassionate, but that's exactly my point. Men don't have to be one or the other, they can and should strive to be both. That is what I think the illustration of God's man looks like. The same dude that said "Let the little children come unto me," and also kicked booty in the temple with his hand-made whip. I know I would've swooned!

Fire Squelcher!

Have you ever been "set on fire" by a lesson or sermon (or whatever you want to call them), that you heard at church? Maybe you left the church building with ideas, thoughts, steps you were going to take to put what you heard or were inspired by into action... Maybe you were filled with excitement and resolve to do something different...Maybe you had a new desire to take some new action in your life...Or maybe you had a rekindled desire. Have you ever looked up days later only to realize that your daily life and happenings squelched that fire you felt? Have you ever had that happen to you? Well, I have. Many times in my life, I've sat in a seat, pew, or whatever and made internal plans, resolves, etc...only to have them fade into nearly nothing as the days pass. In fact, I experienced that this very week, and it is so frustrating. Even though I called the problem "daily life and happenings" that blew out the flame, in my heart I know who was ultimately behind it...SATAN?!?!?!?!!!!!! (Said in the "church-lady" voice...) I know this to be true and it just IRKS me. Even though he can work in such blatant obvious ways and in the most cruel and vicious ways, what is scarier is the way he works in such subltety and obscurity that you don't even know what happened. In fact most of the time it happens so seemlessly and quietly that we never even realize that it even happened. Usually there isn't even a time of reflection (that I am having right now) where you've realized that Saturday you were on fire about something and today (Thursday) it's gone. It somehow just fades somewhere into the night and you don't ever even realize it happened. FORTUNATELY in this instance, I have this Thursday-lunchtime-realization of what happened and so I know his plan was not a complete success. There is hope for me to rekindle the fire that was lit Saturday night. I had some definite ideas and plans of action to take after that lesson, that got lost for a few days...but HA HA Satan, they WERE NOT LOST FOREVER!! I pray to become more immediatley proactive with my determination to take certain steps or actions after being moved by the Holy Spirit (which is what I believe gives you that nudge or that fire when hearing a lesson or sermon or whatever...it is the HS that gives you that "feeling"). We all need to stop waiting, stop procrastinating about things we know are important, maybe even crucial. When you feel that nudge, know it is of God, through His Holy Spirit, because if you let it sit too long you are inviting Satan to come in and poof out the flame. He won't waste anytime in doing so either. He's just lurking, waiting for a fire to be lit, and for that fire to go unguarded, so he can pounce over and poof it out...lots of times with just a whisper! BEWARE and be FOREWARNED! Act now, act immediately when you are nudged by God. Don't risk allowing the enemy win in a whisper.