Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Never grow tired of doing good.

I am amazed sometimes by what God uses to teach me lessons. I shouldn't be, considering He even used a talking Donkey to teach Baalam in the bible, but nonetheless, I am amazed. On Sunday, in KidVenture, the lesson was to never grow tired of doing good. At the time that I was preparing all the materials, and getting everything ready for Sunday, that message did not even phase me, but as I sat down on Sunday to listen along with the kids, that simple phrase, "Never grow tired of doing good," hit me like a ton of bricks. I often grow tired of all kinds of things: cleaning the house, laundry, weeding my garden, planning lessons, materials and volunteers for church. I realized in that moment when "Admiral Endurance" was talking on the screen, that I had in fact grown tired of doing good. And if God says to never grow tried of doing good, then He must also have prepared an energy source for me. That source is, of course, His word and HIMSELF! His word says for me to renew my mind daily, which I think often means that I need to change my perspective. All too often, I concentrate on how much something costs me in time and effort as opposed to looking at how much that act will bless others. A clean house, clean clothes and well manicured garden may not be all that important in the grand scheme of things, but preparing an environment for kids to learn about Jesus; a place that parents feel comfortable and confident leaving their children, well, that is more important than most things in life.

I also realized that God wasn't telling me I had to do everything. He wants me to do what He has asked of me, and to do it well. And then he wants me to ask for help when I need it. Even Jesus needed help carrying His very own cross to the mount to die on. A cross made of wood from a tree that He created. When I remember just how big God is, and how amazing it is that He would make Himself into a lowly human in order to give me an example to live by and to grant me salvation, I am so humbled and awe struck. How can I complain about the task at hand, considering all He has already given to me?

Never grow tired of doing good.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Rainbow

I was just reading Genesis 8-9. What a beautiful way for God to give Noah, and the animals, a covenant by giving the symbol of the rainbow. I think it's interesting that he says the covenant is with the animals also. I wonder if when animals see a rainbow, if they somehow know about the promise? I wonder if it gives them some sort of peace in knowing that this rain will most likely not kill them. I wonder if is causes them to praise God. I do believe that animals praise God. I believe they have an unquestioning knowing of the God and of who he is. I don't think God put in them the ability to doubt or question God's existence or His authority over their lives. I also think that that is one of the things that sets us apart form animals, and makes us more important in the pecking order.

I know that some people question why God allows us, humans, free will. Why were we given the ability to choose. Why did He put that stupid apple tree int he Garden on Edan in the first place? Why not just take away the ability to sin, and therefore we would celebrate and live in full fellowship with Him always. I think it comes down to something very simple (which is why it can be hard to grasp for some people.) I think it comes down to choice. It is a very different thing to choose to love someone than it is to have to love someone. Take your relatives, for instance. There are people in your family that you love quite frankly, because you have to. They are blood relatives and it is the only reason you associate with them at all. You have nothing in common, you think they are weird, crazy, too neat, too messy, too permissive, etc. you get the point. But then, there are people that you love because you have chosen to love them, through thick and thin. You love them even though they are weird, crazy, too messy, too neat, too permissive, etc. You just love them. That is the kind of love that Christ wants from us. He wants the kind we chose. This way, we will want to be in a relationship with Him. We will trust Him, confide in Him and take His advise as if it is coming from a loving friend, and not some relative that you have to listen to just because you are related.

Although I do sometimes envy that animals never doubt God, I would not want to simply be one of God's servant creatures. I am amazed every time I think about the fact the Jesus called me His friend. Given the choice, and thank God He does, I choose friendship over servant hood any day. Friendship makes me want to serve Him, not have to serve Him. Friendship makes me want to take His advise, not feel like I have to. Friendship makes me love Him more deeply, not just fear and respect Him.

Thank you, God, for calling me your friend. Help me to be a better friend to you and those around me.

Monday, July 16, 2007

vacation

We just got back from a week at the beach. It was wonderful! We were able to sit and watch the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico every night. Most nights, my mom and I "sang the sun to sleep" as we have done most of my life. We usually sing Amazing Grace, but we threw in a few others this time as well. I love singing with my mom.

Vacations are funny. They are either totally relaxing or utterly chaotic. This was a little of both. Most of the time, it was relaxing. The girls, my mom and I went to the beach and played in the sand while Rich and my dad fished in the morning (Krissy, my one year old, hated the sand and would not allow her feet or royal tushy to touch it). We would go in for lunch, the girls would nap, while mom and I would talk or read or go shopping. Rich hated the humidity and heat. He also got a new nick name, "skeeter," because the mosquitoes did LOVE him and he was very dramatic in conveying his dislike for them.

The whole experience reminded me once again of Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things."

I could so easily describe this very vacation in terms that would make one believe that it was an awful time: we drove 10 hours with 2 kids under 3 years old, the heat and humidity was almost unbearable. Even though they fished everyday, the boys only caught enough fish for us to eat one meal. Korey threw several tantrums, including many in public and restaurants. The beds were hard and lumpy and I had to do more laundry on vacation than I ever do at home because of the sand and sweat in everything. To top it off, Rich and I got into one of the worst arguments that we have had in our marriage.

OR I could say: We had a beautiful condo right on the sand and we were able to watch the sunset every night from a wonderful screened in porch, safe from the bugs. We ate lovely meals every night including one night of fish that was caught by my wonderful husband and my Daddy! Rich caught a Pompano, which none of the other fishermen around him had ever caught. Korey loved the ocean and couldn't get enough of the warm, pale blue, clear water. Krissy loved sitting on the beach blanket and playing with her toys. My mom and I got to spend some wonderful quality time together looking for shells on the beach or shopping in the local shops. Because we were on an island with very little do to, we didn't feel guilty about sitting around and just looking at the ocean or playing cards together at night. And to top it off, Rich and I were able to grow closer to each other, and learn how to communicate better to each other so that we will be much better helpmates than we could have ever imagined possible.

The truth is, both are true, in fact, but only the second is true in experience. God doesn't want us to focus on the negative. Doing so only makes us negative people that are no fun to be around and that God can't use to spread His love and Grace. Instead, He wants us to be people that find joy in trials because we know it means a deeper and greater relationship with Him and with the people around us.

What a loving God that we serve! He can create the ocean, the earth, the very air we breathe and yet, he loves me enough to teach me a new lesson while I enjoy the paradise He has created for me.

Friday, July 6, 2007

Blame

I was Reading Genesis 3-4. Isn't it interesting that even the first 2 people so easily tried to blame someone else for a sin they had committed. We so often try to pass the buck. "But, she told me to!" I couldn't help but laugh at that when Adam said this to God. It just goes to show how easily we as humans can be influenced. It also shows how important it is that we rely on God and stay connected with Him through His word. This is the only way that He can be the biggest influence on our lives. The only way to safeguard us from ourselves. Lord knows, left to my own devices, I am cranky, moody and selfish in my decisions. I am rash and want everything right now. It is only when I am connected with God, through His word and prayer, that I begin to put things in perspective.

We are leaving today to go on vacation to the beach. My mom has always said that seeing the ocean helps her to put things in perspective. The vastness of the ocean compared to how finite and small we are, helps her to remember the Greatness of God vs. the meekness of man. And the water itself is such a powerful thing. It is soft enough to bathe my children in yet strong enough to wipe out cities, countries and even the whole world once.

I love vacations, but you don't feel guilty for just sitting around and doing nothing. I am looking forward to doing nothing and watching the beautiful sunsets each night over the water. I am looking forward to a good healthy dose of perspective.

Thursday, July 5, 2007

July 4

Yesterday was Independence Day and I had a wonderful day with my family. We all rode bikes together around the neighborhood and to the park where they were having a big July 4th festival. There were booths of food and bounce houses. Our church had a booth with snow cones and a bounce house. We just had a great day being together. I past a banner on the way to take Korey, my daughter, to the restroom that said "Thank our troops for giving us Freedom." You know, our freedom does come at a high price. The obvious price of soldiers losing their lives is the one that most of us think of, but with all the controversy over the war in Iraq right now, I thought about the other prices of freedom, like the cost of free speech and free press. It seems like a good thing until we stop being responsible for what we say.

Politicians are so focused on winning elections, that they don't think about how their negative talk on the war could be effecting our troops right now. Newspapers choose to print what is sensational and don't seem to care if that's not the whole story. It is so easy to get angry at the media and the politicians, but this attitude didn't start with them, it is because of all of us. We have become a society of people who want freedom without responsibility. We want to say what we want, do what we want and feel how we want, but we don't want the consequences of any of those actions. We have sex, but don't want babies so we say abortion is OK. We drink, drive and kill people, but blame it on the "disease" of alcoholism. We will get angry at our spouse or children and say wicked and hurtful things, and blame it on our anger.

I believe it is not OK to have freedom with responsibility. The bible says we have freedom in Christ, that we are forgiven from our sins, so yes, technically, we can sin all day long and we will still go to heaven. But I don't want my reward to just be going to heaven. I want to live the life that God designed me to live and that means taking responsibility for my actions. It means, not just apologizing for angry words, but learning to control my temper. It means that if I don't want to hurt people by drinking and driving that I shouldn't drive in the first place. It means that as a politician, the lives of the soldiers should be just as important as winning an election in which that politician is supposed to be representing that very soldier.

The bible says that to whom much is given, much is required. God has given me so much by giving me the gift of freedom through Christ. How can I do anything less than be responsible with that freedom?

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

The moon

I was reading Genesis 1-2 today, basically because I have decided (again) to try and read through the entire bible from start to finish, the way I would read a regular book. I don't know why this is so hard to do. I can read regular books pretty quickly and it never seems to be an issue. I guess this is just one more piece of evidence that the bible is living an active and that Satan is actively trying to stop us from getting into Gods' word.

Anyway, I was reading about creation and how God made the sun to light the day and the moon to light the night. It started me thinking about the moon. The moon has no actual light of it's own. It simply reflects the light of the sun and although it doesn't provide as much light as the sun, it does provide enough to escape the darkness. I think we, as Christians, are the moon. We are to reflect the light of Christ, the sun, to help guide people out of darkness. I am sure this is not an original thought or analogy, but it was profound to me, today.

I also was thinking about how much influence the moon has on the earth. The moon effects the tides, it has a gravitational pull and it effects people's attitudes (ask any emergency room nurse or doctor about full moons and you will know). God gave us talents and influence of our own to use to bring people out of darkness into light. I used to think we were just vessels, suppose to empty ourselves totally in order to be ready for God to use us, but I don't think that is true anymore. Now, I believe that God wants us to use our personalities, our gifts, our talents and even our flaws to help bring people to His light. If people see me and I am transparent, even with my faults, then they will see that God loves and can use imperfect people. All to often, Christians try and portray themselves as having everything worked out, but I know for sure that I don't have very much worked out at all! What I do know, however, is that God does have it worked out, so I try to rest in Him (I don't always succeed, thank God he loves us with our flaws).