Monday, March 22, 2010
In the Words of My Fantastic Friends...
Despite the slight creepiness of the video, I love this song.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Theism: Anti and Pro
I think we as Christians have a calling to love everyone! Yes, that includes those who oppose us. This is anything we find "ungodly" or "unwholesome": Atheism, homosexuality, other religious group, etc. Honestly, sometimes its hard to look past this fact and become people on agreeable terms, possibly friends. So many Christians use fear to try "converting" the opposition: YOU'RE GOING TO HELL IF YOU DON'T CHANGE! Or my favorite, the Bible says this and this. Also, the most horrendous excuse, God won't love you unless you change. (For my "opposing" friends: none of these are true...except for the first one, but that's beside the point--I don't want to scare you into my belief window.)
Here's the dealio: Jesus died for my sins, your sins, his sins, her sins. He died, He was crucified, He was shamed to show God's love for each and every single person past, present, and future. Oh, and the best part, the aspect that inspires hope in our hearts for a transformed life: the resurrection. He rose from the dead 3 days later. That's God's love because, now, we can overcome sin to be in the presence of God. No matter who you are, God loves you. He wants you. He wants you to love Him. Despite our differences in opinion, I still love you. I will love you forever because when Christ died and I accepted His death as a gift of salvation, He gave me the ability to love as He does. Maybe it's how I was brought up, maybe it's where I went to high school...all I know is the fact that I have learned how to separate the sin from the sinner--in every case (christian, non-christian)
Now you may ask what sparked this blog? There's a new group on Facebook called Hey Facebook!... Atheist Groups are NOT Hate Groups! Stop Banning Them! Here's the thing: if we as Christians think that Atheist Groups are hate groups, then aren't we the same? I mean, yeah, they dis our beliefs, organized religion, the idea of intelligent design and God Himself. But don't we dis the belief of NO God, NO intelligent design, evolution, and science?
Yes, I do have my days when I wonder why people choose to be Atheist. I personally don't believe in organized religion; I believe in a relationship with my LORD and Savior and the never ending hope there is in the Cross, not rules and regulations. There are days that I wonder why people deny the possibility of God. What do you have to lose? If you're Atheist, there's no afterlife. If you're secure in the knowledge of Christ crucified, there's Heaven. Then I have to remember that despite our differences, God loves us nonetheless.
I may not be able to change your mind by scaring you with the prospects of hell, or with the Bible (even though I believe it is the inspired word of God...that doesn't apply to someone who doesn't believe), or with no love. The only thing that I can hope and pray for is that you notice a difference in me (and other Christians...c'mon) and recognize the love as not coming from me, but from something greater, something better, someone MIGHTIER! My God, my love, my LORD!
Here's the dealio: Jesus died for my sins, your sins, his sins, her sins. He died, He was crucified, He was shamed to show God's love for each and every single person past, present, and future. Oh, and the best part, the aspect that inspires hope in our hearts for a transformed life: the resurrection. He rose from the dead 3 days later. That's God's love because, now, we can overcome sin to be in the presence of God. No matter who you are, God loves you. He wants you. He wants you to love Him. Despite our differences in opinion, I still love you. I will love you forever because when Christ died and I accepted His death as a gift of salvation, He gave me the ability to love as He does. Maybe it's how I was brought up, maybe it's where I went to high school...all I know is the fact that I have learned how to separate the sin from the sinner--in every case (christian, non-christian)
Now you may ask what sparked this blog? There's a new group on Facebook called Hey Facebook!... Atheist Groups are NOT Hate Groups! Stop Banning Them! Here's the thing: if we as Christians think that Atheist Groups are hate groups, then aren't we the same? I mean, yeah, they dis our beliefs, organized religion, the idea of intelligent design and God Himself. But don't we dis the belief of NO God, NO intelligent design, evolution, and science?
Yes, I do have my days when I wonder why people choose to be Atheist. I personally don't believe in organized religion; I believe in a relationship with my LORD and Savior and the never ending hope there is in the Cross, not rules and regulations. There are days that I wonder why people deny the possibility of God. What do you have to lose? If you're Atheist, there's no afterlife. If you're secure in the knowledge of Christ crucified, there's Heaven. Then I have to remember that despite our differences, God loves us nonetheless.
I may not be able to change your mind by scaring you with the prospects of hell, or with the Bible (even though I believe it is the inspired word of God...that doesn't apply to someone who doesn't believe), or with no love. The only thing that I can hope and pray for is that you notice a difference in me (and other Christians...c'mon) and recognize the love as not coming from me, but from something greater, something better, someone MIGHTIER! My God, my love, my LORD!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Fire vs Water
This fire inside of me longs to burn for Him.
It's burning, it's hot.
But there's a little faucet that found its way.
It found a cozy spot right above my fire.
It's dripping, dripping, dripping lies; dripping and quenching my fire, my warmth, my life.
It is suffocating the flames.
It is dripping!
These tiny drops are not enough to douse my fire, but enough to make it flicker and sizzle.
It has an opposite effect. Usually water satisfies, but this is lying water, this is not desirable water. It burns like fire, it tears like fangs, and it scabs, then it scars.
The scars are reminders of my past and who I was. Reminders of the desperation and the discouragement.
I see my scars and it comes back: the darkness called discouragement. The wounds are reopened, reborn (or died).
Why can't His scars be enough?
His scars cover mine, the fire consumes the damaged flesh and renews, restores, and rebirths.
The old scars are a reminder from the enemy of my past; the new scars remind the enemy of his future.
Praise be to my God, praise be to Him.
It's burning, it's hot.
But there's a little faucet that found its way.
It found a cozy spot right above my fire.
It's dripping, dripping, dripping lies; dripping and quenching my fire, my warmth, my life.
It is suffocating the flames.
It is dripping!
These tiny drops are not enough to douse my fire, but enough to make it flicker and sizzle.
It has an opposite effect. Usually water satisfies, but this is lying water, this is not desirable water. It burns like fire, it tears like fangs, and it scabs, then it scars.
The scars are reminders of my past and who I was. Reminders of the desperation and the discouragement.
I see my scars and it comes back: the darkness called discouragement. The wounds are reopened, reborn (or died).
Why can't His scars be enough?
His scars cover mine, the fire consumes the damaged flesh and renews, restores, and rebirths.
The old scars are a reminder from the enemy of my past; the new scars remind the enemy of his future.
Praise be to my God, praise be to Him.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
A Month Envy-less
My challenge for February was getting rid of any envy or envious thoughts. This was somewhat difficult seeing as how February is known for Valentine's Day and anything "relationship" oriented. If you know me, you know I want a relationship and have wanted one for as long as I can remember.
I did surprisingly well. I just had to ignore the massive amounts of couples piling up around me, which wasn't hard...with God's help, of course. Like I said in a previous post, I've begun to realize that a relationship is far from the thing I need right now. I've put it this way: I've been so willing to give my life to God and give him complete control, but I always kept the "relationship" area of my life in a death grip of my right hand while I offered the rest of me with my left hand. This month, I finally let go of my death grip. Honestly, it was absolutely relieving. Peace, utter peace flowed over me. I don't really know how to explain it. The reason I was holding on so tight to that aspect of my life is because I was afraid that if I gave it up, God wouldn't give me what I want so badly, He would take it away forever and I would be devastated. Even though I didn't do anything with it (and it was more stressful when I had "control" of it), I liked the idea of me being in control so I could do anything whenever I wanted. What I didn't realize is the fact that when I gave it up, I was no longer worried that God would be a "big meanie" and keep the candy in eye-sight but out of reach. I know that He has absolute control of every aspect of my life and it's quite a relief. I never realized how much of a burden it is to carry your own load. It's quite nice when God helps out. It's like I'm a little kid who can barely lift her backpack after a long day at kindergarten, but my daddy helps me lift it into the back of the car. Another thing I failed to realize is by giving up this dream of mine and knowing God has control of it, if it doesn't end up coming true, I'll be able to rest in the knowledge that it's God's will, not something I did wrong. God does everything right; I don't...
I don't know if any of this makes sense, it hardly even makes sense to me, but all I know is that I'm not worried a smidgen. It will happen all in good time, in God's time, and if it doesn't happen (as terrifying as it is) I will be okay. I can honestly say right now that as much as I want to be married and raise my babies, the idea of it not happening doesn't scare me in the least. I can't believe I am saying it, but I will be OKAY! My life will be fulfilled for God in some other way. My dreams will change if they don't line up with God's. It blows my mind to see how much I've been learning just in the past two months. I think opening up my mind to this "12 Months of Love" challenge is also opening doors to more learning opportunities.
It's like a tree each month. The trunk of February was NO ENVY. Some of the branches were giving up my "dream," "realizing that God has bigger plans," "I don't need a relationship right now," "I'll be okay if it never happens," etc. (same with January. Trunk: patience and kindness, branches: service.)
Moreover, I built on the patience and kindness this month as well. I love when I catch myself being irritable or mean because I pray and there's an instantaneous change. God works. He actually works!
March? Love is not boastful or prideful. No one-upping and no talking about all my accomplishments, my sisters' accomplishments, etc. This is going to be kind of difficult.
I did surprisingly well. I just had to ignore the massive amounts of couples piling up around me, which wasn't hard...with God's help, of course. Like I said in a previous post, I've begun to realize that a relationship is far from the thing I need right now. I've put it this way: I've been so willing to give my life to God and give him complete control, but I always kept the "relationship" area of my life in a death grip of my right hand while I offered the rest of me with my left hand. This month, I finally let go of my death grip. Honestly, it was absolutely relieving. Peace, utter peace flowed over me. I don't really know how to explain it. The reason I was holding on so tight to that aspect of my life is because I was afraid that if I gave it up, God wouldn't give me what I want so badly, He would take it away forever and I would be devastated. Even though I didn't do anything with it (and it was more stressful when I had "control" of it), I liked the idea of me being in control so I could do anything whenever I wanted. What I didn't realize is the fact that when I gave it up, I was no longer worried that God would be a "big meanie" and keep the candy in eye-sight but out of reach. I know that He has absolute control of every aspect of my life and it's quite a relief. I never realized how much of a burden it is to carry your own load. It's quite nice when God helps out. It's like I'm a little kid who can barely lift her backpack after a long day at kindergarten, but my daddy helps me lift it into the back of the car. Another thing I failed to realize is by giving up this dream of mine and knowing God has control of it, if it doesn't end up coming true, I'll be able to rest in the knowledge that it's God's will, not something I did wrong. God does everything right; I don't...
I don't know if any of this makes sense, it hardly even makes sense to me, but all I know is that I'm not worried a smidgen. It will happen all in good time, in God's time, and if it doesn't happen (as terrifying as it is) I will be okay. I can honestly say right now that as much as I want to be married and raise my babies, the idea of it not happening doesn't scare me in the least. I can't believe I am saying it, but I will be OKAY! My life will be fulfilled for God in some other way. My dreams will change if they don't line up with God's. It blows my mind to see how much I've been learning just in the past two months. I think opening up my mind to this "12 Months of Love" challenge is also opening doors to more learning opportunities.
It's like a tree each month. The trunk of February was NO ENVY. Some of the branches were giving up my "dream," "realizing that God has bigger plans," "I don't need a relationship right now," "I'll be okay if it never happens," etc. (same with January. Trunk: patience and kindness, branches: service.)
Moreover, I built on the patience and kindness this month as well. I love when I catch myself being irritable or mean because I pray and there's an instantaneous change. God works. He actually works!
March? Love is not boastful or prideful. No one-upping and no talking about all my accomplishments, my sisters' accomplishments, etc. This is going to be kind of difficult.
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