Too Seriously!

Every morning I listen to my second favorite pastor. This morning he was preaching on the fact that Jesus is God and God can not approve or be around sin on any level. So when we speak of God's forgiveness and His ability to forget about our sin, it does not mean that we will get to avoid the consequences of that sin. Rodney, my favorite pastor, said something along these same line last night. I think that God is trying to bring home a point to me.

Acts 7:42

The Message (MSG)

42 “God wasn’t at all pleased; but he let them do it their way, worship every new god that came down the pike—and live with the consequences...

We as Christians sometimes think that we have a free ride with the freewill that God has given us. We can live out the humanness in ourselves, ask forgiveness, and then think that since God has forgiven us nothing will come of the actions we have done. So we talk about others, we judge others, we even lie, steal or do any number of things thinking that we are above the natural cause and effect of living on this earth. 

Not true!!! For every action there is a reaction. It is the Butterfly effect that Rodney preached about a couple of weeks ago. 


But even as I type this I am reminded that yes there are consequences for each sin but it is not up to us to worry about anyone except ourselves. We have gotten so off track lately with thinking about what is right and what is wrong, or who said what and who should be punished for what they said or did. 

TV stations, government and even Christians and Christian organizations have taken it upon themselves to be the judge of all.  We are choosing what is right or what is wrong, forgetting we have all sinned and done wrong and that there is no wrong that is greater than another. We have been commanded to love our neighbors. Not judge their actions. Just love them. This scripture from Micah says this very thing....


Micah 6:8
The Message (MSG)
8 But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
take God seriously.

I love the last line of this. "Don't take yourself too seriously-take God seriously." Let's stop making ourselves the judges for all and relax and let God take care of what needs taken care of.

As Christmas and the New Year approaches let's truly love everyone no matter what. Then peace could dominate this world and not hate. Our churches could be full, our neighborhoods could be safe, and we as Christians could really be living out the faith that we claim we have.

I hope that all of you have a wonderful Christmas and a very peaceful New Year!!


Blessings!

Happy House

This week the youth from our church are on a Mission Trip. We have joined up with several other youth groups from the around the state and are staying at a local college.  

Each of the groups has been assigned projects in and around the area. Our group has been working for a Methodist church about 40 miles from the campus. We seem to be spending quite a bit of time in the car but it gives the kids a chance to sleep on the way up and on the back.

This wonderful church, where we are working runs a lunch program for their community, whenever school is not in session. Half of the children in the area are on the free lunch program at their school so they were afraid  that the kids would not get to eat properly during the off school days. They felt convicted to start this program 7 years ago with very little money and a couple of volunteers. They now feed up to 175 people and several of their members offer to be there everyday. Along with the lunch they have a food pantry that is loaded with can goods and such, all because of donations.

I love the fact that our kids get to see what can happen when people step out on faith and let God help them accomplish great things. Our group has really stepped up and have been helping move the, very many, cans of food out so that the lunch goers can have their pick as they are leaving.

Another project that the kids are helping with, is painting a house across the street from the church. This house was just bought by the church as an annex for their youth. Our guys worked out in the heat today and you know they had to be suffering some, but instead of fussing, one of our boys, while painting, put this smile on the house.

The attitude of our kids has been terribly moving, I am so proud of them!  Reminds me of this scripture.....

2 John 1:4

New International Version (NIV)

4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.

I know these sweethearts are getting tired and I know we are working them way past their comfort zone. But you would not know it by their efforts. Just like the house seems happy with it's new paint, our kids seem to be happy to be out there helping others and in doing so are accomplishing great things for the kingdom of heaven.

It is such an honor to be a part of their team!!!

Blessings!

Growing!

What a beautiful morning, this morning. I was out in the garden tending to those silly weeds and slugs. While out there I got to enjoy the peacefulness of the cool, quiet early part of the day.

It is my favorite growth time in the garden. The blooms are coming on and you can tell it won't be long till the vegetables start to form. Yes I do love getting the veggies.  But I do so enjoy seeing the miracle of the blooms moving into fruit.

Reminds me of how God works in our lives. As young Christians we are like the early plants. We accept the gift of Christ and then move into the growth process of blooming, (sanctification). Growing into perfection. Of course perfection will not totally come till we see God in heaven but we are growing everyday as we read the scriptures.and spend time in prayer with our Holy God.

We also need the strength of other Christians to help us in our growth. I had to tie up the tomato plants today, so to keep them from falling over as the fruit comes on. It's not that the plants are weak it is just that sometimes the burden of growth can be tough to maintain. Just like these plants need extra support, so do we. Life gets tough and it is hard to keep growing when struggles keep getting piled on. Loving and caring for each other and worshiping together helps our roots stay strong and gives us the extra support that everyone needs to keep growing. We just get better together......!

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

11 So encourage each other and help each other grow stronger in faith, just as you are already doing.

1 Corinthians 12:25-26

The Message (MSG)

25-26 The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.


You know, we all are blooming and growing. Hope you make it to church this Sunday. So you can receive, and help give, the support that gets us all through this wonderful, challenging, garden of life!

Blessings!

Ice Cream with the Grand Kids!

I am still in Rhode Island with the family and having a wonderful time with everyone.

Last night the grand babies and I went out for ice cream. If you are like me it doesn't matter what temperature it is outside, ice cream is the best! This ice cream shop didn't have any seats inside and it was too cold to sit at their tables outside so we sat in the car with the heater on, but that didn't matter we had the best time anyway and the ice cream was yummy! As I sat there with them I realized how lucky I was to be with them. I don't get to see Sandii and Joey very often, since we live in Indiana and they live here, so it is so very special to be with them. Joey had chocolate and it was messy. He had the cutest chocolate mouth smile and sticky fingers when he was done and Sandii, who is not a big eater at all, had hers gone in minutes.

As I am sitting here now I am watching them sleep.  I see so much of their Dad in them. Makes me think of my Grandmother who is in heaven now. My dad, myself, my son Phillip, and now the grand kids all take after her in our looks and stature. She was so special and taught me so much growing up. Like how to love God and family. She also was the best wife I have ever seen. My grandfather was so very lucky to have married her and he knew it. 

Family legacy means so much. It makes you who you are. 

2 Timothy 1:5

The Message (MSG)

⁵ That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith—and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you.

I hope that you as women have grandmothers living or in your memories that have taught you the love of family and the importance of faith. If not maybe you can be the one who, as the years roll on, can be the one your family looks to learn the important things of life.

I have to leave here in a couple of days but hopefully I am leaving memories that the grand kids can look back on say "My Grandmother is special" and I can't wait for her to come back. But more importantly I hope one day they can realize the specialness of the family line they are from and Grandma's faith and love will continue in them.

Blessings!

Mystery

Saturday Riley's grandparents took us all out to dinner and then let Riley pick out a birthday present. He has been wanting a better CD stereo for his bedroom, so that is what he picked out. Part of the deal with putting something new in his bedroom was we needed to clean up his room. Of course his version of cleaning and mine are a little different. So I started helping him. Cleaning out behind his bed was an adventure and a little mysterious. I kind of didn't even want to put my hand down behind to find all the things that shouldn't be back there. Kept thinking there might be a live critter or something. There wasn't but I was  glad when we were done.

In my reading today Colossians 1:25-27 came up. Here is what I read: God appointed me to bring all of his word to you.That word contains the mystery that has been hidden for many ages. But now it has been made known to God's people. God has chosen to make known to them the glorius riches of that mystery.  And here is what it is. Christ is in you. He is your hope and Glory! (NIV Readers edition)

Isn't it wonderful that we don't have to worry about a mysterious mystery here? Christ is in us. We know of His presence! Gives me goose bumps to think about how we are the hands and feet of Jesus. We don't have to worry about trying to find Him. Just look within. Nothing scary there.

The deal is, though, we need to take the mystery out of this for others. Show how Christ lives in them as well.  We need to show them the peace that comes from this knowledge.  "How we live our faith does matter", huh?

Blessings!