Christian

Drinking two cups of coffee is a poor decision for me. Ever. But drinking two cups of coffee at 10:30 at night... REALLY poor decision. But it's caused me to want to start writing in my blog again so I guess it was worth it.

I have been really thinking lately about how embarrassed I am to be a Christian.

YES. I said that.

So many people around me who are heavily involved in local churches, who work with youth, and go on missions trips make me want to cry.

Why?

Because they are living lives that look extremely similar to those of the Pharisees.

The Pharisees were so wrapped up in the law and doing everything by "code" that they missed Jesus... when He was staring them in the face.... begging them to see Him.

Jesus was on the streets with the beggars, the tax collectors, and the harlots. He didn't care about His appearance, His pride, or His personal emotions. He only had one thing on His mind and that was showing those around Him the Heavenly Father who loved them and wanted to call them Sons and Daughters.

It absolutely makes my heart break to see this happening all over again today. So many times I hear "Christians" shoving their religion down other people's necks in a judgmental and condescending way. Since when did sharing the Gospel with someone mean showing them how wrong they are and showing them how right we are?

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8

It makes me sick to see and hear Christians who think that they have earned Salvation and that other people are so sinful that they need to be called out and called to repentance.

This is not my Jesus.

I serve a God of mercy and grace. This is the only reason I live and have the privilege of showing and telling others about this LOVE and JOY I have found.

Of course I am not speaking to all Christians. And I am in no way claiming to be perfect. Everyone and anyone can easily lose sight of what is truly important. Satan works hard at turning our eyes off of Him. I simply challenge you as a fellow Sister in Christ to look hard at your approach to those who do not yet realize the amazing gift of Life being offered to them. Every action you take and every word you say make an impact.

Suffering...

Suffering is an unpleasant topic. Plain and simple. However, this past week... it has come up a lot in my discussions... particularly at church: sunday school, the church service, and small group.

There are two times in my life that really stir in me when I hear the word suffer. The most recent would be watching a dear, dear man in my life suffer and eventually lose his life to a disease he obtained through a blood transfusion. Mr. Gary Stauffer was one of the greatest men I knew and I truly looked to him as a second dad.

1 Peter 5:10 says: “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you stronger, firm and steadfast.”

This was my hope... this was my prayer. That through this suffering God would shape me and mold me and grow me. And that when it was all said and done... I could look back and see how God revealed Himself to me. I praise Him today because I CAN look back and see how He used that really horrible time in my life to mature and strengthen me.

Many people have asked me why God allows suffering in their lives. I never knew what to say until I truly felt that I had suffered. You see... without pain, heartbreak, and sorrow... we would never be able to see and appreciate and crave God's WONDERFUL grace, love and JOY in our lives! What a thing to miss!! The JOY and HOPE that I have found through the times that I have suffered I will cherish and look to for the rest of my life...

Today I found out two very sad things. One being that my precious grandmother (whom I lovingly named Mommles when I was 2... don't ask)... lost her sister today. My Mommles loved her sister more than any sister has ever loved another sister... I promise. It breaks my heart to think of the pain my dear Mommles is going through.

BUT GOD.

He has supplied us with hope. And joy. And peace. I could never imagine going through any type of suffering with out my rock and strength, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1-11 – “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s enemies, we were reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. “

Free!!

I know it has been forever since I wrote on my blog.... oops!

But God has been doing huge things in my life these days and I just can't not say anything anymore! So here I go...

God is showing me SO MANY THINGS. I have no idea where to start...

All I know is that for the first time I am truly starting to understand the lessons I have been taught my whole life:

GOD LOVES ME

GOD LIVES IN MY HEART

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR ME

GOD PROTECTS ME

GOD WANTS TO USE ME

GOD PROVIDES JOY, COMPASSION, PEACE, MERCY, STRENGTH

and most of all...

GOD IS FREEDOM!!!

God is freedom from my sin... and I have a lot! He allows me to live everyday even though I am so horribly sinful. And the best thing of all...

God gives me freedom from people; from their judgments; from their expectations; from their hatred; from their hurtfulness; from their disappointments.

I am free when I live my life for the One who gives me the gift of life every single day. I am free when I surrender everything, take up my cross, and follow Him.

Only then do I find true JOY, PEACE, & LOVE.

My heart is so full of God's UNCONDITIONAL love for me today... may my life reflect what you have done me and let your love overflow from my life to those around me.

"Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you." Galatians 5:1 (The Message)

"Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intentends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat - I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I'm leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels. This isn't, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God." Luke 23-27 (The Message)