yes, i stole the title of gary chapman's book for the topic of the blog post today. i will probably receive a letter in the mail about plagiarism and copyright laws. my mother and father in law gave my husband and i a copy of this book before we got married. i couldn't put it down, but over almost 9 years of marriage we both have forgotten these languages. in truth i really don't read "self-help" books as i said before, but this is more of book for your marriage. i've gone back to it many times over the years just to look up the languages again and see what i haven't been doing.
the book describes our 5 love languages as acts of service, quality time, words of affirmation, physical touch, and gifts. i am pretty much all of these mixed now. you can imagine the nightmare this is for my husband. my husband is more of the words of affirmation and physical touch type a guy. really it's almost exhausting having to remember all of these about each other in our stage of life. my husband works a great deal and i am at home with our children, so having time for each other is only a dream some months.
men and women used to have very defined roles in marriage. i think about my grandmothers. they both stayed at home, while my grandfathers worked. this is the way it was, unless something happened where the women had to work to provide money for the family. i've done a few studies on marriage and one that sticks out the most was "created to be his help meet" by debi pearl. i agree with everything in this study biblically, but the reality of the study is that our world does not work that way any longer. ms. pearl sets clearly defined roles in your marriage almost so harshly that it's hard to stomach as a woman.
the bible tells married individuals that GOD comes first, then the husband, then the wife. the husband is the spiritual leader of the home and the wife needs to adhere to this. this is not telling you to be a doormat. you can have an opinion and pray about it with your husband or by yourself for the best solution for your family, but ultimately in the end your husband will make the decision. i fail everyday at this. if you get a sense from these blog posts, i am a stubborn, strong-willed, opinionated individual. i can be rash in my decision making and this has caused problems.
with a 50% plus divorce rate in the united states alone, somewhere along the line we have given up on marriage. i do believe there are strong reasons why individuals should divorce, and that is between your spouse, you and GOD. GOD sets clear definitions for a divorce in scripture. in my opinion there are a lot of people that just don't want to do the work that is involved in marriage. a lot of couples want the honeymoon to last and when it doesn't they run. i have felt this way before and that is one of my sins, but i have to remember the day i stood before GOD and made those vows to my husband - my soul mate. if i feel like my husband is failing me in some way then i need to tell him instead of thinking that he's gonna get it by some telepathic means. my husband of course needs to do the same, because i am not always going to know what i've failed him at, or what he needs from me.
we can't change who we are, because GOD made us that way, but we can change our hearts by letting GOD into our marriages. once we do this we seem to be able to recognize the great blessings of our spouse and why we got to married to begin with. i think we also realize that our spouses are just as human as we are and we make mistakes. you have to learn how to forgive one another, communicate and move on from that rough patch.
"wives, submit to your husbands as to the LORD. for the husband is the head of the wife as CHRIST is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the SAVIOR." ephesians 5:22-23
"husbands, love your wives, just as CHRIST loved the church and gave HIMSELF up for her." ephesians 5:25
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
pain
there are two kinds of pain that we can clearly define physical and emotional. a third in my opinion is that pain that becomes so unbearable to some that it takes the form of an addiction of both. there is a quote from albert einstein that says "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting a different result each time." i think with some of us this is true with our pain.
each one us has gone thru a painful experience. we have lost a loved one to death. we have gone thru a breakup whether it be a relationship, or friendship. we have had words spoken to us that were painful. we have even been the giver of those painful words - this should cause you pain.
when i first diagnosed i had to search thru the pain of having this disease and realize that it wasn't the end of my life, but a new beginning. the first year was by far the most painful of my life. not only did i deal with the diagnosis, i came clean with my own pain, as well as pain that i had committed in my life. i spent over a year talking with a woman that brought all of that pain in my heart to the surface. i was very raw with emotion most of the time, but i also began to heal some of my wounds, or the wounds that i inflicted upon others.
amazing grace is my favorite hymn. i cry almost every time i hear it. some of you may not know the history of this song, it was written by a man in terrible pain caused from the crimes he committed to GOD's children. he was a slave trader in the late 1700's. he spent the remaining years of his life atoning for his sins as a clergyman; giving his life to GOD. i can't even imagine the pain he caused to others, or how he was able to even forgive himself. i don't know if i could have.
here is a description of how you can see your pain. it's like a coin in your pocket. you put the coin in your pocket everyday, you can touch it, you can sense it, and you carry it with you. each day you hold on to it, it either gets larger in size and turns to bitterness, or anger or each day you release just a little bit of it and give it to GOD it becomes smaller in size. we can choose to give up our pain, or we can choose to keep it, just like a coin. some of us will always carry the coin whether it be large or small. GOD doesn't want you to continue carrying the coin, HE wants you to give it to HIM.
this is easier said than done for some, but know that the LORD is with you in your pain. HE doesn't want you to suffer, HE wants you to confess your pain. HE wants you to confess your pain to those that may have caused you pain and work thru it. HE wants you to confess the pain you may have caused another and work thru it. just know that some people will never admit they have caused you pain, and some will never accept your forgiveness for the pain you have caused them, but you have to let it go or it becomes a seed of sin.
the most visual and emotional cause of pain in the bible is that of JESUS dying on the cross. what JESUS cried out to the father as he took is last breath is the cause of all the pain in the world. people believe that god has forsaken them, that he's not real in their pain. search your heart, search your soul and know that you are not alone in this life when you go to HIM.
"for men are not cast off by the LORD forever. though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. for he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men." lamentations 3:31-33
"
each one us has gone thru a painful experience. we have lost a loved one to death. we have gone thru a breakup whether it be a relationship, or friendship. we have had words spoken to us that were painful. we have even been the giver of those painful words - this should cause you pain.
when i first diagnosed i had to search thru the pain of having this disease and realize that it wasn't the end of my life, but a new beginning. the first year was by far the most painful of my life. not only did i deal with the diagnosis, i came clean with my own pain, as well as pain that i had committed in my life. i spent over a year talking with a woman that brought all of that pain in my heart to the surface. i was very raw with emotion most of the time, but i also began to heal some of my wounds, or the wounds that i inflicted upon others.
amazing grace is my favorite hymn. i cry almost every time i hear it. some of you may not know the history of this song, it was written by a man in terrible pain caused from the crimes he committed to GOD's children. he was a slave trader in the late 1700's. he spent the remaining years of his life atoning for his sins as a clergyman; giving his life to GOD. i can't even imagine the pain he caused to others, or how he was able to even forgive himself. i don't know if i could have.
here is a description of how you can see your pain. it's like a coin in your pocket. you put the coin in your pocket everyday, you can touch it, you can sense it, and you carry it with you. each day you hold on to it, it either gets larger in size and turns to bitterness, or anger or each day you release just a little bit of it and give it to GOD it becomes smaller in size. we can choose to give up our pain, or we can choose to keep it, just like a coin. some of us will always carry the coin whether it be large or small. GOD doesn't want you to continue carrying the coin, HE wants you to give it to HIM.
this is easier said than done for some, but know that the LORD is with you in your pain. HE doesn't want you to suffer, HE wants you to confess your pain. HE wants you to confess your pain to those that may have caused you pain and work thru it. HE wants you to confess the pain you may have caused another and work thru it. just know that some people will never admit they have caused you pain, and some will never accept your forgiveness for the pain you have caused them, but you have to let it go or it becomes a seed of sin.
the most visual and emotional cause of pain in the bible is that of JESUS dying on the cross. what JESUS cried out to the father as he took is last breath is the cause of all the pain in the world. people believe that god has forsaken them, that he's not real in their pain. search your heart, search your soul and know that you are not alone in this life when you go to HIM.
"for men are not cast off by the LORD forever. though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. for he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men." lamentations 3:31-33
"
Monday, August 30, 2010
laziness
i loathe laziness, actually i have an almost fanatical view of it. this stems from my MS. i feel that i should give 100% more, because there are some days where my fatigue and pain overwhelms me that i can't physically do anything else but rest. in my opinion this makes me lazy. how crazy is that i ask you? i push myself to do more than my body physically can do and most times i end up getting sick.
some americans seem to loathe it as much as do, if not more. for example we take poverty as a sign of laziness. we judge another individual because they don't have the money or education to pull themselves out of it. that may be the case for some, but some are not going to be rich because GOD didn't want them to be. this is hard for some of us to accept. i know it is for me, because why would GOD want you to struggle financially, or not improve your mind so that you could understand the ways of the world. however i do believe that GOD gives us choices and it is up to us in the long scheme of things if we are going to choose HIS, or our ways.
we are all guilty of laziness no matter what you think. we have technology to make our lives easier. most us can't even get up to change the channels on the tv. we would rather turn a room upside down to find the remote than just go up and press the channel button. we hire individuals to clean our houses, mow our yard or even make our meals for us. some of this though is because we have filled our lives with so many activities, or work 80 plus hour weeks at our careers that we no longer have enough hours in the day to complete the everyday chores. remember that is your choice.
a lot of individuals become lazy in their study of the gospel. this is the main reason why i started writing this blog. i had become so lazy in my journey with him that i was losing him. this was not a choice any longer. i had to find HIM again and make my heart right with HIM again. so many of us feel this, so many of us choose to live thru the world and not enough thru HIM. i have found so many possibilities since i began reading the gospel again everyday that i hope i don't let the world consume me again.
GOD asks us to lean on HIM, no one else. HE asks us not to lean on our own understanding, but on HIM. HE asks us not to become lovers of the world, but to love HIM. when you open your heart to HIM everything falls into place, everything else starts to make sense. We all have trials and tribulations, we all have beautiful days, and this is given to us by GOD so that you can learn. We have no excuse for being lazy in our journey with CHRIST - none.
"make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you. so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependant on anybody." 1 thessalonians 4:11-12
"the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied" proverbs 13:4
never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the LORD." romans 12:11
some americans seem to loathe it as much as do, if not more. for example we take poverty as a sign of laziness. we judge another individual because they don't have the money or education to pull themselves out of it. that may be the case for some, but some are not going to be rich because GOD didn't want them to be. this is hard for some of us to accept. i know it is for me, because why would GOD want you to struggle financially, or not improve your mind so that you could understand the ways of the world. however i do believe that GOD gives us choices and it is up to us in the long scheme of things if we are going to choose HIS, or our ways.
we are all guilty of laziness no matter what you think. we have technology to make our lives easier. most us can't even get up to change the channels on the tv. we would rather turn a room upside down to find the remote than just go up and press the channel button. we hire individuals to clean our houses, mow our yard or even make our meals for us. some of this though is because we have filled our lives with so many activities, or work 80 plus hour weeks at our careers that we no longer have enough hours in the day to complete the everyday chores. remember that is your choice.
a lot of individuals become lazy in their study of the gospel. this is the main reason why i started writing this blog. i had become so lazy in my journey with him that i was losing him. this was not a choice any longer. i had to find HIM again and make my heart right with HIM again. so many of us feel this, so many of us choose to live thru the world and not enough thru HIM. i have found so many possibilities since i began reading the gospel again everyday that i hope i don't let the world consume me again.
GOD asks us to lean on HIM, no one else. HE asks us not to lean on our own understanding, but on HIM. HE asks us not to become lovers of the world, but to love HIM. when you open your heart to HIM everything falls into place, everything else starts to make sense. We all have trials and tribulations, we all have beautiful days, and this is given to us by GOD so that you can learn. We have no excuse for being lazy in our journey with CHRIST - none.
"make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you. so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependant on anybody." 1 thessalonians 4:11-12
"the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied" proverbs 13:4
never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the LORD." romans 12:11
Sunday, August 29, 2010
our significance in the world
there are a lot of beaten down individuals right now in our country, in our world. i started thinking about what our purpose was in it; why each one of us matters and the simple truth is each one of us is significant because GOD gave us life.
since before conception every part of you was designed by GOD, everything was predetermined by HIM. for most of us our self worth is based on what we do for a living. i am a stay at home mom. when i first started staying at home i felt i had lost what made me, me. this was a huge struggle for me. i no longer felt like i had purpose because i wasn't bringing home a pay check. talk about not feeling good about myself, i was at an all time low.
i hate even to bring this up, but as a woman in the american society a lot of time your significance is based on what you look like. i mean come on we pay individuals because of how beautiful they are. i have been told that i am a pretty woman. i don't feel that way anymore now that i've gotten older. i've gained weight, i have a few wrinkles, dark circles and bags under my eyes and i just don't look like i did when i was 21. some days this depresses me when i look in the mirror, other days i am way too tired to care, but that's not why GOD made me a significant person.
we also seem to base our significance on what we give to others. i'm not talking about just giving a charity money, or a cause. i think we judge another individual by what they do for another person, we almost force them into giving. GOD wants you to give, because you feel led to, not because someone told you to. now with that said he will also judge your selfishness and ask why you weren't willing to care for another human being.
we put too much emphasis on what our government, our corporations, our small businesses, or what other individuals do and not enough on HIM. our significance is based on how we glorify and serve him, what we do after is because he led our hearts to it. you have no right to judge another's significance on their place in the world only GOD has that right, so just stop. man's judgements don't matter, only GOD's.
your significance is because GOD gave you life and how you serve him everything else will follow. accept him into your heart; return to him.
genesis 1:27-31
"in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." proverbs 3:6
since before conception every part of you was designed by GOD, everything was predetermined by HIM. for most of us our self worth is based on what we do for a living. i am a stay at home mom. when i first started staying at home i felt i had lost what made me, me. this was a huge struggle for me. i no longer felt like i had purpose because i wasn't bringing home a pay check. talk about not feeling good about myself, i was at an all time low.
i hate even to bring this up, but as a woman in the american society a lot of time your significance is based on what you look like. i mean come on we pay individuals because of how beautiful they are. i have been told that i am a pretty woman. i don't feel that way anymore now that i've gotten older. i've gained weight, i have a few wrinkles, dark circles and bags under my eyes and i just don't look like i did when i was 21. some days this depresses me when i look in the mirror, other days i am way too tired to care, but that's not why GOD made me a significant person.
we also seem to base our significance on what we give to others. i'm not talking about just giving a charity money, or a cause. i think we judge another individual by what they do for another person, we almost force them into giving. GOD wants you to give, because you feel led to, not because someone told you to. now with that said he will also judge your selfishness and ask why you weren't willing to care for another human being.
we put too much emphasis on what our government, our corporations, our small businesses, or what other individuals do and not enough on HIM. our significance is based on how we glorify and serve him, what we do after is because he led our hearts to it. you have no right to judge another's significance on their place in the world only GOD has that right, so just stop. man's judgements don't matter, only GOD's.
your significance is because GOD gave you life and how you serve him everything else will follow. accept him into your heart; return to him.
genesis 1:27-31
"in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." proverbs 3:6
Friday, August 27, 2010
passions
one of the consistent facts about the bible is the passion of the belief in GOD. every story told has passion to it, you can feel it in the text. passions can be anything, but when you have passion for something it can make the world a beautiful place.
i have a passion for books. i love old and new books. i have not bought a kindle, or any other electronic reading device because i like the feel of books. i have always had this passion and i hope that i never lose it. i have a great passion for cooking. i love to make a meal and share it with my friends and family. a new passion seems to be developing in me that i have always dreamed about and that is writing. i have always wanted to write and share my thoughts, the thoughts of others, or even just write one book.
i admire individuals passions. my mother has a great passion for helping others in need. she was a social worker for over 25 years. i admire this about her. my father has a great passion for history. he studies the past all the time and still learns from it. my husband has a passion for cars (a little too much for my liking). he would have cars everywhere if i let him. my children are developing their passions now and i have to say it brings me great joy to see that development.
passion is most often i think associated with sex. women more than men in my opinion think about this with regards to their relationships. passion is very important to women, so husbands think about that when you are thinking about one of your wife's needs. women want you to feel passionate about them, it makes them feel very loved and desired.
i love to seek out what makes a person passionate about one thing or another. i look at doctors and nurses and their passion for curing sickness. i look at a teacher and their passion for growing a child's mind. i think of an artist that creates a piece of work that inspires beauty in another. i look at fathers and mothers and their passion to raise their children.
the ultimate act of passion though in our history as a christian is that of the death of CHRIST on the cross. GOD so loved mankind that he was willing to give his son to save humanity from it's sin. JESUS endured the torture and mockery so that we could be free of our flaws. at the end of the gospels matthew, mark, luke and john the description of this torture is almost too much for me to bear. i read this scripture again when i find myself wallowing in self pity, or am suffering from some injustice to remind myself what HE went thru for us and it puts everything back into perspective.
i challenge you to find your passions.
matthew 26:47-75,27,28
mark 15,16
luke 22,23,24
john 18,19
i have a passion for books. i love old and new books. i have not bought a kindle, or any other electronic reading device because i like the feel of books. i have always had this passion and i hope that i never lose it. i have a great passion for cooking. i love to make a meal and share it with my friends and family. a new passion seems to be developing in me that i have always dreamed about and that is writing. i have always wanted to write and share my thoughts, the thoughts of others, or even just write one book.
i admire individuals passions. my mother has a great passion for helping others in need. she was a social worker for over 25 years. i admire this about her. my father has a great passion for history. he studies the past all the time and still learns from it. my husband has a passion for cars (a little too much for my liking). he would have cars everywhere if i let him. my children are developing their passions now and i have to say it brings me great joy to see that development.
passion is most often i think associated with sex. women more than men in my opinion think about this with regards to their relationships. passion is very important to women, so husbands think about that when you are thinking about one of your wife's needs. women want you to feel passionate about them, it makes them feel very loved and desired.
i love to seek out what makes a person passionate about one thing or another. i look at doctors and nurses and their passion for curing sickness. i look at a teacher and their passion for growing a child's mind. i think of an artist that creates a piece of work that inspires beauty in another. i look at fathers and mothers and their passion to raise their children.
the ultimate act of passion though in our history as a christian is that of the death of CHRIST on the cross. GOD so loved mankind that he was willing to give his son to save humanity from it's sin. JESUS endured the torture and mockery so that we could be free of our flaws. at the end of the gospels matthew, mark, luke and john the description of this torture is almost too much for me to bear. i read this scripture again when i find myself wallowing in self pity, or am suffering from some injustice to remind myself what HE went thru for us and it puts everything back into perspective.
i challenge you to find your passions.
matthew 26:47-75,27,28
mark 15,16
luke 22,23,24
john 18,19
Thursday, August 26, 2010
a special day in history
below i have attached martin luther king jr's "i have a dream speech." today is the anniversary of these beautiful words given by a man so strong in his faith that he was courageous enough to take on oppression. while you may not agree, or even like him you have to admire his courage to stand before others to bring together all of GOD's children. we need warriors of faith like this today.
" i know what it is to be in need, and i know what it is to have plenty. i have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry. whether living in plenty, or in want. i can do everything through him who gives me strength." philippians 4:12-13
"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves, who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity. But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.
One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.
In a sense we have come to our nation's Capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.
This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.
Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.
Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.
Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all God's children.
Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual.
There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrong deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities.
We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro�s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one.
We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote, and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote.
No, no we are not satisfied and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by storms of persecutions and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.
Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our modern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream.
It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day out on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state sweltering with the heat and injustice of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor�s lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plains and the crooked places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.
With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.
With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning "My country �tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!"
And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California.
But not only that, let freedom, ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last."
" i know what it is to be in need, and i know what it is to have plenty. i have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry. whether living in plenty, or in want. i can do everything through him who gives me strength." philippians 4:12-13
"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves, who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity. But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.
One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.
In a sense we have come to our nation's Capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.
This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.
Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.
Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.
Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all God's children.
Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual.
There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrong deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities.
We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro�s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one.
We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote, and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote.
No, no we are not satisfied and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by storms of persecutions and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.
Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our modern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream.
It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day out on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state sweltering with the heat and injustice of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor�s lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plains and the crooked places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.
With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.
With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning "My country �tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!"
And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California.
But not only that, let freedom, ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last."
women
women fascinate the hell (sorry for the word, but it had to be used) out of me. one of my favorite things to do is watch women in social settings. i can hardly wait sometimes to see what their reactions are going to be to other women. women are very complex individuals i must say. all of them can be the same and different all at the same time.
i am in no way a "girly girl." i hate to get dressed up, because i would much rather wear my pajamas. as a matter of fact, i am usually in my pajamas. probably every service provider that has come to our home has seen me in my pj's and i know all my friends have. i envy women sometimes that look like they just appeared in a "sex and the city episode" with their style, but i get over it. i like comfortable clothes that i can breath in and believe me my clothes show that. this does not bother me at all, because it is who i am. i can't stand tight fitting clothing, because i have had 2 children, years of MS treatment drugs and i like desserts so i don't like showing the lumps.
i very rarely wear make-up and if i do it is a small amount. my hair is never done, because i have crazy hair. if it ever looks beautiful it's because i just got my haircut and my wonderful hairdresser does it for me. these are my physical attributes, and my inside characteristics have been shown on many occasions. i can never hide how i feel about someone, or a situation. i have tried. my face either shows my opinion, or my mouth speaks it for me. this of course has gotten me into a lot of trouble.
what i find most fascinating about other women is their tendency to have drama. we are all in the same boat, but we seem to have a lack of compassion for each other. we are jealous, envious, offended, hurt, scorned, and just plain rude to each other sometimes. i think women are the biggest offenders of judging one another. GOD does not want us to do this! HE wants us to support and care for each other. our roles have become so confusing and much too complicated. women feel like they have to do everything. i am guilty of this all the time.
GOD has specifically told you what your role should be in this world and that is to care for and nurture your spouse and family. now before all of you women get offended and bring up that you don't believe in the scripture verse that you must submit to your husbands you need to read the entire chapter about that. GOD wants husbands to treat their wives like they would the church and JESUS CHRIST (that's a pretty awesome way to be treated)(ephesians 5:25). for all of you single women that is how you should be treated period.
i ask this of all the women reading this, just for awhile put aside the negatives of other women and focus on their gifts. focus on their beauty, their uniqueness..let them know that. GOD made you to be cherished, made you to be a companion to adam, not an enemy of men, or other women. love each other for once.
"let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." galations 5:26
i am in no way a "girly girl." i hate to get dressed up, because i would much rather wear my pajamas. as a matter of fact, i am usually in my pajamas. probably every service provider that has come to our home has seen me in my pj's and i know all my friends have. i envy women sometimes that look like they just appeared in a "sex and the city episode" with their style, but i get over it. i like comfortable clothes that i can breath in and believe me my clothes show that. this does not bother me at all, because it is who i am. i can't stand tight fitting clothing, because i have had 2 children, years of MS treatment drugs and i like desserts so i don't like showing the lumps.
i very rarely wear make-up and if i do it is a small amount. my hair is never done, because i have crazy hair. if it ever looks beautiful it's because i just got my haircut and my wonderful hairdresser does it for me. these are my physical attributes, and my inside characteristics have been shown on many occasions. i can never hide how i feel about someone, or a situation. i have tried. my face either shows my opinion, or my mouth speaks it for me. this of course has gotten me into a lot of trouble.
what i find most fascinating about other women is their tendency to have drama. we are all in the same boat, but we seem to have a lack of compassion for each other. we are jealous, envious, offended, hurt, scorned, and just plain rude to each other sometimes. i think women are the biggest offenders of judging one another. GOD does not want us to do this! HE wants us to support and care for each other. our roles have become so confusing and much too complicated. women feel like they have to do everything. i am guilty of this all the time.
GOD has specifically told you what your role should be in this world and that is to care for and nurture your spouse and family. now before all of you women get offended and bring up that you don't believe in the scripture verse that you must submit to your husbands you need to read the entire chapter about that. GOD wants husbands to treat their wives like they would the church and JESUS CHRIST (that's a pretty awesome way to be treated)(ephesians 5:25). for all of you single women that is how you should be treated period.
i ask this of all the women reading this, just for awhile put aside the negatives of other women and focus on their gifts. focus on their beauty, their uniqueness..let them know that. GOD made you to be cherished, made you to be a companion to adam, not an enemy of men, or other women. love each other for once.
"let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." galations 5:26
what happens when you accept CHRIST
this question is truly personal for each person - between you and GOD only. there are a lot of misconceptions out there in society about what it means to accept CHRIST into your heart and a lot of labels.
by far my favorite label is "bible beater." this cracks me up, because the people that say that have no idea what a real relationship with GOD is about. now, with that said i do believe there are extremists to every religion, but i wonder if they understand truly what a relationship is with GOD and i don't think they do (just check out our daily news). before i did it, believe me i was probably the biggest one with doubts.
the church we attend is very large. my husband and i would drive by the campus almost weekly and to be honest i have no idea how we always ended up near there, because we didn't live by the church (of course it was GOD). i would always laugh and say "now being baptist is one thing i wouldn't do." boy, was i wrong, GOD had other plans. now, i know what a special place our church is, and i have met some of my best friends for life there.
when i first started to learn about CHRIST i couldn't even find my way through the books of the bible. i had no idea which way to turn (i still have those days)to find scripture. the first bible study that i attended i remember feeling ashamed and embarrassed even to be around those GODLY women; i mean really who was I to even be in a bible study with all of my sins. GOD worked his power over my heart and taught me.
another misconception is that some are afraid they will be judged by the church or fellow christians, that makes me sad. i just think of so many individuals that have lost out on this gift because of the ignorance of others, or they have felt they were being attacked for not understanding the true power of HIS grace. i have a friend, that i can honestly say probably has the entire bible memorized. i am in awe of her knowledge of scripture. she would always bring up GOD in our conversations and it would make me so mad. guess what, that was my issue, not hers. she was right and i was wrong. when i accepted him, i finally got what she was talking about - peace.
i have to say i do not read self-help books and i very rarely read christian books, unless that author has inspired me in some way (beth moore, gary thomas, john piper). i find no fulfillment from self-help books. they seem repetitive and are just a quickie solution to a problem that you rarely find works in the end. i have never, ever found that to be true with the BIBLE. the reason of course is that the bible is the true word of the LORD and the only help you will ever need. when individuals ask what the meaning of life is, they should read the bible, because there is your answer in black and white. proverbs is a great book to find a lot of those answers and i turn to romans a lot, actually most of the new testament answers all of those questions.
if you are struggling to accept him ask yourself why. ask the real reason why you would deny yourself this gift. if you are afraid of being judged, remember you are being judged already by those around you in almost every choice or decision you make. if being judged is your reason then know that GOD will judge those sinful and hypocritical individuals much more harshly than they judge you (romans chapter 2).
the reason why i did it is because it brought a sense of absolute peace over my mind and heart.
"i will lead the blind by ways they have not known along unfamiliar paths i will guide them; i will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. these are the things i will do; i will not forsake them." isaiah 42:16
by far my favorite label is "bible beater." this cracks me up, because the people that say that have no idea what a real relationship with GOD is about. now, with that said i do believe there are extremists to every religion, but i wonder if they understand truly what a relationship is with GOD and i don't think they do (just check out our daily news). before i did it, believe me i was probably the biggest one with doubts.
the church we attend is very large. my husband and i would drive by the campus almost weekly and to be honest i have no idea how we always ended up near there, because we didn't live by the church (of course it was GOD). i would always laugh and say "now being baptist is one thing i wouldn't do." boy, was i wrong, GOD had other plans. now, i know what a special place our church is, and i have met some of my best friends for life there.
when i first started to learn about CHRIST i couldn't even find my way through the books of the bible. i had no idea which way to turn (i still have those days)to find scripture. the first bible study that i attended i remember feeling ashamed and embarrassed even to be around those GODLY women; i mean really who was I to even be in a bible study with all of my sins. GOD worked his power over my heart and taught me.
another misconception is that some are afraid they will be judged by the church or fellow christians, that makes me sad. i just think of so many individuals that have lost out on this gift because of the ignorance of others, or they have felt they were being attacked for not understanding the true power of HIS grace. i have a friend, that i can honestly say probably has the entire bible memorized. i am in awe of her knowledge of scripture. she would always bring up GOD in our conversations and it would make me so mad. guess what, that was my issue, not hers. she was right and i was wrong. when i accepted him, i finally got what she was talking about - peace.
i have to say i do not read self-help books and i very rarely read christian books, unless that author has inspired me in some way (beth moore, gary thomas, john piper). i find no fulfillment from self-help books. they seem repetitive and are just a quickie solution to a problem that you rarely find works in the end. i have never, ever found that to be true with the BIBLE. the reason of course is that the bible is the true word of the LORD and the only help you will ever need. when individuals ask what the meaning of life is, they should read the bible, because there is your answer in black and white. proverbs is a great book to find a lot of those answers and i turn to romans a lot, actually most of the new testament answers all of those questions.
if you are struggling to accept him ask yourself why. ask the real reason why you would deny yourself this gift. if you are afraid of being judged, remember you are being judged already by those around you in almost every choice or decision you make. if being judged is your reason then know that GOD will judge those sinful and hypocritical individuals much more harshly than they judge you (romans chapter 2).
the reason why i did it is because it brought a sense of absolute peace over my mind and heart.
"i will lead the blind by ways they have not known along unfamiliar paths i will guide them; i will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. these are the things i will do; i will not forsake them." isaiah 42:16
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
feedback
for those of you that have been reading the blog, i would love to hear from you. any comment accepted.
i would love to hear your thoughts, questions, or a comment from someone that you shared the blog with.
also, if there is a topic that you really feel should be discussed let me know..i will do best to study the word and find verses for you. if you have verses share them!
in his name,
jessica
i would love to hear your thoughts, questions, or a comment from someone that you shared the blog with.
also, if there is a topic that you really feel should be discussed let me know..i will do best to study the word and find verses for you. if you have verses share them!
in his name,
jessica
the act of giving
this morning i have to say i was conflicted on what i would post on this blog. i've been walking around all morning asking GOD what he would like me to write about. HE gave me many answers, but i need to choose just one. i've chosen the act of giving. GOD gives us a clear message on how we are to give. give with a cheerful heart! there are 49 verses in the bible about giving...i counted.
i have not always been a cheerful giver. i have given just to give because someone told me to, or i felt obligated to. this was not the right choice. don't give, unless you feel led to give it's that simple. don't give because you think that is how you are going to get into heaven. it doesn't work that way and GOD makes that pretty clear in HIS scripture.
this past weekend one of our sunday school teachers gave his lesson on giving and it's been gnawing on me since then. i've been thinking about how individuals give. there all kinds of acts of giving; money, words, gifts, food, a touch, discipline, time. sometimes i can not give emotionally, or physically has much as i would like to and i probably ask others to give too much. this breaks my heart.
the person i ask the most of is my husband, this is wrong of me because he can't give me everything i need only GOD can do that. while he can give me love and care, he will never be able to fill the empty places in my heart or mind; only GOD can do that. a lot of marriages fail because spouses do not understand this, they don't understand that, yes you have to give of yourself fully to your spouse in the good times and the bad, but only GOD is going to make you whole.
the world has placed an almost fanatical obligation for you to give. our government is probably the worst at this; telling us whom we should be giving to. in the same token i think about oprah winfrey. i watch her from time to time now, not as much as i used to. she gives all the time to everything, but she isn't humble and that disgusts me. you can visibly see how much she enjoys the praise. GOD says to give humbly, to give not out of obligation, but because he wants you to. all of us have given something to world humbly; that's a good thing.
the best thing to give and the only thing to give is your heart to CHRIST. if you do anything in life that's worth giving; it is giving your heart for the GLORY OF JESUS CHRIST. HE gave his life for your sin, what are you willing to give for HIM? search your heart, give what your led to give, that is all he asks of you.
"each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under complusion, for GOD loves a cheerful giver." 2 corinthians 9:7
2 corinthians chapter 9 provides instructions on giving..., as well as many other verses in the bible, check out your concordance.
i have not always been a cheerful giver. i have given just to give because someone told me to, or i felt obligated to. this was not the right choice. don't give, unless you feel led to give it's that simple. don't give because you think that is how you are going to get into heaven. it doesn't work that way and GOD makes that pretty clear in HIS scripture.
this past weekend one of our sunday school teachers gave his lesson on giving and it's been gnawing on me since then. i've been thinking about how individuals give. there all kinds of acts of giving; money, words, gifts, food, a touch, discipline, time. sometimes i can not give emotionally, or physically has much as i would like to and i probably ask others to give too much. this breaks my heart.
the person i ask the most of is my husband, this is wrong of me because he can't give me everything i need only GOD can do that. while he can give me love and care, he will never be able to fill the empty places in my heart or mind; only GOD can do that. a lot of marriages fail because spouses do not understand this, they don't understand that, yes you have to give of yourself fully to your spouse in the good times and the bad, but only GOD is going to make you whole.
the world has placed an almost fanatical obligation for you to give. our government is probably the worst at this; telling us whom we should be giving to. in the same token i think about oprah winfrey. i watch her from time to time now, not as much as i used to. she gives all the time to everything, but she isn't humble and that disgusts me. you can visibly see how much she enjoys the praise. GOD says to give humbly, to give not out of obligation, but because he wants you to. all of us have given something to world humbly; that's a good thing.
the best thing to give and the only thing to give is your heart to CHRIST. if you do anything in life that's worth giving; it is giving your heart for the GLORY OF JESUS CHRIST. HE gave his life for your sin, what are you willing to give for HIM? search your heart, give what your led to give, that is all he asks of you.
"each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under complusion, for GOD loves a cheerful giver." 2 corinthians 9:7
2 corinthians chapter 9 provides instructions on giving..., as well as many other verses in the bible, check out your concordance.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
do you choose GOD or men? political scene of america
i think our beliefs are tested at one time or another in our life. in our country, in our world there seems to be a lot of testing going on. have we put too much faith in the world and not enough in GOD? i think so, but i have to say i didn't realize how bad we had gotten until the last few years. in my lifetime i have never lived thru a mess like we are in now. we as a nation are heading into the unknown, and most us do not like knowing what is right around the corner. we are a nation of planners - we have to be able to control our futures.
as a christian the ultimate reason for being here is to glorify god! another reason for being here is to share the word of the gospel and to bring HIS people back to HIM. we have replaced putting GOD first in our lives with money, power and material goods. most us are not in the public world, we are just living our day to day lives. we are trying to raise our families, pay our bills, and just get thru the daily grind. a shift seems to be happening though where all of us are being confronted with the way we were doing it and we are going to have to make some drastic changes. man's laws are trying to take over GOD's laws. nations have fallen when they decided to do this, when they turned from GOD. we are fools for thinking we could do it better than HIM.
a shift started happening in me when i started this blog. i was very angry politically with the world; with this country. really i was just angry with our government, but then i realized i was putting faith in men, not GOD. everything that is happening is because GOD wants it to. he is putting events in motion for us to wake up. the question now is are you?
it doesn't matter which political party you associate yourself with any longer - what matters is what is right and wrong. what matters is if you believe that JESUS CHRIST was your saviour and HE is testing you now more than ever; will you fail him? i will put it to you this way, i do not believe in supporting the opulence and wealth of a government where a man goes hungry on the street. i do not support a government that gives money for abortions, because that is murder. i do not support a government that does not put GOD's laws before it's own.
somewhere inside yourself you are going to have to search your heart and question your faith. just as CHRIST died on the cross for you, you are going to have to defend and uphold your belief in HIM. social issues are not GOD's issues, those are man's issues. we have distorted his laws to make ourselves feel better about our sin. there are no grey areas; only black and white. read your bible, if you don't have one go get one, i encourage you to. the founding fathers of this country had faith in JESUS CHRIST only.
"therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. let us fix our eyes on JESUS, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down on the right hand of the throne of GOD." hebrews 12:1-2
"the wrath of GOD is being revealed from heaven against the GODLESSNESS and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about GOD is plain to them, because GOD has made it plain to them. for since the creation of the world GOD's invisible qualities - HIS eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." romans 1:18-20
as a christian the ultimate reason for being here is to glorify god! another reason for being here is to share the word of the gospel and to bring HIS people back to HIM. we have replaced putting GOD first in our lives with money, power and material goods. most us are not in the public world, we are just living our day to day lives. we are trying to raise our families, pay our bills, and just get thru the daily grind. a shift seems to be happening though where all of us are being confronted with the way we were doing it and we are going to have to make some drastic changes. man's laws are trying to take over GOD's laws. nations have fallen when they decided to do this, when they turned from GOD. we are fools for thinking we could do it better than HIM.
a shift started happening in me when i started this blog. i was very angry politically with the world; with this country. really i was just angry with our government, but then i realized i was putting faith in men, not GOD. everything that is happening is because GOD wants it to. he is putting events in motion for us to wake up. the question now is are you?
it doesn't matter which political party you associate yourself with any longer - what matters is what is right and wrong. what matters is if you believe that JESUS CHRIST was your saviour and HE is testing you now more than ever; will you fail him? i will put it to you this way, i do not believe in supporting the opulence and wealth of a government where a man goes hungry on the street. i do not support a government that gives money for abortions, because that is murder. i do not support a government that does not put GOD's laws before it's own.
somewhere inside yourself you are going to have to search your heart and question your faith. just as CHRIST died on the cross for you, you are going to have to defend and uphold your belief in HIM. social issues are not GOD's issues, those are man's issues. we have distorted his laws to make ourselves feel better about our sin. there are no grey areas; only black and white. read your bible, if you don't have one go get one, i encourage you to. the founding fathers of this country had faith in JESUS CHRIST only.
"therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. let us fix our eyes on JESUS, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down on the right hand of the throne of GOD." hebrews 12:1-2
"the wrath of GOD is being revealed from heaven against the GODLESSNESS and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about GOD is plain to them, because GOD has made it plain to them. for since the creation of the world GOD's invisible qualities - HIS eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." romans 1:18-20
Monday, August 23, 2010
the miracle of a dinner
when i first met my MS doctor i knew she was something special. she has devoted her life to god and her patients. every couple of months she tries to have a dinner sponsored for her patients. the men meet at one and the women at another. we haven't had one in a long time, due to funding. as you can imagine drug companies, or the health care industry, don't always see the necessity of understanding their patients, but that is not the topic of this conversation.
each of the dinners i have been to has been a miracle in the making. each dinner is filled with the power of the LORD. i have to say that if you have met an individual with MS, then you have been blessed. they are the strongest individuals i know. they take their disease from a burden to a great gift. each one has such compassion and love for human life. they would give anything to help a person in need. i draw strength from these women when i spend the evening with them. we laugh, we cry, we yell, we chat, and we pray a prayer of thanks to the LORD for our many blessings.
we always have a topic of discussion for the evening and we usually don't finish discussing it, because we all have something to share. my doctor can love you, care for you, rebuke you, call out your issues all in one breath. she treats my boys as though they were hers, she is of part of our family - a blessing.
for a individual with MS the small things are all miracles. for some it's just being able to feed yourself that day, for others it's just be able to go to the grocery without losing all your energy. for me it's if my pain isn't so bad that as i walk i don't have to hold my breath because it hurts so bad. when I'm able to pick up my children without weakness is a blessing. when i am on treatment that's what i miss the most; is being able to hold them without fatigue, or even being so weak i can barely lift my hand up. the great thing about GOD though is he gives me that strength back within in the minute, or the hour or the day.
when i see all of these women that struggle with this disease at a meeting and how they get through the days, it always the miracle of GOD. these are GOD-fearing, faithful, beautiful sisters in CHRIST! if you have never met a person with MS, i reach out to you to do so, you will blessed with a miracle of GOD's strength and power.
"not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; persevance, character; and hope." romans 5:3-4
each of the dinners i have been to has been a miracle in the making. each dinner is filled with the power of the LORD. i have to say that if you have met an individual with MS, then you have been blessed. they are the strongest individuals i know. they take their disease from a burden to a great gift. each one has such compassion and love for human life. they would give anything to help a person in need. i draw strength from these women when i spend the evening with them. we laugh, we cry, we yell, we chat, and we pray a prayer of thanks to the LORD for our many blessings.
we always have a topic of discussion for the evening and we usually don't finish discussing it, because we all have something to share. my doctor can love you, care for you, rebuke you, call out your issues all in one breath. she treats my boys as though they were hers, she is of part of our family - a blessing.
for a individual with MS the small things are all miracles. for some it's just being able to feed yourself that day, for others it's just be able to go to the grocery without losing all your energy. for me it's if my pain isn't so bad that as i walk i don't have to hold my breath because it hurts so bad. when I'm able to pick up my children without weakness is a blessing. when i am on treatment that's what i miss the most; is being able to hold them without fatigue, or even being so weak i can barely lift my hand up. the great thing about GOD though is he gives me that strength back within in the minute, or the hour or the day.
when i see all of these women that struggle with this disease at a meeting and how they get through the days, it always the miracle of GOD. these are GOD-fearing, faithful, beautiful sisters in CHRIST! if you have never met a person with MS, i reach out to you to do so, you will blessed with a miracle of GOD's strength and power.
"not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; persevance, character; and hope." romans 5:3-4
weaknesses
sunday at church we had the great opportunity to listen to a service given by gary thomas. for those of you that have never heard of him, or have read one of his books i highly recommend that you check him out. gary, has the blessing of teaching and writing GOD's word. he spoke about our devotions yesterday and it really hit home.
i came home thinking about what i was devoted to - the good and the bad. since january of this year, i have not been strong in my faith, really it's been longer than that. when i say i haven't been strong in my faith, it's more that i have let myself try to control my life rather than letting GOD do it. i know better than this. i have let the world come in, instead of letting HIM in more than i should have. having a chronic illness that never goes away put things into a certain perspective. i look a my illness as a way for GOD to always pull me back to HIM. in my heart i know when i have a flare-up with my MS it is GOD trying to tell me that i need to get my heart right with him again and move forward. i have to pray to HIM everyday to help me overcome the weaknesses that i have let take a hold of me.
satan preys on our weaknesses every day, all day. as humans we are weak, but with the hope in JESUS CHRIST we are strong to fight against satan's game. i hope that most of us know the difference between what is good and what is bad. the best way i can describe it is if i have an overwhelming sense of shame, or that i just have a bad feeling about the situation then that usually means that GOD does not want you to be doing it.
weaknesses could be anything; some of us overeat, some us drink too much, some of us are drug addicts, some us turn to pornography, some of us have affairs because we aren't getting what we need from our spouses, some of us spend too much money, some of us gamble away all of our money, some of us enjoy creating friction between people for no other than the reason than to just do it, some of us look in the mirror and say we hate ourselves. they say a habit forms in 40 days. i could believe that statistic with some of my weaknesses. once a habit forms then it seems to be always harder to get rid of it than to establish it. satan doesn't want you to lose your weaknesses, he only wants them to grow stronger over time to the point where you feel so helpless and hopeless.
america has become a nation of quick fixes. we no longer seem to be able to form a commitment to solving a weakness over a long period of time. we have quick weight loss diets, quick addiction treatments, quicky divorces, abortion, credit cards for those instant gratification purchases...the list could go on and on. GOD is not a quick fix, you have to invest in your relationship with him. Once you make a commitment to HIM, you must have the discipline and strength to continue to learn about HIM, to accept HIM into your daily life. HE must come before all things - all things. Once you make a commitment to HIM a sense of great peace comes over you - it is an incredible feeling.
i will fail over and over again in my weaknesses, this i know and GOD knows. The only thing i can continue to do is pray for GOD's grace to help me overcome them and to surround myself with individuals that will hold me accountable for these weaknesses. I have no other way to fight these weaknesses unless i have GOD on my side, in my mind, and in my heart.
"be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the lord." psalm 31:24
"he gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." isaiah 40:29
"have i not commanded you? be strong and courageous. do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your GOD will be with you wherever you go." joshua 1:9
i came home thinking about what i was devoted to - the good and the bad. since january of this year, i have not been strong in my faith, really it's been longer than that. when i say i haven't been strong in my faith, it's more that i have let myself try to control my life rather than letting GOD do it. i know better than this. i have let the world come in, instead of letting HIM in more than i should have. having a chronic illness that never goes away put things into a certain perspective. i look a my illness as a way for GOD to always pull me back to HIM. in my heart i know when i have a flare-up with my MS it is GOD trying to tell me that i need to get my heart right with him again and move forward. i have to pray to HIM everyday to help me overcome the weaknesses that i have let take a hold of me.
satan preys on our weaknesses every day, all day. as humans we are weak, but with the hope in JESUS CHRIST we are strong to fight against satan's game. i hope that most of us know the difference between what is good and what is bad. the best way i can describe it is if i have an overwhelming sense of shame, or that i just have a bad feeling about the situation then that usually means that GOD does not want you to be doing it.
weaknesses could be anything; some of us overeat, some us drink too much, some of us are drug addicts, some us turn to pornography, some of us have affairs because we aren't getting what we need from our spouses, some of us spend too much money, some of us gamble away all of our money, some of us enjoy creating friction between people for no other than the reason than to just do it, some of us look in the mirror and say we hate ourselves. they say a habit forms in 40 days. i could believe that statistic with some of my weaknesses. once a habit forms then it seems to be always harder to get rid of it than to establish it. satan doesn't want you to lose your weaknesses, he only wants them to grow stronger over time to the point where you feel so helpless and hopeless.
america has become a nation of quick fixes. we no longer seem to be able to form a commitment to solving a weakness over a long period of time. we have quick weight loss diets, quick addiction treatments, quicky divorces, abortion, credit cards for those instant gratification purchases...the list could go on and on. GOD is not a quick fix, you have to invest in your relationship with him. Once you make a commitment to HIM, you must have the discipline and strength to continue to learn about HIM, to accept HIM into your daily life. HE must come before all things - all things. Once you make a commitment to HIM a sense of great peace comes over you - it is an incredible feeling.
i will fail over and over again in my weaknesses, this i know and GOD knows. The only thing i can continue to do is pray for GOD's grace to help me overcome them and to surround myself with individuals that will hold me accountable for these weaknesses. I have no other way to fight these weaknesses unless i have GOD on my side, in my mind, and in my heart.
"be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the lord." psalm 31:24
"he gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." isaiah 40:29
"have i not commanded you? be strong and courageous. do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your GOD will be with you wherever you go." joshua 1:9
Sunday, August 22, 2010
are you afraid of the church or the gospel? which one
i have heard many stories over the years that individuals have lost faith because of the church, or i should say religion. the different denomination of a church is just different interpretations of the bible. we are baptist. i found this denomination to be the closet to the interpretation of the gospel, but others have found that their denomination is. i don't believe any of them to be wrong, because we all worship the same GOD. what i do find wrong is that just because you attend a church on sunday morning, does not make you a christian.
you have to read the bible, learn the gospels, and accept his words into your heart, to be a christian. GOD does not give you a choice on this - he has told you what you have to do. his words are the only the truth on how you should be living your life - the only truth.
when CHRIST died on the cross, a curtain was torn. "and when JESUS cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. at that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." (matthew 27:50-51) my interpretation of this verse is that GOD at the moment gave you the freedom to worship him without the priest, the pastor,or the rabbi to step in your way. what i mean by this is that just you can have a relationship with him - just you and him. When CHRIST died the old covenant was lost and the new began.
our pastor did a sermon a while ago, and his quote was "being a christian is not a religion, but a relationship with CHRIST." before becoming a christian, i have to say that i had preconceived ideas about what the church was. i have been fortunate that the church i attend has made my journey incredible. of course the biggest example of how the churches should be teaching the gospels is through paul. god gave him the words "literally" of what the churches should be doing, but remember the church is run by sinful men and women just like you and me, so they are being judged also. i am not trying to tell you not to go to church, i'm just telling you that you shouldn't fear the church. churches are there for the fellowship and the teachings of CHRIST - go!
i found that i was afraid of the gospel, not the church in the end before accepting HIM. so that is the question; are you afraid of his words and failing, or are you afraid of the church? having a relationship with CHRIST is the greatest gift that will ever be given to you. i cannot say enough how beautiful it is to be in his word. GOD gives you so much love and grace! i believe every story, every word, and every prophecy is true in the bible - all of it (these were HIS words given to man to write down).
"for the word of GOD is living and active. sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even the dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." hebrews 4:12
"fix these words of mine to your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads." deuteronomy 11:18
"the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in CHRIST JESUS. all scripture is GOD-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." 2 timothy 3:15-16
you have to read the bible, learn the gospels, and accept his words into your heart, to be a christian. GOD does not give you a choice on this - he has told you what you have to do. his words are the only the truth on how you should be living your life - the only truth.
when CHRIST died on the cross, a curtain was torn. "and when JESUS cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. at that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." (matthew 27:50-51) my interpretation of this verse is that GOD at the moment gave you the freedom to worship him without the priest, the pastor,or the rabbi to step in your way. what i mean by this is that just you can have a relationship with him - just you and him. When CHRIST died the old covenant was lost and the new began.
our pastor did a sermon a while ago, and his quote was "being a christian is not a religion, but a relationship with CHRIST." before becoming a christian, i have to say that i had preconceived ideas about what the church was. i have been fortunate that the church i attend has made my journey incredible. of course the biggest example of how the churches should be teaching the gospels is through paul. god gave him the words "literally" of what the churches should be doing, but remember the church is run by sinful men and women just like you and me, so they are being judged also. i am not trying to tell you not to go to church, i'm just telling you that you shouldn't fear the church. churches are there for the fellowship and the teachings of CHRIST - go!
i found that i was afraid of the gospel, not the church in the end before accepting HIM. so that is the question; are you afraid of his words and failing, or are you afraid of the church? having a relationship with CHRIST is the greatest gift that will ever be given to you. i cannot say enough how beautiful it is to be in his word. GOD gives you so much love and grace! i believe every story, every word, and every prophecy is true in the bible - all of it (these were HIS words given to man to write down).
"for the word of GOD is living and active. sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even the dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." hebrews 4:12
"fix these words of mine to your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads." deuteronomy 11:18
"the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in CHRIST JESUS. all scripture is GOD-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." 2 timothy 3:15-16
Saturday, August 21, 2010
psalm 25
the book of psalms to me is by far the most beautiful. most of them were written by david, a favored son of GOD. what i like most about david is that he was so human and had so many faults like the rest of us, but was still so loved by GOD. his words were beautiful.
"to you o'LORD, i lift up my soul; in you i trust, o my GOD. do not let me be put to shame, nor let me my enemies triumph over me. no one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. show me your ways, o LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in truth and teach me, for you are GOD my SAVIOR, and my hope is in you all day long. remember, o LORD your great mercy and love, for they are from the old. remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love, remember me, for you are good, o LORD. good and upright is the LORD therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. he guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his ways. all the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. for the sake of your name, o LORD forgive my iniquity though it is great. who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? he will instruct him in the way chosen for him. he will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. the LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. my eyes are ever on the LORD for only he will release my feet from the snare. turn to me and be gracious to me, for i am lonely and afflicted. the troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. look upon my affliction and my distress and take away my sins. see how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me! guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for i take refuge in you. may integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope in you. redeem israel, o GOD from all their troubles."
"to you o'LORD, i lift up my soul; in you i trust, o my GOD. do not let me be put to shame, nor let me my enemies triumph over me. no one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. show me your ways, o LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in truth and teach me, for you are GOD my SAVIOR, and my hope is in you all day long. remember, o LORD your great mercy and love, for they are from the old. remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love, remember me, for you are good, o LORD. good and upright is the LORD therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. he guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his ways. all the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. for the sake of your name, o LORD forgive my iniquity though it is great. who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? he will instruct him in the way chosen for him. he will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. the LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. my eyes are ever on the LORD for only he will release my feet from the snare. turn to me and be gracious to me, for i am lonely and afflicted. the troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. look upon my affliction and my distress and take away my sins. see how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me! guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for i take refuge in you. may integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope in you. redeem israel, o GOD from all their troubles."
Friday, August 20, 2010
the prophecy of a peace treaty
if you are paying attention to the news fellow christians, then a you are possibly going to witness a peace treaty between israel and palestine. this was foretold all throughout the old testament and the new. i have to say when i heard that this was going to take place i stood frozen for quite a while thinking of revelations and scripture that had foretold this event. our faith is going to be tested beyond anything we have known.
years ago i did a study on the book of daniel (beth moore)and chapters 7-12 deal with the prophecies that GOD gave to daniel regarding the coming of CHRIST. if your curiosity is peeked you should take a look. it was quite an intense study and i have to say that daniel is in my top 5 of the best books. the below verse is quite disturbing to people for those that don't believe in CHRIST and what is happening in our world, but as a christian that believes that all scripture is true, then our hearts should be prepared.
"Then he shall confirm a covenant ('peace treaty' or 'peace plan')
with many (in Israel) or one week. But in the middle of the week (exactly 3½ years ... 1260 days ... after enforcing this 'peace' plan)
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. (there will be a new Jewish Temple built in Jerusalem)
And on the wing of abominations
shall be one who makes desolate ..." (Revelation chapters 6-20 detail the terrors after this event)
(Daniel 9:27.
years ago i did a study on the book of daniel (beth moore)and chapters 7-12 deal with the prophecies that GOD gave to daniel regarding the coming of CHRIST. if your curiosity is peeked you should take a look. it was quite an intense study and i have to say that daniel is in my top 5 of the best books. the below verse is quite disturbing to people for those that don't believe in CHRIST and what is happening in our world, but as a christian that believes that all scripture is true, then our hearts should be prepared.
"Then he shall confirm a covenant ('peace treaty' or 'peace plan')
with many (in Israel) or one week. But in the middle of the week (exactly 3½ years ... 1260 days ... after enforcing this 'peace' plan)
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. (there will be a new Jewish Temple built in Jerusalem)
And on the wing of abominations
shall be one who makes desolate ..." (Revelation chapters 6-20 detail the terrors after this event)
(Daniel 9:27.
friendships
my husband is my best friend. i know this not just because he is my husband, but because he has to live with a crazy woman and he still wants to be my friend. i have failed him so many times and he has forgiven me - that is GOD's grace right there. i am a pessimist and worrier by nature. i can find the negative in almost any situation and i usually do. the main reason for that is i have very low self-esteem. this can be quite draining on any of my friends. i am a doom and gloom kind of person. most of the books or articles i read reflect this. the more depressive it is the more i seem to gravitate towards it.
i am in awe of most of my friends. each one is so unique and that is how GOD made them. i have friends that are so great in their walk with CHRIST that they make me want to strive to be a better person. i have friends that are so giving that i wish i had just an ounce of that in my pinky finger. over the years friendships have come and gone. some i let go, because it was bad for me and them. we made mistakes of our youth that some how we thought at the time was important. i can only hope that we both have grown enough with wisdom that we realize that we are sinful by nature and we fail each other. i trusted in some friendships that weren't really friendships at all.
when i was first diagnosed with MS i was only 26. this is young, so i was still in that 20's phase where you went out and did stupid things, but i was going to have to change. it took me long time to do that. those friends remember that stage and i think that it is still sometimes hard for them to see that i have changed. i have friends that came to me after the diagnosis and that is the only way they have seen me. most of these friends have been with me on my journey with CHRIST and they are the most spiritually-gifted people i know. these are true christians in every definition. i love that about them. they make my life easier. all my friends do. i have been blessed by beautiful individuals in my life - GOD made sure of that, only him. these friends can rebuke me when i am wrong, and they do. that is ok they are supposed to do that, GOD instructs them to.
a pray that my friends know that i cherish and love them. that i would be there for them in a heartbeat. that i am so very grateful for their support and love that they show to me and my family. i have cried many tears of joy over them over the years. i love you dear friends - thank you.
"a man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." proverbs 18:24
i am in awe of most of my friends. each one is so unique and that is how GOD made them. i have friends that are so great in their walk with CHRIST that they make me want to strive to be a better person. i have friends that are so giving that i wish i had just an ounce of that in my pinky finger. over the years friendships have come and gone. some i let go, because it was bad for me and them. we made mistakes of our youth that some how we thought at the time was important. i can only hope that we both have grown enough with wisdom that we realize that we are sinful by nature and we fail each other. i trusted in some friendships that weren't really friendships at all.
when i was first diagnosed with MS i was only 26. this is young, so i was still in that 20's phase where you went out and did stupid things, but i was going to have to change. it took me long time to do that. those friends remember that stage and i think that it is still sometimes hard for them to see that i have changed. i have friends that came to me after the diagnosis and that is the only way they have seen me. most of these friends have been with me on my journey with CHRIST and they are the most spiritually-gifted people i know. these are true christians in every definition. i love that about them. they make my life easier. all my friends do. i have been blessed by beautiful individuals in my life - GOD made sure of that, only him. these friends can rebuke me when i am wrong, and they do. that is ok they are supposed to do that, GOD instructs them to.
a pray that my friends know that i cherish and love them. that i would be there for them in a heartbeat. that i am so very grateful for their support and love that they show to me and my family. i have cried many tears of joy over them over the years. i love you dear friends - thank you.
"a man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." proverbs 18:24
Thursday, August 19, 2010
a nation under god
i have begun to question why politics and religion cannot mix in our country. our laws tell us that church and state cannot be one. those words have been said by so many leaders in our country, but is that really true? with each passing day in the united states religion and politics seem to be growing together more and more. to win elections men and women always bring up GOD in their speeches, belief in a policy, or just flat out say it to say it without even really knowing the bible. the one saving grace in all of this is that judgement by you or me will not decide the politician's fate, but GOD's judgement will.
take for instance 9/11, the reason for those attacks was for a hatred of americans and our beliefs. radical islamists felt they were doing the will of allah by killing thousands. religious wars is nothing new, so why would it be different now. egyptians hated the jews, persecuted, enslaved them all for their religion (exodus). paul, whom god instructed to teach and spread the word of CHRIST, murdered and persecuted christians (acts chapter 9). catholics and protestants have fought on what is the true way to worship CHRIST for as long as i can remember. the endless battles of religion throughout history still goes on today. as christians we believe the true path to GOD is through our savior JESUS CHRIST by accepting him into our hearts.
it is said in the bible that GOD does not make mistakes, but i wonder sometimes if he regrets making the promise of not flooding the earth again (genensis 8:20-22). we have made such a mockery of his world and filled it with such evil. we can only learn from our mistakes and with GOD's grace move on. i guess what i am trying to say is that while man creates his own laws in a country, GOD's laws still come before man. our founding father's created this nation under GOD with their faith, the laws were written because of GOD's laws. you are kidding yourself into thinking that nation's are not created because of religion.
"i will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among them. then the nations will know that i am the LORD, declares the SOVEREIGN LORD, when i show myself holy through you before their eyes." ezekial 36:23
take for instance 9/11, the reason for those attacks was for a hatred of americans and our beliefs. radical islamists felt they were doing the will of allah by killing thousands. religious wars is nothing new, so why would it be different now. egyptians hated the jews, persecuted, enslaved them all for their religion (exodus). paul, whom god instructed to teach and spread the word of CHRIST, murdered and persecuted christians (acts chapter 9). catholics and protestants have fought on what is the true way to worship CHRIST for as long as i can remember. the endless battles of religion throughout history still goes on today. as christians we believe the true path to GOD is through our savior JESUS CHRIST by accepting him into our hearts.
it is said in the bible that GOD does not make mistakes, but i wonder sometimes if he regrets making the promise of not flooding the earth again (genensis 8:20-22). we have made such a mockery of his world and filled it with such evil. we can only learn from our mistakes and with GOD's grace move on. i guess what i am trying to say is that while man creates his own laws in a country, GOD's laws still come before man. our founding father's created this nation under GOD with their faith, the laws were written because of GOD's laws. you are kidding yourself into thinking that nation's are not created because of religion.
"i will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among them. then the nations will know that i am the LORD, declares the SOVEREIGN LORD, when i show myself holy through you before their eyes." ezekial 36:23
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
2 Timothy Chapter 3:1-9
"but mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of GOD - having a form of GODLINESS but denying it's power. have nothing to do with them.
they are the kind that worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never acknowledge the truth. just as jannes and jambres opposed moses, so also these men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. but they will not get very far because in the case of those men their folly will be clear to all."
this was written thousands of years ago - does it sound like our world today? the bible is a living, working book everyday, all day. the story begins with creation and still continues to grow. when you read the texts you start to learn about mankind and whom mankind is. the books of daniel and revelations clearly give us prophecy of what will happen to our world, along with so many chapters in other books of the bible.
i did a study on revelations years ago and i have to stay it still scares me. i had nightmares about it, because i truly fear GOD's wrath. choosing to ignore GOD is your choice, but I often wonder why someone would choose that. we have become so self involved that we can longer look at the whole picture and we only choose to hear the verses that make us feel good about who we are. alot of churches have this problem because they would rather stay politically correct (whatever that means) than teach the actual words of the bible in fear of offending their congregations.
i am in no way a biblical scholar, but i know this be true that by ignoring his words we are only destroying ourselves.
they are the kind that worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never acknowledge the truth. just as jannes and jambres opposed moses, so also these men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. but they will not get very far because in the case of those men their folly will be clear to all."
this was written thousands of years ago - does it sound like our world today? the bible is a living, working book everyday, all day. the story begins with creation and still continues to grow. when you read the texts you start to learn about mankind and whom mankind is. the books of daniel and revelations clearly give us prophecy of what will happen to our world, along with so many chapters in other books of the bible.
i did a study on revelations years ago and i have to stay it still scares me. i had nightmares about it, because i truly fear GOD's wrath. choosing to ignore GOD is your choice, but I often wonder why someone would choose that. we have become so self involved that we can longer look at the whole picture and we only choose to hear the verses that make us feel good about who we are. alot of churches have this problem because they would rather stay politically correct (whatever that means) than teach the actual words of the bible in fear of offending their congregations.
i am in no way a biblical scholar, but i know this be true that by ignoring his words we are only destroying ourselves.
Monday, August 16, 2010
the power of prayer
i would assume most of us pray. i don't know how you pray, or whom you pray with if any body at all. i heard yesterday morning that a couple that prays together has a better chance of surviving their marriage than others. i find these little research teams fascinating, because this is not something new. prayer is the ultimate healing in my book. i can take medicine everyday, receive treatments for my MS, but what it all comes down to is praying to the LORD.
i have had lots of praying and praise going on for the last week. when you say you are going to pray for someone, do it. praying gives you hope and the person that needs the prayers a great deal of comfort. i have prayed on my knees, flat on the ground, walking around my house, in my car, anywhere and everywhere. I find some days i am even talking aloud to GOD and praying, questioning, thanking him. I like those prayers the most, because if i'm quiet long enough i can usually hear a response.
unfortunately, we have taken to praying for more material items then actually giving thanks for what we already have. we pray for the bigger house, nicer car, better clothes instead of giving thanks for what we already have. somewhere along the line have you ever questioned whether more will make you happier, or is that just space you are filling up in your heart. you can't heal your heart that way. don't get me wrong i love beautiful things. i have a weakness for pj's and as my husband would say i like to buy bags to carry stuff in. as i get older they don't seem as important. with prayer i have sought wisdom more, and my eyes are opening.
when i am sick i pray for healing, but i also pray that the lord will show me what i have forgotten. he usually shows me and i have to say thank you for that. i have to realize that i have been failing him in some way, or my family that i need to return all things to him. in my suffering the glory of god appears before my eyes and it is an awesome sight. pray, give thanks, seek him, behold him and most of all glorify him for your life.
"ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will opened to you. for everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will opened." matthew 7:7-8
"you will pray to him and he will hear you." job 22:27
"the LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. he fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears the cry and saves them." psalm 145:18-19
"call to me and i will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." jeremiah 33:3
i have had lots of praying and praise going on for the last week. when you say you are going to pray for someone, do it. praying gives you hope and the person that needs the prayers a great deal of comfort. i have prayed on my knees, flat on the ground, walking around my house, in my car, anywhere and everywhere. I find some days i am even talking aloud to GOD and praying, questioning, thanking him. I like those prayers the most, because if i'm quiet long enough i can usually hear a response.
unfortunately, we have taken to praying for more material items then actually giving thanks for what we already have. we pray for the bigger house, nicer car, better clothes instead of giving thanks for what we already have. somewhere along the line have you ever questioned whether more will make you happier, or is that just space you are filling up in your heart. you can't heal your heart that way. don't get me wrong i love beautiful things. i have a weakness for pj's and as my husband would say i like to buy bags to carry stuff in. as i get older they don't seem as important. with prayer i have sought wisdom more, and my eyes are opening.
when i am sick i pray for healing, but i also pray that the lord will show me what i have forgotten. he usually shows me and i have to say thank you for that. i have to realize that i have been failing him in some way, or my family that i need to return all things to him. in my suffering the glory of god appears before my eyes and it is an awesome sight. pray, give thanks, seek him, behold him and most of all glorify him for your life.
"ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will opened to you. for everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will opened." matthew 7:7-8
"you will pray to him and he will hear you." job 22:27
"the LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. he fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears the cry and saves them." psalm 145:18-19
"call to me and i will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." jeremiah 33:3
Sunday, August 15, 2010
with anger should come forgiveness
for those of you that know me i am a political junkie. i love politics, but it makes my blood boil. when i watch the news, or listen to talk radio for long periods of time i become so angry that i feel like some days a blood vessel is going to burst in my brain. i haven't been watching the news much this past week, because i needed to focus on getting better for my family and friends. anger is not the best medicine.
while anger comes in so many shapes and forms, i often wonder what makes a man and woman stay angry over long periods of time. i can look at someone sometimes and see how that anger has turned to bitterness and there is a loss to reason. i have some issues that i have never resolved in my heart that still weigh me down. i have tried over and over again to rid myself of these and give it to GOD. i think sometimes it becomes a security blanket to us to hold onto the past with such passion that once it is gone we will find the loss too great. i think we hold onto it hoping that someday there will be some sort of recognition from the other person that they were wrong. the funny thing about it is that they probably feel the same way you do - that they weren't wrong. i don't know if there is always a right and wrong, just two sides to every story.
i almost find when i relent and look in the mirror at myself i can find what i did wrong. i can see the mistake i made. most of us have such pride that we can't admit our mistakes, we would rather continue the fight until the end, or just continue it over and over again. one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is the release of letting go of the anger and forgive. GOD gives us so many words to help us fight the battle of anger. if we allow it to take over, then we will always be blind and we won't be able to see clearly. sometimes you just have to let it go..don't hang on, remember that the other person is just as human as you are.
"get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in CHRIST GOD forgave you." ephesians 4:31-32
while anger comes in so many shapes and forms, i often wonder what makes a man and woman stay angry over long periods of time. i can look at someone sometimes and see how that anger has turned to bitterness and there is a loss to reason. i have some issues that i have never resolved in my heart that still weigh me down. i have tried over and over again to rid myself of these and give it to GOD. i think sometimes it becomes a security blanket to us to hold onto the past with such passion that once it is gone we will find the loss too great. i think we hold onto it hoping that someday there will be some sort of recognition from the other person that they were wrong. the funny thing about it is that they probably feel the same way you do - that they weren't wrong. i don't know if there is always a right and wrong, just two sides to every story.
i almost find when i relent and look in the mirror at myself i can find what i did wrong. i can see the mistake i made. most of us have such pride that we can't admit our mistakes, we would rather continue the fight until the end, or just continue it over and over again. one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is the release of letting go of the anger and forgive. GOD gives us so many words to help us fight the battle of anger. if we allow it to take over, then we will always be blind and we won't be able to see clearly. sometimes you just have to let it go..don't hang on, remember that the other person is just as human as you are.
"get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in CHRIST GOD forgave you." ephesians 4:31-32
Friday, August 13, 2010
faith
have we lost so much faith in the world that we have turned ourselves away from GOD? all i have to do is look at the news, or read an article and see somewhere along the way we have. i wonder if humanity has even realized that they have lost something so much bigger than themselves, something so much bigger that could get them thru the hardships of life that they are just going around and around in circles. the following are definitions that i looked up this am for the meaning of faith.
1. Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
2. Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. See synonyms at belief, trust.
3. Loyalty to a person or thing; allegiance: keeping faith with one's supporters.
often Faith Christianity. The theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will.
4. The body of dogma of a religion: the Muslim faith.
5. A set of principles or beliefs
Before i was diagnosed i didn't have much faith in GOD. i put my faith and trust into mankind. i found a lot of times to be very disappointed. when relationships failed of any kind i was so sad, angry, hurt and confused, but man is man. i had failed just as much as the other person in those relationships.
when i was diagnosed i questioned GOD and his decision to give me this. i thought what had i done here on earth that was so bad that i would be given this. my sins had caught up with me. as i grew in my study with the gospel, i realized how wrong i was about GOD. he didn't want me to suffer, he wanted me to prevail and follow his understanding, his wisdom. many of us question him now because we don't understand the horrific events of history, or what is happening to our world. why there is so much evil. i have to remind myself that this is all a part of GOD's plan. i don't pretend to even get it, most of it disgusts and terrifies me.
i have failed so many times when it comes to faith. when i start to lean on my understanding, or try to control my life's events only bad things start to happen. i started to write these words so i could find my faith again. i thirsted for it. i need it everyday for me, my husband and my children. you will not find your faith in the world, you can only find it in the bible and GOD. the world will fail you time and time again, but the gospel will always provide the answer you are searching for - you just have to look. i will fail in my faith over and over again i know, but each time i have a relapse with my MS GOD gives me another chance to put my focus back on him and believe i am going to take that chance.
"and without faith it is impossible to please GOD, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those that earnestly seek him." hebrews 11:16
hebrews 11:1, james 1:5-6, colossians 2:6-7, ephesians 2:8, galatians 3:26, 2 timothy 3:14-15, 1 corinthians 16:13, galations 5:22-23, 2:20, mark 11:22-23 ephesians 3:17-19, hebrews 12:1-2
1. Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
2. Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. See synonyms at belief, trust.
3. Loyalty to a person or thing; allegiance: keeping faith with one's supporters.
often Faith Christianity. The theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will.
4. The body of dogma of a religion: the Muslim faith.
5. A set of principles or beliefs
Before i was diagnosed i didn't have much faith in GOD. i put my faith and trust into mankind. i found a lot of times to be very disappointed. when relationships failed of any kind i was so sad, angry, hurt and confused, but man is man. i had failed just as much as the other person in those relationships.
when i was diagnosed i questioned GOD and his decision to give me this. i thought what had i done here on earth that was so bad that i would be given this. my sins had caught up with me. as i grew in my study with the gospel, i realized how wrong i was about GOD. he didn't want me to suffer, he wanted me to prevail and follow his understanding, his wisdom. many of us question him now because we don't understand the horrific events of history, or what is happening to our world. why there is so much evil. i have to remind myself that this is all a part of GOD's plan. i don't pretend to even get it, most of it disgusts and terrifies me.
i have failed so many times when it comes to faith. when i start to lean on my understanding, or try to control my life's events only bad things start to happen. i started to write these words so i could find my faith again. i thirsted for it. i need it everyday for me, my husband and my children. you will not find your faith in the world, you can only find it in the bible and GOD. the world will fail you time and time again, but the gospel will always provide the answer you are searching for - you just have to look. i will fail in my faith over and over again i know, but each time i have a relapse with my MS GOD gives me another chance to put my focus back on him and believe i am going to take that chance.
"and without faith it is impossible to please GOD, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those that earnestly seek him." hebrews 11:16
hebrews 11:1, james 1:5-6, colossians 2:6-7, ephesians 2:8, galatians 3:26, 2 timothy 3:14-15, 1 corinthians 16:13, galations 5:22-23, 2:20, mark 11:22-23 ephesians 3:17-19, hebrews 12:1-2
Thursday, August 12, 2010
the beauty of words
so many beautiful words out there. we can read, hear them and speak them. we can say just the words 'i love you" and hearing that from a person you care about is an awesome gift. when my husband still tells me he loves me, there is no greater gift to me because i believe it with my whole being that it is true.
GOD has given so many words of love in scripture, and they are all true. of all the love in the heavens and earth this is the greatest love. i am going to share with you verses from matthew today. i read this with grandmother, it is one of our favorites to hear. it brings great peace and comfort to each other. share your words of beauty and love. let those around you; family, friends, mentors know that you care and love them.
matthew 5:1-12
"now when he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountainside and sat down. his disciples came to him , and he began to teach them, saying:
blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
blessed are those who mourn, for
they will be comforted.
blessed are the meek, for they
will inherit the earth.
blessed are those who hunger and
thrist for righteousness, for
they will be filled.
blessed are the merciful, for
they will be shown mercy.
blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see GOD.
blessed are the peacemakers for
they will be called sons of GOD.
blessed are those who are
persecuted because of righteouness for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they perscucated the prophets who were before you."
GOD has given so many words of love in scripture, and they are all true. of all the love in the heavens and earth this is the greatest love. i am going to share with you verses from matthew today. i read this with grandmother, it is one of our favorites to hear. it brings great peace and comfort to each other. share your words of beauty and love. let those around you; family, friends, mentors know that you care and love them.
matthew 5:1-12
"now when he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountainside and sat down. his disciples came to him , and he began to teach them, saying:
blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
blessed are those who mourn, for
they will be comforted.
blessed are the meek, for they
will inherit the earth.
blessed are those who hunger and
thrist for righteousness, for
they will be filled.
blessed are the merciful, for
they will be shown mercy.
blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see GOD.
blessed are the peacemakers for
they will be called sons of GOD.
blessed are those who are
persecuted because of righteouness for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they perscucated the prophets who were before you."
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
denying christ
in the gospels of matthew, mark, john and luke each book shares a verse where jesus informs peter that he will deny him 3 times. i started thinking about this this evening and thought what would be the main reason so many deny christ now. i really believe the main reason is because we like to lean on our understanding.
there could be so many reasons, for example if we accept the word of god we have to face what is bad in us. he makes us accountable for our sins. believe me i have tried, many, many times to bury my sin. it doesn't really work, because GOD knows your heart and what you have done so it is much easier to come to terms with it and confess to him.
think of how many times as a christian you have been afraid to quote a scripture - you have denied him. think of how many times you have ignored that little voice in your ear telling you the way you should go and you didn't - you have denied him. think of every time you have not loved your neighbor as yourself - you have denied him. the list could go on and on.
having an apostle deny christ is astounding to me after all the miracles that were witnessed. JESUS walked on water, provided bread for thousands, gave a blind man sight, healed a leper, raised lazarus from the dead, and this biggest miracle was that he took on our sin and died for us.
every blessing that you have in your life is because of GOD and CHRIST dying on the cross for you. when you do not praise him for these things, or if you do not teach your children to praise him - you are denying him.
" the LORD turned and looked at straight at peter. then peter remembered the word the LORD had spoken to him, "before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." and he went outside and wept bitterly." luke 22:61
my heart breaks knowing how many times i have denied because i thought that i could do it better.
there could be so many reasons, for example if we accept the word of god we have to face what is bad in us. he makes us accountable for our sins. believe me i have tried, many, many times to bury my sin. it doesn't really work, because GOD knows your heart and what you have done so it is much easier to come to terms with it and confess to him.
think of how many times as a christian you have been afraid to quote a scripture - you have denied him. think of how many times you have ignored that little voice in your ear telling you the way you should go and you didn't - you have denied him. think of every time you have not loved your neighbor as yourself - you have denied him. the list could go on and on.
having an apostle deny christ is astounding to me after all the miracles that were witnessed. JESUS walked on water, provided bread for thousands, gave a blind man sight, healed a leper, raised lazarus from the dead, and this biggest miracle was that he took on our sin and died for us.
every blessing that you have in your life is because of GOD and CHRIST dying on the cross for you. when you do not praise him for these things, or if you do not teach your children to praise him - you are denying him.
" the LORD turned and looked at straight at peter. then peter remembered the word the LORD had spoken to him, "before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." and he went outside and wept bitterly." luke 22:61
my heart breaks knowing how many times i have denied because i thought that i could do it better.
Monday, August 9, 2010
sickness
occasionally GOD likes to remind me that I have MS. i get caught up in my daily life without much thought to being ill. over the last 8 and half years it has become at the bottom of my list. i have become more open about my disease in recent months only because i feel like i need to share with those with an illness, that life does go on.
currently GOD has reminded me. i have had an incredible summer with my family and friends, but now GOD has decided that it is time to slow down. i don't really get angry with him any longer when i have to do the treatment that makes me sicker until i get better. i'm more annoyed than anything and tired. it has become such second nature to me now that i find it more of an inconvenience.
i rely heavily on my friends and family now. i only hope that i can repay them for their sacrifices for me and my family. i send prayers of praise to the lord for all them. what an incredible gift if you can help a friend in need.
i get very emotional when i have a relapse and need treatment, so the coming blogs may be very emotional for you as well.
" heal me, O LORD, and i will be healed; save me and i will be saved, for you are the one i praise." jeremiah 17:18
"but i will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the LORD." jeremiah 30:17
currently GOD has reminded me. i have had an incredible summer with my family and friends, but now GOD has decided that it is time to slow down. i don't really get angry with him any longer when i have to do the treatment that makes me sicker until i get better. i'm more annoyed than anything and tired. it has become such second nature to me now that i find it more of an inconvenience.
i rely heavily on my friends and family now. i only hope that i can repay them for their sacrifices for me and my family. i send prayers of praise to the lord for all them. what an incredible gift if you can help a friend in need.
i get very emotional when i have a relapse and need treatment, so the coming blogs may be very emotional for you as well.
" heal me, O LORD, and i will be healed; save me and i will be saved, for you are the one i praise." jeremiah 17:18
"but i will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the LORD." jeremiah 30:17
reading the bible
yesterday in church our sermon was on "listening to GOD." questions starting forming in my mind about what to put on this blog this am. one of the questions i had was "do most of you even read the bible?"
a popular theme among christians is your "quiet time." most individuals may not even know what this is. i have not had a routine of quiet time since my first son was born. i used to feel guilty about this, and now i don't because i will pray when i need to, or read the gospel in little bits at a time. both of these reasons is why i am doing this blog, because if i do not fill my spirit daily with his words then i am not living the life that GOD wants me to.
i am only going to put one question to you today and i hope that all you will answer the question honestly; do you read the bible?
i have put 2 familiar verses to us all, one of course is about creation and the other is about love. if you know these verses, maybe you could read a little bit more; what would that hurt? all of us at some point in time or another has read a self-help book. the difference with those books is that it's just opinion, the bible actually teachs you on how you should be living your life.
"in the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth." genesis 1:1
"love is patient, love is kind. it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." 1 corinthians 13:1
i would love to hear why you read the bible, what the above verses even mean to you, if you have a favorite story in the bible. if you don't read the bible, or seek out the gospel i would really like to know why.
a popular theme among christians is your "quiet time." most individuals may not even know what this is. i have not had a routine of quiet time since my first son was born. i used to feel guilty about this, and now i don't because i will pray when i need to, or read the gospel in little bits at a time. both of these reasons is why i am doing this blog, because if i do not fill my spirit daily with his words then i am not living the life that GOD wants me to.
i am only going to put one question to you today and i hope that all you will answer the question honestly; do you read the bible?
i have put 2 familiar verses to us all, one of course is about creation and the other is about love. if you know these verses, maybe you could read a little bit more; what would that hurt? all of us at some point in time or another has read a self-help book. the difference with those books is that it's just opinion, the bible actually teachs you on how you should be living your life.
"in the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth." genesis 1:1
"love is patient, love is kind. it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." 1 corinthians 13:1
i would love to hear why you read the bible, what the above verses even mean to you, if you have a favorite story in the bible. if you don't read the bible, or seek out the gospel i would really like to know why.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
marriage, oh marriage what a blessing and a trial at the same time
my husband and i met in a bar almost 11 years ago. our first date wasn't anything different from many first dates. we went out to dinner, then went to play darts and have a couple of beers. my husband is a very quiet person by nature, so he didn't talk a lot, so i really didn't know if we would go out again. he called me everyday, a couple of times a day; this is the most persistent he has ever been in our relationship to this day.
our second date was different. i was sitting across from him and i realized that i was in big trouble, that i had just met the man i was going to marry. i hadn't really thought i would ever get married. i was scared of marriage; of failing. the other reason was that i am not an easy person to get along with. i am a very opinionated individual and i am very passionate about what i believe in. my husband was like no man i had ever met before, he is by the far the kindest individual i know and the nicest man i have ever had a relationship with.
our marriage i would say is strong, but we have to work at it all the time. there are days where we are so in love with each other we can't stand it. they are days where we just like each other and of course there are the days where we can't stand each other. we have had major ups and downs, so bad that we have discussed divorcing. we realized of course that this wasn't an option for us.
our first year of marriage was terrible, awful i can't even explain how bad we were. i had just been diagnosed with MS and he was layed off from work after 9/11 happened. we were both angry and depressed. we were both lost. i think in some sense we felt abandoned by those that we loved on how we were supposed to get through this. the problem was neither one of us was talking to each other about it. i made a few changes that would in the end save our marriage. i attended a support group for MS and the speaker was a doctor that truly inspired me.
we went to meet her and she basically told us to get our "crap" together. while she took care of my MS needs, she found someone to take care of my depression. during the time of seeing my therapist a good friend invited me to a bible study. this was a major decision for me, i was very angry with god for so many things that i had rejected him for years. another reason was i did not in any way, shape, or form want to be involved in a church with individuals that just merely went to church to say they did it and lived a completely different life from whom they were. the biggest reason was, because i was ashamed of all my sins, but my husband and i needed something.
our second date was different. i was sitting across from him and i realized that i was in big trouble, that i had just met the man i was going to marry. i hadn't really thought i would ever get married. i was scared of marriage; of failing. the other reason was that i am not an easy person to get along with. i am a very opinionated individual and i am very passionate about what i believe in. my husband was like no man i had ever met before, he is by the far the kindest individual i know and the nicest man i have ever had a relationship with.
our marriage i would say is strong, but we have to work at it all the time. there are days where we are so in love with each other we can't stand it. they are days where we just like each other and of course there are the days where we can't stand each other. we have had major ups and downs, so bad that we have discussed divorcing. we realized of course that this wasn't an option for us.
our first year of marriage was terrible, awful i can't even explain how bad we were. i had just been diagnosed with MS and he was layed off from work after 9/11 happened. we were both angry and depressed. we were both lost. i think in some sense we felt abandoned by those that we loved on how we were supposed to get through this. the problem was neither one of us was talking to each other about it. i made a few changes that would in the end save our marriage. i attended a support group for MS and the speaker was a doctor that truly inspired me.
we went to meet her and she basically told us to get our "crap" together. while she took care of my MS needs, she found someone to take care of my depression. during the time of seeing my therapist a good friend invited me to a bible study. this was a major decision for me, i was very angry with god for so many things that i had rejected him for years. another reason was i did not in any way, shape, or form want to be involved in a church with individuals that just merely went to church to say they did it and lived a completely different life from whom they were. the biggest reason was, because i was ashamed of all my sins, but my husband and i needed something.
we fight now about silly things that don't even matter really. they aren't the important things in life. our little habits get on each other's nerves; for example i leave the cap off of the toothpaste, cereal boxes open and i don't do the laundry the way he would like me to (by the way there are so many more).
the amazing thing about my marriage is that we still get through our days together and at the end of the day we still love each other, no matter what awful things could have been said that day. my husband is an amazing man. not many men could handle having a wife that was ill. i realize everyday that he shows our sons what a man should be, what a man should strive to be. he has taken is vow of "sickness and in health" very seriously and i know GOD is glorified by this.
"enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that GOD has given you under the sun - all your meaningless days. for this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun." ecclesiastes 9:9
the only problem i have with this verse is i wish that he had added "your wife and husband" instead.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
the ever presence of guilt and regret
"for i will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." hebrews 8:12
so many, many regrets in my life that i have. in my teens and early twenties i made horrible decisions. decisions that still haunt my heart to this day. i remember a conversation with my father one time about a choice that i had made and he told me that i would regret it one day. he was right. we carry our guilt and regrets on our shoulders and in our hearts.
i think of how i may have treated someone once, and i am so ashamed. i didn't have compassion or empathy. i regret not spending more time with grandparents before they passed, i blamed it on youth. i feel guilty now when i physically can't do more for my children. i think "did i do the right thing by having them?" they will have such a burden with my care when i am older. i feel guilt when i don't honor my husband enough. i feel regret when i jump to conclusions before knowing both sides of a story.
i do not have the virtues of slowing to anger or "taming of the tongue." i have spoken so many words out of anger, or just pure hatred that i wish i could take them back in a heartbeat. i have gotten better with age, sort of, but i still battle this when the occasion rises. i regret when i have done this to my family, or my friends. i seek forgiveness from all them for it.
we can't take back what we've done in our life that we regret, but we can learn from it. it shapes us into who we are and what we hope to become. GOD's grace is a beautiful, wonderful thing and i am so happy that he gives it to us.
"for if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly FATHER will also forgive you." romans 12:20
so many, many regrets in my life that i have. in my teens and early twenties i made horrible decisions. decisions that still haunt my heart to this day. i remember a conversation with my father one time about a choice that i had made and he told me that i would regret it one day. he was right. we carry our guilt and regrets on our shoulders and in our hearts.
i think of how i may have treated someone once, and i am so ashamed. i didn't have compassion or empathy. i regret not spending more time with grandparents before they passed, i blamed it on youth. i feel guilty now when i physically can't do more for my children. i think "did i do the right thing by having them?" they will have such a burden with my care when i am older. i feel guilt when i don't honor my husband enough. i feel regret when i jump to conclusions before knowing both sides of a story.
i do not have the virtues of slowing to anger or "taming of the tongue." i have spoken so many words out of anger, or just pure hatred that i wish i could take them back in a heartbeat. i have gotten better with age, sort of, but i still battle this when the occasion rises. i regret when i have done this to my family, or my friends. i seek forgiveness from all them for it.
we can't take back what we've done in our life that we regret, but we can learn from it. it shapes us into who we are and what we hope to become. GOD's grace is a beautiful, wonderful thing and i am so happy that he gives it to us.
"for if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly FATHER will also forgive you." romans 12:20
james
the book of james is my favorite book of the bible. almost every verse is underlined. i always go to this book for comfort, or just to find an answer i am looking for. i've written little notes all through out the pages. i've read some of the notes and i think what was i trying to understand, or what inspired me at that moment.
what fascinates me the most about the bible is the people that witnessed and prophesied the story of christ throughout generations. each one has a different story to tell, each one were so loved by god that he gave them his words to share with us. each chapter tells us easily in black and white how to live, but i wish it was as easy as just being black and white, no grey areas.
james speaks of our trials and temptations that we will face as humans. he tells us to accept our trials with joy, that god is testing our faith. i don't remember one time in my life at the beginning of a trial feeling joy. through wisdom and seeking god for answers i hope to understand why things happen in our life, or to others. i pray that i will have the faith to go on each day knowing that he is the reason why we are here. i pray that those that don't know god come to him, i pray that those that once knew him, but have forsaken him come back.
i know that i cannot live in this life without knowing, or loving god. i know that my life's blessings are because of him. i know that my husband and my children are because he gave them to me. i know that my MS was given to me to find him and his words.
"is any of you in trouble? he should pray. is anyone happy? let them sing songs of praise." james 5:13
what fascinates me the most about the bible is the people that witnessed and prophesied the story of christ throughout generations. each one has a different story to tell, each one were so loved by god that he gave them his words to share with us. each chapter tells us easily in black and white how to live, but i wish it was as easy as just being black and white, no grey areas.
james speaks of our trials and temptations that we will face as humans. he tells us to accept our trials with joy, that god is testing our faith. i don't remember one time in my life at the beginning of a trial feeling joy. through wisdom and seeking god for answers i hope to understand why things happen in our life, or to others. i pray that i will have the faith to go on each day knowing that he is the reason why we are here. i pray that those that don't know god come to him, i pray that those that once knew him, but have forsaken him come back.
i know that i cannot live in this life without knowing, or loving god. i know that my life's blessings are because of him. i know that my husband and my children are because he gave them to me. i know that my MS was given to me to find him and his words.
"is any of you in trouble? he should pray. is anyone happy? let them sing songs of praise." james 5:13
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
the sin of pride
pride: a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc
pride is one of my biggest sins. i pretend to be stronger than i am. i'm ashamed to admit that about myself. my heart breaks in situations more than others know. i anger easily and judge those around me when i shouldn't. i hide my feelings about what i need, just to avoid rejection. i am horrible about asking for help, or sharing my needs with others. i have truly incredible friends that are always there to help me, but i rarely ask for that help until i hit bottom. my husband sees my pain and you can see the pain in his eyes, because he can't take it away. pride is what makes me not say these things aloud.
there are few individuals that have seen me at my worst when i am having a flare-up with my MS. those that have seen me i love and cherish more than they could ever know. i am ashamed of what the meds do to me physically, how weak i am that i can barely lift my children. when i am sick i am desperate for comfort, peace, loving words, and so very sad. with all these needs i still have too much pride. i deny help from individuals, because i believe that am too strong and i can do all the things that a person without an illness can do. pride, it is evil and damaging; it causes the destruction of men and women.
i think when we allow ourselves to be prideful we forget that we are sinning against the lord. when we do not seek his word, or humble ourselves before others we lose the ability to give fully to those that we love. sometimes we have to let our pride fall and show our vulnerability to the world. GOD knows our hearts and he is the only one that can fulfill that void.
give willing of yourself to those you love, listen to those in need. we all share the sin of pride. each one of us is proud in our family, our work, our home or our friendships. pride is not always wrong when we know where these things come from and praise should be given to the lord for these gifts.
"so, if you think that you are standing firm, be careful that you do not fall! no temptation has seized you except what is common to man. and GOD is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear." 1 corinthians 10: 12-13
pride is one of my biggest sins. i pretend to be stronger than i am. i'm ashamed to admit that about myself. my heart breaks in situations more than others know. i anger easily and judge those around me when i shouldn't. i hide my feelings about what i need, just to avoid rejection. i am horrible about asking for help, or sharing my needs with others. i have truly incredible friends that are always there to help me, but i rarely ask for that help until i hit bottom. my husband sees my pain and you can see the pain in his eyes, because he can't take it away. pride is what makes me not say these things aloud.
there are few individuals that have seen me at my worst when i am having a flare-up with my MS. those that have seen me i love and cherish more than they could ever know. i am ashamed of what the meds do to me physically, how weak i am that i can barely lift my children. when i am sick i am desperate for comfort, peace, loving words, and so very sad. with all these needs i still have too much pride. i deny help from individuals, because i believe that am too strong and i can do all the things that a person without an illness can do. pride, it is evil and damaging; it causes the destruction of men and women.
i think when we allow ourselves to be prideful we forget that we are sinning against the lord. when we do not seek his word, or humble ourselves before others we lose the ability to give fully to those that we love. sometimes we have to let our pride fall and show our vulnerability to the world. GOD knows our hearts and he is the only one that can fulfill that void.
give willing of yourself to those you love, listen to those in need. we all share the sin of pride. each one of us is proud in our family, our work, our home or our friendships. pride is not always wrong when we know where these things come from and praise should be given to the lord for these gifts.
"so, if you think that you are standing firm, be careful that you do not fall! no temptation has seized you except what is common to man. and GOD is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear." 1 corinthians 10: 12-13
a start to my journey
while sitting in my home i realized that my journey with the gospel had become stale. although i consider myself a christian, i felt that my spirit wasn't being fed and i wasn't hearing from others about the walk with christ that i so desperately need. with our daily struggles i think at some point we begin to allow the outside world to take over and don't focus on the main goal of why we are here; to glorify god.
as a woman we put on many "hats" and each one we find is a new definition to who we are. sometimes, i think we lose sight of who we once were and whom we are striving to become. so, i thought i would start this blog to find fellow christians and start the journey again thru the bible and the words of our lord.
each day i hope to post a few words and a scripture that we all can discuss and hopefully we can again find the reason why we are. just so you understand i don't think i will put the passages in order of the books of the bible, because i don't think we learn the word that way. each one of us searches out scripture to get us thru life's tribulations, so i think it's best that we post our words and what the scripture means to us that day.....please feel free to post your scripture as well that corresponds to help each one of us grow in the word..
my first verse is proverbs 3: 5-6. this is my favorite verse in the bible, because it what we should be doing everyday, all day, but it is also one of the hardest things to do.
"trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
as a woman we put on many "hats" and each one we find is a new definition to who we are. sometimes, i think we lose sight of who we once were and whom we are striving to become. so, i thought i would start this blog to find fellow christians and start the journey again thru the bible and the words of our lord.
each day i hope to post a few words and a scripture that we all can discuss and hopefully we can again find the reason why we are. just so you understand i don't think i will put the passages in order of the books of the bible, because i don't think we learn the word that way. each one of us searches out scripture to get us thru life's tribulations, so i think it's best that we post our words and what the scripture means to us that day.....please feel free to post your scripture as well that corresponds to help each one of us grow in the word..
my first verse is proverbs 3: 5-6. this is my favorite verse in the bible, because it what we should be doing everyday, all day, but it is also one of the hardest things to do.
"trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
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