a dear family friend sent this to me when i was struggling and needed help with an issue that had occurred in my life. humbling yourself to ask for help and hearing what you have done wrong is sometimes hard to accept, but well worth it in the end. we aren't listening to one another it seems. we seem to be crying out in our actions, but not solving the problems.
we yell in anger, frustration, and hatred, but fail to see what someone is really trying to say. taking the time to listen and learn from the wisdom of others is what GOD has asked us to do. i often wonder what the crowd thought when JESUS CHRIST died on the cross; when the thunder shook the earth, and the clothe was torn. did they feel the presence of GOD with them in all HIS glory? had they realized in their anger and fear what they had done?
the following is an excerpt from max lucado's team up. this story reminds me of september 11th and the teamwork of a nation under devastation. if we stand together no matter what our personal opinions are, but work together as a team we could accomplish so much more.
TEAM UP
BY Max Lucado
In 1976 tremors devastated the highland of Guatemala. Thousands of people were killed, and tens of thousands were left homeless. A
philanthropist offered to sponsor a relief team from our college. This flyer was posted in our dormitory: "Needed: students willing to use their spring break to build cinder block homes in Quetzaltenango." I applied, was accepted, and began attending the orientation sessions.
There were twelve of us in all. Mostly ministry students. All of us,
it seemed, loved to discuss theology. We were young enough in our faith to believe we knew all the answers. This made for lively discussions. We bantered about a covey of controversies. I can't remember the list. It likely included the usual suspects of charismatic gifts, end times, worship styles, and church strategy. By the time we reached Guatemala, we'd covered the controversies and revealed our true colors. I'd discerned the faithful from the infidels, the healthy from the heretics. I knew who was in and who was out.
But all of that was soon forgotten. The destruction from the earthquake dwarfed our differences. Entire villages had been leveled. Children were wandering through the rubble. Long lines of wounded people awaited medical attention. Our opinions seemed suddenly petty. The disaster demanded teamwork. The challenge created a team.
The task turned rivals into partners. I remember one fellow in
particular. He and I had distinctly different opinions regarding the
styles of worship music. I-the open minded, relevant thinker-favored contemporary, upbeat music. He-the stodgy, close-minded
caveman-preferred hymns and hymnals. Yet when stacking bricks for houses, guess who worked shoulder to shoulder? As we did, we began to sing together. We sang old songs and new, slow and fast. Only later did the irony of it dawn on me. Our common concern gave us a common song.
What if the missing ingredient for changing the world is teamwork?
"When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there" (Matt. 18:19-20 MSG).This is an astounding promise. When believers agree, Jesus takes
notice, shows up, and hears our prayers.
And when believers disagree? Can we return to my Guatemalan memory for a moment?
Suppose our group had clustered according to opinions. Divided
according to doctrines. If we had made unanimity a prerequisite for
partnership, can you imagine the consequences? We wouldn't have
accomplished anything. When worker divide, it is the suffering who
suffer most.
They've suffered enough, don't you think? The Jerusalem church found a way to work together. They found common ground in the death, burial, resurrection of Christ. Because they did, lives were changed.
And as you and I do, the same will happen.
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV)
O Lord, whenever I address you as "our Father," cause me to remember that I have been called to be part of a holy community. You did not call me to remain in isolation but placed me in the body of Christ, along with every other believer in Jesus throughout the world in every age. Please give me the grace to act on the truth that you created us to grow as a team, to work as a team, to worship as a team, and to weep and laugh and live as a team. Grant me the wisdom and the strength to partner with you and with my brothers and sisters in Christ to meet the needs you place before us. For Jesus' sake and in his name I pray, amen.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
honorable men
i have been very fortunate in my life to know more honorable men than not. the men in our family are examples of what men should be and the husbands of our friends are the same way. each one is unique and strong individually. each one has the great ability to put GOD and their families above themselves.
my husband is definitely one of these men. he radiates what a man should be doing for his family. he puts GOD and his family above himself. he has a strong work ethic. he has great composure in hard situations. he is compassionate and slow to anger. he is patient and kind. has great humility and holds himself acccountable and to others. the example that he is showing are children will benefit them in their futures.
i often wonder why a man would be anything else other than the provider and the protector of his family. the idea that something is beneath them instead of looking at it as a way to provide food, shelter, or clothing for their families is sinful to me. the current job market is awful for most americans right now. i feel awful for the men that want to provide for their families and can't.
GOD created all men to be this way. HE created them to be the head of the household; to provide, protect, show integrity and humility. GOD blesses men that are this way. whether they be rich or poor.
if you have a man like this in your life commend them. no matter what their faults may be if they have these characteristics, or these qualities those should out weigh the bad.
"if the LORD delights in a man's way he makes his steps firm." psalm 37:2
"in everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words LORD JESUS HIMSELF said: it is more blessed to give than to receive" acts 20:35
"therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." matthew 18:4
"if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially his immediate family, he has denied his faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 timothy 5:8
"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 respect of outsiders ans so that you will not be dependent on anybody." 1 thessalonians 4:11-12
my husband is definitely one of these men. he radiates what a man should be doing for his family. he puts GOD and his family above himself. he has a strong work ethic. he has great composure in hard situations. he is compassionate and slow to anger. he is patient and kind. has great humility and holds himself acccountable and to others. the example that he is showing are children will benefit them in their futures.
i often wonder why a man would be anything else other than the provider and the protector of his family. the idea that something is beneath them instead of looking at it as a way to provide food, shelter, or clothing for their families is sinful to me. the current job market is awful for most americans right now. i feel awful for the men that want to provide for their families and can't.
GOD created all men to be this way. HE created them to be the head of the household; to provide, protect, show integrity and humility. GOD blesses men that are this way. whether they be rich or poor.
if you have a man like this in your life commend them. no matter what their faults may be if they have these characteristics, or these qualities those should out weigh the bad.
"if the LORD delights in a man's way he makes his steps firm." psalm 37:2
"in everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words LORD JESUS HIMSELF said: it is more blessed to give than to receive" acts 20:35
"therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." matthew 18:4
"if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially his immediate family, he has denied his faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 timothy 5:8
"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 respect of outsiders ans so that you will not be dependent on anybody." 1 thessalonians 4:11-12
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
listening and learning from our elders
i have had to humble myself and seek the advice of my elders and fellow christians over the past couple of months. when i was younger i never really did this. my parents gave advice, but listening and taking that advice didn't always happen.
growing up my grandparents played a very important role in my brother and i's life. as i got older one of my favorite things to do was ask questions about what it was like for them growing up. they grew up during the depression and survived. they worked very hard, and had a very fulfilling life. i don't ever remember them complaining about how hard life was and what they didn't have. for one thing they had their faith to turn to. they didn't expect this country, or the world to give them what they needed.
my grandmother is now suffering from alzheimer's in her early 90's. she has had a long, beautiful life. she is one of the few individuals i know that probably has most of the bible memorized. two things stick out in my mind from one of those conversations that she said; "the problem is women decided to become men" and "the banks can always fail again." she has always encouraged each of her grandchildren to read the bible and learn from it.
there are very few individuals left from this generation, but the ones that are here knew how you should be living. out of the generations that i have seen in my lifetime, the WWII generation seemed to have the right idea about what it means to live.
i have copied a speech given by a WWII veteran that attends our church. he gave this talk to a group of students at a local high school here in houston. i think it could apply to everyone in this country no matter what your age is.
"young ladies and gentlemen. you are the future of the united states of america, the greatest country in the world. i am here to teach you to be positive. i can do that if you will follow my instructions. i wish i had this talk when i was your age, but i didn't. i had to learn mine the hard way.
about eight years, i fell out of a large oak tree in our back yard; about 40 feet. my wife, marilyn, heard me hit the ground and came running out the back door calling my name. i didn't answer her because i was trying to get up, but couldn't. she knew something was wrong, so she ran in the house and called 911. the police got there first; one held down my arms and the other held down my legs. the ambulance arrived and loaded me in it to take me to the trauma center at memorial herman hospital.
dr. amelia mangum examined me and told my wife i probably would not make it through the night. i had a broken back, multiple broken ribs and a severe head injury. at about 4:00 am they decided they would have to operate. a broken rib had poked a hole in my aorta and the bleeding would not stop. they had given me several blood transfusions. dr mangum said she didn't know if i would make it through the surgery, but she had to operate. she told my wife i probably wouldn't live through the day.
i spent 4 months in the hospital and several months in rehab. before i fell out of the tree, i would get down in the dumps two or three times a year. when i got home i knew that i couldn't get down in the dumps anymore. in the morning when i got up i would say to myself "i'm going to be positive today." at noon time i would say, "i'm going to stay positive the rest of the day." i did this for about thirty days.
after that i didn't have to say it anymore because i was automatically positive all the time. even when i'm sick i am positive. you don't get sick as much and you feel better all the time. your friends look at you better too.
if you follow these instructions you will be positive too."
JESUS wants you to stay positive and have faith that all things are because of HIM. no matter what life throws at you, you must have hope that all things will work out.
"know therefore that the LORD YOUR GOD IS GOD; he is a faithful GOD, keeping HIS covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love HIM and keep his commands." deuteronomy 7:9
"be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD." psalm 31:24
growing up my grandparents played a very important role in my brother and i's life. as i got older one of my favorite things to do was ask questions about what it was like for them growing up. they grew up during the depression and survived. they worked very hard, and had a very fulfilling life. i don't ever remember them complaining about how hard life was and what they didn't have. for one thing they had their faith to turn to. they didn't expect this country, or the world to give them what they needed.
my grandmother is now suffering from alzheimer's in her early 90's. she has had a long, beautiful life. she is one of the few individuals i know that probably has most of the bible memorized. two things stick out in my mind from one of those conversations that she said; "the problem is women decided to become men" and "the banks can always fail again." she has always encouraged each of her grandchildren to read the bible and learn from it.
there are very few individuals left from this generation, but the ones that are here knew how you should be living. out of the generations that i have seen in my lifetime, the WWII generation seemed to have the right idea about what it means to live.
i have copied a speech given by a WWII veteran that attends our church. he gave this talk to a group of students at a local high school here in houston. i think it could apply to everyone in this country no matter what your age is.
"young ladies and gentlemen. you are the future of the united states of america, the greatest country in the world. i am here to teach you to be positive. i can do that if you will follow my instructions. i wish i had this talk when i was your age, but i didn't. i had to learn mine the hard way.
about eight years, i fell out of a large oak tree in our back yard; about 40 feet. my wife, marilyn, heard me hit the ground and came running out the back door calling my name. i didn't answer her because i was trying to get up, but couldn't. she knew something was wrong, so she ran in the house and called 911. the police got there first; one held down my arms and the other held down my legs. the ambulance arrived and loaded me in it to take me to the trauma center at memorial herman hospital.
dr. amelia mangum examined me and told my wife i probably would not make it through the night. i had a broken back, multiple broken ribs and a severe head injury. at about 4:00 am they decided they would have to operate. a broken rib had poked a hole in my aorta and the bleeding would not stop. they had given me several blood transfusions. dr mangum said she didn't know if i would make it through the surgery, but she had to operate. she told my wife i probably wouldn't live through the day.
i spent 4 months in the hospital and several months in rehab. before i fell out of the tree, i would get down in the dumps two or three times a year. when i got home i knew that i couldn't get down in the dumps anymore. in the morning when i got up i would say to myself "i'm going to be positive today." at noon time i would say, "i'm going to stay positive the rest of the day." i did this for about thirty days.
after that i didn't have to say it anymore because i was automatically positive all the time. even when i'm sick i am positive. you don't get sick as much and you feel better all the time. your friends look at you better too.
if you follow these instructions you will be positive too."
JESUS wants you to stay positive and have faith that all things are because of HIM. no matter what life throws at you, you must have hope that all things will work out.
"know therefore that the LORD YOUR GOD IS GOD; he is a faithful GOD, keeping HIS covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love HIM and keep his commands." deuteronomy 7:9
"be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD." psalm 31:24
Sunday, September 26, 2010
we are GOD'S people; have faith and hope
"so that CHRIST may dwell in your hearts through faith. and I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of CHRIST. and to know this love surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of GOD."
yesterday, i spent the afternoon with my family at a place called kemah boardwalk. while we were there i was looking around at the people and i noticed a lot of frustration, fear, and a little anger. americans feel pretty beaten down right now and it is showing. i started thinking about the fear we are facing currently in our nation, and i realized that we had lost hope.
first of all the place we were at has be re-built numerous times over the years because of hurricanes. this morning i was thinking about this little community that has had the resilience to pick itself up over and over again to continue living. fear is a powerful thing, but the HOPE and FAITH that things can return is an incredible blessing and is more powerful.
for months i have been so scared and angry over the current events in our country that i wasn't thinking about the resilience of the people that live here. we are a nation of survivors. we are a nation that continues to move forward no matter what obstacles are placed in front of us. we are GOD'S people. faith and hope is in every fiber of our being.
GOD created us to put all our fears and worries on HIM. GOD created us to persevere thru our troubles and trials. what a huge relief this is to our hearts and our minds. did any of you ever think that this is our great test? GOD is giving us a chance to put our faith back in HIM.
if we continue to allow anger, hatred and fear to lead us how are we to solve this problem? remember your hope, your faith, your love and your peace of heart and soul that makes you a powerful child of GOD and a citizen of this great nation.
"for GOD did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 timothy 1:7
"though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds with HIS HAND." psalm37:24
"be strong and take heart, all you hope in the LORD." psalm 31:24
"we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 corinthians 4:8-9
"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. and the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in CHRIST JESUS." phillipians 4:6-7
yesterday, i spent the afternoon with my family at a place called kemah boardwalk. while we were there i was looking around at the people and i noticed a lot of frustration, fear, and a little anger. americans feel pretty beaten down right now and it is showing. i started thinking about the fear we are facing currently in our nation, and i realized that we had lost hope.
first of all the place we were at has be re-built numerous times over the years because of hurricanes. this morning i was thinking about this little community that has had the resilience to pick itself up over and over again to continue living. fear is a powerful thing, but the HOPE and FAITH that things can return is an incredible blessing and is more powerful.
for months i have been so scared and angry over the current events in our country that i wasn't thinking about the resilience of the people that live here. we are a nation of survivors. we are a nation that continues to move forward no matter what obstacles are placed in front of us. we are GOD'S people. faith and hope is in every fiber of our being.
GOD created us to put all our fears and worries on HIM. GOD created us to persevere thru our troubles and trials. what a huge relief this is to our hearts and our minds. did any of you ever think that this is our great test? GOD is giving us a chance to put our faith back in HIM.
if we continue to allow anger, hatred and fear to lead us how are we to solve this problem? remember your hope, your faith, your love and your peace of heart and soul that makes you a powerful child of GOD and a citizen of this great nation.
"for GOD did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 timothy 1:7
"though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds with HIS HAND." psalm37:24
"be strong and take heart, all you hope in the LORD." psalm 31:24
"we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 corinthians 4:8-9
"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. and the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in CHRIST JESUS." phillipians 4:6-7
Friday, September 24, 2010
affirmation; giving myself a break
i've been writing this blog for almost 2 months now and i've beaten myself up pretty good with it. i have a tendency to live in the past and my past transgressions. JESUS does not want us to do this. HE loves us and our uniqueness as individuals. my heart is being made whole again by sharing with you everyday. i prayed that GOD would show me my spiritual gifts and he did. i am quite grateful for that.
when you begin your journey into the word and accepting HIM into your hearts HE may show you some things about yourself that you don't want to remember. this is a part of the healing process and allowing HIM to take over, but then HE wants you to move forward. it is a great comfort knowing that whatever goes on in my life it is because GOD wanted it to. my aunt, whom i hold in great esteem, told me it was time to move forward. she told me that the devil is always waiting to help you dwell on the bad things about yourself. i have let him in far too many times now. enough is enough.
i can cook, i have beautiful hair, beautiful skin (thanks to my grandma) and i'm a good friend. i can read a book in two days, unless it's one of those books that you have to read every line of. i can recognize the great qualities in others and admire their gifts. i tell my children daily that they are loved by GOD and their parents unconditionally. i love to give hugs and make someone feel cared for. i handle my MS with great strength and grace.
it's easier for me to give a compliment, than to accept one. i think that this is true of most of us, but we should all accept those gifts of affirmation because GOD made those gifts. recognize what HE is doing in your hearts and share that with the world! our greatest achievements in life are because HE showed us grace and forgiveness. HE died so you could accept this about yourself and move forward, and live each day to the fullest.
the ability to love and be loved is all because of HIM. when you let him in you finally realize what it means to truly love and give to others without selfishness. that's all HE wants of us is to show grace, compassion and love to each other just as HE has done for us.
"we love because HE first loved us" 1 john: 4:19
"this is MY prayer: that your love may abound more and more in the knowledge and depth of insight." phillipians 1:9
"but GODLINESS in contentment is great gain" proverbs 23:17-18
"come to ME, all you are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" matthew 11:28
when you begin your journey into the word and accepting HIM into your hearts HE may show you some things about yourself that you don't want to remember. this is a part of the healing process and allowing HIM to take over, but then HE wants you to move forward. it is a great comfort knowing that whatever goes on in my life it is because GOD wanted it to. my aunt, whom i hold in great esteem, told me it was time to move forward. she told me that the devil is always waiting to help you dwell on the bad things about yourself. i have let him in far too many times now. enough is enough.
i can cook, i have beautiful hair, beautiful skin (thanks to my grandma) and i'm a good friend. i can read a book in two days, unless it's one of those books that you have to read every line of. i can recognize the great qualities in others and admire their gifts. i tell my children daily that they are loved by GOD and their parents unconditionally. i love to give hugs and make someone feel cared for. i handle my MS with great strength and grace.
it's easier for me to give a compliment, than to accept one. i think that this is true of most of us, but we should all accept those gifts of affirmation because GOD made those gifts. recognize what HE is doing in your hearts and share that with the world! our greatest achievements in life are because HE showed us grace and forgiveness. HE died so you could accept this about yourself and move forward, and live each day to the fullest.
the ability to love and be loved is all because of HIM. when you let him in you finally realize what it means to truly love and give to others without selfishness. that's all HE wants of us is to show grace, compassion and love to each other just as HE has done for us.
"we love because HE first loved us" 1 john: 4:19
"this is MY prayer: that your love may abound more and more in the knowledge and depth of insight." phillipians 1:9
"but GODLINESS in contentment is great gain" proverbs 23:17-18
"come to ME, all you are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" matthew 11:28
Thursday, September 23, 2010
christians must stand up
for years the christian religion has been under attack in this society. we are witnessing individuals try to remove GOD from every aspect of american life. what i want to know is where are the christians saying enough is enough? sooner or later christians are going to have to make a stand for their faith in GOD and we are running out of time in my opinion.
our country is in a deep depression. i'm not talking about financially, i'm talking about being asleep to spiritual warfare. we have succumbed to society's definition of tolerance. we are no longer living by scripture, but the rules that our government and society has put upon us. i want to know why it is offensive to have the ten commandments in front of a courthouse, crosses on a roadside, or saying merry christmas in front of a store front.
i don't blame anyone in specific for this, we've just become too silent. our churches seem to be afraid to speak about politics, or worldly influences instead of returning it's citizens to GOD. i do not believe that the church and state should be separate any longer. the big question americans should be asking themselves is; how can a country be founded on GOD'S laws, but divide the two? churches and pastors must start talking about the current situation in this country and give guidance.
it's time to start thinking like paul and stop worrying about offending people.
as i've said before scripture is offensive. paul knew that when he crusaded for spreading the truth about JESUS CHRIST and GOD'S laws. we must break out of our comfort zones. WE MUST STAND UP! prosperity and being passive are two different things. we need to ask the question to the church; are you worried about your prosperity, or teaching the truth of the gospel?
i think about dr. martin luther king jr and his fight for civil rights. his entire fight was not just about the black man, but fighting for GOD'S laws regarding man's freedoms. he held our government and society accountable. this man with stood all forms of backlash for his beliefs and even died for it. we need a few dr. kings to start standing up, because it is time.
are we really that shallow and selfish that we would let JESUS die on the cross for us, but not fight for him? HE died for you and you alone. step out of your comfort zones and stand up for HIM.
"by the meekness and gentleness of CHRIST i appeal to you - i, paul, who am timid when face to face with you, but bold when away. i beg you that when i come i may not have to be as bold as i expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. for though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. the weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world. on the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strong-holds. we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of GOD and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to CHRIST. and we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience once your obedience is complete." 2 corinthians 10:1-6
our country is in a deep depression. i'm not talking about financially, i'm talking about being asleep to spiritual warfare. we have succumbed to society's definition of tolerance. we are no longer living by scripture, but the rules that our government and society has put upon us. i want to know why it is offensive to have the ten commandments in front of a courthouse, crosses on a roadside, or saying merry christmas in front of a store front.
i don't blame anyone in specific for this, we've just become too silent. our churches seem to be afraid to speak about politics, or worldly influences instead of returning it's citizens to GOD. i do not believe that the church and state should be separate any longer. the big question americans should be asking themselves is; how can a country be founded on GOD'S laws, but divide the two? churches and pastors must start talking about the current situation in this country and give guidance.
it's time to start thinking like paul and stop worrying about offending people.
as i've said before scripture is offensive. paul knew that when he crusaded for spreading the truth about JESUS CHRIST and GOD'S laws. we must break out of our comfort zones. WE MUST STAND UP! prosperity and being passive are two different things. we need to ask the question to the church; are you worried about your prosperity, or teaching the truth of the gospel?
i think about dr. martin luther king jr and his fight for civil rights. his entire fight was not just about the black man, but fighting for GOD'S laws regarding man's freedoms. he held our government and society accountable. this man with stood all forms of backlash for his beliefs and even died for it. we need a few dr. kings to start standing up, because it is time.
are we really that shallow and selfish that we would let JESUS die on the cross for us, but not fight for him? HE died for you and you alone. step out of your comfort zones and stand up for HIM.
"by the meekness and gentleness of CHRIST i appeal to you - i, paul, who am timid when face to face with you, but bold when away. i beg you that when i come i may not have to be as bold as i expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. for though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. the weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world. on the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strong-holds. we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of GOD and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to CHRIST. and we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience once your obedience is complete." 2 corinthians 10:1-6
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
sundays
as my children get older and are going to be involved in more extra curricular events i started thinking about when we were going to have time as a family. i have friends that have older children and some of them are doing events every sunday. this really bothers me, because we no longer take sundays as a holy day and rest.
i can count on one hand how many businesses that are closed on sunday. one of them actually says why they are closed on sunday; this is the LORD'S day. we have even made it acceptable to have businesses open on christmas and easter. that really makes me upset when i think about it, because those two days are very holy in the chrisitan religion.
we have added so much to our plates that we have run out of enough hours of the day to even consider a day of rest. most individuals work, so saturday and sunday are the days that they run errands, or get those weekly chores done. all of us are so physically and emotionally drained that we pay for vacations to get away from it all, because we can't give ourselves one day. the funny thing about vacations though is most us don't rest on those either. what is driving us to be so over burdened?
i think society as a whole is so greedy that sundays are just another business day, not a holy day. think about those individuals that have to work on sundays. everyone is to blame for this one, not one of us takes sundays as a day of rest any longer. GOD even rested on the seventh day after making the world; why can't we?
we are teaching our children that it is "ok" to disobey GOD on this one, because we as parents do it ourselves. we are teaching our children that money is more powerful than GOD. can you remember the last time you just sat in your homes all day with your family, without doing a chore, or going to the store? doesn't that sound wonderful!
i am challenging everyone to take a day of rest. my husband and i have discussed this and we both know that we need to do this. it may even improve your quality of life if you think about it.
"by the seventh day GOD had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day HE rested from all HIS work. and GOD blessed the seventh day and made it HOLY, because on it HE rested from all the work of creating that HE had done." genesis 2:2-3
i can count on one hand how many businesses that are closed on sunday. one of them actually says why they are closed on sunday; this is the LORD'S day. we have even made it acceptable to have businesses open on christmas and easter. that really makes me upset when i think about it, because those two days are very holy in the chrisitan religion.
we have added so much to our plates that we have run out of enough hours of the day to even consider a day of rest. most individuals work, so saturday and sunday are the days that they run errands, or get those weekly chores done. all of us are so physically and emotionally drained that we pay for vacations to get away from it all, because we can't give ourselves one day. the funny thing about vacations though is most us don't rest on those either. what is driving us to be so over burdened?
i think society as a whole is so greedy that sundays are just another business day, not a holy day. think about those individuals that have to work on sundays. everyone is to blame for this one, not one of us takes sundays as a day of rest any longer. GOD even rested on the seventh day after making the world; why can't we?
we are teaching our children that it is "ok" to disobey GOD on this one, because we as parents do it ourselves. we are teaching our children that money is more powerful than GOD. can you remember the last time you just sat in your homes all day with your family, without doing a chore, or going to the store? doesn't that sound wonderful!
i am challenging everyone to take a day of rest. my husband and i have discussed this and we both know that we need to do this. it may even improve your quality of life if you think about it.
"by the seventh day GOD had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day HE rested from all HIS work. and GOD blessed the seventh day and made it HOLY, because on it HE rested from all the work of creating that HE had done." genesis 2:2-3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)