tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18665853980362854602024-02-07T04:07:16.272-08:00Seminary ChicAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-34867483014738004732015-03-28T07:20:00.000-07:002015-03-28T07:20:17.030-07:0040 Lessons in 40 Years<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This very well may be the last time I publicly admit my age, but today I turn 40. Wow... give me a minute... I need to process that for a moment... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, I'm back. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In all honesty, I have been thinking about this day for quite some time now. And over the last few weeks I've been reflecting on some of the things I've learned throughout my lifetime. Ironically, there are 40 things that stand out. So, in no particular order here are the 40 lessons I have learned throughout the past 40 years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. I am a child of the one true King. Perfectly loved, just as I am, by a perfect God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Life is hard and it usually isn't fair. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A dog will love you the way no human ever could.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Parenting is the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. The hardest things in life are often the most rewarding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. I have had to ask forgiveness way more often than I have had to give forgiveness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Relationships are messy but the good ones are always worth fighting for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. It's easy to judge that person sitting next to you - for the way they dress, the way they parent, the things they've done. It is far, far harder to choose to see them as God sees them, and to recognize and appreciate they are doing the best they can.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. Be content with what you have. Someone will always have more than you - MANY have less.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. Love is an action. Do it every day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am blessed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12. Never stop learning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13. It's okay to change your mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14. There is nothing in this world my kids could do to make me stop loving them - NOTHING!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15. You are never to busy to read a good book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16. Money isn't everything. No amount of material possessions will ever bring you true joy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17. The Bible is Truth. Read it every day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18. Treat the ones you love at least as good as you would treat a stranger.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19. As much as I am an extrovert, I need quiet times all by myself too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20. Laughter can make even the hardest of situations more bearable, and the sweetest of moments even more special. In EVERY situation, even when your heart is breaking, find something to laugh about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">21. Exercise is just as important for my mental health as it is for my physical health.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">22. Look people in the eye. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">23. There is nothing sweeter than hearing your kids laugh as they play together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">24. As much as I loved my husband on the day I married him, I love him even more today. And I imagine that 20 years from now I will love him even more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">25. People are going to hurt you, sometimes intentionally, most of the time unintentionally. Forgive the people who ask for you for forgiveness, and for those who don't bother to ask...forgive me them anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">26. Believing in Jesus is not necessarily the same thing as following Jesus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">27. Some of the best friends you will ever have you meet before the age of 5, some of the best friends you will ever have you meet in adult hood, both are gifts from God, treasure them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">28. Regardless of it's size, weight, shape or dimensions, the female body is an amazing and beautiful thing. Be proud of the body you have.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">29. Words matter. Kind words go a long way to making a bad day better and harsh words can ruin even the best of moods. Watch your words carefully.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">30. It's okay to cry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">31. Everyone has a story tell. And every story is worth listening to. Learn to listen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">32. Everyone will look up to someone, choose your someone wisely, and always act like someone has chosen you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">33. Family is always on your side.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">34. Loving your kids means letting them choose their own passions, you can't make them choose yours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">35. Societies view of beauty is very temporary and dependent on things most people can never maintain. True beauty, eternal beauty, always has and always will shine from the inside out, and can last forever. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">36. Wisdom and maturity are not necessarily related to one's age, some of the wisest people I know are very young and even older people can be very immature.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">37. T</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ake care of your body - it will thank you later.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">38. There are times when a hug or loving touch says far more than any words ever could.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">39. My husband gets more attractive with age.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">40. I don't necessarily like the fact that I am now 40, but I have learned to like the woman I am becoming.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-18537313675048596362015-02-12T15:43:00.000-08:002015-02-12T19:11:33.954-08:00The Spark<div style="color: #c82606; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Growing up in a small, rural-Kansas town, I don’t remember a time when my dad wasn’t a part of the volunteer fire department. In fact I have very few memories prior to him being the Chief. Even though the department was all volunteer, the fire station, and the men and women who served there, are integral parts of my formative years. After college, my brother moved back to the small town and also joined the fire department, taking his turn as Chief after my dad retired (finally!). </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One of my most cherished family memories is standing as a family, with my parents and my brother, two nights before my brother’s wedding, as we watched an abandoned house that had been struck by lightening burn to the ground. There was something strangely poignant about this season of “just the four of us” ending in the midst of a fire. The fact that the house was abandoned and no one’s life or property was in danger took the fear and urgency out of the night. So we stood there, just the four of us, amidst the chaos of fire fighters doing what they do, and watched in awe the power of fire. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The thing about a raging fire, like the one that consumed that abandoned house the night before my brother’s wedding, is that it usually starts with just a spark. The smallest spark has the power to become an all-consuming inferno. And when a fire that strong burns one of two things will happen, it will destroy or it will cleanse.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The <b>danger</b> of a spark is that when it ignites it has the potential for immense force and too often it leaves destruction in its path. There was another house fire I remember from my childhood. This one started literally from the smallest spark thrown by an ember buried under the ash of a fireplace fire long burned out. In the deep recesses of the night, the spark landed on the carpet outside of the fireplace. The carpet ignited, the fire alarms did not go off, and only three of the five people inside made it out alive. It was a tragic night in our small town. There is no doubt that fire can destroy. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A strange thing can happen when your daddy is the fire chief. You start to LOVE the smell of fire! Not just the smell of a bonfire on a fall evening, but that charred, burned smell that to most people brings a memory of pain, fear and loss. To me, that smell conjures up memories of my dad, memories of safety, strength and protection. It was the smell of my dad’s truck the day after he ran into a fire protecting our neighbors and their property from harm. It was the smell of my hero and it represented his courage, his strength, and his protection. To this day, I (perhaps inappropriately) LOVE the smell of fire, especially the smell of a burned field in early fall. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The <b>power</b> of a spark is that it can also, ultimately, be cleansing. My favorite time to head back home is during the fall, after the harvest, when the farmers in central Kansas burn their fields. They do this for a couple of reasons. One, to clear it of the old stubble and two, to destroy any remaining weed seeds. Essentially, to cleanse the ground for the new planting. The same power that makes the spark so dangerously destructive, is what makes it so purifying. Only when the old waste and bad seed have been destroyed can the new harvest be planted and have room to grow.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The thing is, not all sparks will destroy and not all sparks will cleanse. Not all sparks become a raging fire. All sparks have the <b>potential</b> to be an inferno, but not all sparks <b>do </b>become an inferno. In order for a fire to happen, a spark must be stoked, flamed, encouraged. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You can find this “spark” or “fire” terminology throughout the Bible, often signifying the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came down on the early church in flaming tongues! Paul urges believers to fan the flames of their faith! Christian songs sing of turning the spark from the Holy Spirit into a flame we can’t control!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Each of us, deep inside, have sparks. We have sparks of rebellion that lead to destruction, leaving behind them loss and pain and charred remains of what we once had. And we all have sparks from the Holy Spirit that can purify and cleanse us of all the waste and bad seed in our life, leaving fresh soil for a new harvest. The question is which spark will you fan into a fire? Both have the potential to change your life. Both have the potential to become an inferno that you cannot control. You, my friend, have to choose which spark you will let burn.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-37146699167579194422015-01-12T11:50:00.003-08:002015-01-12T11:50:32.603-08:00The Journey to the Promise Land<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I imagine most of you reading this are familiar with the Promise Land. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is the land God promised to Abraham and his descendants back in the very beginning of the Old Testament, the land that lies along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Abraham settled there after he left Ur but just a few generations later his descendants ended up in Egypt due to a famine that spread through the lands. The Israelites grew in numbers during their time in Egypt and out of fear of their rebellion, Pharaoh enslaved them, all of them. Their life under Pharaoh was awful. So awful that the Israelites groaned and called out to God to deliver them. So God sent Moses to guide the Israelites back to the Promise Land, the land flowing with milk and honey, the land God had always planned for them, the land where they would finally be right where God wanted them. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wouldn't you just love to be there; in a place where the fields you are working (whatever those "fields" might be) are fertile and the harvest you reap is abundant; a place where you know this is what God had planned for you and you are right where he wants you to be? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The problem with "there", with the Promise Land, is that it is almost always not where you start. Just like the Israelites started in Egypt and had to journey to the Promise Land, we often start a fair distance away from where God wants us and we have to journey to our Promise Land.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No one knows the exact route the Israelites took to the Promise Land but scholars estimate it should have taken approximately one month (give or take) walking on a direct route to reach the land. Instead, the Israelites spent the next 40 years wondering through the desert. And it wasn't because they were enjoying the process!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not three days after their miraculous escape from the Egyptians, the Israelites were ready to turn around and go back. You see the journey to the Promise Land was hard! Way harder than they thought it would be. You see the journey to the Promise land is rarely easy. It wasn't back then and it isn't today. And regardless of how awful our old life may have been there is something about the familiarity of it that one begins to crave when the journey is long and hard. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, life with the Egyptians sucked. But walking through a desert with no water was no picnic either. And the Israelites figured at least they knew what to expect from the Egyptians, no dream of a better life, no promise of a better land, could comfort the pain they were facing on the journey. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can you relate to that? I absolutely can!!! The past two and a half years have been a journey to MY Promise Land. And there are days it is harder than I ever could have imagined! There are so many days I want to give up, go back to what I knew before - no books, no papers, plenty of time for my family and friends. But I know that isn't where God wants me. That is not where I will find fertile fields and abundant harvests. That is not the place God has always planned for me to be. And the journey to this Promise Land, though hard, is part of God's plan for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The journey to YOUR Promise Land is part of God's plan for you too. I don't know where you are today, perhaps you are already in your Promise Land, if you are, I am so happy for you! Enjoy it, live it well. You are right where you are meant to be! But if you're not, are you willing to consider where your Promise Land might be? Are you willing to start the journey? It won't be easy, I don't say that to discourage you, because this is a journey you absolutely must make. But I want to be honest, it will be hard. But it will also be so very, very worth it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is time, join me on a journey to the Promise Land. It's where God has always planned for you to be!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-30945726832312412442014-12-17T07:35:00.003-08:002014-12-17T11:10:09.782-08:00Christmas in the Eyes of a Child<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px;">
<i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?” </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom.”</span><span style="color: #0433ff; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Matthew 18: 1-4</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 36px;">Not all of us are men and not all of us are women, but each of us, at one time, was a child. Many of us still act like we are! </span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 36px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 36px;">So it should be easy for us to put ourselves in the perspective of a child right? But it’s not. It can be so difficult to see Christmas, to see Christ like a child, yet so vitally important, that it is mentioned in the bible not only in the Matthew 18, but again in Matthew chapter 19, a third time in Mark chapter 10 and a fourth time in Luke chapter 18. In deed, it is more than difficult for a mature adult who has seen and heard too much of a hostile world to look at Christ, to look at Christmas, and to simply believe with the innocence and faith of a child. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 36px;">Yet Scripture is clear, in order to enter into the kingdom of heaven we have to receive it like a little child.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 36px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 36px;">Why like a child?</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 36px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 36px;">What did Jesus see in children that so endeared them to him?</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 36px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Kid have a way of seeing the world that we adults somehow lose as we age. They possess this blind faith that what they have been told (especially by those they </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">love</span><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;">) is </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">true, they don't doubt what Mom and Dad say. They have a kind of </span><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;">eternal hope that good will always win, that life is fun and fair and just. Because of this eternal hope they have an overwhelming joy, sadness never lasts long and tomorrow will always be </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">better than today. </span></span><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 36px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 36px;">So how can we, as jaded adults, look at Christmas through the eyes of a child?</span></span><br />
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<span style="text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">When</span><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> I asked my friends, family, kids, anyone I could get ahold of what Christmas meant to a child I got </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">essentially</span><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> three distinct types of answers. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 36px;">I. </span><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 36px;">Presents</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Is anyone surprised that the number one answer was presents?</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"> T</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">here is no doubt that to all children Christmas gifts is a huge and imperative part of Christmas. And if you will allow yourself to admit it even adults eagerly anticipate the opening of presents.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The thing about a present is the mystery behind it.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">You look at a gift that is all wrapped up and you take in the size and the weight and any sound it might make when shaken (gently) and you can make an educated guess about what may be in it. But you don’t actually know for certain.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Until that gift is open it could literally be anything in the world, your imagination is the only limit.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">It’s especially true in my family, that the biggest gift may be in the smallest box and the smallest gift is almost always in the biggest box.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">A gift that is light, will have rocks added to it, if a gift is so big or heavy that it can’t be wrapped at all then a note is wrapped (with a weight inside it) sending the recipient on a wild goose chase to find it. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Until the paper is off you can never tell what a gift might be.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christ was a lot like that. His greatness was hidden beneath the packaging. Even though Isaiah, in the old testament gave us amazing insight into what to look for when the Messiah came, still people wondered, how could THIS baby be a king. We know from Isaiah 9:6 that the son of David would come to us as a baby… We even know from Isaiah 7:14 that the child would be born to a virgin. And in 9:7, Isaiah continues with predictions of the greatness this child will fulfill, His kingdom will never end! So with all this insight, why is it so hard to conceive that this humble little baby, born in stable, in a quiet night, was indeed the coming king, the son of God. It had to be the packaging. He was so well wrapped that you couldn’t even fathom what he really was. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And the bible says "She...wrapped him in swaddling clothes.’’ Those are wonderful words. But there was more wrapped up in those swaddling clothes than a little baby.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> <br />
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Now he is a little Baby in Mary’s arms wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger, but soon, He will confound the pharisees in the Temple. He will be introduced and baptized by John. He will work miracles and call disciples. He will die on a cross, be buried in a borrowed tomb, and be resurrected the third day. He will ascend to the Father to become our Intercessor, Advocate, Mediator and great High Priest.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No one could have guessed the magnificence of that gift that was wrapped up in an infant in swaddling clothes. Christ was and still is the most amazing gift that has ever been given. And only a child could look at a gift like that, it’s size, shape, and weight and see in it all the greatness that was to come. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">II. Wonder/Awe</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever seen a child’s face light up the first time they see the Christmas lights go on for the year. It is the definition of awe. Their eyes get big, literally reflecting the lights they see around them, their mouths drop open, but no words come out, and for a few seconds the whole body is perfectly still. No small feat for a busy child. I imagine that’s what the shepherds look liked the first time they laid eyes on the Christ child. They were there, the only ones to join Mary and Joseph at the time of Christ’s birth, an ordinary birth with extra-ordinary outcome. And isn’t it the truth that children have a spiritual gift for finding the extraordinary out of the everyday ordinary. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the mistakes we adults make at Christmas is that we get so caught up in the busyness of the “Holiday” that the people we encounter lose their extraordinary qualities. People become just ordinary, like grains of sand. The cashier becomes a hand that has money in it. The clerk becomes a voice with information. And the child becomes the inconvenience that always wants something. And we fail to see the message of Christmas that God comes into our world & says, "Ordinary people are never just ordinary." When God touches them they become special, created in God’s image - And it’s perfect, just perfect. For whatever reason, children are able to see the extraordinary, long after adults have lost that vision. They see it all with the wonder and awe that we have lost. Maybe that is one of our problems with Christmas. Christmas is such a familiar & common experience that we almost miss it. So this year I challenge you to see it again for the first time with the wonder and awe of a child. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">Turn an ordinary light into an extraordinary splendor, turn an ordinary birth into the extraordinary miracle that saved us all.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">III. Innocence</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Christ talks about children in Matthew, in Mark and again in Luke he asks us to become like them. Knowing how difficult it is, he calls us to embrace him with the faithfulness and innocence of a child. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What does that innocence look like? This week I got an email from a friend of mine and it was labeled “Children’s definition of Love” and among many other definitions was this one from a young boy named Bobby, age 7 “Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.” Bobby, at a tender age of 7, gets it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Children choose to believe the story of Jesus birth not because they have seen it or touched it or have witnessed miracles themselves. But simply, because they were told. Someone they love, their father, their mother, their neighbor, or their Sunday school teacher told them a story. And because someone they love told it to them, they believe. That is faith. Someone You love is telling you the story too. Your Father in heaven, who loves you very much, is telling you. And He is asking you to believe. Just believe with the faithfulness and innocence of a child.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me, all I have to do is look at an orange and I can find the innocence of Christmas through the eyes of myself as a child. You see down in this tiny farm town in the middle of Kansas where I grew up, Christmas Eve was spent at church. That’s when the children of First Mennonite Church put on their annual Christmas Eve program. It was pretty much the same scene every year. Someone read the passage from Luke; there were the leading roles of Mary and Joseph, some shepherds, a few angels and 3 wisemen. We sang Hark the Herald Angels, Away in a Manger and Silent Night, we all lit candles and were filled with awe at the wonders of it all and then as everyone was heading home on Christmas Eve night the church gave an orange to everyone who attended. Why an orange? I truly have no idea! Honestly, no clue! I’m not sure when it started but I know they have done it every year since I was a child and I know they still do it. And because of that, because of that tradition, when I see an orange I see a Christmas scene, full of innocence, wonder and awe, in a dimly lit church full of glowing candles with a choir singing Silent Night and children on a stage dressed up like the holy nativity. The picture of innocence.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is it about children that endeared themselves to Jesus? Certainly they are cute. Certainly they are innocent in their understanding of life. But what impressed Jesus always was their faith… Maybe that’s why Jesus came as a babe in a manger – born innocent and full of faith he remained that way all of his life. The faith of a child is what you must gain to enter the kingdom of heaven. The surest sign of growing old gracefully is one who refuses to become jaded and cynical about life and people. Jesus never did and neither should we.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I urge you this Christmas, to look at it through the eyes of a child. The way Christ calls us too. Look for your own signs of Christmas they are all around. You might find Christ in an unopened gift, beautiful Christmas lights, a child’s Christmas program, or an orange. Whatever Your sign for Christmas may be, I hope you find it with the innocence, the miracle, the awe of a child. Merry Christmas and God bless you.</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-68942055588793111962014-12-05T07:10:00.002-08:002014-12-05T07:10:47.028-08:00Where God Wants Me To BeI had a moment with God today. Actually this moment has been stewing for quite some time now. <br />
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There is a restlessness inside of me, questioning where I am at and what I am doing. It was bound to happen, I am just wrapping up my 6th semester of seminary. I have been going strong for 2.5 years and am just about half way. As quickly as the last few years have gone, the road ahead still seems endless, like the finish will never come. I will be stuck in this place of waiting forever. <br />
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Have you ever been in a place of waiting? This is not my first time and it hasn't gotten any easier. Erik and I had trouble carrying a baby to term (okay, technically I was the one with trouble carrying, but Erik was right there beside me on the journey). We had two miscarriages before we had Isabella, add to that the months in between of waiting to be healthy again, trying to conceive, losing again, waiting again...you get my drift. I have been stuck in the never ending cycle of waiting before, it's not unfamiliar. And honestly I don't think it's the waiting that is getting to me this time.<br />
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I knew this journey wasn't going to be easy. Graduate school work is never easy. I knew there would be tons of reading, long papers to write, assignments I loved and assignments I didn't. I knew the school side of things would be hard. And it is. One of the most academically challenging things I have ever done. But again, that's no surprise, that is not what I'm struggling with.<br />
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And sadly, I have actually gotten kind of use to the loneliness, this process of studying is turning me into somewhat of an introvert (heaven help me!). It turns out solitude is actually not so bad. The loneliness is not what is overwhelming me, it's there, but I have learned to manage that.<br />
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The thing that I am struggling with the most, the thing that right now is the hardest for me, is what this process is costing my family. I'm okay with the sacrifices I am having to make. I made this choice and I am willing to do the work. What I am less okay is what my family is being forced to sacrifice. We made the decision when the kids were very young that I would stay at home with them. I have identified myself as a mom for 12 years now, that is who I am, that is what God has asked me to do. I gave up my career, extra money, peace of mind, and showering on a regular basis to stay at home with me kids. I have honestly never regretted that decision. I have been gotten to be there for all my kids firsts from words to waling to preschool to kindergarten and beyond. I have been someone's class room mom for 7 years now, I have been on countless field trips, volunteered in classrooms and hosted playdates. <br />
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Unitl now.<br />
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I am no longer the mom I have always wanted to be. I am still a mom absolutely, but not in the way<b> I </b>want to be. I don't have time to volunteer in the classrooms any more. The last 2 years I have missed more field trips than I have made. My kids have less playdates because I am too busy to set them up. Our house is rarely clean, I don't always have time to make dinner, let alone serve a friend by making them dinner. I don't have time to hang out not the drive way with other moms or go grab lunch. I'm no longer a stay at home mom. But we don't have the luxury of two incomes either.<br />
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In fact we have less income than we did before as we juggle the expense of school. My family is being cheated out of my time, my energy and the families money. They are sacrificing heavily. And I am frustrated because I don't see this ending any time soon. <br />
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So I finally sat down and unloaded all this with God. I cried. He listened. I cried some more. And then He spoke. Do you know what he said? He told me, "I've got this." He's got my children, he's got my husband and he's got our finances. He's got this. And then He said, "Don't you trust me?"<br />
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And that is the question.<br />
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That has been the question since I started this journey. Do I trust God? Do I trust that this is plan for me and that his plan is always better than my plan? Do I trust him that the end result will be worth the journey? Do I trust him that he loves my kids more than I do and he wouldn't call me to do something that ultimately hurt them? Do I trust Him?<br />
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Do I?<br />
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Yeah, I do.<br />
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I don't know what tomorrow, or next month or next year will look like. While I guess I kind of do, I'll still be in school spending all my free time studying, reading and writing papers, because that is where God wants me right now. And my kids will have a little less of me than I would choose. But they will see me being obedient. They will see me making sacrifices, and they will learn for themselves what it means to make sacrifices. They will learn that money is a limited commodity and obedience is always more important than our own selfish desires. <br />
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So maybe this isn't exactly where I want to be right now, or where I want my family to be, but I am absolutely certain that this is right where God wants us to be.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-63082981781212709312014-11-20T19:49:00.001-08:002014-11-21T03:41:19.426-08:00Will They Ever Know?Being a parent is the single hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life!<br />
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Far harder than my own adolescence, far harder than setting off on my own, far harder than learning how to navigate that first year of marriage.<br />
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Raising kids. It. Is. Hard.<br />
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One of my kids got hard news today. They wanted something, worked hard for something and thought they would get it, but they didn't. And it hurt. It made them cry.<br />
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Honestly, it made me cry too.<br />
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To see my kid hurt and NOT be able to fix. Hardest. Thing. Ever.<br />
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Don't get me wrong. I have seen my kids cry before. I have even made them cry before. I am not a "You want it, you can have it!" kind of mom. I know my kids will face hard times. I know that it is the hard times that will ultimately draw them closer to God. I want them close to God so I must, therefore, want them to go through hard times. But recognizing that with my head and living with that in my heart are two very different things!<br />
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The hardest part, the very hardest part is that this kiddo processes things internally, they won't talk about, the more I react, the harder it is for them. So I will smile and pretend everything is okay and we won't talk about it, not till this child is ready. <br />
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But in the mean time, behind closed doors. I will cry. Because my child is sad, and I can't make it better. <br />
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Will they ever know?<br />
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Will they ever know that I cry EVERY SINGLE TIME they cry?<br />
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Will they ever know that everything they worried about, I worried about more?<br />
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Will they ever know that every dream they had, I dreamt for them too?<br />
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Will they ever know there were nights I snuck into their room just to watch them sleep, thanking God that I got to be their momma, even when it was the hardest thing I ever did!?<br />
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Will they ever know?<br />
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Will they ever know I fought for them, with every breath I had, from the moment they were conceived until the day I die?<br />
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Will they ever know how many hours of sleep I gave up, how many meals I ate cold, how many miles I drove, how much I willingly sacrificed just for them?<br />
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And will they ever know that I would gladly do it all again? <br />
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I wonder if they will ever know.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-30971464468909196942014-10-20T17:43:00.001-07:002014-10-20T17:43:16.255-07:00Will the Rocks Cry Out?<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been a Kansas girl all my life. Even for the five short years I lived all of two miles across the state line on the Missouri side of Kansas City, I still told people I was from Kansas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I attended the University of Kansas, so of course I cheer for the Jayhawks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I currently live in one of the Kansas suburbs of Kansas City, so of course I cheer for the Chiefs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But one of my favorite teams, one of my very favorites teams, has always been the Royals!!! I grew up listening to nearly every game the Kansas City Royals played on am radio, thanks to my brother and my dad. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was a little girl when the Kansas City Royals won the World Series in 1985 and I bet I could have told you the entire starting line-up that year! Willie Wilson was my personal favorite!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's really no surprise then that my boy's play baseball, both of them. We attended 50+ little league games last summer alone! My ten year old's team is of course... the Royals!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The past few weeks have been absolutely amazing here in the KC area, well, all throughout Kansas quite honestly. We were lucky enough to have tickets to the postseason games and I got to go to two of the games with the kids. As I took in all the sights and sounds of the final game in the American League Championship, it was something I will never forget. The crowed went absolutely wild! 40,000 people were cheering, shouting and screaming, united in a single victory,a common conquest, sharing in the triumph of one team. Strangers embraced, grown men cried, the whole city rejoiced!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I screamed too, jumped up and down, hugged my kids, and high-fived some strangers. Then I took a step back and just watched. And I found myself wondering why it takes a sports team to get this kind of reaction from a crowd.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As amazing as this post season has been, and it HAS BEEN AMAZING!! It's a moment in time. Next year, it will be another team in the lime light and this will be a story we tell. Yes, Royals fans have waited a long time for this, I know, I'm one of them. But there is something else I have been waiting my whole life for. Something the whole creation has been waiting nearly 2000 years for, the coming of a King. Do you think He will get the same reaction? I don't think He will.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Wednesday night, the city of Kansas City went wild, we cried out, we rejoiced... for a sports team. Would the King of Kings get the same reaction?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Jesus entered the street of Jerusalem for the last time, his disciples, the multitude that followed him and adored him cried out, they rejoiced and when the Pharisees told Jesus to make them be quiet, His reply was, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were no stones crying out last Wednesday, not in Kansas City. Would we rejoice the same if it wasn't a sport's team but the one true King? Or would it be up to the rocks to cry out?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-35893323818582773482014-09-19T08:28:00.001-07:002014-09-19T08:28:19.529-07:00When Miracles Don't Come<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week our church laid to rest a young mom. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A mom who had battled cancer for the last three years of her life. A mom who left behind </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">behind a husband, a six year old daughter and a four year old son. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks prior to this, in a completely separate conversation, someone asked me if I thought God still performed miracles. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I told her, "Yes! I absolutely believe in miracles!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do I still think that today?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes. I really do. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I also recognize that it is not always in God's will to heal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of you may nod your heads and agree with that statement. And some of you may see red and get spitting mad. That's okay. I get that. I do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How could it </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">possibly</i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> be "God's will" for a child to lose a mother or a husband to lose a wife? Honestly? I don't know. I don't pretend to understand why God does what He does. Why God allows what He allows. I don't understand why there is so much loss and pain in this world. I only know there is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also know God never leaves us nor forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). I know God is our refuge and strength in times of trouble (Psalm 50:15 and 62:8). I know that in Him is a peace that passes understanding (Phil 4:7). I know His word is true and He keeps His promises. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a time in my life, years ago, when I fell to my knees and cried out to God for a miracle. But that miracle never came. I know what it feels like when God chooses <i>not</i> to answer your prayer. I know what it feels like to believe in a God you <b>know</b> is perfectly capable of healing, perfectly capable of performing miracles; and yet have to live with the aftermath of a dream shattered, the absence of a miracle, the loss when healing didn't come. I know what that feels like.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And though I can accept those moments, share my grief (and sometime even anger) with God and lean on Him in the turmoil that follows; I would be lying if I said the question of "Why?" never entered my mind. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes, I am able to understand the "Why?" given enough time and distance. Other times, I'm not. I still have no answer to give when someone comes to me with a heavy heart asking why God didn't do what they know he is capable of doing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my seminary reading this week Richard Rohr, a catholic priest, wrote something to this effect... Jesus never healed for the sake of healing. The miracles Jesus performed, all of them, were always about, and always will be about, inner transformation. People today cry out to God and ask for healing, but have no interest in the inner transformation that must go along with it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I looked back at many of Jesus's healings and it turns out, Rohr is right. Jesus healed not so bodies would be healthy but so souls would be saved. When I cried out to God for my miracle years ago, the one that never came, I wasn't crying out for transformation, I wasn't interested in inner change. I was calling out for my wants. Legitimate, God honoring wants, but wants all the same. In the 12 years since the night I spent on my knees, I have been more transformed by His faithfulness, His love and His devotion to me, than I ever would have been had He performed a miracle that night. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will never fully understand why God takes a child before their life has been fully lived. I will never fully understand why God would take a young mother from a family that desperately needs her. But these are things God never <i>intended</i> for me to fully understand; that is why it is called faith. I have to have faith that His way <b>is</b> best. I have to have faith that His plan <b>is </b>perfect, even when it makes no sense to me. I have to have faith that "<b>ALL</b> the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful" (Psalm 25:10), even when it's not the way I want things to be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God is gracious and compassionate (Neh 9:17), don't forget that. Even when the miracle doesn't come.</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-34151101930236920292014-09-05T11:31:00.003-07:002014-09-05T11:34:03.163-07:00Treasured Possession<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">"For you are a people holy to the </span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> your God. The </span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his </span><b style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">treasured</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> <b>possession</b>."</span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Deuteronomy 7:6</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It sometimes amazes me how you can feel so alone in the middle of a great big crowd. Have you ever felt that way? You are surrounded by people, voices, even laughter; you are sharing experiences, stories and life with others and yet somehow you feel...lonely.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This reality was a heavy weight on my shoulders throughout my time in Haiti. The kids in the orphanages were surrounded by people, 56, 80, sometimes 89 other kids depending on which orphanage we were at. This number doesn't even include the mommas (what they call the caregivers), the teachers, the pastors or other staff that was there. The kids were surrounded by other people, yet if there was one word I could use to describe these kids it would be... lonely. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhyqYiqk58yg6wZ9D5PbBcU0gUjNOO_OY5gayTnWyxLxU2Maqhd7HlfTO3qD54eRIoqj5vnoXmXXoIYp7uxZDyyuts4czFQxEz5Trik6-mi2QzwwSoX3WybHJVmqP0EebFwTxfAq8ZBy-/s1600/IMG_0711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhyqYiqk58yg6wZ9D5PbBcU0gUjNOO_OY5gayTnWyxLxU2Maqhd7HlfTO3qD54eRIoqj5vnoXmXXoIYp7uxZDyyuts4czFQxEz5Trik6-mi2QzwwSoX3WybHJVmqP0EebFwTxfAq8ZBy-/s1600/IMG_0711.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They were starved for attention, desperate to be held, yearning to have someone look them in the eye and say, "I see you!" "I know you!" "I love you!" They needed that as much, if not more, than they needed food or the fun we brought. I guess that doesn't make them so very different from us.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDY3ddveS9-yppbpqNgfdvBikvhgHaC4csdGSlHcZaPzbcHtsWR06RYH2mjrkPmzchMpUXY9IzR63Nm05-aMbnEAeuB3nPkhsAPf5tj_3DngKueiAROEYIbeSn8AseFejaL2EjTNK7mHq/s1600/IMG_1206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDY3ddveS9-yppbpqNgfdvBikvhgHaC4csdGSlHcZaPzbcHtsWR06RYH2mjrkPmzchMpUXY9IzR63Nm05-aMbnEAeuB3nPkhsAPf5tj_3DngKueiAROEYIbeSn8AseFejaL2EjTNK7mHq/s1600/IMG_1206.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all have this desperate need to be seen, to be known, to be loved. We need to know we are valued, adored, treasured. We need it like we need air to breathe and food to survive. It is a basic human need. And the children of Haiti are human. Just like you. Just like me. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCT-eocB9gN7ZfpnakkaGFLEJQy7FkCPMTz17Ih5f6Baqwy1betB7XEfQdlOmYOWmDz_CbbSNj4ra8IWKnHGRf6rW0if6Bu1E3vK0OoN73ijRkQFOYoCkcFmi8XQsrcMR5OxIKl-Oo5Qc/s1600/IMG_0702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCT-eocB9gN7ZfpnakkaGFLEJQy7FkCPMTz17Ih5f6Baqwy1betB7XEfQdlOmYOWmDz_CbbSNj4ra8IWKnHGRf6rW0if6Bu1E3vK0OoN73ijRkQFOYoCkcFmi8XQsrcMR5OxIKl-Oo5Qc/s1600/IMG_0702.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are like me, you have had people around you all your life. And I am willing to bet that most of you have had someone in your life speaking these words to you, telling you "I see you." "I know you." "I love you." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But if you are like me, there have also been times in your life when you have been lonely. When you are convinced that you are not seen, not known, and not loved. I am guessing there have been times when you, just like the orphans in Haiti, have wondered if there is <i>anyone</i> out there who values you,</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> adores you, treasures you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to tell you there is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your heavenly Father absolutely adores you! He does!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He sees you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He knows you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He loves you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>YOU</b> are His <b>treasured possession</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't forget that.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-12507172693299923352014-09-03T08:51:00.001-07:002014-09-03T08:51:23.047-07:00Home<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was pretty obvious as soon as we stepped off the plane, we were NOT in Kansas anymore!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was definitely not home!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we exited the airport to the chaos of the Haitian culture, foreign languages surrounded us, people crowded us, and smells overwhelmed us. Isabella grabbed my hand and whispered in my ear, "Will it be like this the whole time we are here?" I squeezed her hand and said a quick prayer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was pretty clear that we were strangers in a foreign land, "aliens" the Bible would say. This was not our home. And honestly, it was a little.. okay... a lot uncomfortable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We missed being able to communicate with the people around us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We missed our familiar American food.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We missed American plumbing and hot water.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We missed air conditioning and drinking tap water.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We missed our cozy beds and nights free from the sounds of Haiti (roosters crowing at ALL hours of the night; dogs barking, cars honking).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We missed the families we left behind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We missed home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We didn't miss Facebook, emails or text messages.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We didn't miss our hectic American schedule, running from one place to another.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We didn't miss the constant demand for more (more stuff, more toys, more clothes, more entertainment).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We didn't miss those aspects of home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then again, those things aren't home. The truth of the matter is, sitting here at my familiar desk, in my cozy house, hair drying from a nice hot shower, my favorite jeans and a nice new t-shirt on, I'm still not home. This isn't home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 Peter 2:11 says we are aliens or strangers in this world. The whole WORLD should be a foreign land to us, it should ALL be uncomfortable; even my cozy little house, in my cozy little neighborhood should be uncomfortable. We are called to be in this world yes, absolutely, but we are not <i>of</i> this world. And all the worldly things that surround us, drowned us, and pull us from our true home, where we REALLY belong should leave us feeling uncomfortable, foreign, alien, like we aren't where we are supposed to be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ephesians 2:19 says we are members of God's household, fellow citizens with God's people. That is where our home is, with God, in heaven. And no we aren't there yet, none of us are. We are simply not home yet. And we should feel like that. This world is a foreign land, even if you have lived your whole life in the same small town, that little town is not where you will spend eternity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I looked around the strange land of Haiti, taking in the trash in the streets, the broken buildings and abject poverty, it was uncomfortable, it was pretty obvious I didn't fit in. But I also knew I was right where God wanted me, and surprisingly, there was a whole lot of comfort in that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wasn't home, that was for sure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then again, this isn't home either. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-54722625804154631032014-08-27T12:13:00.000-07:002014-08-27T12:13:06.354-07:00Haiti Bound<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to admit that for most of my adult life (and my younger days too if I'm being honest) I really thought I was doing my kids a favor by raising them where we are. We are in an area just outside of a fairly big city, we have excellent schools, a big church with lots of programming and resources, a neighborhood full of kids and just about anything we could want within a 30-45 minute drive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However in the last few years I have come to realize that perhaps I got this one wrong. The area we live in is also one of the top five wealthiest counties in America. And where I once saw opportunity and resources I now see materialism and pride. Where I once saw family friendly neighbors where kids play outside while the moms visit, I now see kids who are over scheduled and moms who are overcommitted Where I once saw parents who work hard to provide the best for their children, I now see parents who have their priorities way out of whack. Don't get me wrong. I still love where we live, I love the people around us and feel like this is EXACTLY where God wants us. He has just opened my eyes to some realities I needed to see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In just a few hours I will board a plane with my 11 year old daughter and head to Haiti. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. We will visit with, love on and play with children who have been orphaned or abandoned living in abject poverty, children who have absolutely NO material possessions and who are eager to get whatever limited education is available to them. Yet these children have a faith that inspires me. They believe in Christ with a conviction us spoiled Americans find it difficult to emulate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have visited this country one other time and I am excited to see it again, this time through the eyes of my daughter. I am excited to see what God shows her, what she learns, and how she processes it all. I am excited to see how God uses her and how she reconciles the life she lives with those of the kids we will soon meet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are so inspired to pray for us in the coming days we would so very much appreciate it. I look forward to sharing our stories and lessons with you when we get back!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But right now, Isabella and I are Haiti bound!!!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-78989085277906817252014-08-19T06:52:00.001-07:002014-08-19T06:52:27.291-07:00An All Consuming, Unconditional Love<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where does the time go?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week I sent the kids back to school. Where did the summer go?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week I sent my oldest child to middle school! Where did the years ago?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I swear we brought her home from the hospital just last year! </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember looking at her, thinking, "I don't have a clue what I am doing! But oh my heavens do I love her!!" I loved her with a love I had never experienced before. I loved her instantly. I loved her with a love that was all consuming. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved her unconditionally. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It made no difference what she did or didn't do, how she would grow or who she would become, there was nothing that would ever change how much I loved her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few months ago she was a toddler (at least it feels like it was a few months ago) and life was messy. She was messy, the house was messy, I was messy. She had her share of temper tantrums, honestly, I had my share too! But it didn't change my love for her. I loved her with an all consuming love. I loved her unconditionally, even in the messy moments, even in the middle of her temper tantrums. It hurt me to see them, but it didn't make me love her any less. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last month she was a preschooler. She seemed so big that first day of preschool, with hair in barrettes, clothes clean and pressed. She brought home art work that I couldn't decipher and writing I couldn't read, her work was FAR from perfect, but I loved it! I loved her! I loved her with a love that was all consuming. I loved her unconditionally. It didn't matter that her stick figures were missing most of their parts, while her peers were drawing far more detailed pictures. It didn't matter that language skills came harder for her. I was proud of what she drew, what she had accomplished and who she was. And her imperfect attempts didn't make me love her any less. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week she started kindergarten. She was officially a big kid now. Some of the school work was hard for her. She wasn't the smartest kid in class, she wasn't the fastest or funniest or coolest. But I loved her just the same. I loved her with a love that was all consuming. I loved her unconditionally. It didn't matter that other kids won amazing awards, or were recognized for stellar performance. I didn't love Isabella any less when she didn't get the accolades or honors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday Isabella started middle school. Through the years I have gotten to know her better. I know more of her inner thoughts, her fears, and her feelings. And she knows me better. Our relationship is changing. She is starting to see me as a person and not just her mom. She knows what my dreams are and I know what hers are. She knows what I am scared of, what keeps me up at nights, and I know the same about her. Though we are closer now, I don't LOVE her anymore. I still love her with a love that is all consuming, just like I loved that baby. I love her with a love that is unconditional, just like I loved that messy toddler. I love her now, just like I loved that preschooler and school-ager.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our relationship has changed over the years, but my love for her hasn't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The same can be said for our Heavenly Father. I don't know where you are in your spiritual journey. I don't now whether you are at the infant stage of your faith or the toddler stage; maybe you have a school-age faith or maybe you have a mature adult faith. Whatever stage you find yourself in, your Heavenly Father loves you. He loves you with an all consuming love. He loves you with an unconditional love. He loves you even when you are messy. He loves you even when your very best work just doesn't compare to others around you. He loves you even when you are not the smartest, funniest or coolest. He loves even when others are winning awards and your work looks like kindergarten work. He doesn't love you more the more mature or further in your faith you get. Your relationship with Him will change, but His love doesn't. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It doesn't matter if you have the faith of an infant, toddler, preschooler, school-ager or someone more mature. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He always has and always will love </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you. He loves you with an all consuming, unconditional love.</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-9427279980700086592014-08-15T12:44:00.001-07:002014-08-15T12:44:20.957-07:00A Life Lived Well, Part 2<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am sure you are all familiar with these words. They are found in a parable Jesus tells in the book of Matthew. Three servants are given some of their master's money or "talents" before he leaves town. I won't recap the whole story, you can read it yourself in Matthew 25:14-30. But within this parable the servants who properly manage what they have been given are rewarded and praised with these words, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are words I dream of hearing some day as I stand before <i>my</i> master, my God and King. I pray the life I am living is one that is being lived well; that I am properly managing what I have been given; and that one day I will be told these words. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think a lot of people dream of hearing these words. I think some people even <b><i>expect</i> </b>to hear these words. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honestly, most of us would probably say we are pretty good people. Sure we might sin a little, but the Bible says we ALL sin, so we can't really avoid that. Besides, we're supposed to be humble so we better say we're sinful even if we don't really think we are! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we get down to it though, I wonder just how many of us bank on hearing these words of praise at the end of our life? It's not like we expect the master to say, "Perfectly done!" No one expects him to say, "Really, AMAZING job! You couldn't have done better!" All we are asking for is a little ol', "well done." That's hardly too much to ask! Or is it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the parable there are three servants, only two of them hear these words. One of them does not. It wasn't until I really started studying this passage that I began to get concerned about the third servant. I mean, what did he do that was so wrong? It's not like he squandered the talent. He wasn't like the Prodigal son who spent what wasn't even his. The prodigal son was welcomed back with open arms. But this poor servant, who gave back EXACTLY what he was given, was punished. I don't get it! What did he do wrong? And more importantly, how can I make sure I don't do the exact same thing!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have thought A LOT about this. I have read this passage over and over, I have prayed about this passage, asking God to show me He wanted me to learn from it. And here is what I think He has been telling me. Here is what the third servant did that was so wrong...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He didn't know his master. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He didn't know him. The servant tried to justify his actions by explaining that he knew the master was a hard man who harvested where he did not sow and gathered where he did not scatter seed. The servant was scared of him. So rather than risk losing what wasn't his in the first place and angering the hard master, the servant hid the money, and when the master returned he gave back to him exactly what he had been given. The master responds with this comment, "...So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed<b>?" </b>It's the question mark I have never noticed before. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The master isn't agreeing that he is a hard and wretched man. It's more like he is saying, "That's what you think of me, huh?" But the fact is, he was neither hard nor wretched. He gave three servants an opportunity to do something great, to do something for him and only two of them did. Those two he generously rewarded, not the actions of a hard or wretched man. The other servant had a distorted view of his master. He didn't really know him. And he didn't take the time to find out what the master expected of him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Had he spent more time in his masters presence, had he paid more attention to his master's actions and his expectations of those who worked for him, perhaps the servant would have acted differently. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't that the master expected the same return on his investment from this servant. He didn't expect this servant to earn him five talents or even two, it wasn't about how much he could earn for the master. It was simply about taking what the master had blessed him with and doing something good with it. It was about knowing the master enough to recognize he wouldn't be mad if there wasn't a bountiful harvest as long as there was something!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our master has given us all a lot. He has given us giftings and resources and love. And he expects us to know Him enough to know how to use these gifts and to know what exactly it is He expects of us. He doesn't care how talented we are, he doesn't care how much fruit we bring in or how many people we reach. He doesn't care if my talent is kindergarten work and yours looks like a PhD in perfection! He is pleased with both efforts! And if you take the time to get to know your Master he will show you EXACTLY what he wants you to do with what he has given you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How sad if at the end of our life we meet Jesus and say, "Thank you for all that you gave me. I so appreciate it. But, I didn't really use it, so you can have it back, exactly what you gave to me. It's in mint condition, 'cause again, I didn't really use it."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have been given much, but you are expected to use it. You are expected to use it for His glory and not for your own. But in order to do that, you have to know your master. You have to spend time in His presences, listen to His word, and do what He asks. That is the key to a life lived well. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-26375773430368842802014-08-11T06:15:00.000-07:002014-08-11T06:15:31.127-07:00Joy<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer is beginning to wind down in our household. The kids go back to school later this week. It's hard to believe another year has gone by. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This summer has been a happy one, we didn't travel, we didn't do any "great" things. But we had a lot of fun with the occasional incredibly boring days thrown in. I think kids need those days too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the lessons I learned this summer is there is a difference between joy and happiness. I had an opportunity to share this lesson on another blog recently and it posted today. I would love for you to check it out by clicking <a href="http://thegodkindoflove.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wish you all a very joyful day!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-76332168947185997442014-08-04T05:53:00.000-07:002014-08-04T05:53:13.954-07:00A Life Lived Well, part 1<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the problems with being a talkative person is that many talkers don't make very good listeners. I don't mean this to be some great overgeneralization. I am sure there are lots of talkers who make very fine listeners. I would not be one of those. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not a good listener.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately this is also true when it comes to listening to God at times. Sometimes God needs to tell me the same thing over and over again before I hear him; before I pay attention to him. That seems to be the case this summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The summer started with me becoming fascinated with Hebrews 12:28 </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The words "worship God acceptably" grabbed my attention. If there was a way to worship God acceptably than there must also be a way to worship God unacceptably. And honestly this idea terrified me. Was I worshipping God acceptably??? I shared my thoughts and my concerns on this idea at BCW and you can read about it <a href="http://blogsbychristianwomen.blogspot.com/2014/06/reverence-and-awe.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perfect! Done! Lesson learned, processed and documented. Check.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Um, not quite. Though I may have been done listening, God wasn't done talking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks later someone brought to my attention Cain and Abel. Two brothers who both made sacrifices to God, only one was found acceptable and one was found lacking. So clearly, we can make sacrifices that we ourselves feel pretty good about yet God finds lacking, even insulting, unacceptable. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh. So, how do the sacrifices I claim to be making stack up? Honestly? Probably not as good as I think they do. I mean if I have been worshipping unacceptably, there is a good chance I have also been making sacrifices unacceptably. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's be honest, God wasn't always getting my first fruits. Yes Erik and I tithe a fair portion of our finances, but He wasn't always getting the first and the best of my time or my attention. I had not taken captive every thought and made it obedient to Him as we are told to do in 2 Cor. 10:5. He got what I was willing to give Him, when it was convenient for me, if I wasn't feeling it, He wasn't getting it. And I expect Him to be delighted with me? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I started to re-read "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan and was reminded of the parable of the seed found in Matthew 13. We all tend to assume that we are the good soil that the seed falls on. Meanwhile, the reality is we are more rocky than we think with roots that don't grow deep. We have earthly weeds that we allow to choke out our full devotion to God. Chan tells us not to just assume we are the good soil, but really look at how we are living out our faith. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the last 10 years my faith has grown by radical proportions. Often I find myself thinking I am in a pretty good place. But when I am confronted with the scriptures; with the truth from God's own word. I am forced to acknowledge that my worship, my sacrifice, my soil is not what I think it is. I have a long way to go before I am the person God is making me to be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are times this summer, brief moments, when I have been discouraged by this. But then the Holy Spirit brings to mind Phil. 1:6, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I am reminded of the grace that is found in Christ Jesus. I am not enough. My worship, my sacrifice, my soil, will never be good enough. I cannot earn my salvation, my place in heaven. It is given to me freely because I have given my life, my whole life to Christ Jesus. He and he alone is enough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hmm, maybe I am finally starting to listen. The lesson maybe sinking in...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lately, I have been dwelling on the parable of talents found in Matthew 25. It is the story of three servants who are entrusted with some of their master's property. At the end of the parable the master says to two of his servants, "Well done, good and faithful servant." The third servant, though he thought he was doing the right thing, got it all wrong. He was reprimanded and disgraced. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will never live our lives perfectly, but we can live them well. The question is, are we?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are lots of things we do for God throughout our day; pray to him, worship him, maybe sacrifice some small part of our time or attention, or perhaps our finances, but do we do these things <b><i>well</i></b>? Because the mere fact that we do these things does not mean that we are doing them acceptably. Just because we worship, does not mean we worship well. Just because we sacrifice does not mean we sacrifice well. Just because we pray, does not mean we pray well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our worship should be acceptable. Our sacrifice should be a fragrant offering. Our prayer should be heart-felt. Our life should be lived well. Is yours?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-11630415557745367372014-07-28T07:29:00.001-07:002014-07-28T07:29:03.605-07:00The Real Me<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've come to the realization recently that I don't always show people the real me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm an open person, perfectly willing to share the stories and events of my life. But there are parts of my story I tend not to share. There are parts of me, the earthly me, the me I would be without Jesus in my life that I tend not to talk much about. And perhaps I overemphasize the person the good parts. Perhaps I spend to much time talking about the me I am trying to become through the power of the Holy Spirit. I don't want to become a whiner who spends all her time complaining about her sins and mistakes, but I do want to let you all know I don't have it all figure out yet. I am a new creation in Christ, but I still battle with the earthly me who wants things HER way, who is prone to emotional outbursts and would rather read a novel than the Bible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Someone, a good friend, recently commented on my marriage, how Erik and I seem to have this marriage thing down. That is so far from the truth I was taken aback for a moment! Is that the image I portray to people? Because it's not the truth. Yes Erik and I love each other deeply, but let's be honest... we fight. We argue, we disagree, and we annoy each other. At the end of the day (or usually by morning at the latest) we work it out, but don't think for a second that we have this marriage thing all figured out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another friend recently made a comment on my prayer life. This comment made me laugh out loud!!! If there is one spiritual discipline I struggle with it is prayer! I could give you the list of excuses why, but honestly, that's all they are, excuses. Yes, I talk to God, everyday (or almost everyday), but I do not spend hours (or even half of hours) on my knees each day. Occasionally I do, but not often. Sometimes my prayer is focused, more often it is distracted. Sometimes I make it through all those things we are supposed to pray for (adoration for God, thanks for His blessing, my spouse, my marriage, my children, their future spouses, their teachers, their friends, their safety, our country, our leaders, the church...) more often than not most of these things get left out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week was our church's VBS and I was one of the co-directors. The first year of directing is a little like trial by fire. There is no list of your job description because anything and everything falls under "your" responsibility. It was a lot of fun, but it was also a lot of work. Along the way someone asked me if I ever just lost it. They inferred that I always had it together. And although I will give Jesus credit where credit is due, He and the Holy Spirit have come a long way in helping me tone down my out of control temper, my nearly-about-to-combust outbursts. However, I still on occasion just lose it. Usually at home, usually with my own family, but not always. Sometimes I still have public explosions and though they are not as damaging as they used to be, they are still humbling, painful, and require apologizing to whomever I hurt when all is said and done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a new creation in Christ, just like the Bible tells us. But that doesn't mean I have it all together. That doesn't mean I don't still have moments the earthly me rears her ugly head. Honestly, I am so far from having this all figured out, I feel guilty when someone implies I have things figure out, because it just means I'm not showing them the real me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The real me is a sinner, daily in need of the grace and forgiveness that will only come from my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. That is the real me!!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-58474804027107983012014-07-23T06:38:00.003-07:002014-07-23T06:38:52.839-07:00Repent and Rest<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stumbled across a verse in the bible the other day that has had me thinking about it ever since.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isaiah 30:15 says, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">"This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: 'In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.'" </span>(NIV)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Generally, when I think about salvation I look to verses like Romans 10:10, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>o</i>r Ephesians 2:8 </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"For is it by grace you have been saved - through faith..." </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps I might turn to Mark 16:16 </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved..." </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">or John 10:9 </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I am the gate, whoever enters through me will me saved." </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The verse I have not turned to much (or at all) regarding salvation is Isaiah 30:15. And honestly I didn't really understand it when I read it yesterday. I get that we need repentance to be saved, but how does "rest" play into salvation? So I did what all good seminary students should do and looked up what the original Hebrew said. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yeah, that didn't help at all! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps it's the fact that I haven't actually taken Hebrew yet, but I got no help from that. So then I looked up the verse in multiple translations to see if that clarified things. That helped a little bit, the HCSB said, " You will be delivered by returning and resting." The NET said, "If you repented and patiently waited for me, you would be delivered." Ok, that makes a little more sense.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once I added the Biblical context of this verse, it all started to come together. You see the Israelites were God's chosen people and He longed for His people to be saved. Yet they kept turning away from Him. They would repent yes, but then in the next moment they would run from Him, sometimes in fear, sometimes because of pride, and sometimes for a variety of other reasons. Finally God said, through Isaiah, just stop!!! Stop running from me. Repent. And then rest. Stop turning away from me. Stop running from. I know you are scared, but rest in my presence, that is where salvation will come from. But the Israelites would have none of it. They continued the pattern of repenting and running.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Much like the ancient Israelites, I think we tend to do the same thing today. We repent of our sin and we turn away from it. We turn toward God and things start looking pretty good. But then something happens, any variety of things, and we get scared, or prideful, or hurt, or __________(fill in the blank); and instead of resting in Him, His strength, His peace, His presence, we turn away from Him, we run. Maybe we run toward our own sense of financial security, maybe we run to a sin, maybe we run to material possessions, or something that will allow us to take a break from the reality we are facing; wherever or whatever it is we choose to run to during moments like this, it is not Him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In repentance and rest (resting in Him) is your salvation. Salvation will not be found in financial security, escapes from reality, material possessions or whatever else you are turning to. It will only be found in Him. Returning to Him, patiently waiting on Him. That is where salvation is found.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Repent and then rest. Rest in Him.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-72040045987957623442014-07-08T06:20:00.001-07:002014-07-08T06:20:54.816-07:00The Secret of Contentment<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have recently undertaken a happiness challenge. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The challenge is to find at least one thing to be happy about for 100 consecutive days, then share a picture of that happiness via social media. At the beginning of the challenge it was reported that only 29% of the people who began the challenge actually completed it. 71% of the people could not find something, <i>anything</i>, to be happy about for 100 days in a row! </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I imagine that the documenting of said happiness and posting it to social media had something to do with the success rate. Surely people are happy at some point everyday right? It was probably just taking the picture and getting it posted that was the hang up. Or at least I would like to think so. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then I thought about Paul's words in Philippians 4:12-13. </span><div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. <b>I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation</b>, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." </i></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(emphasis mine)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contentment, let alone happiness, is not something that came naturally to Paul. It was something he had to learn. He learned this secret of contentment, not through a life lived according to the law or the world's standards, but only after he began a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Only after he had found the deep and abiding joy of a relationship with Jesus was he able to find contentment in any and all situations. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lack of contentment seems to be pervasive in the culture around us. Everywhere I look people are discontent. They don't have what the want or want what they have. They are too busy and too stressed to enjoy the process of living the life God has given them. They waste their days chasing one dream or another never finding true joy, happiness or even contentment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thing is you won't find contentment on your own. The world will tell you that you can never have enough, that you should always want more (more money, more friends, more success). That kind of attitude breeds discontent. It is hard to be happy when you are continually discontent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a soul deep joy and a peace that comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A joy and a peace that surpasses the world's expectations for a "good life"; a joy and a peace that surpasses the immediate circumstances of your life; a joy and a peace that lets you know God is in charge and allows you to be content in any and every situation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That doesn't mean you will always be happy, that doesn't mean you will never be sad. But it does mean that underneath that sadness is a joy and even a contentment that no earthly thing can touch. And when you are content with the circumstances in your life, when you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and have an underlying joy and peace that runs soul deep, then you can find happiness in each day. The only thing left to do is take a picture of it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#100happydays </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-48672126593129324342014-07-01T07:36:00.000-07:002014-07-01T07:36:04.338-07:00The Wisdom in a T-shirt<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Timothy 1:6</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's summer time! Which means the kids are out of school and my days are jam packed with planning activities, entertaining kids, swimming, baseball, horse back riding, referee-ing disagreements and maintaining sanity (theirs and mine). That has left very little time for things like quiet time with the Lord, spiritual disciplines or writing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I must say I have missed it greatly. It is through writing that I process the things God is teaching me. The act of organizing my thoughts and getting them down in print is almost therapeutic for me and it helps me better understand the lessons I am learning. Needless, to say, thus far, this has not been a summer of great learning for me, and I find that frustrating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night found my family once again at the ball fields (no surprise there!), where I saw a young boy in a t-shirt I simply loved! The t-shirt read "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." I pointed it out to my boys and after a great discussion we all agreed the t-shrit was true. When I got home later that night, I was reminded of this verse Paul wrote to Timothy, "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God." Timothy had talent too, a gift of God to teach, preach, encourage and lead the church in Ephesus. But much like the t-shirt read, Paul was telling Timothy that talent, or a gift from God, isn't always enough. It also takes hard work, you need to fan the flame, make it grow, develop it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whatever your talent or spiritual gift might be, whether it is baseball, writing, singing or praying, Paul tells us to fan this gift into a flame. Don't just take natural talent for granted but work hard. And that talent, that spiritual gift will grow into a flame that no one can put out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very few gifts are given to us in full bloom, they need to be nurtured and developed. They need to be practiced and repeated. We have all heard the adage that practice makes perfect. Though none of us will ever be able to claim perfection, our gifts do need to be practiced. If your spiritual gifting is prayer, then practice prayer, study prayer, read about prayer, learn about prayer and fan into a flame your gift. If your spiritual gifting is music than practice music, sing, play, dance every day, fan the flame. If your spiritual gifting is writing, than write... every day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My boys coaches will tell them to "see the ball" everyday. Practice. Because talent isn't enough. Hard work will beat talent if talent doesn't work hard.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-69393030893871690482014-06-15T06:42:00.002-07:002014-06-15T06:42:47.313-07:00Happy Father's Day<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some days it feels like we live in a nearly fatherless world. Dad's leave, dad's travel, dad's were never there to begin with. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have the extreme blessing of being surrounded by a lot of amazing dad's, from my own dad, to my brother, to the man I married. These men take fatherhood seriously and I could not be more proud or thankful to have them in my life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you don't have men like this in you life, take heart, you still have a Father who loves you. You can read my thoughts on this and a little about my own father's father <a href="http://blogsbychristianwomen.blogspot.com/2014/06/in-our-fathers-arms.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Blogs by Christian Women is another blog I write at once every other week or so. I would love for you to check it out!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Father's Day to ALL the amazing dad's out there! You are making a difference!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-15856702685813034352014-06-13T11:25:00.000-07:002014-06-13T11:25:00.357-07:00Passions or Idols?<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baseball.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Basketball.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Horses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Financial stability.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reading.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Passions or idols?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How do you tell the difference?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes I give the ancient Israelites a tough time. I mean how hard could it be to let go of the golden calf and just trust God?!? Seriously??? Why was it that every time they turned around they had a new idol they were worshiping, a new something or other that they were convinced would make their life better, easier, more fulfilled.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't that they didn't believe in God or didn't worship God, they just really wanted to worship these other gods too. Maybe it was so they could be like the people around them, maybe it was so they could keep their options open. I don't know why they kept turning to other gods, I just know they did.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boy, am I glad I'm not like them! (read really thick sarcasm here). The thing is, I am JUST like the ancient Israelites. I believe in God, I love God, I worship God. I also love a lot of other things. My question is are they passions or are they idols?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Passions are things that you love to do and find fulfillment in doing. They are pleasing to God and in alignment with what he desires for you. You spend time doing them, but they do not take time or attention away from your relationship with God. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Idols on the other hand, may have started out as a good thing but they quickly took over your life. You love the idol and think you might find fulfillment in the idol, but ultimately you won't, because the idol will never be enough. It will constantly leave you craving more, never filling you up. It will eventually take your time and attention away from God. It will damage your relationship with God. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are things in my life that are simply passions, but if I am being truly honest, I have a couple of idols I need to get rid of too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The idols we face today may be different than the ones the Israelites faced thousands of years ago, but don't be deceived. We still face idols today, every one of us. And God is pretty clear about what he thinks about idols. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He hates them. He won't stand for them. And those who worship them will ultimately be possessed by them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God loves you. He will let you worship whomever and whatever you choose. I encourage you to choose wisely. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't let your passions become your idols.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-62998566343778790172014-06-05T08:02:00.000-07:002014-06-05T08:02:49.085-07:00Will You Float or Will You Paddle?<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are days i wake up on fire for God. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I tangibly feel his presence. I sense his Spirit. I hang on his word. I live for him.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then there are days, recently occurring more than I would like, when I find myself going through the motions. When, I don't think I have done anything different, yet God feels far away. And when I try to draw close to him, I can't feel him or sense him. In my head I know he is there, but my heart misses him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like a loved one I haven't seen in far to long, I feel like I have missed the day to day connection with him. I say my prayers, I read my bible and then I start to knock out my list of things I have to get done. And I miss the connection.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Has this ever happened to you? Am I the only one?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning I sent 2 of the 3 kids off to a neighborhood church's vacation bible school and I pulled out every trick I know about connecting with God. I listened to worship music; I got down on my knees, forehead to the floor; I wrote in my journal; I read his word; I prayed his word. And guess what? We connected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not in the most profound way we ever had, but I felt him, and I felt loved. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I still couldn't help feeling like it shouldn't be this hard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Am I allowed to say that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love Jesus with my whole heart, with everything I have. But some days it's much harder than others to connect with him. Someone once told me, if you aren't actively paddling toward God then you are drifting away from him. As soon as you stop to rest, as soon as you get lazy, you start to drift away. Maybe that is what has happened to me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a verse in 2 Corinthians that I simply love. It has been in my index of go-to verse for a while now, yet this is a verse I have never fully learned to live. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"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."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know there are lots of people who live this. Who live every moment, every thought, every word and every action of every day for Christ. But this is not me. Oh, how I wish it was! How I wish I could say my every thought is obedient to Christ, but alas, I cannot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This summer I have stopped paddling. It's summer and I started to float, hoping I would float closer to Christ, but that is not how it works. You can't just float down the lazy river and hope all those arguments and pretensions that go against the knowledge of God will simply be demolished on their own! If you don't take your thoughts captive something else will, and it most likely won't honor God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, demolishing and taking captive are not verbs that are accomplished easily. You can't rest and relax your way into demolishing anything! It's hard work to take something captive!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made the mistake of thinking since I was taking a semester off of school I could somehow take a semester off of the hard work of drawing closer to God. But I can't. As soon as I stop actively drawing closer to him, I start to drift away. As soon as I stopped paddling, I stopped all those arguments and pretensions stopped being destroyed, and my thoughts were no longer captive and I started to drift away. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning God told me to pick the paddle back up. He encouraged me to start paddling again, to find my way back to him. Will it be easy? Nope. It's gonna be hard. But oh, so worth it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How about you? Will this summer find you floating or will you paddle?</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-11687261724478927402014-05-27T07:37:00.000-07:002014-05-27T07:37:04.370-07:00Rights<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In America we pride ourselves on our rights.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have the right to freedom of religion, free speech, freedom of the press, the freedom to assemble, the freedom to keep and bear arms. We have civil rights, women's rights and human rights. We have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These rights are all good things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The problem comes when we put our rights above Christ. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what happened to the church in Corinth. All through the book of 1 Corinthians, Paul is trying to convince the church to give up the "rights" found in the Greco- Roman culture for life in Christ. In the Greco- Roman culture sexual immorality was allowed, some considered it a right of passage for young men to engage is sexual activity with a prostitute (1 Cor 6: 12-20). It was someone's right to seek litigation if they had endured hardship at anothers expense (1 Cor 6:1-8). It was someone's right to dine in an idol's temple or eat meat sacrificed to that idol if one's place in society deemed it so (1 Cor 8:1- 13). Paul points out in chapter 9 that he too has rights, rights as an apostle. Rights he has willingly given up in order to further the gospel message. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all have rights, and rights are good. But sometimes our rights are simply not right. Sometimes, we pursue our rights to the detriment of others. We work hard for our money and it is OUR money. We have the right to do what we want with it, buy what we want, and we shouldn't have to share. Meanwhile our neighbor goes hungry. It may be our right to to hoard our wealth, but it is not right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have the right to pursue our own happiness. We deserve to be happy just as much as the next person, but when our happiness comes at the expense of others our right is not right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have the right to say what we want, watch what we want, do what we want. But when those rights cause pain to others, cause others to stumble or degrade the name of Christ, our rights are not right. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christ had rights too. As Philippians 2:6--8 points out, he was the very nature of God, equal to him in every way. Yet he willingly gave up this right and humbled himself, becoming a servant, obedient even to death on a cross. He had the right to be worshipped, it was his right! Yet he willingly let that right go so that he might save you and me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is the life we are called to live. That is the life Paul wanted the Corinthians to live. We have a lot of rights, and those rights are good. But they are not always right. Sometimes we must give up our rights in order to be right with God. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-15136165442651446022014-05-14T11:43:00.002-07:002014-05-14T11:43:27.029-07:00The Foundation<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.</i></div>
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<i>1 Corinthians 3:11</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are so many strong Christian leaders I have become a fan of over the years; Francis Chan, Timothy Keller, Beth Moore, the list could go on, yet none of these leaders can lay a foundation on their own. None of them are strong enough, wise enough, or holy enough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only one can lay the foundation and that is Jesus Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the third chapter of Corinthians, Paul is frustrated at the Corinthian believers because they insist on dividing into camps. There are those who follow Paul, those who follow Apollos, and even some who claim to follow Peter, though we have no record of him ever being in Corinth! Paul responds to this division by reminding the Corinthian church that each of these leaders they follow are all merely workers. It is the Lord who assigned them their task (1 Cor 3:5). </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This reminder still bears repeating today. Two thousand years after Paul spoke these words, we are faced with more divisions then ever before. There are Catholic/ Protestant Divisions, divisions between and among denominations, churches, and leaders. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The foundation for all of this, in Paul's day and in ours, is Jesus Christ. He is the foundation that all the different workers will build on. But Paul warns the church of Corinth to be careful what they put on top of this foundation, some materials were made to last and others were not. Today we have leaders who </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> promise prosperity for all who believe. Some leaders tell us we can have it all - the American dream and a strong Christian faith. Some leaders tell us we can believe what we want and we will all go to heaven. There are many, many different types of materials that have been placed on the foundation Christ laid. But only one that is true. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paul warns the Corinthian church to choose their materials wisely, because there will come a day when our work will be shown for what it is. There too will come a day when <b><i> our </i></b>work will be exposed to fire and it's quality will be tested. A gospel built on prosperity will crumble when that prosperity does not come, or is taken away. A gospel built on the American dream will not survive in a third world country. A gospel in which everyone makes it into heaven will not endure God's sense of justice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In first century Corinth and today, the gospel that must be laid on the foundation of Christ is that of Christ himself. He is the way the truth and the life, the one and only way to eternal life. He does not promise us prosperity, the American Dream, or a pain free life, quite the opposite in fact. But he does promise to love us, provide for us, and carry us through. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He is our foundation, our building materials, and the only one who can withstand the fire of judgment. He is our reward. And HE is the one we should follow. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1866585398036285460.post-88485799731206100582014-05-11T10:41:00.000-07:002014-05-11T10:41:18.324-07:00Happy Mother's Day!<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This motherhood thing is NOT for sissies!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my 11 years of parenting our three different children I have been peed on, pooped on and thrown up on, literally, multiple times. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have laughed till I cried and cried till I laughed. I have stomped my feet in frustration, bit my tongue till it bled and screamed at the top of my lungs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have wiped noses, wiped butts, wiped tears, and wiped up messes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have carried kids, carried laundry, carried toys, carried burdens and worries, carried books, and carried their hearts in my hands.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been lonely, been lost, been overwhelmed, been confused, been hopeless, and been humbled in ways I can't begin to put into words. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have loved with a strength I didn't know I had, protected with a determination I didn't know existed and prayed like I never have before.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the hardest, funnest, scariest, most joyous thing I have ever done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Had I known what all this would take, would I have ever entered into this thing called motherhood?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You bet! I wouldn't change it for the world!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to all the mother's in this world, including my own, who have walked with me on this walk. You all have taught me, laughed with me, cried with me, modeled for me, inspired me and motivated me in ways I could never express. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you! Happy Mother's Day!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145485552856964407noreply@blogger.com0