Faith is not a feeling, it is a choice. In other words we can choose to trust God no matter how things look or we can give up because our feelings are telling us something is hopeless.
Feelings are fickle, and change from one minute to the next, and if we choose to live our lives based on how we are feeling at the time instead of choosing to believe what God says even if it goes against what we feel we end up making choices that are probably not going to bring the outcome we are hoping for.
You hear so many people saying "follow your heart". There is one problem with living your life this way. Jeremiah 17:9-10 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10 "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."
Our hearts or our feelings sometime mislead us into doing things because we subscribe to the false idea that if our heart is telling us to do something it must be what God wants or the right thing.
But if God says our hearts are deceitful, and only He searches and knows our hearts, does it really make sense to base you life choices on "what your heart tells" you? Or is better, to take God at his word and base our choices not on our feelings but what the Word of God says?
In other words if whatever your potential choice is does not line up with the word of God, or contradicts it in anyway, it is not coming from God. And you have to make a choice...either believe God....or go your own way.
When God tells you not to worry about things but you "feel" worried because of things going on in your life...you have a choice....continue to act on that feeling...or listen and actively trust God when he tells you that you don't have to worry because he is in control.
Most divorces are based on people following their "feelings". Love just like faith is a choice, it's an action word not just a mere feeling.
Again, feelings change radically from one minute to the next. It comes down to whether or not you are going to choose to keep your word and the promises you made because it is what God tells us to do....or going to bounce from one person or one thing to another because your feelings have changed.
When I "feel" like my faith is not strong enough I pray these six words..."Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:24
I hang on to the scriptures that tell me God will never let me down, that He has it ALL under control. When He tells me He will give me the faith I need I grab that truth hang on whether I "feel" it or not.
Think about it this way, do you really think Jesus "felt" like going to the cross, going through all the pain, insult and death? If he really had to choose to go through all that based on feeling and not obedience, he would not have prayed:
"And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him." Luke 22:41-43
Every thing in life is a choice. Every time I say that I think of that movie several years ago called Dangerous Minds. In the movie she tells the kids you always have a choice...when you chose not to chose that is in fact a choice.
When a spouse cheats...that is a choice...to say they really didn't have a choice because the other party caused it by not making them feel wanted...it is still a choice...to remain true to vows made or not.
Or the addict who chooses to use...to say I can't help it because I am sick...it is still a choice to use or not use to get help or not get help. Even becoming an addict is basically a choice...it all starts with that first try...the choice to try something because it makes you "feel" better.
Continuing to make the choice time after time to do whatever it is because it changes your how you "feel" ignoring all the evidence of what it will lead to, continuing to choose to use/drink or whatever you become addicted.
And all addictions are just a symptom of a bigger issue, trying to fill that God shaped hole inside with substances, other people, material things, and so on. We are all created to have a relationship with our creator and until that relationship is connected there is a void that nothing else will ever fill....but instead of choosing to reconcile with Him people turn to every thing under the sun...never really being able to fill that void inside. Living life on "feelings" making choices whether right or wrong based on how it will make you feel.
I can choose to lose hope or I can choose to trust God in spite of my feelings. If I chose to make choices on how I feel or how things make me feel and not what God wants then I would be walking in disobedience and choosing to follow my will and not His will.
God is God, creator of all things and if he loves me enough to send his only son, Jesus to die for me (he does love me that much..you too) then it would totally foolish to chose to "follow my heart/feelings" and seek my will instead of choosing to trust Him and seeking His will in all things.
Faith is a choice, Love is a choice. Every area of your life starts and ends with a choice!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
What Happens When Believers Walk in the Flesh and NOT in the Spirit!
Church softball so far in my experience is NOT a good thing! I have been told the Softball league for the churches here in our area are in place to provide a means of fellowship and sports within the body of believers. Unfortunately fellowship is not the goal nor the outcome at most games. Competition takes over and people who are suppose to be followers of Christ become petty, argumentative and down right mean, all because they want to win.
This attitude completely contradicts the teachings of the Lord. He tells us we should put others first, that we are to behave with compassion, kindness and humility. "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:11-13
I saw very little christian attitude or behavior at our game last night(6/16/08) on both teams. And the reason....because people put winning above ALL else. Here is the scenario of the disgraceful attitudes and behavior at our game, which by the way, was between two teams from OUR church.
It was the bottom of the first inning, we were up to bat and had seven runs and one out. A couple of runs earlier, the short stop on the other teams was in the base line when our runner decided to go for third base and they collided, our runner made it to third base. This person decided our runner was out because he didn't "have to run" and he and the third baseman got to the base at the same time. The coach of their team called it a tie and gave the base to the runner.
An argument broke out. This person who tried to call the game also smokes and had done so before the game. Also before the game several of our team members had a cigarette, in the open with the other team well aware of it. Yet at that time they nor their short stop seemed to have a problem with it..not until they were down 8 runs and we only had one out!
(Now before I go any further, all those who have issues with smoking, yes I know smoking is bad for you and people shouldn't smoke, I also know that most Christians think it is a sin...that is a debate I'm not going to get into right now. The issue is not the smoking, the issue is bad sportsmanship, hypocrisy and putting winning above EVERYTHING including Christ.)
Anyway, after their Short Stop interrupted the game, which by the way was the WRONG way to do it, he should have called a time out and talked to his coach, who should have the talked to our coach and made a decision. But because this person is overly competitive and didn't like the possibility of losing he chose to use the issue to call a technical loss on the our team.
Now like I said earlier, there were a couple of people on the opposing team who had been smoking before the game started, and there were a couple of people on our team who had been smoking before the game, yet there was no cry of "technical forfeit" because of it UNTIL we were ahead by almost 8 runs with one out.
Once the game was interrupted everyone got very upset, not at the idea of losing on our part, because after all we haven't won a game yet..and we just want to play the game and have fun...the anger was because of the total hypocrisy of this guy trying to call the game for something he obviously did not have a problem with before the game started. And because the person he accused of smoking was in fact, NOT smoking but had gone to the car to get his water several members of our team got very angry.
We have a lot of new believers on our team and there are a couple who still struggle with anger. One of our team members has a temperament that he is still learning to control when angry. When the short stop interrupted the game with his yelling, this person on our team got very angry, throwing his glove, hitting his own car with a bat and saying he was done and was leaving. Not a Christlike reaction.
Our coach (who is John y hubby, by the way) and several other people pulled this person aside and calmed him down. They agreed he would sit out the rest of the game and he willing going to do so. In the mean time members of the other team were what the bible calls "backbiting" our team amongst themselves. The short stop continued to run his mouth. All of which was overheard by members of our team.
The person on our team who lost his temper had calmed down and it appeared we might be able to continue the game. Next thing I hear... the other coach's wife walks over and say that now members of their team are leaving because our angry member swore during his fit of rage. (Now this was AFTER both coaches decided the continue the game). Next thing we hear is they will continue playing but only if we start completely over and not count the runs we already had made. On hearing that, tempers on our team started getting hot again and people walked off saying ...that was it they were done playing.
Both coaches walked off the field away from everyone to discuss what was going on and no sooner than when they were away from the teams, the short stop as well as other members of the opposing team continued to talk among themselves making comments and insults about our team.
The person on our team who lost control earlier was getting angry again and the short stop continued to "run his mouth" directed at this person. Next thing I know, the guy on our team lunged at their short stop and grabbed him by the neck, two people from our team and a couple from their team intervened and pulled them apart, restraining both.
The police were called by the other coach's wife, and John called our Pastor, who came to the field. Even after most of the people left, the short stop continued running his mouth, members from his team who were waiting for the Pastor and the police continued to "backbite" everyone on our team amongst themselves in whispers, which were overheard by a couple of our team members who were standing on the other side of the bushes by the table.
Our team members continued to talk amongst themselves and stay away from the other team. Some of our team members were discussing the hypocrisy of the whole thing.
One of the female members from the other team wandered over and sort of hovered around those of us who were talking. She then began talking to one of our female members, who in turn told her she was not involved in the whole thing and did not want to be involved it. This woman continued to talk at her, which made Chris angry because this woman singled out our team member for no reason other than she is related to the guy who grabbed the other guy.
Our team member told her she did not want to hear it nor talk about it. She wouldn't stop, so because Chris is this person's friend got even more angry. At which point because Chris' friend knows his triggers, she grabbed Chris' arm and led him away so he would not lose his self control.
I yelled out at her and told her she needed to back off because getting in Chris' face when he is already that angry was not a wise thing to do. Finally someone from her team came over and grabbed her by the arm and told her to walk away. We found out later her version of the story was completely different from the truth.. Not Christlike!
Our Pastor showed up, unfortunately the short stop and other members of the other team had left choosing not to wait for him. He was NOT happy, in fact he was very disappointed that anyone of his church members would be so wrapped up into winning that they would behave so ungodly over something so trivial as a stupid softball game!
Both sides were wrong in reacting in anger. The really sad thing in all of this is like I said, we have some very new believers on our team, who also have family members who have just recently started attending our church. Because of the pettiness of the other team in starting the whole argument over a stupid game, some of those people left stating that they would not step foot in church again.
One of our team members had been trying for a very long time to get her mom, her 16 year old son and even her husband to attend church. And they had all begun attending and getting involved. But after yesterday her mom, her husband and her son said they were finished with not only the team, but with church!
After the whole grabbing incident, this woman's husband decided to leave and began walking down the road, his 16 year old son decided to follow after his dad so he wouldn't be walkin home alone. As he walked by the other team a couple of their people began harassing him and making comments like "some Christian you are, I don't think you are even a Christian."
Like I said this is a 16 year old kid who just recently began attending church, and because of those ignorant and judgmental comments will not come to church again. (Although I do know all things are possible with the Lord and I am praying and believing those who decided they want nothing to do with the church ever again will eventually realize it is about a relationship with Jesus and not the "church". I believe the Lord will heal those wounds and bring them back to Himself).
I told John last night after we got home, and were talking about how it is so unbelievable that the whole thing happened to begin with, that this was a major spiritual war and because, with the exception of one or two people, no one involved on either team is spiritually mature enough to not fall into the trap the enemy set so effectively last night. The goal of the enemy was to pull those away from the Lord who just recently became believers and those who were on the verge of becoming so, and unfortunately it was a battle the enemy won!
When believers allow pride, arrogance and a "win at any cost" attitude to rule their lives, it is not the Holy Spirit that is in control it is their own sinful selfish nature that is leading them.
There is irony in this sadly. Sunday mornings message was all about being a true winner, the title of the message was: "Winning...Letting Others Go First." The whole message was on living as Christ wants us to, in love and understanding, putting other's first. Jesus said to be the first will be last and the last will be first.
The last scripture reference on Sunday was: "God is working in you. He wants your plans and your acts to be in keeping with his good purpose. Do everything without finding fault or arguing. Then you will be pure and without blame. You will be children of God without fault in a sinful and evil world. Among the people of the world you shine like stars in the heavens." Philippians 2:13-15
Those who wanted to point out the "rules" or laws of the game are the very same people who talk always about how we live under grace and not law when it comes to being a Christian. And no one is perfect and every one falls but it's ok because we live under grace and God will forgive us when we sin because we are "not under the law". There were those on our team who use this "under grace not law" verbiage also to cover their faults yet those same people, as did those on the other team showed absolutely NO GRACE whatsoever to their brothers and sisters in Christ!
When it came to winning or losing the game on the other teams part, grace no longer existed.... only the "law".
When it came to being treated in a way that was unfair grace no longer existed...only anger.
There are those on both teams who claim to be spiritually mature, even those who are attending Christian College and Seminary or leading in one capacity or another in the church, yet those same "spiritually mature" Christians were the very ones who threw grace out the window, the spiritually mature Christians who, if they were as mature as they go around telling people they are should have KNOWN that what was going on was a spiritual battle and a ploy from the enemy to do damage to those who are as the bible says "babes in Christ" and those on the verge of making that choice. And to completely destroy the witness believers are suppose to live in the world before those who do not know Christ!
Almost everyone yesterday failed miserably living an example of Christ. The sad thing is those who were "talking smack" the most are probably the very people who do not and in all probability, will not see themselves as doing anything wrong. Spiritual denial is a very big problem with a lot of Christians today.
There were too many people on the other team who call themselves Christians who made it their goal to verbally express a judgement against certain people on our team saying they were not behaving as a Christian, all the while ignoring their own behavior as not being Christlike either. The old saying be careful when you point fingers at others because there are four more pointing right back at you!
The Bible tells yes we do live under grace and freedom in Christ, BUT that we are not to misuse that freedom or grace or do anything that will cause a weaker believer to fall or stumble.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24, 32 "I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.... whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved"
The bottom line in this whole episode is it really doesn't matter who started it, who ended it or who would have won or not...the bottm line is it was suppose to a church softball game that involved fellowship and fun with a group of people who are SUPPOSE to be representing Jesus Christ. It was not even close to that! And in the end souls may very well have been lost, relationships with Christ were damaged and for NO other reason than Winning became priority and self-centered attitudes reigned free!
After seeing how people act when competition is involved I honestly do not believe any church should have competative sports leagues, fellowship and competition just do not go together for the simple reason we are all human beings and unless a person is completely surrendered to the Lordship of Christ and able to keep from having to win above anything else...it just is not worth the damage it can cause to other's relationships to the Lord.
This all happened last Monday and since then there has been a meetin with the church, this whole thing goes way beyond softball and sports but has more to do with people not walking in the light. Those who lied about what happened, gossiped about it all, slandered and participated in backbiting each other seem to have no accountablity...this is not about the church either it is about those in the church...just to clarify that.
I love my church and want desperately to seee things be the way God wants them to be...so I have learned in the past week to just let go...trust God...and know truth will prevail as well as justice and repentance.
This attitude completely contradicts the teachings of the Lord. He tells us we should put others first, that we are to behave with compassion, kindness and humility. "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:11-13
I saw very little christian attitude or behavior at our game last night(6/16/08) on both teams. And the reason....because people put winning above ALL else. Here is the scenario of the disgraceful attitudes and behavior at our game, which by the way, was between two teams from OUR church.
It was the bottom of the first inning, we were up to bat and had seven runs and one out. A couple of runs earlier, the short stop on the other teams was in the base line when our runner decided to go for third base and they collided, our runner made it to third base. This person decided our runner was out because he didn't "have to run" and he and the third baseman got to the base at the same time. The coach of their team called it a tie and gave the base to the runner.
Our next batter got up to bat, hit the ball and started to run, third base runner was headed home, all of the sudden during the play the Short Stop began to yell..."you guys lose.... you forfeit the game a member of your team is smoking a cigarette, that is against the rules, you guys loose."
An argument broke out. This person who tried to call the game also smokes and had done so before the game. Also before the game several of our team members had a cigarette, in the open with the other team well aware of it. Yet at that time they nor their short stop seemed to have a problem with it..not until they were down 8 runs and we only had one out!
(Now before I go any further, all those who have issues with smoking, yes I know smoking is bad for you and people shouldn't smoke, I also know that most Christians think it is a sin...that is a debate I'm not going to get into right now. The issue is not the smoking, the issue is bad sportsmanship, hypocrisy and putting winning above EVERYTHING including Christ.)
Anyway, after their Short Stop interrupted the game, which by the way was the WRONG way to do it, he should have called a time out and talked to his coach, who should have the talked to our coach and made a decision. But because this person is overly competitive and didn't like the possibility of losing he chose to use the issue to call a technical loss on the our team.
Now like I said earlier, there were a couple of people on the opposing team who had been smoking before the game started, and there were a couple of people on our team who had been smoking before the game, yet there was no cry of "technical forfeit" because of it UNTIL we were ahead by almost 8 runs with one out.
Once the game was interrupted everyone got very upset, not at the idea of losing on our part, because after all we haven't won a game yet..and we just want to play the game and have fun...the anger was because of the total hypocrisy of this guy trying to call the game for something he obviously did not have a problem with before the game started. And because the person he accused of smoking was in fact, NOT smoking but had gone to the car to get his water several members of our team got very angry.
We have a lot of new believers on our team and there are a couple who still struggle with anger. One of our team members has a temperament that he is still learning to control when angry. When the short stop interrupted the game with his yelling, this person on our team got very angry, throwing his glove, hitting his own car with a bat and saying he was done and was leaving. Not a Christlike reaction.
Our coach (who is John y hubby, by the way) and several other people pulled this person aside and calmed him down. They agreed he would sit out the rest of the game and he willing going to do so. In the mean time members of the other team were what the bible calls "backbiting" our team amongst themselves. The short stop continued to run his mouth. All of which was overheard by members of our team.
The person on our team who lost his temper had calmed down and it appeared we might be able to continue the game. Next thing I hear... the other coach's wife walks over and say that now members of their team are leaving because our angry member swore during his fit of rage. (Now this was AFTER both coaches decided the continue the game). Next thing we hear is they will continue playing but only if we start completely over and not count the runs we already had made. On hearing that, tempers on our team started getting hot again and people walked off saying ...that was it they were done playing.
Both coaches walked off the field away from everyone to discuss what was going on and no sooner than when they were away from the teams, the short stop as well as other members of the opposing team continued to talk among themselves making comments and insults about our team.
The person on our team who lost control earlier was getting angry again and the short stop continued to "run his mouth" directed at this person. Next thing I know, the guy on our team lunged at their short stop and grabbed him by the neck, two people from our team and a couple from their team intervened and pulled them apart, restraining both.
We were all in shock to see this happening, especially since before the game everyone was looking forward to playing this team because it is a team from our church and the coach is part of our small group. What we expected to be a fun game turned into nothing short of a brawl! So much for fellowship!
The police were called by the other coach's wife, and John called our Pastor, who came to the field. Even after most of the people left, the short stop continued running his mouth, members from his team who were waiting for the Pastor and the police continued to "backbite" everyone on our team amongst themselves in whispers, which were overheard by a couple of our team members who were standing on the other side of the bushes by the table.
Our team members continued to talk amongst themselves and stay away from the other team. Some of our team members were discussing the hypocrisy of the whole thing.
One of the female members from the other team wandered over and sort of hovered around those of us who were talking. She then began talking to one of our female members, who in turn told her she was not involved in the whole thing and did not want to be involved it. This woman continued to talk at her, which made Chris angry because this woman singled out our team member for no reason other than she is related to the guy who grabbed the other guy.
Our team member told her she did not want to hear it nor talk about it. She wouldn't stop, so because Chris is this person's friend got even more angry. At which point because Chris' friend knows his triggers, she grabbed Chris' arm and led him away so he would not lose his self control.
This woman from the other team proceeded to follow Chris and his friend and yell "bring it on" trying to get him and her to turn around and participate in the conflict.
I yelled out at her and told her she needed to back off because getting in Chris' face when he is already that angry was not a wise thing to do. Finally someone from her team came over and grabbed her by the arm and told her to walk away. We found out later her version of the story was completely different from the truth.. Not Christlike!
Our Pastor showed up, unfortunately the short stop and other members of the other team had left choosing not to wait for him. He was NOT happy, in fact he was very disappointed that anyone of his church members would be so wrapped up into winning that they would behave so ungodly over something so trivial as a stupid softball game!
Both sides were wrong in reacting in anger. The really sad thing in all of this is like I said, we have some very new believers on our team, who also have family members who have just recently started attending our church. Because of the pettiness of the other team in starting the whole argument over a stupid game, some of those people left stating that they would not step foot in church again.
One of our team members had been trying for a very long time to get her mom, her 16 year old son and even her husband to attend church. And they had all begun attending and getting involved. But after yesterday her mom, her husband and her son said they were finished with not only the team, but with church!
After the whole grabbing incident, this woman's husband decided to leave and began walking down the road, his 16 year old son decided to follow after his dad so he wouldn't be walkin home alone. As he walked by the other team a couple of their people began harassing him and making comments like "some Christian you are, I don't think you are even a Christian."
Like I said this is a 16 year old kid who just recently began attending church, and because of those ignorant and judgmental comments will not come to church again. (Although I do know all things are possible with the Lord and I am praying and believing those who decided they want nothing to do with the church ever again will eventually realize it is about a relationship with Jesus and not the "church". I believe the Lord will heal those wounds and bring them back to Himself).
I told John last night after we got home, and were talking about how it is so unbelievable that the whole thing happened to begin with, that this was a major spiritual war and because, with the exception of one or two people, no one involved on either team is spiritually mature enough to not fall into the trap the enemy set so effectively last night. The goal of the enemy was to pull those away from the Lord who just recently became believers and those who were on the verge of becoming so, and unfortunately it was a battle the enemy won!
When believers allow pride, arrogance and a "win at any cost" attitude to rule their lives, it is not the Holy Spirit that is in control it is their own sinful selfish nature that is leading them.
There is irony in this sadly. Sunday mornings message was all about being a true winner, the title of the message was: "Winning...Letting Others Go First." The whole message was on living as Christ wants us to, in love and understanding, putting other's first. Jesus said to be the first will be last and the last will be first.
The last scripture reference on Sunday was: "God is working in you. He wants your plans and your acts to be in keeping with his good purpose. Do everything without finding fault or arguing. Then you will be pure and without blame. You will be children of God without fault in a sinful and evil world. Among the people of the world you shine like stars in the heavens." Philippians 2:13-15
Those who wanted to point out the "rules" or laws of the game are the very same people who talk always about how we live under grace and not law when it comes to being a Christian. And no one is perfect and every one falls but it's ok because we live under grace and God will forgive us when we sin because we are "not under the law". There were those on our team who use this "under grace not law" verbiage also to cover their faults yet those same people, as did those on the other team showed absolutely NO GRACE whatsoever to their brothers and sisters in Christ!
When it came to winning or losing the game on the other teams part, grace no longer existed.... only the "law".
When it came to being treated in a way that was unfair grace no longer existed...only anger.
There are those on both teams who claim to be spiritually mature, even those who are attending Christian College and Seminary or leading in one capacity or another in the church, yet those same "spiritually mature" Christians were the very ones who threw grace out the window, the spiritually mature Christians who, if they were as mature as they go around telling people they are should have KNOWN that what was going on was a spiritual battle and a ploy from the enemy to do damage to those who are as the bible says "babes in Christ" and those on the verge of making that choice. And to completely destroy the witness believers are suppose to live in the world before those who do not know Christ!
Almost everyone yesterday failed miserably living an example of Christ. The sad thing is those who were "talking smack" the most are probably the very people who do not and in all probability, will not see themselves as doing anything wrong. Spiritual denial is a very big problem with a lot of Christians today.
There were too many people on the other team who call themselves Christians who made it their goal to verbally express a judgement against certain people on our team saying they were not behaving as a Christian, all the while ignoring their own behavior as not being Christlike either. The old saying be careful when you point fingers at others because there are four more pointing right back at you!
The Bible tells yes we do live under grace and freedom in Christ, BUT that we are not to misuse that freedom or grace or do anything that will cause a weaker believer to fall or stumble.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24, 32 "I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.... whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved"
The bottom line in this whole episode is it really doesn't matter who started it, who ended it or who would have won or not...the bottm line is it was suppose to a church softball game that involved fellowship and fun with a group of people who are SUPPOSE to be representing Jesus Christ. It was not even close to that! And in the end souls may very well have been lost, relationships with Christ were damaged and for NO other reason than Winning became priority and self-centered attitudes reigned free!
After seeing how people act when competition is involved I honestly do not believe any church should have competative sports leagues, fellowship and competition just do not go together for the simple reason we are all human beings and unless a person is completely surrendered to the Lordship of Christ and able to keep from having to win above anything else...it just is not worth the damage it can cause to other's relationships to the Lord.
This all happened last Monday and since then there has been a meetin with the church, this whole thing goes way beyond softball and sports but has more to do with people not walking in the light. Those who lied about what happened, gossiped about it all, slandered and participated in backbiting each other seem to have no accountablity...this is not about the church either it is about those in the church...just to clarify that.
I love my church and want desperately to seee things be the way God wants them to be...so I have learned in the past week to just let go...trust God...and know truth will prevail as well as justice and repentance.
On a side note: I told the Pastor and everyone I thought both teams should take a loss because both teams acted totally disgraceful...the Pastor agreed...but this is the other team was granted a win after there was a meeting and the "facts" were looked at...which is pretty much what caused this whole mess to begin with...their having to win no matter what and in a way...the leaders who handled this gave them exaclty what they wanted...and very little consequence for their part in this disgraceful mess.
And yes I confess I am having a hard time with some of the decisions that where made afterward and could use some prayer for how I feel at the moment..which is probably why the Lord had me end up here visiting my daughter when all the meetings and decisions were made. I am praising God though for my husband and just how spiritually mature he has been in handling this as well as trying to lead his team to react to all that has gone on the way Christ wants us too.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Kimberly Jo
A couple months ago my dad sent me a picture of this beautiful baby girl. This little one was born to a young unmarried couple who have many struggles in their lives. They didn't want the baby nor could they take care of her. So instead of having her little life snuffed out through abortion, they opted to give her life and allow another family to adopt her.
My dad works at The Tribal School in Coeur D Alene Idaho. The woman who adopted little Kimberly (the name she gave her) works in the Administrative office of the school. She already had two little girls of her own who attend the school. Because child care is so expensive, she has been bringing Kimberly to work with her since the day she was born.
From day one everyone at the school has become attached to this little girl. Including my dad. The teachers and staff take turns watching Kimberly and playing with her. My dad told me the women usually argue who gets the next "shift". And the teachers when they clock out for breaks call it "their baby time".
She has touched the lives and brought joy and love into the lives of so many in her short four months of life already. And my dad, totally blew me away when he told me how "terrible abortion is and thank God this baby's mommy did not decide to abort/kill her before she was born. Because if she had, this beautiful little baby would not be here now."
I never thought my dad had any opinions one way or the other on the issue of abortion....and maybe he didn't until little Kimberly became part of his and the school staffs lives. Everytime I have talk to my dad, he reiterates how this beautiful little girls life would have been lost had her parents decided to abort her.
He is setting up a college fund through Merrill Lynch and asking for those who believe abortion is in fact the killing of children and not just some sterile surgical procedure that removes only tissue. He wants this little girl to grow up and be able to go to college someday and to become the woman God created her to be someday. Because her adopted family doesn't have a lot of money, college would probably not be a possibility any other way.
He is in the process of working with Merrill Lynch so as soon as they are able to set it up I will put that information on her page and mine.
I just think it is so awesome the way the Lord works. I know it's been difficult for my dad since mom passed away less than two years ago. This I think is the Lord's way of helping him move on. The cool thing is this issue is something my mom would be passionate about also were she still with us.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Evolution- The True Science Fiction
Accepted (but false) chronological order of bones spouted as proof of evolution:
Lucy; nearly all experts agree Lucy was just a three foot tall chimpanzee.
Heidelberg Man; Built from a jawbone that was conceded by many to be quite human. (Not evolved from monkey)
Nebraska Man; Scientifically build up from ONE tooth, later found to be the tooth of an extinct pig.
Piltdown Man; The jawbone turned out to belong to a modern day ape.
Peking Man; Supposedly 500,000 years old, but all evidence has disappeared… (hmmm funny how that happened)
Neanderthal Man; At the International Congress of Zoology (1958) Dr. A.J.E. Cave said his examination showed that this famous skeleton found in France over 50 years ago is that of an old man who suffered from arthritis.
New Guinea Man; Dates way back to 1970. This species has been found in the region just north of Australia.
Cro-Magnon Man; One of the earliest and best established fossils is at least equal in physique and brain capacity to modern man..(so what’s the difference?)
If evolution is a scientific fact, why has no one come forward to give irrefutable scientific proof to claim the $250,000 reward offered by Dr. Kent Hovind to anyone who can give any scientific proof for evolution???
And since I’m on this topic, I have some questions for those who say everything evolved and there is no creator:
Where did space for the entire universe come from?
Where did matter come from?
Where did the laws of the universe (gravity, inertia, ect.) come from?
How did matter get so perfectly organized?
Where did the energy come from to do all the organizing?
When, where, why and how did life come from dead matter?
When, where, why and how did life learn to reproduce itself?
With what did the first cell capable of sexual reproduction reproduce?
How can mutations (recombining of the genetic code) create any new, improved varieties? (Recombining English letters will never produce Chinese books.)
Natural selection only works with the genetic information available and tends only to keep a species stable. How would you explain the increasing complexity in the genetic code that must have occurred if evolution were true?
When, where, why and how did a single-celled pants become multi-celled? (where are the two and three celled intermediates?)
Reptiles changed to birds? The lungs, bones, eyes, reproductive organs, heart, method of locomotion, body covering ect., are all very different.
Which evolved first? How and how long did it work without the others?
Romans 1:22 "Professing themselves to be wise they became fools."
Lucy; nearly all experts agree Lucy was just a three foot tall chimpanzee.
Heidelberg Man; Built from a jawbone that was conceded by many to be quite human. (Not evolved from monkey)
Nebraska Man; Scientifically build up from ONE tooth, later found to be the tooth of an extinct pig.
Piltdown Man; The jawbone turned out to belong to a modern day ape.
Peking Man; Supposedly 500,000 years old, but all evidence has disappeared… (hmmm funny how that happened)
Neanderthal Man; At the International Congress of Zoology (1958) Dr. A.J.E. Cave said his examination showed that this famous skeleton found in France over 50 years ago is that of an old man who suffered from arthritis.
New Guinea Man; Dates way back to 1970. This species has been found in the region just north of Australia.
Cro-Magnon Man; One of the earliest and best established fossils is at least equal in physique and brain capacity to modern man..(so what’s the difference?)
If evolution is a scientific fact, why has no one come forward to give irrefutable scientific proof to claim the $250,000 reward offered by Dr. Kent Hovind to anyone who can give any scientific proof for evolution???
And since I’m on this topic, I have some questions for those who say everything evolved and there is no creator:
Where did space for the entire universe come from?
Where did matter come from?
Where did the laws of the universe (gravity, inertia, ect.) come from?
How did matter get so perfectly organized?
Where did the energy come from to do all the organizing?
When, where, why and how did life come from dead matter?
When, where, why and how did life learn to reproduce itself?
With what did the first cell capable of sexual reproduction reproduce?
How can mutations (recombining of the genetic code) create any new, improved varieties? (Recombining English letters will never produce Chinese books.)
Natural selection only works with the genetic information available and tends only to keep a species stable. How would you explain the increasing complexity in the genetic code that must have occurred if evolution were true?
When, where, why and how did a single-celled pants become multi-celled? (where are the two and three celled intermediates?)
Reptiles changed to birds? The lungs, bones, eyes, reproductive organs, heart, method of locomotion, body covering ect., are all very different.
Which evolved first? How and how long did it work without the others?
Romans 1:22 "Professing themselves to be wise they became fools."
Getting High
Hey its just an herb, God created it so it’s ok to smoke it. The bible doesn’t say you can’t smoke weed. It’s not any worse than smokin a cigarette.
Sound familar? Unfortunately I’ve heard this too many times from people who think it’s ok to get high "once in a while". And the worse part is there are actually Christians who believe this (or at least say they believe it). I find it really difficult to believe a person has a close and honest relationship with Jesus Christ yet continues to believe something that is not true.
If you are a christian and believe it’s ok to get drunk, or use drugs, etc., then you must not be reading the word of God enough or are only reading what you think will not contradict what you WANT to do. Either that or you don’t have a clear understanding about the Grace of God and think once you say yes to Jesus you can continue to go about your life without any change or obedience to God.
First off, there is ONLY forgiveness of sin with REPENTANCE! Repentance means to turn away and not do the thing over and over again you are asking forgiveness for in the first place.
Secondly if you really believe it’s ok to smoke weed, you need to realize anything that alters your state of mind is spiritual dangerous. Not only that, drug use is considered sorcery and witchcraft, both of which God is VERY clear about His feelings on.
You don’t think using weed qualifies??? Then read this:
PHARMAKIA –Use of medicine and drugs used not for medicinal purposes, used in spells and religious rituals and ceremonies or for ones own pleasure.
Gal.5:19-21 gives a list of practices that are from the fallen nature of man that are condemned. One is called witchcraft (sorcery) this word in the Greek language is Pharmakia where we get our word Pharmacy. These are things used to put people under an outside influence bringing them into an altered state. That is a state that is not natural to mind but prompted by a foreign substance. This is called sorcery and is just as forbidden as drunkenness caused by another foreign substance, alcohol.
Drugs open one up to the spiritual realm as it alters the mind to function in a way unnatural to the how we were made.
In the end of time this will increase and be part of people’s lifestyle.
Rev.9:21, "And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts." Gr. pharmakeus); from pharmakon (a drug, i.e. spell-giving potion)poisoner, i.e. (by extension) a magician: sorcerer.
If you think your favorite recreational drug "isn’t mentioned in the Bible", you have another thing coming, because what you are doing falls under the heading of "pharmakeia", or in English, "sorcery".
Marijuana produces an ALTERED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS that leaves the user open to hypnotic, and therefore demonic suggestion.
Gal 5:19-21; "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and WITCHCRAFT; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." The greek word here used for witchcraft is pharmakeia.
The person who uses drugs is giving himself over to the will of another--that chief Sorcerer himself--Satan, the enemy of our souls. Christ died to save us from slavery of sin, from the power of Satan and the penalty of Hell.
When a believer engages in these activities, he is in effect denying his Lord the honor due him: who’s shed blood purchased the believer’s eternal redemption.
The Bible says: "You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." -1 Corinthians 7:23
The Bible further warns those who don’t believe and persist in their rejection of Christ, a strong delusion will come upon them.
So if you still think getting high is acceptable for a christian, you might want to rethink what you believe and start listening to what God says...because it really doesn’t matter what YOU think...because it’s God’s standard we have to live up to, not our own.
And if you have an addiction to any drug or alcohol then you need to know there IS deliverance in Jesus Christ, but it involved surrendering your will over to Him and repenting of the behavior.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
When I Say.....
Christians by Maya Angelou
"A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her."
When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting I'm clean livin, I'm whispering "I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven."
When I say... "I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect, My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.
When I say... "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain.. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!
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