Thoughts about things

When did we become a nation of people with a sense of entitlement? I am reading so many things lately about how "this is my right." "I have the freedom to do this or that." People seem to only be concerned with what they are entitled to and what they deserve, that they don't even really seem to see anyone else. Living in America, we do have certain constitutional rights. I'm sure that there are other countries who have similar freedoms and rights. God didn't say anything about us deserving anything or being entitled to anything. The only thing that any of us deserves is death. The bible says in Romans 6:23 " For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." It also says in Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We are ALL sinners, and we deserve death. It is because of God's grace and mercy, and because he loves us so much that he doesn't just snap his fingers and wipe us all out. Everything we have is because he allows us to have it. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. We are deserving of NOTHING. Who are we to say "this is my right?" I don't get it. Another thing that I have noticed is a lot of people just being mean and berating people under the guise of love. Love does not hurt. Love is not mean. If you are going to speak to someone from any place other than a place of true love, keep your mouth shut. I believe that we can say that certain things are sin if God calls them sin. For example, saying that God says being an alcoholic (a drunkard) or an adulterer, or an idolater, or living a homosexual lifestyle, or sleeping with someone before you're married is sinful is not passing judgment. Calling sin sin is not passing judgment. It is what it is. If I say that a basketball is a basketball, I am just calling it what it is. I am not making any kind of judgment or forming any kind of opinion about basketballs. It's the same thing. BUT...there is a difference in saying that something is a sin and then condemning someone for their sins. If you think I am sinning in some way, point it out to me lovingly. Do not tell me what you think about the matter. Tell me what God says. I am not interested in your opinion on how I live my life. Again, anything and everything we do as Christians should be done out of love, and to lead people to (or back to) Christ. I am guilty of judging and stating my opinion on how I think people should be doing something, but ultimately my opinion is not important. God's is, though. Are you living right according to him? Are you doing things that he is ok with you doing, or are you doing things that he says you shouldn't do? Just something to think about.

Freedom Reigns

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations." Isaiah 61:1-4 I love this verse. I believe if Jesus had a mission statement, this would be it. This is what he came to earth to do. There is a class that my church does a couple of times a year called Free Indeed. I was re-reading my materials from Free Indeed, and God reminded me of something; As a child of God, I am already free. Freedom isn't something I am waiting for, it has already happened. Jesus unlocked my cell, it is up to me to walk out and live free, or to stay in my cell and live like a prisoner. I am free. I am free! Praise Jesus! I don't have to wait for it..it has already come. My favorite part of the above scripture is verse 4 "They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations". I believe that, aside from freedom, Jesus came to bring healing and restoration. There are areas in my life that have been wounded. I am a very visual person, so I look at the hurt as something that has literally been demolished, or devastated. God is working in my life right now to rebuild the ancient ruins. I have lived in bondage for 15 years. Those things that were destroyed long ago, the things that brought me so much pain, God is rebuilding and restoring all of that. Jesus doesn't save us and then leave us to clean up our mess on our own. He wants us to let him work. We have a role and a part that we play in all of this, but I believe that we are to surrender to him and let him work. That is where healing happens. I will end with a quote from the Free Indeed materials that I am reading; "The church, in recent decades, has preached the saving grace of Jesus with passion, but too often, has stopped short of the transforming power of Jesus. Many believers are saved but remain in bondage to sin, addictions, and emotional brokenness. Each of these hinders their ability to receive love or give love in their relationships with God and others. God's word declares that every believer is now a citizen of Heaven. As a believer, the kingdom of God has come to you along with kingdom privileges and responsibilities-including healing and freedom." Amen!

Eating disorders

I am writing this blog because I read an article today that has me fuming. The article was entitled "5 Reasons to Date a Girl with an Eating Disorder." I will let you find the article on your own and read it if you choose. Eating disorders affect millions of men and women in the United States. According to statistics, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or an eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS)(http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-facts-eating-disorders). It is commonly believed that eating disorders only affect women, and specifically white, middle to upper class women. The truth is, eating disorders do not discriminate. It doesn't matter your gender, race, or income level, anyone at any time can be affected. Eating disorders are not diets. They are not fads, or lifestyles...They are serious illnesses that, can and do kill people. This topic is near and dear to my heart, because I had an bulimia for 10 years. I have many dear friends who have or have had an eating disorder. I know people who have died because of these disorders. The bible says in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." This is how I know that eating disorders are from satan. Eating disorders steal lives long before a person physically dies. A person becomes consumed by the disorder, thinking of nothing else. People often become unable to maintain friendships or any significant relationships. Eating disorders put a strain on families, often tearing them apart. Eating disorders kill physically. A review of nearly fifty years of research confirms that anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. For females between fifteen to twenty-four years old who suffer from anorexia nervosa, the mortality rate associated with the illness is twelve times higher than the death rate of all other causes of death. This is sad and scary! Eating disorders destroy lives, families friendships, and even if a person doesn't die, their bodies are often destroyed. This is serious and scary stuff!!! We live in a world that is so thin obsessed! There are so many products on the market geared toward losing weight. There is a dangerous lie being taught to our children, particularly our daughters, that they have to be thin to be beautiful, or important, or desirable. Girls in 1st-3rd grade are dieting. These are girls from ages 6-9 years old!!!! This is ridiculous!!!! I hear so many comments and jokes about eating disorders. Most people don't take them seriously, but they are serious. They are so serious. EATING DISORDERS KILL!!!!!!! This isn't something to be taken lightly or to be pushed aside, this is LITERALLY a matter of life and death!!! I feel like this is where my ministry is supposed to be, or at least part of it. I just don't know what I am supposed to do. On March 1st, I am planning on having a walk for eating disorder awareness. I am hoping that I can find people who want to get involved and make a difference. This is something that is heavy on my heart and that I am passionate about. I am praying that God will show me what I am supposed to do with it. For more information about eating disorders, or where to get help if you or someone you know is struggling, go to www.nationaleatingdisorders.org. Also, to hear stories of hope or to get help visit www.mercyministries.org.

Poem

So judgmental So quick to condemn You think you are perfect You think you don't sin If you want compassion You have to show it too You should treat other people The way you want them to treat you

29 things

There is the status that people are posting on facebook where they are given a number and have to share that many things about themselves. If you "like" or comment on their status, they give you a number and you are supposed to do the same. I forget about that part and have "liked" several. I have been given the number 7, 8, and 6, which is 21. I thought since I will be turning 29 soon, I would just list 29 things about myself. Some are repeats from facebook. 1. I'm terrified of clowns 2 I am also terrified or fire works. 3. I love tennis, and am surprisingly good at it. 4. There was a time in my life when I spoke with a New England accent...because I lived in New England. 5. I do not like poinsettias 6. I don't like to drive. If I had the money to pay someone to drive me around, I would. 7. You will probably never see me cry. 8. I love the cold so much, and I would be happy if we got snow all winter 9. I love Jesus. I want to tell the world about him so that they can love him like I do. 10. I love the smell of new books. 11. I love the sound the keys on a keyboard make when someone is typing 12. I could eat chips and salsa 3 meals a day every day (if calories and sodium weren't an issue) 13. My dream car is a 1966 mustang. 14. I think hominy is the most disgusting food on the planet. Well, the most disgusting food I have tried on the planet so far, anyway. 15. I drove a mini van to school during high school. 16. I met my husband on facebook. 17. When I was a child and got scared at night, I would put my head under the covers and I was ok. I still do this as an adult. 18. I've been to Europe and would love to go back and visit other places. 19. I would be totally and completely lost without my mom. I love her more than she could possibly ever know. 20. I have 2 brothers with the last name Simmons, and they are not related to each other. 21. I recently found out that I have brothers I have never met. 22. I have camped out on a trampoline. 21. I fractured my neck when I was 14 22. I should not be alive. 23. My sister is my best friend (besides my husband) 24. I love karaoke 25. I have absolutely no rhythm. I cannot even keep a beat when I am clapping. 26. I was in choir for 8 years of school and never learned to read music 27. I can catch almost anything you can throw at me, but I cannot throw it back. 28. Christmas is my favorite time of the year, and for some reason it's also really depressing.

Will God bless your bad attitude?

There are many promises in the Bible. God says "if you do this thing, you will get this blessing." I was reading James today and I got stuck on verse 12 of chapter 1. It says " Blessed is the man who perseveres under trials, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." What does it mean to persevere? The definition of persevere is: "continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success." Persevere, then, means that you don't give up, no matter what. I have to wonder, though...will God bless you if you persevere but you complain and have a bad attitude the whole time? Can you do God's work with a bad attitude and the outcome still be the same. I like to think that we as Christians are supposed to be like Jesus. Jesus didn't complain about doing what God told him to do. He came and he did what he was supposed to do. Sure, he prayed "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."(Luke 22:42 NIV). He wanted to not have to be crucified and die on the cross, but he wanted God's will to be done more than his. He did not complain, and pout, and have a bad attitude about it, he just did it. I believe that God's work will be done regardless of your attitude, but it may take longer and the blessing may not be the same. The Israelites were in the wilderness for 40 years, when it should have only taken them 11 days to get to the promised land. They complained the whole time. God still got them there, but very few of them actually got to live in the promised land. So no, I don't think you will be blessed if you complain, and pout, and have a bad attitude while you do the thing you are supposed to do. I think that God's work will be done and his plan will be fulfilled, but you will miss your blessing. This is my opinion anyway. I haven't backed it up with a lot of biblical research. I just wanted to share my thoughts with whomever is interested in hearing them.

Out of control!

I had a conversation with God this morning. Usually I talk a lot and I don't listen (that is the case in most of my relationships), or I don't know that he is talking to me, or I am just not wanting to hear what he has to say, but today we talked. The conversation we went something like this: Me(journaling): Lord, I don't know what is wrong with me. I seem to be incapable to doing the right thing. I can't get up early in the mornings, I can't keep my apartment clean, I can't stay off of facebook. I can't stop over-eating, and my anger is out of control!" God "Out of YOUR control, not out of mine." I was not sure if this was really something I heard from God, but after that I really felt like I was supposed to work in my Celebrate Recovery workbook. It was a feeling that wouldn't go away, so I did. The lesson I was on in the book was a lesson on powerlessness. Principle 1 in Celebrate Recovery is "Realize I am not God. I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable." Step one is "We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors and that our lives had become unmanageable." The lesson goes on to talk about how there are really few things that we really have control over. I have been going to Celebrate Recovery since January. I am just now starting to work the steps, and now I'm wondering why I waited so long. God can use any situation to truly transform your life. He did this for me at Mercy Ministries (www.mercyministries.org) when he literally, saved my life physically and spiritually. I do not believe the ministry itself is what does it, it is JESUS. It is the same way with celebrate recovery. God uses this ministry and the people in this ministry to really help people find freedom from their problems, or hurts, habits, and hang-ups, as they say. This blog was not intended to be about celebrate recovery. This blog is supposed to be about God, and about how he can speak to us and we really can hear from him. Sometimes it's an audible voice. Sometimes it's through a person, sometimes it's a verse of scripture that was exactly what you needed to hear. For me, it was a still small voice this time. He has spoken to me in various ways over the years. Sometimes I listen, sometimes I don't. I want to be the woman that listens and obeys what he says, no matter what. In Luke 1:26-38, when the angel visits Mary and tells her that she will give birth to our Savior, her reply to him is "May it be to me as you have said." Wow. Why can't this be my response to God when he talks. Why can't I just say yes or ok and just do what he says or let him do what he says? I have a rebellious tendency. I don't like to be told what to do. That is a problem in many areas of life, but I extend that rebellion into my spiritual life. When God says do this, I say "well, I hear you, but I think I this way is better." No. It is not better! God's way is always best. I started this post in one direction, but it seems to have gone a different way. That is ok. Hopefully it is not hard to follow. The whole point of all of this is that I want God to be in control. Bottom line. I don't want to get in his way anymore. I want him to do what he wants, and I want to do what he says, without throwing in my 2 cents. God is in control. I am not. I am surrendering to him and letting him take the lead.

Obedience is always best

I am having a hard time lately getting my 2 year old son to listen. He doesn't listen, he gets in trouble, I get angry, and they cycle repeats. I find myself getting down on my knees at eye level with him and telling him "if you will just listen to mommy and do what mommy says, you won't get in trouble." I said these words today and then something, (we will call it the Holy Spirit, which is most likely what it was)hit me hard, like a spiritual smack in the head and told me "if you are disobedient, there will be consequences." I am fighting with God right now. Maybe it is not ok to say that, but it is what is going on. I am fighting him like a stubborn child in the an area where he wants me to be obedient. I keep messing up and there are certain consequences, and yet, I won't stop doing what I am doing (or not doing what I should be doing in this case.) When I am obedient, he will bless me. When I am disobedient, there will be consequences. Why will I not just listen and do what he says? Why do I think that my way is best? Why do I think that he will reward me for giving into my flesh and doing what I want? I read a quote by Joyce Meyer that said "Obedience becomes the natural fruit of the love that you have for God." If obedience is the natural fruit of my love for God, what does disobedience say about my love for him? Does being rebellious mean that I don't love him? If I give into my flesh instead of being obedient to God, am I saying that I don't care what he wants? In a sense I believe I am. I am saying that what you want doesn't matter to me, I am going to do things my way anyway. That is extremely convicting and makes me feel horrible. I strive to be obedient, but I cannot seem to be successful. Paul said in Romans 7:15-20 "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." Basically this is saying that I want to do what is right, but because I am a sinful person, I cannot do what I want to do. My heart is for God. I love God. I want to live for him. I want to serve him. I desire to do what he wants for me, and yet my sin and my flesh get in the way and make it difficult. Notice I did not say "make it impossible." We are in a war, and we have to fight our flesh and the enemy (satan) to be able to do what is right. We may lose some battles, but as long as we don't give up and let them win the war, we still have a chance to do what is right. This gives me hope. Every day that I get up and choose to fight, and choose to be obedient, there is still hope for me. Obedience is always the best choice. Not always the easiest, but ALWAYS the best.

Redeeming King

All things restored The past, no more All things have been made new Redeeming king Conquering He won the fight for you Set captives free Upon that tree His blood was shed that day His life he gave Our souls to save He is the only way

Behold Him!

Part of the homework (for lack of a better word) for Free Indeed this week was to behold Jesus and be transformed. During my quiet time today, I prayed that I could behold him, and I saw a picture of him sitting on a throne, wearing a white robe, and I was just bowing at his feet worshiping him. Also during my quiet time, the following poem was put on my heart. Perhaps it was God inspired? Behold him as king sitting high on the throne. Behold him as your savior who for your life he gave his own. Behold him as a friend who will never leave your side Behold him as a counselor in whom you can confide. Behold him! He is Jesus! God's one and only son. He came and lived among sinners, and yet, he wasn't one. His sacrifice saved our lives and set the captives free. Behold him! He is risen! And he's coming back for you and me.

Words

I believe that our words hold great power. They can either be weapons of mass destruction that completely destroy people and things in their paths, OR they can be a light that shines through the darkness. In his book God's Creative Power Will Work For You, Charles Capps writes: "Faith filled words will put you over. Fear filled words will destroy you. Words are the most powerful thing in the universe". Think about it. God spoke the earth and everything in it into existence. Jesus SPOKE to the fig tree and told it that it would no longer produce fruit and it withered and died. He also SPOKE to the storm and said "Be still" and the storm stopped. Jesus gave us the same authority that He gave his disciples. As a child I was often told when I was teased or picked on to just say "sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me" I find this statement to be completely and totally false. I know several people, myself included, who have been wounded and broken because of the words that someone spoke to them. Words that tore down instead of lifted up, words that destroyed instead of healed. Think about this the next time you speak to someone. Think about your words before you say, type, or write them. Are you going to be the light in a dark world, or a weapon of mass destruction?