(Sorry spell check isn't working...again.)
I can't believe that it has been a week since I last blogged. I am quite sorry. I haven't even finished our journey with Hannah either. Well know that I will be finishing that chapter this week.
Tonite, I want to talk about something that has been on my heart recently. Friday to be exact.
If you look back on a few of my blog posts I had a post titled Passive Aggressive Toilets. Well, that was basically me ranting on about my shift manager(SM) and how he is passive aggressive. Since my boss wasn't doing anything about it...I had to finally approach him (way before friday) and see what our issues were. Apparently, he didn't have any with me. Yada Yada Yada.
Friday, I got a unique glimpse of my SM and who he is. He is young, he has very high expectations of himself and where he should be in his life... he hasn't met any of his life's goals yet. He voiced his frustrations with the store in a professional manner....none the less voiced them to me. I have a feeling through our conversations in the past and that night that his marriage isn't that great. I felt bad for him...his birthday is coming up this week and while he should be celebrating his life...he is looking at all of the things he hasn't accomplished.
While cleaning and closing...we talked about faith, religion, his goals....etc. He wants to be in the Navy. He loves his dogs..etc. Through all of this talking and laughing. I asked him why does he seem so stand offish when he comes in? He said he doesn't relize it. I told him that was one of the reasons why I had thought there was an issue with us. Bottom line is the kid has a ton of yuck! He wears his emotions on his sleeve when he comes to work and things are not perfect at home. Things stink at work and he wears it. I feel bad for him.
My prayers had to change recently. I use to pray that God would guide me and give me strength to get through my shift with him. Now, I pray that God gives me the right words of encouragement and grace to guide him. I remember being his age and looking back thinking how I haven't done what I was suppose to do. I get it! But that is what made me who I am today in the Lord. While I would love to sit him down and have a coming to Jesus with him...I will just continue to pray for him. Jesus told us to pray for our enemies. I didn't consider him an enemy (just a pain). But I had started to pray for him and for myself. And God worked His grace right in there.
I guess the toilet isn't clogged anymore. Grace unclogged it.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mother's Day
Happy Mother's Day! I am sorry that I waited so long to blog again! And I know I owe you readers day Four and Five of Hannah...But time gets away from me sometimes!
If you could look at a typical Sunday in my house it would go like this....wake up, coffee, breakfast, shower, church, large lunch/dinner, then hang out with my family! Pretty laid back if you ask me. So what made this day so different. Natalee came running into my room this morning "Happy Mother's Day Mommy!!!" She was so excited!
The sermon was WONDERFUL!!!! It made us think about what kind of mom are we trying to be? The Martha Stewart Mom, the Victoria Secret Mom, or the Gloria Steinem Mom. Come on girls! You know we are each of these in some way and none of them are wrong!! Who doesn't want the perfect house that you can entertain in the drop of hat (Martha). Who doesn't want to look like a Victoria Secrets Model after child birth. Or who doesn't want to be that liberated unchained woman (Gloria). What I loved the most about this sermon is that each of us have a little of each of these types of women in us.
But there is one very dangerous thing that Pastor spoke about....was comparing ourselves as moms. He referred to Galatians 6:4-5. "Each one should test his own actions. Then he take pride in himself, without comparing himself to someone else, for each one should carry his own load." Comparing ourselves as moms is really easy to do. I am so guilty of it! When we compare ourselves as moms we then begin to feel guilty and make ourselves feel bad about our parenting skills. I constantly feel like I could be a better mom. Do more as a mom. Or be a mom like one of my girlfriends do. But then I am reminded of what one of my girlfriend said and she says it alot..."You have to do what is right for your family." And if that means that Natalee falls asleep in my bed then I bring her to her bed, then so be it! Or if Natalee stays up till 9:30pm because we were all watching a movie together or me and her were having special time together. So what!!! Or if I dye parts of my kids hair blue and let her run around like that for the next few days....who cares. And yes we did that this weekend! She even went to church like that.
Not all moms are gonna agree on how we raise our own kids but we need to give ourselves and each other a break! Let's not beat up on each other so much. Our job is hard enough! To raise our children in a world of such yuck yet let them grow up with out keeping them in a bubble. By letting them make mistakes and experiencing the world. We aren't perfect parents! We are gonna make mistakes just like our kids. It is impossible to be a perfect mom. But there are a million ways to be a good mom. We aren't perfect. You want perfect, look at Jesus. You want a good mom, look in a mirror.
I loved my Mother's Day! I spent it with my family! I wouldn't of traded it for the world.
If you could look at a typical Sunday in my house it would go like this....wake up, coffee, breakfast, shower, church, large lunch/dinner, then hang out with my family! Pretty laid back if you ask me. So what made this day so different. Natalee came running into my room this morning "Happy Mother's Day Mommy!!!" She was so excited!
The sermon was WONDERFUL!!!! It made us think about what kind of mom are we trying to be? The Martha Stewart Mom, the Victoria Secret Mom, or the Gloria Steinem Mom. Come on girls! You know we are each of these in some way and none of them are wrong!! Who doesn't want the perfect house that you can entertain in the drop of hat (Martha). Who doesn't want to look like a Victoria Secrets Model after child birth. Or who doesn't want to be that liberated unchained woman (Gloria). What I loved the most about this sermon is that each of us have a little of each of these types of women in us.
But there is one very dangerous thing that Pastor spoke about....was comparing ourselves as moms. He referred to Galatians 6:4-5. "Each one should test his own actions. Then he take pride in himself, without comparing himself to someone else, for each one should carry his own load." Comparing ourselves as moms is really easy to do. I am so guilty of it! When we compare ourselves as moms we then begin to feel guilty and make ourselves feel bad about our parenting skills. I constantly feel like I could be a better mom. Do more as a mom. Or be a mom like one of my girlfriends do. But then I am reminded of what one of my girlfriend said and she says it alot..."You have to do what is right for your family." And if that means that Natalee falls asleep in my bed then I bring her to her bed, then so be it! Or if Natalee stays up till 9:30pm because we were all watching a movie together or me and her were having special time together. So what!!! Or if I dye parts of my kids hair blue and let her run around like that for the next few days....who cares. And yes we did that this weekend! She even went to church like that.
Not all moms are gonna agree on how we raise our own kids but we need to give ourselves and each other a break! Let's not beat up on each other so much. Our job is hard enough! To raise our children in a world of such yuck yet let them grow up with out keeping them in a bubble. By letting them make mistakes and experiencing the world. We aren't perfect parents! We are gonna make mistakes just like our kids. It is impossible to be a perfect mom. But there are a million ways to be a good mom. We aren't perfect. You want perfect, look at Jesus. You want a good mom, look in a mirror.
I loved my Mother's Day! I spent it with my family! I wouldn't of traded it for the world.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Next Step- Day 2 and 3
So I decided to combine day 2 and 3 because I can sum it all up in one tiny yet perfect word.....DUH!
Continuing on the story with Hannah (1 Samuel 1: 1-20) so far, we know she is broken, she is sad, and she could careless what others thought of the funk that she was in. I admire that. Her husband, the neighborhood, the other people looking on....she could care less what they all thought about her. The last time I felt free like Hannah was when I turned it all over to God....really. And the blessings poured out. I remember thinking I had let it all go....but I didn't. I just let God borrow it. Let Him have it for awhile....yet I kept a leash on it and reeled it in when I felt I could control it my way.
These are the reasons why I love Jen's Bible Study! I can reflect over and over again about how wonderful God has been and how AWESOME He is!!
Day 2 talks about us being an HONEST MESS! Amen? I am a mess! If you could be a fly on the wall in my house...you would know what I am taking about. I am not always honest about it. Yesterday is the perfect example. I walked into work and my heart was full. Torrance was in so much pain and Natalee had been trying to fight a cold since Sunday. So I didn't really have it all together. I was relieved when I saw the position I was working in and felt a smile come across my face. But all my shift said to me was "how are you?" and I lost it! I became a honest mess. I felt safe at that moment to do so! I am not sure why but I did. I turned to her and said "Jess I am having a really crappy day and if we are over in hours, I volunteer to be cut and...." sob sob sob. "Sorry Jess, I try really hard to check my crap at the door but it is too hard today." sob sob sob. She was extremely professional yet compassionate. "Dawn, you do a good job at that. I will tell your next shift you volunteer. And we will go from there." She didn't hug me. She asked what was going on and if there was anything she personally could do and that I needed to stop apologizing for crying and having bad day. It was refreshing! Refreshing to be an honest mess...and not care what Jess thought of me. I ended up coming home to check on the family for dinner and returned to work.
God wants to hear of our Honest Mess too!!! Everyday. He should be our co-worker, our friend, our everything. "Hannah's bitterness is the type of bitterness that cannot be contained. When your grief is so overwhelming, you fear it may kill you." Jen writes. Yeah been there. Gone back there a few times. And I probably will go there again. But God wants us like that. A mess. He wants to be able to hold us.He can handle anything that you throw at Him. He is God! "You are his daughters, not his name less subject".
I have to ask myself sometimes, how am I doing with my relationship with God? Does it look like a to do list or is more like me picking up the phone and calling Him? Cause if I ain't talking to God, I can promise you I am not talking to anyone. Not even my closest friends...or family. I am a mess...and it isn't honest.
Day three talks about Unclenched Jaws...you know the kind...the kind that gives you a headache or the kind of muscle tension that requires some wine. Ya know what I mean. "Why is it so hard to release your extreme headaches to God?" Jen asks. I am really having a hard time answering that. If I look at the story of Hannah again....she sobbed and weeped and let her grief be real. I have to admire Hannah. she brought it to God. Not to anyone else. Not to the point of anger, self loathing, not to condemnation and shame. My pain takes me to places that I don't want to go.
Jen is really speaking to me here. God picked the right days for it to be Hannah's story. Hannah released her pain to God. She unclenched her fists. She had to let her dream go. And God, well kept it safe. "God wants your hope because He alone can fulfill it." WOW!! That is powerful to me. Jen also writes, which I completely agree with, "God's dream for you go well beyond your comprehension." I have learned over time and forget over time that I need to become unclenched more. Release my honest mess of a life at times to God.
In conclusion, I am happy to be reminded about my relationship with God. I am happy to be told to be an honest mess. I wouldn't be myself if I wasn't. And my dear readers, thank you for letting me be honest. Thank you for letting me be a mess and tell you all the yuck in my life. You also need to realize that God is there for you too! HE wants your mess too.
Continuing on the story with Hannah (1 Samuel 1: 1-20) so far, we know she is broken, she is sad, and she could careless what others thought of the funk that she was in. I admire that. Her husband, the neighborhood, the other people looking on....she could care less what they all thought about her. The last time I felt free like Hannah was when I turned it all over to God....really. And the blessings poured out. I remember thinking I had let it all go....but I didn't. I just let God borrow it. Let Him have it for awhile....yet I kept a leash on it and reeled it in when I felt I could control it my way.
These are the reasons why I love Jen's Bible Study! I can reflect over and over again about how wonderful God has been and how AWESOME He is!!
Day 2 talks about us being an HONEST MESS! Amen? I am a mess! If you could be a fly on the wall in my house...you would know what I am taking about. I am not always honest about it. Yesterday is the perfect example. I walked into work and my heart was full. Torrance was in so much pain and Natalee had been trying to fight a cold since Sunday. So I didn't really have it all together. I was relieved when I saw the position I was working in and felt a smile come across my face. But all my shift said to me was "how are you?" and I lost it! I became a honest mess. I felt safe at that moment to do so! I am not sure why but I did. I turned to her and said "Jess I am having a really crappy day and if we are over in hours, I volunteer to be cut and...." sob sob sob. "Sorry Jess, I try really hard to check my crap at the door but it is too hard today." sob sob sob. She was extremely professional yet compassionate. "Dawn, you do a good job at that. I will tell your next shift you volunteer. And we will go from there." She didn't hug me. She asked what was going on and if there was anything she personally could do and that I needed to stop apologizing for crying and having bad day. It was refreshing! Refreshing to be an honest mess...and not care what Jess thought of me. I ended up coming home to check on the family for dinner and returned to work.
God wants to hear of our Honest Mess too!!! Everyday. He should be our co-worker, our friend, our everything. "Hannah's bitterness is the type of bitterness that cannot be contained. When your grief is so overwhelming, you fear it may kill you." Jen writes. Yeah been there. Gone back there a few times. And I probably will go there again. But God wants us like that. A mess. He wants to be able to hold us.He can handle anything that you throw at Him. He is God! "You are his daughters, not his name less subject".
I have to ask myself sometimes, how am I doing with my relationship with God? Does it look like a to do list or is more like me picking up the phone and calling Him? Cause if I ain't talking to God, I can promise you I am not talking to anyone. Not even my closest friends...or family. I am a mess...and it isn't honest.
Day three talks about Unclenched Jaws...you know the kind...the kind that gives you a headache or the kind of muscle tension that requires some wine. Ya know what I mean. "Why is it so hard to release your extreme headaches to God?" Jen asks. I am really having a hard time answering that. If I look at the story of Hannah again....she sobbed and weeped and let her grief be real. I have to admire Hannah. she brought it to God. Not to anyone else. Not to the point of anger, self loathing, not to condemnation and shame. My pain takes me to places that I don't want to go.
Jen is really speaking to me here. God picked the right days for it to be Hannah's story. Hannah released her pain to God. She unclenched her fists. She had to let her dream go. And God, well kept it safe. "God wants your hope because He alone can fulfill it." WOW!! That is powerful to me. Jen also writes, which I completely agree with, "God's dream for you go well beyond your comprehension." I have learned over time and forget over time that I need to become unclenched more. Release my honest mess of a life at times to God.
In conclusion, I am happy to be reminded about my relationship with God. I am happy to be told to be an honest mess. I wouldn't be myself if I wasn't. And my dear readers, thank you for letting me be honest. Thank you for letting me be a mess and tell you all the yuck in my life. You also need to realize that God is there for you too! HE wants your mess too.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Week 2- Day 1 Hannah
God has a sense of humor! I was in no mood to do this tonite, I was in a horrible mood. I guess you can say I still am. I am just plain ol' cranky! I argued with my husband a few times. And I could not get past a bunch of things that are not of my control but of my husbands and I am in a funk! I keep seeing the press with Bin Laden all over it. I am sadden he has so much face time. I am saddened at the amount of anger that is still flowing through people after they believe "justice has been served".
I stood in the shower and cried. I prayed and said that I could not so this. I don't know who is even reading this. Am I helping anyone? Does it really matter if I skip today? I have too much to worry about. I am loosing my medical benefits. My husband has lost his benefits. And if there is one thing that I have always worried about is his health. He is to be scheduled for surgery, he is diabetic, blah blah blah. And all I want to do tonite is cry!!! CRY CRY CRY!!!! I am crying now. Typing and crying is not easy to do!
Anyway, God has a sense of humor as I was saying. As I decide to do the next chapter in Jen Hatmaker's book Makeover: A Modern Girls Bible Study, I realized that this chapter was SCREAMING at me!
Day one -Beloved Party Pooper
Poor Hannah! God closed her womb, the other wife has several sons and needles Hannah. And God commanded that there would be a celebration. And all Hannah wanted to do was cry! Everyone else wanted her to put on her happy face and rejoice in the Lord. Really!? I feel like that all the time. I scream to God how I cannot keep going on like this. I am not able to! I want to yell when is enough, enough? I am tired. I am weak! What can I do God? What do you want me to do? Jen writes,"Do we expect Him to assign tasks to you? Be holy? Get that sin patched up? Serve the church? Take care of others?" Is all that going to make me feel better tonite? NO!!! Jen continues: "God's first priority for his daughters is this: Be whole. No, I mean, what do I do? Be healed. Yes, but what work do I do? Let Me love you."
In 1 Samuel 1-8 is the story of Hannah. I have felt like Hannah. In the past, when I was trying to get pregnant with Natalee...took 5 years. Later, I realized it is all in His perfect time. But today, when I think of the struggles I am going through with other things...I am still like Hannah.I still let the Enemy infiltrate my thoughts and feelings. So we take on things that make us feel better that we believe God wants us to do to make us feel better. Take on more holiness tasks. I have done it. I was still broken and there are still some areas in my life are still broken. "A broken heart can not be mended by serving in a church nursery." She states. But how many of us out there believe that?
Hannah let herself grieve. She did not pretend! "Rather than please everyone else, she let her grief be real. How they handled it was not her problem." Wow! How they handled her grief was not her problem? Whew! I could of use that a long time ago! "God didn't care about her untouched dinner. He cared only about her sadness." Oh to be real!!! To be real!!! Am I real with my sadness? I guess not. How many of my friends...good friends actually KNOW what is going on in my life? Really know what is going on? I am a happy face person. I put it on daily. And then I have the days like today. Days that I can't put that face on. Days that I don't care if any knows how broken I am and scared I am.
To conclude: God has a sense of humor! He knew I would feel better once I read this chapter. And I am not ashamed tonite to say that I am scared, I am frustrated, I am just sad! Plain old sad! I have to trust that I will feel better soon and the God's timing is perfect. That He is concerned about how I am feeling and He doesn't expect me to serve in the church. Or to do anything. I came here tonight to show you that I am broken and the God is concerned and to let you know it is okay. Be broken with me. God will be with us.
I stood in the shower and cried. I prayed and said that I could not so this. I don't know who is even reading this. Am I helping anyone? Does it really matter if I skip today? I have too much to worry about. I am loosing my medical benefits. My husband has lost his benefits. And if there is one thing that I have always worried about is his health. He is to be scheduled for surgery, he is diabetic, blah blah blah. And all I want to do tonite is cry!!! CRY CRY CRY!!!! I am crying now. Typing and crying is not easy to do!
Anyway, God has a sense of humor as I was saying. As I decide to do the next chapter in Jen Hatmaker's book Makeover: A Modern Girls Bible Study, I realized that this chapter was SCREAMING at me!
Day one -Beloved Party Pooper
Poor Hannah! God closed her womb, the other wife has several sons and needles Hannah. And God commanded that there would be a celebration. And all Hannah wanted to do was cry! Everyone else wanted her to put on her happy face and rejoice in the Lord. Really!? I feel like that all the time. I scream to God how I cannot keep going on like this. I am not able to! I want to yell when is enough, enough? I am tired. I am weak! What can I do God? What do you want me to do? Jen writes,"Do we expect Him to assign tasks to you? Be holy? Get that sin patched up? Serve the church? Take care of others?" Is all that going to make me feel better tonite? NO!!! Jen continues: "God's first priority for his daughters is this: Be whole. No, I mean, what do I do? Be healed. Yes, but what work do I do? Let Me love you."
In 1 Samuel 1-8 is the story of Hannah. I have felt like Hannah. In the past, when I was trying to get pregnant with Natalee...took 5 years. Later, I realized it is all in His perfect time. But today, when I think of the struggles I am going through with other things...I am still like Hannah.I still let the Enemy infiltrate my thoughts and feelings. So we take on things that make us feel better that we believe God wants us to do to make us feel better. Take on more holiness tasks. I have done it. I was still broken and there are still some areas in my life are still broken. "A broken heart can not be mended by serving in a church nursery." She states. But how many of us out there believe that?
Hannah let herself grieve. She did not pretend! "Rather than please everyone else, she let her grief be real. How they handled it was not her problem." Wow! How they handled her grief was not her problem? Whew! I could of use that a long time ago! "God didn't care about her untouched dinner. He cared only about her sadness." Oh to be real!!! To be real!!! Am I real with my sadness? I guess not. How many of my friends...good friends actually KNOW what is going on in my life? Really know what is going on? I am a happy face person. I put it on daily. And then I have the days like today. Days that I can't put that face on. Days that I don't care if any knows how broken I am and scared I am.
To conclude: God has a sense of humor! He knew I would feel better once I read this chapter. And I am not ashamed tonite to say that I am scared, I am frustrated, I am just sad! Plain old sad! I have to trust that I will feel better soon and the God's timing is perfect. That He is concerned about how I am feeling and He doesn't expect me to serve in the church. Or to do anything. I came here tonight to show you that I am broken and the God is concerned and to let you know it is okay. Be broken with me. God will be with us.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Praying for Peace
(Spell check not working...sorry)
"I hope everyone joins me in prayer tonite. We need to pray for the continued saftey of our troops and of our country as well as our allies. While a chapter in our history has ended the book is far from over. Please continue to pray for peace in this broken world." - My Facebook Posting this Evening
I can't help but feel a bit of heaviness in my heart tonite. I am a very proud American. I have always been proud to be an American! The freedoms that I have in this country amaze me. But the heaviness comes from the bickering that has started in already after the recent announcement of Osama Bin Laden's death. I can't believe that people are starting to argue who is responsible for the success of the death of Bin Laden. Is W. Bush or Obama? Really! I wish people would step back and look at the bigger picture.
-It took two Presidents to bring Justice to the events of 9/11.
-One President was a Republican.
-One President was a Democrat.
As human beings, please look and see that WE can work together in this country. We can be from both sides of the table and meet a common goal. I am disappointed in the media for starting the "who gets the credit" argument!
When election time came up for President, my Pastor's Sermon was very inspiring to me.This is what I took away from it: When I vote as a Christian, I need to pray prior to voting and make an educated vote by doing my research. I shouldn't vote based on sex, race, or religion. I shouldn't pledge to particular political party. I should have my alligeince in Jesus Christ! At the the end of the day, I choose Christ! Not a republican. Not a democrat. Not an independant. I vote after I have prayed for His will and ask for guidence from the Holy Spirit to cast my vote.
Now some may think that this is dangerous. Is it? I am praying. I am doing my duty a United States citizen to vote for our nations leaders. At the end of it all, I have to answer to Christ. Not to the President, not to my Pastor, not to anyone. When the elected official is confirmed, I continue to pray that he/she makes proper decisions for the good of our country and of humanity. I ask God to lead them. I ask God to protect our country.
So I ask you to join me and pray. Pray for our Nations Leaders to make good choices to protect us. Pray for peace among the rival political parties. Pray for peace for our broken world. And that now that Bin Laden is dead, to pray for peace in the families that have lost loved ones in the past 10 years. They need God's grace tonite more than ever. They need God's grace to help them heal and find peace.
"I hope everyone joins me in prayer tonite. We need to pray for the continued saftey of our troops and of our country as well as our allies. While a chapter in our history has ended the book is far from over. Please continue to pray for peace in this broken world." - My Facebook Posting this Evening
I can't help but feel a bit of heaviness in my heart tonite. I am a very proud American. I have always been proud to be an American! The freedoms that I have in this country amaze me. But the heaviness comes from the bickering that has started in already after the recent announcement of Osama Bin Laden's death. I can't believe that people are starting to argue who is responsible for the success of the death of Bin Laden. Is W. Bush or Obama? Really! I wish people would step back and look at the bigger picture.
-It took two Presidents to bring Justice to the events of 9/11.
-One President was a Republican.
-One President was a Democrat.
As human beings, please look and see that WE can work together in this country. We can be from both sides of the table and meet a common goal. I am disappointed in the media for starting the "who gets the credit" argument!
When election time came up for President, my Pastor's Sermon was very inspiring to me.This is what I took away from it: When I vote as a Christian, I need to pray prior to voting and make an educated vote by doing my research. I shouldn't vote based on sex, race, or religion. I shouldn't pledge to particular political party. I should have my alligeince in Jesus Christ! At the the end of the day, I choose Christ! Not a republican. Not a democrat. Not an independant. I vote after I have prayed for His will and ask for guidence from the Holy Spirit to cast my vote.
Now some may think that this is dangerous. Is it? I am praying. I am doing my duty a United States citizen to vote for our nations leaders. At the end of it all, I have to answer to Christ. Not to the President, not to my Pastor, not to anyone. When the elected official is confirmed, I continue to pray that he/she makes proper decisions for the good of our country and of humanity. I ask God to lead them. I ask God to protect our country.
So I ask you to join me and pray. Pray for our Nations Leaders to make good choices to protect us. Pray for peace among the rival political parties. Pray for peace for our broken world. And that now that Bin Laden is dead, to pray for peace in the families that have lost loved ones in the past 10 years. They need God's grace tonite more than ever. They need God's grace to help them heal and find peace.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Next Step - Day Five
Here is the list of biblical References for meditation ...per Jen Hatmaker's book Make Over.
Galatians 5:1-6 She suggests reading it through without pausing and then to take each verse and meditate on it. Here are some that struck me...again I urge you to get this book it has so much more then what I am sharing. I am sharing my journal portion of this book...
5:1 Jen asked How do I feel burdened? Well I don't have enough space or time for that! But I am mom! I am a wife, etc...I feel burdened at times to be "perfect". I would rather feel productive than burdened. I want to be a productive wife and mom. Heck I want to be a productive believer in Christ!
5:2 I really like this one...I better be careful cause my answer can turn into a soap box tangent! Since circumcision was the law then, it "must" be the the "right" way. Arguments of "How to be a Christian" is so prevalent today! It makes me so sad actually! The constant criticism of Christians from other Christians is very sad. We have made "religion" more important than our faith! It is that criticism from one Christian to another is what turns non-believers off of learning about Jesus and His love and grace. Too many rules trying to please God. When all God wants is us to trust and love Him. And I believe the rest comes natural. Wanting to be a good steward, helping the poor, etc....it fills us up!
5:3-4 "What does it mean to have 'fallen' away from grace?" This is a question that Jen poses that I found to be harder to answer than I thought. The biblical passage talks about being justified. Who am I trying to be justified too? Do I need to justify anything? No. I do not. If I do feel like I need to justify my actions it is then that I have fallen away from grace.
5:5-6 "What else might you have no value to Jesus, though you thought it did?" To add my humor to this...how clean my house is. Being raised Catholic I was taught that during Lent you are to not eat meat on Ash Wednesday and ever Friday during Lent and to fast on Good Friday including no meat. As a child I followed the rules. Now, I take the opportunity to "fast" in my way that is appropriate to my walk with Christ. That might be spending more time reading the Word, or cutting out fast food and giving the extra money to a Mission Trip to a high school student, things like that. Following the Rules of not eating meat doesn't really make much sense to me. I now look at those 40 day so much differently. More of a doing for others like Christ did...giving more of myself. Christ gave us His life! I was watching Joyce Meyer one evening and she was talking about rules and laws of being a Christian and how a lady approached her and said her earrings were too flashy (being that she teaches the Word of God). She chuckled....given Joyce's humor she responded to the effect of - if this woman had a problem with her earrings she was gonna have a problem with heaven then...pearl, gold, jade, emerald. And that is just the gate! I laughed! I find that "religions" make rules and laws...not our faith. God gave us the Ten Commandments, and Jesus said to follow those. "Does God need to change you, or mature you where you into who you already are now?" When I first did this study, I thought change me!! Now that I am doing this for a second time, I need God to mature me further in my faith walk. I am not ashamed to admit it either. I have so much excitement in me to continue on this journey.
I have really enjoyed this week! I am happy I decided to redo this study! I see things differently then I saw last time and I can honestly say that God has opened my heart more to receive more. Praise God! Praise God! Praise Him for His grace!
Lord, thank you for giving me the opportunity to share this with everyone that reads my blog. Women and the handful of men. I hope that they are inspired to buy her book and work along side me so we can learn and walk together in You! I am truly blessed by your grace. Thank you Lord! Thank you! In Your name...
AMEN!
Galatians 5:1-6 She suggests reading it through without pausing and then to take each verse and meditate on it. Here are some that struck me...again I urge you to get this book it has so much more then what I am sharing. I am sharing my journal portion of this book...
5:1 Jen asked How do I feel burdened? Well I don't have enough space or time for that! But I am mom! I am a wife, etc...I feel burdened at times to be "perfect". I would rather feel productive than burdened. I want to be a productive wife and mom. Heck I want to be a productive believer in Christ!
5:2 I really like this one...I better be careful cause my answer can turn into a soap box tangent! Since circumcision was the law then, it "must" be the the "right" way. Arguments of "How to be a Christian" is so prevalent today! It makes me so sad actually! The constant criticism of Christians from other Christians is very sad. We have made "religion" more important than our faith! It is that criticism from one Christian to another is what turns non-believers off of learning about Jesus and His love and grace. Too many rules trying to please God. When all God wants is us to trust and love Him. And I believe the rest comes natural. Wanting to be a good steward, helping the poor, etc....it fills us up!
5:3-4 "What does it mean to have 'fallen' away from grace?" This is a question that Jen poses that I found to be harder to answer than I thought. The biblical passage talks about being justified. Who am I trying to be justified too? Do I need to justify anything? No. I do not. If I do feel like I need to justify my actions it is then that I have fallen away from grace.
5:5-6 "What else might you have no value to Jesus, though you thought it did?" To add my humor to this...how clean my house is. Being raised Catholic I was taught that during Lent you are to not eat meat on Ash Wednesday and ever Friday during Lent and to fast on Good Friday including no meat. As a child I followed the rules. Now, I take the opportunity to "fast" in my way that is appropriate to my walk with Christ. That might be spending more time reading the Word, or cutting out fast food and giving the extra money to a Mission Trip to a high school student, things like that. Following the Rules of not eating meat doesn't really make much sense to me. I now look at those 40 day so much differently. More of a doing for others like Christ did...giving more of myself. Christ gave us His life! I was watching Joyce Meyer one evening and she was talking about rules and laws of being a Christian and how a lady approached her and said her earrings were too flashy (being that she teaches the Word of God). She chuckled....given Joyce's humor she responded to the effect of - if this woman had a problem with her earrings she was gonna have a problem with heaven then...pearl, gold, jade, emerald. And that is just the gate! I laughed! I find that "religions" make rules and laws...not our faith. God gave us the Ten Commandments, and Jesus said to follow those. "Does God need to change you, or mature you where you into who you already are now?" When I first did this study, I thought change me!! Now that I am doing this for a second time, I need God to mature me further in my faith walk. I am not ashamed to admit it either. I have so much excitement in me to continue on this journey.
I have really enjoyed this week! I am happy I decided to redo this study! I see things differently then I saw last time and I can honestly say that God has opened my heart more to receive more. Praise God! Praise God! Praise Him for His grace!
Lord, thank you for giving me the opportunity to share this with everyone that reads my blog. Women and the handful of men. I hope that they are inspired to buy her book and work along side me so we can learn and walk together in You! I am truly blessed by your grace. Thank you Lord! Thank you! In Your name...
AMEN!
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