I must admit that the first time the words "Barack Obama" came out of Jackson's mouth, I was stunned. He saw a picture of him in a storefront window and knew exactly who he was. We then talked about John McCain, Bob Barr, Ralph Nader, Chuck Baldwin, and Cynthia McKinney.
He loves talking about Presidents. He's certain that Jesus was the first President.
Two days ago I was watching GMA when Jackson came downstairs to join me.
Jackson: That's Barack Obama.
Me: Yep.
Jackson: He doesn't listen to God.
Me: Hmm.
Jackson: He doesn't. He doesn't love God and he doesn't listen to Him.
Me: Mhmm. Who told you that?
Jackson: My Dad.
Me: Aha. So your Daddy is voting for John McCain?
Jackson: Yes. He's going to let us keep our guns.
Me: I see.
This morning, GMA again. An anti-McCain commercial came on declaring that John McCain does not support higher wages for women.
Jackson: Sighhh...Mom?
Me: Yes?
Jackson: This is soooo confusing!
Me: (big smile) Yes. Yes it sure is.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Yield, Baby, Yield and Be Filled
Here's a little insight into my daily life.
I clean 4-6 houses a week, worked into 2-3 days. Yay for me! I feel like I need to have ONE day a week to myself, and right now, that day is Tuesday.
Oh, but not Tuesday evenings. On every other Tuesday evening, I lead a women's Bible study through my church. Right now, we are studying Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit.
On Wednesdays, I teach the 3 year olds at CBS (Community Bible Study) from 9:15-11:15. Then I attend Leaders Council from 11:30-2:30 with the other CBS leaders.
Every 3rd Sunday I greet at church from 7:40 am to 8:20 am, then go to the service.
And I volunteer in the preschool class at church, but only when there are 5 Sundays in a month.
Jackson, as you know, is in full day Kindergarten. After school, he usually plays with his friends in our little neighborhood. He has met two little boys who are a year younger than him. They LOVE each other. Their moms are Believers and we usually sit together and chat while the boys play. Um, yeah, TOTAL blessing!!! But let me just tell you that I have a hard time making myself take the time to just sit. I start out thinking of all the things I need to do around the house and what I need to do to prepare for the next day. It's like a tug-of-war in my head until I finally get a grip and realize how important is to take that time to sit with some friends, watching our boys play, and just talk and listen. We usually do that for about 2 hours, and then head into our own homes for dinner.
So I got to thinking. Wouldn't it be nice if we started sharing meals together too? And wouldn't it be great if it became a neighborhood gathering? And how simple it could be. So I'm gonna pray about that, and take a step forward into the unknown.
Okay, so back to Yield, Baby, Yield. Here is the deal. I, a life-long church goer, PK, seminary professor's daughter, have gotten confused by spiritual terminology. There's too dang much of it. Here is where I got really confused: the use of the terms "baptized by the Spirit" and "filled with the Spirit". I don't want to spend too much of my day blogging so I'm going to try to make this as brief as I possibly can and still get my point across. (Oh, no CBS today. It's fall break. And George is here, so Jackson is with him!! Yay for them!)
Here is what I knew for sure. There is a distinct process after a person is born again by the blood of Jesus that involves the Holy Spirit. This process results in a radical life change. However, I know some who have experienced it and some who have not. Both are saved. CONFUSING!! Some say that baptism of the Holy Spirit happens after conversion. But that's not what the Bible says. Read 1 Corinthians 12:13. It is very clear that when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are given the Holy Spirit...we are baptized by the Holy Spirit.
Thank the Lord for Beth Moore. Or, as she would say, "Glory. Glory." In this study we're doing, she outlines the ministries of the HS. Here they are:
1. Conviction
2. Regeneration
3. Baptism
4. Indwelling
5. Sealing
6. Filling
7. Restrain
The only one of these ministries that is dependent upon us is Filling. In order to be filled up by the Holy Spirit, we must yield...we must relinquish control.
So that is the difference. All Believers have been baptized by the Holy Spirit. But not all Believers have given up control. Dangit. This is where my passion lies. I have a passion for FULL SALVATION. I want people to experience the unspeakable JOY that comes from yielding to the Holy Spirit. Giving up control is scary...even when you've done it over and over again and experienced the freedom that comes with it. We are sinful by nature. It is natural for us to try to take back control. It's pitiful, really.
Here is what I'm (slowly) realizing. The future that God has planned for me will not come to fruition unless I am yielded to His Spirit. I have dreams, I have longings, I have gifts that I know come from my Lord. They are IMPOSSIBLE for me to accomplish on my own. IM-flipping-POSSIBLE. Even though He has shown me some distinct plans He has for me, they aren't going to happen if I don't let go.
I'm sure I have written before that I despise mediocrity. There is not one mediocre aspect of God. And God in us should not be mediocre. I don't want to dwell in mediocrity. And I don't want you to either. Are you yielding? In what areas are you challenged to let go?
I clean 4-6 houses a week, worked into 2-3 days. Yay for me! I feel like I need to have ONE day a week to myself, and right now, that day is Tuesday.
Oh, but not Tuesday evenings. On every other Tuesday evening, I lead a women's Bible study through my church. Right now, we are studying Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit.
On Wednesdays, I teach the 3 year olds at CBS (Community Bible Study) from 9:15-11:15. Then I attend Leaders Council from 11:30-2:30 with the other CBS leaders.
Every 3rd Sunday I greet at church from 7:40 am to 8:20 am, then go to the service.
And I volunteer in the preschool class at church, but only when there are 5 Sundays in a month.
Jackson, as you know, is in full day Kindergarten. After school, he usually plays with his friends in our little neighborhood. He has met two little boys who are a year younger than him. They LOVE each other. Their moms are Believers and we usually sit together and chat while the boys play. Um, yeah, TOTAL blessing!!! But let me just tell you that I have a hard time making myself take the time to just sit. I start out thinking of all the things I need to do around the house and what I need to do to prepare for the next day. It's like a tug-of-war in my head until I finally get a grip and realize how important is to take that time to sit with some friends, watching our boys play, and just talk and listen. We usually do that for about 2 hours, and then head into our own homes for dinner.
So I got to thinking. Wouldn't it be nice if we started sharing meals together too? And wouldn't it be great if it became a neighborhood gathering? And how simple it could be. So I'm gonna pray about that, and take a step forward into the unknown.
Okay, so back to Yield, Baby, Yield. Here is the deal. I, a life-long church goer, PK, seminary professor's daughter, have gotten confused by spiritual terminology. There's too dang much of it. Here is where I got really confused: the use of the terms "baptized by the Spirit" and "filled with the Spirit". I don't want to spend too much of my day blogging so I'm going to try to make this as brief as I possibly can and still get my point across. (Oh, no CBS today. It's fall break. And George is here, so Jackson is with him!! Yay for them!)
Here is what I knew for sure. There is a distinct process after a person is born again by the blood of Jesus that involves the Holy Spirit. This process results in a radical life change. However, I know some who have experienced it and some who have not. Both are saved. CONFUSING!! Some say that baptism of the Holy Spirit happens after conversion. But that's not what the Bible says. Read 1 Corinthians 12:13. It is very clear that when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are given the Holy Spirit...we are baptized by the Holy Spirit.
Thank the Lord for Beth Moore. Or, as she would say, "Glory. Glory." In this study we're doing, she outlines the ministries of the HS. Here they are:
1. Conviction
2. Regeneration
3. Baptism
4. Indwelling
5. Sealing
6. Filling
7. Restrain
The only one of these ministries that is dependent upon us is Filling. In order to be filled up by the Holy Spirit, we must yield...we must relinquish control.
So that is the difference. All Believers have been baptized by the Holy Spirit. But not all Believers have given up control. Dangit. This is where my passion lies. I have a passion for FULL SALVATION. I want people to experience the unspeakable JOY that comes from yielding to the Holy Spirit. Giving up control is scary...even when you've done it over and over again and experienced the freedom that comes with it. We are sinful by nature. It is natural for us to try to take back control. It's pitiful, really.
Here is what I'm (slowly) realizing. The future that God has planned for me will not come to fruition unless I am yielded to His Spirit. I have dreams, I have longings, I have gifts that I know come from my Lord. They are IMPOSSIBLE for me to accomplish on my own. IM-flipping-POSSIBLE. Even though He has shown me some distinct plans He has for me, they aren't going to happen if I don't let go.
I'm sure I have written before that I despise mediocrity. There is not one mediocre aspect of God. And God in us should not be mediocre. I don't want to dwell in mediocrity. And I don't want you to either. Are you yielding? In what areas are you challenged to let go?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Babies without Voices
On Angie Smith's blog, Bring The Rain, she talks about October 15th being the National Day of Remembrance for pregnancy and infant loss. She asked her readers to post if they have lost a baby. At this point there are about 1400 posts. I have skimmed the posts and have seen at least 6 that are written by women who have lost a baby to ab*rti*n (tip from a fellow blogger). They write about their circumstances, their regret, and their sorrow.
I cannot image what these women go through, having made a choice that can never be reversed. My heart hurts for them. I have 3 friends who I know have had ab*rti*ns. 2 out of 3 grew up in Christian homes and the fear of facing up to having premarital sex (!!) was greater than the conviction to obey God. How very, very frightening.
Last year I was faced with making a decision that would end my baby's life. I agonized over it. I knew the odds and I knew my condition. But still, I did not feel good about having to make such a decision. Praise God that He took the decision making away from me, He took our lives into His hands. I cannot imagine that any woman makes such a decision lightly. And I cannot imagine that any woman goes on with her life without the sting of death on her heart.
I am praying for women and girls who are debating their babies' lives. I am praying for the women who regret their decisions and can't forgive themselves. I am praising God that He has all the little bitty babies in His hands.
I cannot image what these women go through, having made a choice that can never be reversed. My heart hurts for them. I have 3 friends who I know have had ab*rti*ns. 2 out of 3 grew up in Christian homes and the fear of facing up to having premarital sex (!!) was greater than the conviction to obey God. How very, very frightening.
Last year I was faced with making a decision that would end my baby's life. I agonized over it. I knew the odds and I knew my condition. But still, I did not feel good about having to make such a decision. Praise God that He took the decision making away from me, He took our lives into His hands. I cannot imagine that any woman makes such a decision lightly. And I cannot imagine that any woman goes on with her life without the sting of death on her heart.
I am praying for women and girls who are debating their babies' lives. I am praying for the women who regret their decisions and can't forgive themselves. I am praising God that He has all the little bitty babies in His hands.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Tired
I don't really like being ALONE. I mean, I like some alone time, but I'm more of a partnership kind of person. And when I get some bad news that throws a big wrench in my daily grind, I'd like to have "my person" to talk to.
Last week I lost my biggest client. This job brought in 1/4 of my income. I guess I fit in with the rest of middle class America. I just wish I had "my person" to sit across from me at the dining room table and crunch numbers, get creative, and tell me it'll be okay.
I was in this phase of really wanting to date. I just wanted to go out. But when I thought about what it's like to go out with someone you don't have chemistry with, I realized that's not really what I want. So, yeah, I want to meet that special person. I've already proven to myself that I can't do as good a job of that as God can. So...like I've said, I'll wait. And pray. And let my Match.com account expire.
And in the meantime, I need to crunch numbers, get creative, and tell myself it'll be okay. I'm open to where God is taking me. And, um, I know I've asked this like a gazillion times, but could you pray for me?
Monday, October 6, 2008
Do You Call Him Lord?
My heart broke the other night. I was at a friend's house with some other girlfriends for dinner. I prayed on my way to my friend's house that the night would be a time of good conversation and that those of us who know Jesus would be a light to the 2 who don't.
I was SO SAD when one of my Christian friends dropped the F bomb. Another C friend talked about a drunken one night stand. The two made excuses for each other. I felt uncomfortable, thinking about Jesus being right there with us. I thought about the trials the 2 had been through and how they cried, Lord! Lord!, and He rescued them. Oh, how quickly they betrayed Him.
I remember when my faith was like that. I ran to God as a last resort and quickly deserted Him as soon as things calmed down. I didn't know how much He wanted me, all of me. I didn't know how much I needed Him, all the time. I didn't think about His pain on the Cross, ever. So selfish.
My sadness is for my friends and their lack of faith. They are still prisoners of their sin. I pray with a heavy heart that God will continue to give me obstacles that send me to my knees in prayer.
A few years ago, my aunt and I were talking about money. I said something like, "Well, everyone wants to be a millionaire!". And she seriously said, "I do not want to be a millionaire." I didn't believe her at the time. Now I do. I also do not want to be a millionaire. I am clinging to my God because life is still not easy. Hey, it's easier than it was. I'm paying the bills and putting (good) food on the table. But my future rests in His hands. He is my Lord. He is in charge. I gave Him the reins a while ago. I trust Him. He is faithful. He loves me. He blesses me beyond measure!
So, do you call Him Lord? Do you treat Him as Lord? Do you treat His Word as a gift? Or do you abuse grace?
Paul confronted Peter when he was being a hypocrite. I want to have a conversation with my friends about the other night. I'm afraid. I'm a peace maker so I want to figure out how to say what I need to say without offending anyone and bringing everyone closer. Hmmm. That's pretty much all about me and zilch about God. I know God will give me the right words, with a soft heart, at just the right time.
I was SO SAD when one of my Christian friends dropped the F bomb. Another C friend talked about a drunken one night stand. The two made excuses for each other. I felt uncomfortable, thinking about Jesus being right there with us. I thought about the trials the 2 had been through and how they cried, Lord! Lord!, and He rescued them. Oh, how quickly they betrayed Him.
I remember when my faith was like that. I ran to God as a last resort and quickly deserted Him as soon as things calmed down. I didn't know how much He wanted me, all of me. I didn't know how much I needed Him, all the time. I didn't think about His pain on the Cross, ever. So selfish.
My sadness is for my friends and their lack of faith. They are still prisoners of their sin. I pray with a heavy heart that God will continue to give me obstacles that send me to my knees in prayer.
A few years ago, my aunt and I were talking about money. I said something like, "Well, everyone wants to be a millionaire!". And she seriously said, "I do not want to be a millionaire." I didn't believe her at the time. Now I do. I also do not want to be a millionaire. I am clinging to my God because life is still not easy. Hey, it's easier than it was. I'm paying the bills and putting (good) food on the table. But my future rests in His hands. He is my Lord. He is in charge. I gave Him the reins a while ago. I trust Him. He is faithful. He loves me. He blesses me beyond measure!
So, do you call Him Lord? Do you treat Him as Lord? Do you treat His Word as a gift? Or do you abuse grace?
Paul confronted Peter when he was being a hypocrite. I want to have a conversation with my friends about the other night. I'm afraid. I'm a peace maker so I want to figure out how to say what I need to say without offending anyone and bringing everyone closer. Hmmm. That's pretty much all about me and zilch about God. I know God will give me the right words, with a soft heart, at just the right time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
