Yesterday, we went to a Japanese steakhouse here on the complex. I always love those for a variety of reasons but one of the biggest is because you get to meet new and different people. I am definitely a connector and find it fun to meet new people from all over the world.
The couple sitting next to us was from the US but really from Poland. They had two boys, one was 6 and the other 9. We were asking them about restaurants they had eaten at and what they had done. The dad was telling us all the places and then ended with them having had a meal at the hospital one day. I asked what happened and they said their son had gotten drunk. They had left him in daycare and after a game of water polo, the caretaker gave him a Roman Coke. Keep in mind this was the 6 year old. He didn't know any better and before he knew it, he was passed out by the pool. The parents decided to stop back by the daycare after a massage just to see how the kids liked it. They saw their son passed out and were immediately concerned. The kids were able to articulate enough so that the parents knew he was drunk. They had to call an ambulace and go to the hospital.
As we were talking about this incredible story, I was thinking about my own kids and what they would have done. Mine are old enough to turn it away after a sip and realizing it wasn't pepsi. We were trying to imagine if when they were 6 if they would've known the difference - probably not. With time and distance comes knowledge. The same is true with our spiritual life. We need time to read and learn in order to have the wisdom we need to tell when we are being deceived and when we are being led. That little boy was depending on his caretaker to do the right thing for him as were his parents. He trusted that!
Re-Crucifying Jesus - Hebrews 5:11-14
11-14I have a lot more to say about this, but it is hard to get it across to you since you've picked up this bad habit of not listening. By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit down with you and go over the basics on God again, starting from square one—baby's milk, when you should have been on solid food long ago! Milk is for beginners, inexperienced in God's ways; solid food is for the mature, who have some practice in telling right from wrong.
Where are you still relying on those around you to do your Christian walk for you? Where do you need to work on that relationship with God?
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Cool and Refreshing
It is kind of funny here in the Mexican Riviera. It isn't that it is too hot - the sun is just very intense. During the hours of 12 and 3 - it is a very bad idea to be in the sun. We had a full morning yesterday and decided to go swim in the Gulf of Mexico to get cooled off and refreshed with the inviting blue water. I've been in the Gulf before - so the next part shouldn't have surprised me - but somehow it did. It was 4 o'clock in the afternoon and the water was beyond warm. Bath water does not describe it. It was so deceving -- water means cool - right?! Wrong! I just kept thinking about how I was trying to be refreshed and while the swim was nice - left me wanting something else.
I started to think about the passage about being a lukewarm Christian - neither hot nor cold. I realize that part of this is a stretch - but have you ever been around someone that is just on fire for God - and you just want to hear more? People flock to them - not only because of what they are saying but because they want to be around that kind of passion. Now God is not saying be cold or warm in the sense of temperature - He is saying do not be wishy washy - pick which way you are going to be. Either be hot and passionate or cold so people know where you stand.
The verse:
Revelation 3:16
16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
The water yesterday just wasn't refreshing because it was warm. It was such a good reminder that we need to stand firm in what we believe - be on fire for Christ.
I started to think about the passage about being a lukewarm Christian - neither hot nor cold. I realize that part of this is a stretch - but have you ever been around someone that is just on fire for God - and you just want to hear more? People flock to them - not only because of what they are saying but because they want to be around that kind of passion. Now God is not saying be cold or warm in the sense of temperature - He is saying do not be wishy washy - pick which way you are going to be. Either be hot and passionate or cold so people know where you stand.
The verse:
Revelation 3:16
16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
The water yesterday just wasn't refreshing because it was warm. It was such a good reminder that we need to stand firm in what we believe - be on fire for Christ.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Critters
Well, I picked up an unfortunate bug along the way on our lovely trip to Mexico. I am sooooo careful about what I eat overseas but for some reason - I got sick anyway. I have been quite ill over the last 12 hours - but as always - it has caused me to really think.
How often do we come across things that cause us to fall? It happens to me all the time. I will be walking along with no problems and then stumble. Often I fall into the pitfall all on my own but more often than not, it is like the situation I am in. We end up picking up a critter and taking them along for the ride. We do our best to shake it but it hangs on causing our lives to be ill.
The passage today is:
Psalm 37 : 23-24
23 The LORD makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
So, while we all may not be obviously ill on the outside, we might have tiny parts of our lives that are. I know that I work my hardest to make sure I do´not pick up the critters along the way - but sometimes they come anyway.
Where do you need to maybe do a detox to get rid of the critters?
How often do we come across things that cause us to fall? It happens to me all the time. I will be walking along with no problems and then stumble. Often I fall into the pitfall all on my own but more often than not, it is like the situation I am in. We end up picking up a critter and taking them along for the ride. We do our best to shake it but it hangs on causing our lives to be ill.
The passage today is:
Psalm 37 : 23-24
23 The LORD makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
So, while we all may not be obviously ill on the outside, we might have tiny parts of our lives that are. I know that I work my hardest to make sure I do´not pick up the critters along the way - but sometimes they come anyway.
Where do you need to maybe do a detox to get rid of the critters?
Thursday, August 4, 2011
All You Can Eat
So, my husband and I are at an all inclusive resort right now. It is beautiful to say the least.
http://www.grandsunsetprincessresort.com/images/hotel1.jpg
We truly have never done an all-inclusive because we really don't drink much if any at all. The whole concept is pretty funny - you can just picture everyone's eyes bug out at the thought of being able to eat all day and drink 24/7. When we got here, people were telling us all of the restaurants and which buffets to try or avoid. It was funny - nothing about the resort or the beach - just the food!
We have so much being fed to us in the world especially about religion - for that matter - politics too. So - how do you know what is the right one to eat or partake? There are many different people telling you that their one is the right one or that it is better than another. How do you know if you do not have the knowledge? I know that before we came here - I did a lot of research. If we had just taken the cheapest package - it could have been a disaster. Bottom line - you cannot live through someone else telling you how to live. It is always great to hear a wonderful sermon - but if you only feed yourself that way - you are missing out. You cannot experience it without stepping out and learning on your own. The whole point is to have a personal relationship. Just like with the buffets here in Cancun - we won't know until we get out there and make the experience our own.
Verse of the Day
“This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: 'Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.” Jeremiah 33:2-3 MSG
http://www.grandsunsetprincessresort.com/images/hotel1.jpg
We truly have never done an all-inclusive because we really don't drink much if any at all. The whole concept is pretty funny - you can just picture everyone's eyes bug out at the thought of being able to eat all day and drink 24/7. When we got here, people were telling us all of the restaurants and which buffets to try or avoid. It was funny - nothing about the resort or the beach - just the food!
We have so much being fed to us in the world especially about religion - for that matter - politics too. So - how do you know what is the right one to eat or partake? There are many different people telling you that their one is the right one or that it is better than another. How do you know if you do not have the knowledge? I know that before we came here - I did a lot of research. If we had just taken the cheapest package - it could have been a disaster. Bottom line - you cannot live through someone else telling you how to live. It is always great to hear a wonderful sermon - but if you only feed yourself that way - you are missing out. You cannot experience it without stepping out and learning on your own. The whole point is to have a personal relationship. Just like with the buffets here in Cancun - we won't know until we get out there and make the experience our own.
Verse of the Day
“This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: 'Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.” Jeremiah 33:2-3 MSG
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Miles away
So I am typing this from 35,000 ft in the air. I am on my way to Mexico and didn't have time this morning to blog.
Since I am getting away I was thinking about escape. Isn't it so nice to get away and feel refreshed?! I know I love that. However, I know how often I try to escape problems throu something else. It isn't always intentional or conscious. I might rely on a friend too much, eat food, or shop instead of dealing with the problem. That in itself is not totally horrible unless you are doing it all the time.
I have watched so many friends along the way cope with issues through either alcohol or pain killers. Truth is they are pretty similar because we are trying to kill the pain. Life is hard! So easily it becomes addiction and without even realizing you have fallen down that rabbit hole. No one sets out to be an alcoholic or have issues with food. It just happens over time.
Our passage today is. Psalm 40.
Psalm 40
A David Psalm
1-3 I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened.
He lifted me out of the ditch,
pulled me from deep mud.
He stood me up on a solid rock
to make sure I wouldn't slip.
He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
a praise-song to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
they enter the mystery,
abandoning themselves to God.
4-5 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God,
turn your backs on the world's "sure thing,"
ignore what the world worships;
The world's a huge stockpile
of God-wonders and God-thoughts.
Nothing and no one
comes close to you!
I start talking about you, telling what I know,
and quickly run out of words.
Neither numbers nor words
account for you.
6 Doing something for you, bringing something to you—
that's not what you're after.
Being religious, acting pious—
that's not what you're asking for.
You've opened my ears
so I can listen.
7-8 So I answered, "I'm coming.
I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
And I'm coming to the party
you're throwing for me."
That's when God's Word entered my life,
became part of my very being.
9-10 I've preached you to the whole congregation,
I've kept back nothing, God—you know that.
I didn't keep the news of your ways
a secret, didn't keep it to myself.
I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough.
I didn't hold back pieces of love and truth
For myself alone. I told it all,
let the congregation know the whole story.
11-12 Now God, don't hold out on me,
don't hold back your passion.
Your love and truth
are all that keeps me together.
When troubles ganged up on me,
a mob of sins past counting,
I was so swamped by guilt
I couldn't see my way clear.
More guilt in my heart than hair on my head,
so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out.
13-15 Soften up, God, and intervene;
hurry and get me some help,
So those who are trying to kidnap my soul
will be embarrassed and lose face,
So anyone who gets a kick out of making me miserable
will be heckled and disgraced,
So those who pray for my ruin
will be booed and jeered without mercy.
16-17 But all who are hunting for you—
oh, let them sing and be happy.
Let those who know what you're all about
tell the world you're great and not quitting.
And me? I'm a mess. I'm nothing and have nothing:
make something of me.
You can do it; you've got what it takes—
but God, don't put it off.
God is there no matter what you are going through. Lean into his arms and let him carry you through
Since I am getting away I was thinking about escape. Isn't it so nice to get away and feel refreshed?! I know I love that. However, I know how often I try to escape problems throu something else. It isn't always intentional or conscious. I might rely on a friend too much, eat food, or shop instead of dealing with the problem. That in itself is not totally horrible unless you are doing it all the time.
I have watched so many friends along the way cope with issues through either alcohol or pain killers. Truth is they are pretty similar because we are trying to kill the pain. Life is hard! So easily it becomes addiction and without even realizing you have fallen down that rabbit hole. No one sets out to be an alcoholic or have issues with food. It just happens over time.
Our passage today is. Psalm 40.
Psalm 40
A David Psalm
1-3 I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened.
He lifted me out of the ditch,
pulled me from deep mud.
He stood me up on a solid rock
to make sure I wouldn't slip.
He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
a praise-song to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
they enter the mystery,
abandoning themselves to God.
4-5 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God,
turn your backs on the world's "sure thing,"
ignore what the world worships;
The world's a huge stockpile
of God-wonders and God-thoughts.
Nothing and no one
comes close to you!
I start talking about you, telling what I know,
and quickly run out of words.
Neither numbers nor words
account for you.
6 Doing something for you, bringing something to you—
that's not what you're after.
Being religious, acting pious—
that's not what you're asking for.
You've opened my ears
so I can listen.
7-8 So I answered, "I'm coming.
I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
And I'm coming to the party
you're throwing for me."
That's when God's Word entered my life,
became part of my very being.
9-10 I've preached you to the whole congregation,
I've kept back nothing, God—you know that.
I didn't keep the news of your ways
a secret, didn't keep it to myself.
I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough.
I didn't hold back pieces of love and truth
For myself alone. I told it all,
let the congregation know the whole story.
11-12 Now God, don't hold out on me,
don't hold back your passion.
Your love and truth
are all that keeps me together.
When troubles ganged up on me,
a mob of sins past counting,
I was so swamped by guilt
I couldn't see my way clear.
More guilt in my heart than hair on my head,
so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out.
13-15 Soften up, God, and intervene;
hurry and get me some help,
So those who are trying to kidnap my soul
will be embarrassed and lose face,
So anyone who gets a kick out of making me miserable
will be heckled and disgraced,
So those who pray for my ruin
will be booed and jeered without mercy.
16-17 But all who are hunting for you—
oh, let them sing and be happy.
Let those who know what you're all about
tell the world you're great and not quitting.
And me? I'm a mess. I'm nothing and have nothing:
make something of me.
You can do it; you've got what it takes—
but God, don't put it off.
God is there no matter what you are going through. Lean into his arms and let him carry you through
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Are you Facebook Official?
I laugh when my kids or kids that I work with tell me about their teen drama. They start telling me about friends that have hooked up with various people but they aren't officially dating. I laugh because they are clearly dating. I will ask, "How can you say they aren't going out?" They will tell me that it isn't posted on facebook. So the joke is, "Are you facebook official - or officially official"
I would love to say that all the content in what I am saying is all original but it isn't. Much of it is my thought but my mom was sharing a sermon her pastor gave last week.
Whenever I get a friend request on facebook, it always pops up with a question of whether you want to accept or decline the friend. The first thought that runs through my head is, "Do I know this person?" The second thought that goes through my head if I can even answer the first one is, "Do I really want to know this person again?" Finally, you have the ultimate decision to accept or decline. It isn't that we have intense conversations with everyone we know on facebook. However, we are inviting them into our life if we accept that request. That sometimes comes with good and bad. When you accept their request, you are giving permission to add to your life and possibly change it.
Our relationship with Jesus is the same. It is a request to come into your life. You are faced with many questions but it always comes down to the final decision - do you accept or decline. There isn't an in between. We either accept him into our life or we put him on the shelf and decline. I would also contend that we often ignore the request. We might put off accepting or declining but ultimately, if we do not take the time to accept him into our lives, we are still declining even if we are ignoring his request.
Our passage for today:
“Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.” James 1:22 MSG
Are you ignoring the request and declining or are you accepting? Are you accepting and inviting Him into your life for a real relationship?
I would love to say that all the content in what I am saying is all original but it isn't. Much of it is my thought but my mom was sharing a sermon her pastor gave last week.
Whenever I get a friend request on facebook, it always pops up with a question of whether you want to accept or decline the friend. The first thought that runs through my head is, "Do I know this person?" The second thought that goes through my head if I can even answer the first one is, "Do I really want to know this person again?" Finally, you have the ultimate decision to accept or decline. It isn't that we have intense conversations with everyone we know on facebook. However, we are inviting them into our life if we accept that request. That sometimes comes with good and bad. When you accept their request, you are giving permission to add to your life and possibly change it.
Our relationship with Jesus is the same. It is a request to come into your life. You are faced with many questions but it always comes down to the final decision - do you accept or decline. There isn't an in between. We either accept him into our life or we put him on the shelf and decline. I would also contend that we often ignore the request. We might put off accepting or declining but ultimately, if we do not take the time to accept him into our lives, we are still declining even if we are ignoring his request.
Our passage for today:
“Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.” James 1:22 MSG
Are you ignoring the request and declining or are you accepting? Are you accepting and inviting Him into your life for a real relationship?
Monday, August 1, 2011
Heart
I admit that I struggled to do the blog this morning in addition to getting my house ready for my mom to come today. I apologize if you were actually trying to read it this morning and I fell short.
I am always moved by music. When someone asks me what kind of music I like, it is difficult to answer. I can usually say just about everything. I do not care all that much for the screamo type but even the background music has some merit. Music just moves my heart. It is so full and my heart has so much emotion attached to so many songs.
In light of that, I started thinking about the heart and how sometimes it deceives me. As my daughter dates, it becomes even more obvious how the heart can tell us one thing but it not necessarily be true. I remember dating someone in high school and having such butterflies but then they started to treat me like crap and those feelings went away. Love is not a feeling - it is a verb and action. Love doesn't just show up when you meet someone, it is what shows up when you are sick or your relationship is having difficulty. It is grace granted when we do not necessarily deserve it.
Today's passage is a whopper and I hope you are ready for it:
“I hate the two-faced, but I love your clear-cut revelation. You're my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me. Get out of my life, evildoers, so I can keep my God's commands. Take my side as you promised; I'll live then for sure. Don't disappoint all my grand hopes. Stick with me and I'll be all right; I'll give total allegiance to your definitions of life. Expose all who drift away from your sayings; their casual idolatry is lethal. You reject earth's wicked as so much rubbish; therefore I lovingly embrace everything you say. I shiver in awe before you; your decisions leave me speechless with reverence.” Psalm 119:114 MSG
Some of you may be asking what that has to do with the heart and deception. Look closely as it is the things and people that might pull us off track from following God directly. His love for us is one continuous dose of grace - we certainly do not deserve it. We certainly let our hearts lead us in the wrong directions especially when we do not listen to what is right.
So, as music touches my heart - I wanted to share a song with you from Hillsong. So take heart my friends, and let HIM lead you and not your heart. He will not deceive you.
Take Heart [Verse 1:]
There is a light
It burns brighter than the sun
He steals the night
And casts no shadow
There is hope
Should oceans rise and mountains fall
He never fails
[Chorus:]
So take heart
Let His love lead us through the night
Hold on to hope
And take courage again
[Verse 1:]
In death by love
The fallen world was overcome
He wears the scars of our freedom
In His Name
All our fears are swept away
He never fails
[Bridge:]
All our troubles
And all our tears
God our hope
He has overcome
[| From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/h/hillsong-united-lyrics/take-heart-lyrics.html |]
All our failure
And all our fear
God our love
He has overcome
All our heartache
And all our pain
God our healer
He has overcome
All our burdens
And all our shame
God our freedom
He has overcome
All our troubles
And all our tears
God our hope
He has overcome
All our failures
And all our fear
God our love
He has overcome
God our justice
God our grace
God our freedom
He has overcome
God our refuge
God our strength
God is with us
He has overcome
I am always moved by music. When someone asks me what kind of music I like, it is difficult to answer. I can usually say just about everything. I do not care all that much for the screamo type but even the background music has some merit. Music just moves my heart. It is so full and my heart has so much emotion attached to so many songs.
In light of that, I started thinking about the heart and how sometimes it deceives me. As my daughter dates, it becomes even more obvious how the heart can tell us one thing but it not necessarily be true. I remember dating someone in high school and having such butterflies but then they started to treat me like crap and those feelings went away. Love is not a feeling - it is a verb and action. Love doesn't just show up when you meet someone, it is what shows up when you are sick or your relationship is having difficulty. It is grace granted when we do not necessarily deserve it.
Today's passage is a whopper and I hope you are ready for it:
“I hate the two-faced, but I love your clear-cut revelation. You're my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me. Get out of my life, evildoers, so I can keep my God's commands. Take my side as you promised; I'll live then for sure. Don't disappoint all my grand hopes. Stick with me and I'll be all right; I'll give total allegiance to your definitions of life. Expose all who drift away from your sayings; their casual idolatry is lethal. You reject earth's wicked as so much rubbish; therefore I lovingly embrace everything you say. I shiver in awe before you; your decisions leave me speechless with reverence.” Psalm 119:114 MSG
Some of you may be asking what that has to do with the heart and deception. Look closely as it is the things and people that might pull us off track from following God directly. His love for us is one continuous dose of grace - we certainly do not deserve it. We certainly let our hearts lead us in the wrong directions especially when we do not listen to what is right.
So, as music touches my heart - I wanted to share a song with you from Hillsong. So take heart my friends, and let HIM lead you and not your heart. He will not deceive you.
Take Heart [Verse 1:]
There is a light
It burns brighter than the sun
He steals the night
And casts no shadow
There is hope
Should oceans rise and mountains fall
He never fails
[Chorus:]
So take heart
Let His love lead us through the night
Hold on to hope
And take courage again
[Verse 1:]
In death by love
The fallen world was overcome
He wears the scars of our freedom
In His Name
All our fears are swept away
He never fails
[Bridge:]
All our troubles
And all our tears
God our hope
He has overcome
[| From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/h/hillsong-united-lyrics/take-heart-lyrics.html |]
All our failure
And all our fear
God our love
He has overcome
All our heartache
And all our pain
God our healer
He has overcome
All our burdens
And all our shame
God our freedom
He has overcome
All our troubles
And all our tears
God our hope
He has overcome
All our failures
And all our fear
God our love
He has overcome
God our justice
God our grace
God our freedom
He has overcome
God our refuge
God our strength
God is with us
He has overcome
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