Luke 6:37; 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
John 17:16-18; They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
Revelation 3:16; So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
One of the biggest excuses I've heard most in my life as to why a person doesn't or won't attend church is that it's because Christians are all hypocrites. I always find this funny because in a way they're right, aren't they? Churches are full of broken people, thankfully or I'd not be welcomed! But let me just say, I don't think they are just inside the church. I find people claiming to be "Christian" and I rack my brain trying to figure out how they can make that claim. Then I'm rebuked and lead to Luke 6:37, "Do Not Judge and you will not be judged." I don't think that Christ left that area gray at all, He was pretty direct in that statement. DO NOT JUDGE. So why do I see someone doing something that I deem "unchristian like" and think I have the right to judge? I don't, you don't. God is the judge and whatever a person is doing or not doing is between them and God. Then I think to the second part of that scripture, YOU WILL NOT BE JUDGED. Score!! I like that part, God knows that if I were judged by the same standards I place on others I'd have a hard time measuring up because let me confess to you all right now, I seriously mess up sometimes and it's only by the grace of God that I can continue in this faith journey. If it's not my words getting me into trouble, it's my thoughts and if it's not my thoughts it's my actions. On and on I fail and stumble and on and on God forgives me. That simply amazes me.
So now you may be saying, ok, I get that sorta but what's with the fine line? I'm so glad you asked! You guys are really making this blogging stuff get easier on me. The Holy Spirit began laying on my heart the topic, A fine line. Then He reminded me that it truly is a fine line to be in this world but I was never meant to be a part of it. Some really struggle with this, I know that I do. You're out with your friends and your talking, having a great time and all of a sudden the conversation turns to something inappropriate and instead of walking away or changing the topic you join in. Maybe it's talking about someone sitting at the table across the room or maybe a co-worker or mutual "friend". Christ said that He sent his disciples (by the way that's us) into the world. We are called to be the salt of the earth. We are called to change the flavor (saltiness) of the conversation. The more we bath ourselves in the word, the more the filth of the world is washed away. Bath often brothers and sisters.
I think we try so hard to "fit in", to be one of the crowd that sometimes we lose the fire within us. We cross that fine line of being in the world versus of the world that we become lukewarm in our walk with Christ. Again He is so clear on this. He said he'd spit us out of his mouth for being hot nor cold but by being a lukewarm follower. I don't know about you, but when I think about someone spitting, it's normally because something unpleasant is in their mouth. Some spit to indicate that they are done with a person. For me, either of the above coming from God's displeasure with me is very frightening.
So back to the original comment I made when I began writing this blog regarding all the "hypocrites" that are in the churches. Maybe that's not the word afterall. Maybe it's people watching people walking that fine line of in the world/of the world, judging them as they see them dip into the cold waters of life growing lukewarm. I don't know about you, but I can tell you that when I'm struggling I'd rather be in a church where I can still feel the fires of the "hot" Christians to help rekindle the Holy Spirit fire within me then be in the world alone trying to make it on my own.
Have you ever watched a fire burn? Have you ever sat too close that you thought you'd catch on fire just by simply sitting too close as it pops and cracks grabbing hold of everything around it and consuming it? We should all pray to be that HOT! Have you seen it lose it's power as the fuel source lessens and it has nothing left to burn and it slowly dies until all that's left is ashes? Are you in the flames burning hot for Christ going out into the world but refraining from being part of it or are you smoldering outside of the fire ring becoming lukewarm or perhaps even cold?
What fine line are you walking today? Where is that line leading you? If it's leading you anywhere but to Christ, ask His forgiveness and change your course today. He is a forgiving God and He isn't swayed by anyone's opinion either side of the church door of you. He called you to go into the world and invite others to warm up by the fire.
Blessings,
Heather
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Trial to Praise; Psalm 104:33-34
I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD."
What a week this has been! Certainly one of ups and downs. Have you ever been on a roller coaster and at the very top you suddenly hold your breath just before you make that fast descent towards the earth? That's what I was feeling earlier this week, the bottom of my life had just dropped out and I was plummeting into instant fear and worry. Where was my faith? Just like that I went from being on a spiritual high to a spiritual low.
I called my hubby and called a friend who both tried to encourage me and remind me that God always has control over our life. My husband actually said, "Heather, where is your faith?" I simply said I know, I know. But I didn't, I didn't know where it went in those moments that I was handed some difficult news.
The next morning I woke up and as usual got myself ready and headed out the door for work. While on the highway, I began my morning "ritual" and started praying. This time it was a little different, I scrapped all the "formalities" and got real with God. I began thanking Him for the news I had received and praising Him for being the God of my life. The more I praised him, the more the anxiety left my soul. The more I thanked him for giving me hope and a future, the more peace I felt. By the time I had been in the car for about five minutes just thanking God for all the things He has done and will do in my life and recognizing that He has already been to all my tomorrows and has planned prosperity into my life, I was singing Victory In Jesus. For the first time in my life, I truly felt what that song meant. I was singing praises to the God that I know will see me through.
I walked into the office and all the long faces were still coming in one by one, still reeling from the news we had received the day before. I just smiled and shared with one of my co-workers about my drive into work. I think she may have thought I was a little off my rocker, but I think she understood somewhat. I logged into my computer and sitting there in my inbox were two messages from a friend of encouragement that validated how I felt in the car earlier. Again I was reminded I have no reason ever to fear or question the future but trust in our amazing God to see me through each and every trial. I was reminded that even through the trials to praise Him because He is eternally faithful to those who trust and serve Him.
My boss shared with us today that even though things appear bad at the moment, somehow we have to look at it all as a blessing. I just had to smile at his words. You know one of those smiles you really can't explain to anyone around you because its an inside joke between you and God. :) I sat there while he was talking and began to understand what God was doing. You see sometimes it's the trials that God uses to get us to move further in our journey with him and out of the comfy spots that we've nestled into. Sometimes like a baby bird, we have to be pushed out of our soft nests to sore with the eagles.
Are you in one of the storms of life? Has your faith been weakened and tested because of recent trials? Have you found it difficult to praise Him in the midst of the trials that have come? Sit for a moment, recognize who it is that you serve. He is the creator of the heavens and earth. There is nothing that he hasn't already seen and nothing he isn't capable of handling on your behalf. Once you've thought about it for a few moments, begin to praise him and wait for him to see you through! Let him be the song over your life.
While you meditate on who He is, please listen to the words of this song and know that even through the raindrops of the storm... there is a blessing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSVqHcdhXQ&feature=rellist&playnext=1&list=PLF308558CD5EBA8AE
Blessings,
Heather
What a week this has been! Certainly one of ups and downs. Have you ever been on a roller coaster and at the very top you suddenly hold your breath just before you make that fast descent towards the earth? That's what I was feeling earlier this week, the bottom of my life had just dropped out and I was plummeting into instant fear and worry. Where was my faith? Just like that I went from being on a spiritual high to a spiritual low.
I called my hubby and called a friend who both tried to encourage me and remind me that God always has control over our life. My husband actually said, "Heather, where is your faith?" I simply said I know, I know. But I didn't, I didn't know where it went in those moments that I was handed some difficult news.
The next morning I woke up and as usual got myself ready and headed out the door for work. While on the highway, I began my morning "ritual" and started praying. This time it was a little different, I scrapped all the "formalities" and got real with God. I began thanking Him for the news I had received and praising Him for being the God of my life. The more I praised him, the more the anxiety left my soul. The more I thanked him for giving me hope and a future, the more peace I felt. By the time I had been in the car for about five minutes just thanking God for all the things He has done and will do in my life and recognizing that He has already been to all my tomorrows and has planned prosperity into my life, I was singing Victory In Jesus. For the first time in my life, I truly felt what that song meant. I was singing praises to the God that I know will see me through.
I walked into the office and all the long faces were still coming in one by one, still reeling from the news we had received the day before. I just smiled and shared with one of my co-workers about my drive into work. I think she may have thought I was a little off my rocker, but I think she understood somewhat. I logged into my computer and sitting there in my inbox were two messages from a friend of encouragement that validated how I felt in the car earlier. Again I was reminded I have no reason ever to fear or question the future but trust in our amazing God to see me through each and every trial. I was reminded that even through the trials to praise Him because He is eternally faithful to those who trust and serve Him.
My boss shared with us today that even though things appear bad at the moment, somehow we have to look at it all as a blessing. I just had to smile at his words. You know one of those smiles you really can't explain to anyone around you because its an inside joke between you and God. :) I sat there while he was talking and began to understand what God was doing. You see sometimes it's the trials that God uses to get us to move further in our journey with him and out of the comfy spots that we've nestled into. Sometimes like a baby bird, we have to be pushed out of our soft nests to sore with the eagles.
Are you in one of the storms of life? Has your faith been weakened and tested because of recent trials? Have you found it difficult to praise Him in the midst of the trials that have come? Sit for a moment, recognize who it is that you serve. He is the creator of the heavens and earth. There is nothing that he hasn't already seen and nothing he isn't capable of handling on your behalf. Once you've thought about it for a few moments, begin to praise him and wait for him to see you through! Let him be the song over your life.
While you meditate on who He is, please listen to the words of this song and know that even through the raindrops of the storm... there is a blessing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSVqHcdhXQ&feature=rellist&playnext=1&list=PLF308558CD5EBA8AE
Blessings,
Heather
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