"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
By definition drama according to Merriam-Webster is: "a composition in verse or prose intended to portray life or character or to tell a story usually involving conflicts and emotions through action and dialogue and typically designed for theatrical performance."
Or according to the Urban Dictionary: "Something women and especially teenage girls thrive on. Consisting on any number of situations that have an easy solution, which would bring a fairly good outcome. But these girls choose bad ways to deal with it. Again consisting of backstabbing, blackmailing, gossiping, betraying their friends or the all too common "I want to break up with him but I still love him!" It drives men and what I like to call "normal" girls nuts." I have to give a personal commentary, men sometimes can be drama addicts too.
I have no idea why or for whom God wanted this blog written for but I have to say that my motto is Drama Free Living For Me. I don't like drama and I don't invite it to take up residence in my home. The bottom line is that we all have problems of varying size and intensity but drama is what again.... an easy solution and the result of dealing with the problem(s) in bad ways. I choose to avoid drama even if that means eliminating relationships. It's about making the right choices which sometimes are the hard choices that cause us to grow in strength, character and knowledge.
The thief (drama, aka Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus Christ) have come that they (Us) may have life and have it to the full (abundance). What does that mean? Satan doesn't want your life to be drama free, he wants to steal, kill and destroy your dreams, your hopes and your peace of mind. Is life hard sometimes and trials seem to be never ending? It can seem that way, but we can turn to the word instead of turning to the world repeating bad choices that end as they always have, BADLY.
What do you choose today? Do you choose to live a drama free life with Christ or do you choose the thief (drama) that has come to steal, kill and destroy you? I can't promise you that you will never have problems or that life won't seem overwhelming sometimes but I can promise you what God promised you in his word to give you hope and a future. Today is a new day and it can be Drama Free.
Blessings,
Heather
Monday, November 21, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Clutter; Matthew 16:19
" I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Lately I've been on a mission to remove the clutter from my home. As I was going through the closets I realized that many of the things I was preparing for donation were things I've not used or seen this year. Even worse were the items that truly belonged in the trash but for some reason I was hanging on to them and allowing them to occupy space in my home that could be clear or used in a better way. It began to remind me how in life sometimes I do the same thing, hold onto things or relationships that occupy space in my life that only serve to clutter it and not to better it or create space for the truly important things.
Many of the things that I had been storing in my closets were things from my past or things that were my mother's. Things that held memories or sentimental value but served no purpose in my life. Some may feel differently that sentiment is the value they hold but for me clutter equates to chaos and stress. I'd rather not be tied to things of this world but focus more on those things eternal. I jokingly said today that the whatever we bind on earth shall be bound in heaven scripture comes into my mind often in a variety of ways. Can you imagine being bound to THINGS that you just can't let go of here on this earth for eternity? I personally don't want to be anchored down by material things while walking down those streets of gold, I'd look pretty silly walking around with a bunch of whatever wrapped around my neck weighing me down. Don't misunderstand me, I still enjoy a good book or a great sale on a pair of shoes but I find more and more that my focus, my mission, isn't buying but ridding myself of the things of this world. Why do I need 50 purses sitting in my closet collecting dust when there is a woman out there that doesn't have a single one to call her own? Why do I hold on to a pair of shoes that I KNOW I will never wear again because they killed my pinky toes? Why not allow them to hurt someone else's feet? :) I'm just kidding, I don't want ladies walking around with hurt pinky toes but I think you get what I'm saying.
Today in a study that I'm part of, we were talking about this being our temporary home. Nothing here my friend is eternal but our relationships with Christ and that is the deep within us, our souls reaching out and holding tight to the future we have beyond this world. Our desires should be focused on the Father and things that He holds most dear... one another.
So what is it that is cluttering up your life? Do you have too many pairs of shoes sitting in the closet, maybe just a bunch of broken dreams or a past that you just don't want to deal with or feel you can't? Maybe it's relationships that are causing the clutter, ones that just occupy space but are empty and lacking in anything substantial. What is causing the clutter that's blocking your view to a clear path with our Lord? Nothing should have more importance placed on it or binding here on earth than being and doing what our God has called us for so that when we enter through those gates we finally get to hear, well done good and faithful servant. Our desire should always be for his return and nothing in our clutter need keep us from losing sight of Him.
Blessings,
Heather
Lately I've been on a mission to remove the clutter from my home. As I was going through the closets I realized that many of the things I was preparing for donation were things I've not used or seen this year. Even worse were the items that truly belonged in the trash but for some reason I was hanging on to them and allowing them to occupy space in my home that could be clear or used in a better way. It began to remind me how in life sometimes I do the same thing, hold onto things or relationships that occupy space in my life that only serve to clutter it and not to better it or create space for the truly important things.
Many of the things that I had been storing in my closets were things from my past or things that were my mother's. Things that held memories or sentimental value but served no purpose in my life. Some may feel differently that sentiment is the value they hold but for me clutter equates to chaos and stress. I'd rather not be tied to things of this world but focus more on those things eternal. I jokingly said today that the whatever we bind on earth shall be bound in heaven scripture comes into my mind often in a variety of ways. Can you imagine being bound to THINGS that you just can't let go of here on this earth for eternity? I personally don't want to be anchored down by material things while walking down those streets of gold, I'd look pretty silly walking around with a bunch of whatever wrapped around my neck weighing me down. Don't misunderstand me, I still enjoy a good book or a great sale on a pair of shoes but I find more and more that my focus, my mission, isn't buying but ridding myself of the things of this world. Why do I need 50 purses sitting in my closet collecting dust when there is a woman out there that doesn't have a single one to call her own? Why do I hold on to a pair of shoes that I KNOW I will never wear again because they killed my pinky toes? Why not allow them to hurt someone else's feet? :) I'm just kidding, I don't want ladies walking around with hurt pinky toes but I think you get what I'm saying.
Today in a study that I'm part of, we were talking about this being our temporary home. Nothing here my friend is eternal but our relationships with Christ and that is the deep within us, our souls reaching out and holding tight to the future we have beyond this world. Our desires should be focused on the Father and things that He holds most dear... one another.
So what is it that is cluttering up your life? Do you have too many pairs of shoes sitting in the closet, maybe just a bunch of broken dreams or a past that you just don't want to deal with or feel you can't? Maybe it's relationships that are causing the clutter, ones that just occupy space but are empty and lacking in anything substantial. What is causing the clutter that's blocking your view to a clear path with our Lord? Nothing should have more importance placed on it or binding here on earth than being and doing what our God has called us for so that when we enter through those gates we finally get to hear, well done good and faithful servant. Our desire should always be for his return and nothing in our clutter need keep us from losing sight of Him.
Blessings,
Heather
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Get Real; Judges 6:37-40
"look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand as you said. And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew - a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew. " That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew."
Interesting reading isn't it? For some reason I had it in my head that I could petition God for a lot of things but putting God to the test never entered my mind because who am I to question or test God? But we think about it don't we and afterall can we really hide anything from God? Our Pastor preached on this very topic a couple months back and even then I wondered who Gideon though he was that he could put God to a test. Ahh, but then in a single moment while driving in my car God said "Get Real Heather".
I listen to a lot of people pray in groups or over a service and I think that they sound so "pretty" in their prayers. But that's not what God wants...he doesn't want our pretty prayers, he wants our heartfelt "real" petitions before him. I know he hears me all the time, even in times when I wish he wasn't listening because what I said whether in my heart or out of my mouth isn't always "pretty". Sometimes what comes into my head or enters my heart is just the opposite of pretty and can be quite ugly. In Ephesians 6:18 we are told to "Pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."
Jesus set the example in Matthew 6 with the Lord's Prayer. "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." What I don't think are that many read the words that come before this prayer.... "and when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." It's not about the words spoken, it's about the words coming from your heart to his.
I was struggling earlier this week, just feeling rather alone and struggling with some things going on with my life. Thursday morning I finally had it and as I usually do I began to pray on my way to work. I do so during that time for a couple of reasons, one, that stretch of road is crazy that time of morning!! and two, because it's quiet in the car and I can just talk with my Daddy with no one else around. I began thanking him for all the things in my life and asking him to touch those that have requested prayer and then he stirred my heart and I heard those words, "Get Real, Heather". It's not often I will pray for myself, why I have no idea, but I tossed all the "pretty words" out the car window and I began to petition God in a way I've not done before. I began to pray that I needed to see him show me that day in some physical way that he was present and had my life in his hands. I prayed that I needed to see in a tangible way that I was highly favored and prayed that he show me that I was going to be ok.
I went to a business luncheon later that day and there was a drawing being held where we all took a numbered ticket. We ate lunch and at the end of the luncheon the lucky number was to be drawn. As the announcer called out the numbers....I looked around the room and no one got up. Another ticket drawn and another number announced and still no one approached the stage. A third time and no one claimed the prize. The announcer decided it was best to flip the basket upside down and draw from the bottom. I listened to the numbers and was shocked to see they were my numbers! I had just won an iPad 2. In front of all those people I waited til I got to the front of the room and did a victory dance all the while smiling not just because I had won, but because God showed in a very real tangible way that I was favored and I knew then at that moment he was smiling too and was saying, "when you get real with me, I get real with you."
I'm not saying that you will all win an iPad or anything like that when you pray, but I am saying that when you get real with God he listens far beyond the "pretty words". You don't have to sound important and all knowing when you pray, you just need to talk to him like you know he's your daddy and you are favored. He hears you all the time in your every day talk, he's just waiting for you to talk with him.
What real talk do you need to have with God right now? Is there something that you think he doesn't already know? Are you trying to talk with him like you speak "King James speak" or are you talking to him like the father you know him to be? Is it time that you fleece God so that you can move on from the place you are today to the place he's calling you to be?
A final note today of encouragement is a song by Mandisa that I heard yesterday called, "What if we were real". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcLYkUb5Keo I pray that it ministers to you as it did my heart to Get Real.
Blessings,
Heather
Interesting reading isn't it? For some reason I had it in my head that I could petition God for a lot of things but putting God to the test never entered my mind because who am I to question or test God? But we think about it don't we and afterall can we really hide anything from God? Our Pastor preached on this very topic a couple months back and even then I wondered who Gideon though he was that he could put God to a test. Ahh, but then in a single moment while driving in my car God said "Get Real Heather".
I listen to a lot of people pray in groups or over a service and I think that they sound so "pretty" in their prayers. But that's not what God wants...he doesn't want our pretty prayers, he wants our heartfelt "real" petitions before him. I know he hears me all the time, even in times when I wish he wasn't listening because what I said whether in my heart or out of my mouth isn't always "pretty". Sometimes what comes into my head or enters my heart is just the opposite of pretty and can be quite ugly. In Ephesians 6:18 we are told to "Pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."
Jesus set the example in Matthew 6 with the Lord's Prayer. "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." What I don't think are that many read the words that come before this prayer.... "and when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." It's not about the words spoken, it's about the words coming from your heart to his.
I was struggling earlier this week, just feeling rather alone and struggling with some things going on with my life. Thursday morning I finally had it and as I usually do I began to pray on my way to work. I do so during that time for a couple of reasons, one, that stretch of road is crazy that time of morning!! and two, because it's quiet in the car and I can just talk with my Daddy with no one else around. I began thanking him for all the things in my life and asking him to touch those that have requested prayer and then he stirred my heart and I heard those words, "Get Real, Heather". It's not often I will pray for myself, why I have no idea, but I tossed all the "pretty words" out the car window and I began to petition God in a way I've not done before. I began to pray that I needed to see him show me that day in some physical way that he was present and had my life in his hands. I prayed that I needed to see in a tangible way that I was highly favored and prayed that he show me that I was going to be ok.
I went to a business luncheon later that day and there was a drawing being held where we all took a numbered ticket. We ate lunch and at the end of the luncheon the lucky number was to be drawn. As the announcer called out the numbers....I looked around the room and no one got up. Another ticket drawn and another number announced and still no one approached the stage. A third time and no one claimed the prize. The announcer decided it was best to flip the basket upside down and draw from the bottom. I listened to the numbers and was shocked to see they were my numbers! I had just won an iPad 2. In front of all those people I waited til I got to the front of the room and did a victory dance all the while smiling not just because I had won, but because God showed in a very real tangible way that I was favored and I knew then at that moment he was smiling too and was saying, "when you get real with me, I get real with you."
I'm not saying that you will all win an iPad or anything like that when you pray, but I am saying that when you get real with God he listens far beyond the "pretty words". You don't have to sound important and all knowing when you pray, you just need to talk to him like you know he's your daddy and you are favored. He hears you all the time in your every day talk, he's just waiting for you to talk with him.
What real talk do you need to have with God right now? Is there something that you think he doesn't already know? Are you trying to talk with him like you speak "King James speak" or are you talking to him like the father you know him to be? Is it time that you fleece God so that you can move on from the place you are today to the place he's calling you to be?
A final note today of encouragement is a song by Mandisa that I heard yesterday called, "What if we were real". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcLYkUb5Keo I pray that it ministers to you as it did my heart to Get Real.
Blessings,
Heather
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Comfortable; Isaiah 32:9
Isaiah 32:9; You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say!
Wow! Certainly not what I expected God to be sharing with me this week, but then again perhaps I need to leave the guiding and directing to Him and just allow Him to be who He is... God. What do you think? Sometimes God is so clear in preparing me in writing for this blog and other times waits until I'm very still and lets me know He has a message to share with me, for me, and for someone reading it at just the right moment.
The past couple of months there have been a lot of "unknowns" thrown into my life causing me to question where I am and where I am to be. It seems this always begins to happen when I grow comfortable and complacent in life in any one area or sometimes in several areas. God reminds me that this isn't my permanent home and I'm pretty much as the song says, A wayfaring stranger. I have a purpose to fulfill, wherever and whatever that may be. That's hard sometimes for me. I love serving in the body of Christ but I'm also a planner and have an analytical mind (just as God designed) which means that sometimes I get in my own way. Are any of you like that? Do you ever trip over your own feet down the path God lays out before you? Some days it completely seems like I have two left feet!
I reflected earlier this week in all the wonderful ways God has asked me to serve since becoming a Christian as a young girl. He has gifted me and regifted me time and time again for the things He'd have me to do. It's taken me quite a few years to recognize some of the larger portions of the puzzle of my life and how they all fell together in a way that other than God's purpose wouldn't make sense to anyone watching it. When you hear people say that God works in mysterious ways.... I have no doubts in that! While going through a situation or simply living life you often can't see how it has much to do with anything. Give it some time, pray about it if you care to and then see how all things truly do work together for the glory of God. You may just be amazed at how God has woven life for you, just don't get too comfortable because this isn't your permanent home either.
The word says, "Rise Up and Listen". I believe that is what God is sharing with me now in these moments of life to not grow complacent but to continue to rise up and listen. To have my ears tuned into his direction, not to grow comfortable but to be ready whether it is to stay the course or to change direction. It's not always easy to change and sometimes it really doesn't make sense but where in scripture does it say that it will? I've been changed by changes. I've had opportunities to have different jobs, different ministries and different relationships. God has never allowed me to grow stagnant that is for certain. I've normally accepted changing jobs fairly easily. Changing ministries was a bit harder, especially when I couldn't see myself filling the role. Changing relationships, well that has been one of the hardest. God designed me to be a relational being, connecting and building friendships along life's road. While in one of those friendships I could never imagine that we'd ever go different ways or lose touch but something whether it's physical proximity or different goals draws us apart. That kind of change is hard for me but necessary to fulfill my role. Sometimes in my "comfortableness" (is that a word?) I begin to lose my listening skills. My comfort comes from the Lord and in Him alone should I find a comfortable place not in any one place or any one relationship formed here. When He calls we simply need to be ready to answer Here I am Lord, send me.
What areas of life have you become comfortable and complacent to the point that you'd wrestle with God if He told you today to leave it behind? Would it be a home, a town, a church or maybe a relationship or family that would make you not rise up and listen to His call? Do not become comfortable, this is not your permanent home. Rise when He says rise and be ready to move ahead.
Blessings,
Heather
Wow! Certainly not what I expected God to be sharing with me this week, but then again perhaps I need to leave the guiding and directing to Him and just allow Him to be who He is... God. What do you think? Sometimes God is so clear in preparing me in writing for this blog and other times waits until I'm very still and lets me know He has a message to share with me, for me, and for someone reading it at just the right moment.
The past couple of months there have been a lot of "unknowns" thrown into my life causing me to question where I am and where I am to be. It seems this always begins to happen when I grow comfortable and complacent in life in any one area or sometimes in several areas. God reminds me that this isn't my permanent home and I'm pretty much as the song says, A wayfaring stranger. I have a purpose to fulfill, wherever and whatever that may be. That's hard sometimes for me. I love serving in the body of Christ but I'm also a planner and have an analytical mind (just as God designed) which means that sometimes I get in my own way. Are any of you like that? Do you ever trip over your own feet down the path God lays out before you? Some days it completely seems like I have two left feet!
I reflected earlier this week in all the wonderful ways God has asked me to serve since becoming a Christian as a young girl. He has gifted me and regifted me time and time again for the things He'd have me to do. It's taken me quite a few years to recognize some of the larger portions of the puzzle of my life and how they all fell together in a way that other than God's purpose wouldn't make sense to anyone watching it. When you hear people say that God works in mysterious ways.... I have no doubts in that! While going through a situation or simply living life you often can't see how it has much to do with anything. Give it some time, pray about it if you care to and then see how all things truly do work together for the glory of God. You may just be amazed at how God has woven life for you, just don't get too comfortable because this isn't your permanent home either.
The word says, "Rise Up and Listen". I believe that is what God is sharing with me now in these moments of life to not grow complacent but to continue to rise up and listen. To have my ears tuned into his direction, not to grow comfortable but to be ready whether it is to stay the course or to change direction. It's not always easy to change and sometimes it really doesn't make sense but where in scripture does it say that it will? I've been changed by changes. I've had opportunities to have different jobs, different ministries and different relationships. God has never allowed me to grow stagnant that is for certain. I've normally accepted changing jobs fairly easily. Changing ministries was a bit harder, especially when I couldn't see myself filling the role. Changing relationships, well that has been one of the hardest. God designed me to be a relational being, connecting and building friendships along life's road. While in one of those friendships I could never imagine that we'd ever go different ways or lose touch but something whether it's physical proximity or different goals draws us apart. That kind of change is hard for me but necessary to fulfill my role. Sometimes in my "comfortableness" (is that a word?) I begin to lose my listening skills. My comfort comes from the Lord and in Him alone should I find a comfortable place not in any one place or any one relationship formed here. When He calls we simply need to be ready to answer Here I am Lord, send me.
What areas of life have you become comfortable and complacent to the point that you'd wrestle with God if He told you today to leave it behind? Would it be a home, a town, a church or maybe a relationship or family that would make you not rise up and listen to His call? Do not become comfortable, this is not your permanent home. Rise when He says rise and be ready to move ahead.
Blessings,
Heather
Sunday, September 25, 2011
A Fine Line; Luke 6:37, John 17:16-18, Revelation 3:16
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
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
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
Monday, August 22, 2011
Love of the Father; Jeremiah 31:3
"The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have drawn you with loving kindness."
It's amazing to me how sometimes God uses so many different ways to share a message with me that I didn't even know that I was in need of until He begins to minister to those soft places of my heart and peels back another layer of the past that blocks me from serving Him with my whole heart. Sometimes we tend to bury things so deep in the recesses of our heart that we even forget that the scars and pains are still there ready to resurface and be dealt with on God's timing in our life.
This weekend I heard time and time again about the Father's love. I thought I was pretty well versed in that and I truly know without a doubt that I have a Heavenly Daddy who loves with a love that I can only begin to understand and share with others. His word is a wonderful love letter to me and to you. Sometimes when I sit down to read, there are moments that I feel like I've crawled up into my Daddy's lap as He reads to me. There is such comfort that. I never knew what that felt like in my relationship with my earthly father but I've seen many wonderful men, wonderful father's, take the time to scoop their little one up on their knee or nuzzled closely reading a story and sharing a tale. I often have envied that type of relationship, although I was blessed to have a mother who tried her best to fulfill that role for me.
For me an earthly father was never to be. I've never had a relationship with him and that had always left a void in my life. I must confess that I am grateful that my father chose not to be a part of my life and bring with him all the demons that he still battles today. There are sometimes blessings in the absence of those things that we think we need. My story is not unlike many that I talk to today whose father was not part of their life, but unique just the same. My mom was a young mother, just barely 17 years old when she had me. She wasn't ready to be a mom, but she did all she knew to do to try and be what I needed her to be. But my father was already a new daddy married to another woman but still playing the field. Not too long after my birth, he again became a father to a third child and eventually a fourth. Four children, four mothers and not able to be a father to any of them.
This bothered me for many years, knowing that my father couldn't be a dad to me and that I had three other siblings that I knew he had a relationship with but was causing chaos and destruction in all of their lives. As a young girl I thought I was missing out, but what I've learned over time is that I was being protected and guarded by my Heavenly Father. From before I was formed in a young mother's womb, my Heavenly Daddy was already planning my future and putting a hedge of protection around me. Oh my life wasn't easy and the enemy would have loved to have seen me buckle under the hardships that I had to go through but my Daddy He was holding me on his lap reading the story that was to be my life and saying "I have loved you with an everlasting love".
Some of you reading this today have had broken relationships or no relationships at all with your earthly fathers. Some of you still hold onto the pains of the void left by a man that was suppose to be there for you, loving you and supporting you. We can't undo the past and we can't make someone fulfill a role they don't know how to fill. The good news is that we all have a Heavenly father who loves us, cheers for us,cries with us and has never forsaken us. We never have to question who we are or where we belong because we are children of the King of Kings and there is nothing that will ever come between our daddy and us.
Are you holding onto pains of the void left by your father? Are you still angry for all the ways you felt he let you down? Are you willing to reach out your hand today and take the hand of your Heavenly Daddy and say, "read me a story about how you love me, how you know every detail about me, how you have my name written on the palm of your hand and have every hair on my head numbered." With that kind of a Daddy... we never need feel abandoned again.
Blessings,
Heather
It's amazing to me how sometimes God uses so many different ways to share a message with me that I didn't even know that I was in need of until He begins to minister to those soft places of my heart and peels back another layer of the past that blocks me from serving Him with my whole heart. Sometimes we tend to bury things so deep in the recesses of our heart that we even forget that the scars and pains are still there ready to resurface and be dealt with on God's timing in our life.
This weekend I heard time and time again about the Father's love. I thought I was pretty well versed in that and I truly know without a doubt that I have a Heavenly Daddy who loves with a love that I can only begin to understand and share with others. His word is a wonderful love letter to me and to you. Sometimes when I sit down to read, there are moments that I feel like I've crawled up into my Daddy's lap as He reads to me. There is such comfort that. I never knew what that felt like in my relationship with my earthly father but I've seen many wonderful men, wonderful father's, take the time to scoop their little one up on their knee or nuzzled closely reading a story and sharing a tale. I often have envied that type of relationship, although I was blessed to have a mother who tried her best to fulfill that role for me.
For me an earthly father was never to be. I've never had a relationship with him and that had always left a void in my life. I must confess that I am grateful that my father chose not to be a part of my life and bring with him all the demons that he still battles today. There are sometimes blessings in the absence of those things that we think we need. My story is not unlike many that I talk to today whose father was not part of their life, but unique just the same. My mom was a young mother, just barely 17 years old when she had me. She wasn't ready to be a mom, but she did all she knew to do to try and be what I needed her to be. But my father was already a new daddy married to another woman but still playing the field. Not too long after my birth, he again became a father to a third child and eventually a fourth. Four children, four mothers and not able to be a father to any of them.
This bothered me for many years, knowing that my father couldn't be a dad to me and that I had three other siblings that I knew he had a relationship with but was causing chaos and destruction in all of their lives. As a young girl I thought I was missing out, but what I've learned over time is that I was being protected and guarded by my Heavenly Father. From before I was formed in a young mother's womb, my Heavenly Daddy was already planning my future and putting a hedge of protection around me. Oh my life wasn't easy and the enemy would have loved to have seen me buckle under the hardships that I had to go through but my Daddy He was holding me on his lap reading the story that was to be my life and saying "I have loved you with an everlasting love".
Some of you reading this today have had broken relationships or no relationships at all with your earthly fathers. Some of you still hold onto the pains of the void left by a man that was suppose to be there for you, loving you and supporting you. We can't undo the past and we can't make someone fulfill a role they don't know how to fill. The good news is that we all have a Heavenly father who loves us, cheers for us,cries with us and has never forsaken us. We never have to question who we are or where we belong because we are children of the King of Kings and there is nothing that will ever come between our daddy and us.
Are you holding onto pains of the void left by your father? Are you still angry for all the ways you felt he let you down? Are you willing to reach out your hand today and take the hand of your Heavenly Daddy and say, "read me a story about how you love me, how you know every detail about me, how you have my name written on the palm of your hand and have every hair on my head numbered." With that kind of a Daddy... we never need feel abandoned again.
Blessings,
Heather
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