True Disciples

In this age as a Christian, it is so easy to get mixed into the more prominent area of complacent Christianity. Not only is it found in abundance, it's easy...very easy.

No one tells you what to do, you receive feel good messages from the pulpit that may or may not challenge your walk with Christ, no one calls you out on your sin (so you then forget you are even sinning), and no one encourages you to research to make sure what you're hearing is sound doctrine.

Source: http://photos2.demandstudios.com

I know I can't be making this up, because the apostle Paul was thinking the same thing when he said:

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." - 2 Timothy 4:3

Is this you? Do you long to hear what your itching ears want to hear, or instead sound doctrine that will put you in your place, convict and lead to repentance?

The latter doesn't sound so fun for most people, which is why it is the road less traveled.

"For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." - Matthew 7:13-14

Why will more enter the wide road? It's easier.

In a society where we want more for less and faster service all of the time, we treat our most important relationship and life choices the same way. We want what is convenient and fast, not what is difficult and slow. We don't want to suffer in order to gain rewards, we want the rewards with no consequences or suffering. However, it's the journey that makes the rewards worthwhile. Consider the following verse:

"We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." - Romans 5:3-5

If we understand what suffering produces, our hearts should be focused on hanging tight for the ride.

Source: ledgerlink.monster.com

One Another Relationships

In the Word of God, we are commanded to do several things. Many don't appear as commands, but they clearly don't say "if you choose". In fact, in Paul's writings they many times begin with the word "therefore."

In regards to one another (and I mean between disciples of Jesus Christ), how are we supposed to act? What are we supposed to do to appear different from the world? How can we help each other grow?

Here are a few important places to start, and let me warn you, some may make you shift uncomfortably because it is not something you're used to seeing in church, but it is what the Bible calls us to do:

• Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 10:24)
• Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
• Confess to one another (James 5:16)
• Bear with one another (Colossians 3:13)
• Forgive (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13)
• Be humble and patient (Ephesians 4:2)
• Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21)
• Live in harmony (Romans 12:16)
• Be devoted (Romans 12:10)
• Honor one another (Romans 12:10)
• Speak truth to one another (Ephesians 4:15-16)
• Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
• Love (1 Peter 4:8, 1:22
• Admonish (Colossians 3:16)

I want to focus on the last one. The word admonish is not really used in today's society so I wanted to look up what it meant, since I always assumed it meant to encourage. Boy was I wrong. It means to "rebuke mildly, advise strongly; to warn someone of their error."

Clearly we are to rebuke one another to get them back on track if we see one another falling into sin or going down the wrong path. This is how we can prevent disciples from falling away and leaving the faith.

Source: www.hcs.harvard.edu

The reason Paul, Timothy and Peter were so adamant about encouraging one another and staying in each other's lives, the way it was exemplified in the 1st century church, was to keep the enemy at bay from causing dissension, factions and division within the body.

Are you united in the body with other disciples that are challenging your growth towards maturity, encouraging you towards deepening your walk with the Lord and living in harmony?

If not, I want to ask an honest question, who's disciple are you?

It's time to get real. 

Anxious and I go hand in hand.

I hate being anxious and I hate my mind going 1,000 mph all the time. That's why I know I'm blessed to have the husband I have that balances me out and calms me. He's the complete opposite. I can't stay still talking about one thing because while I am, I'm mentally creating a to do list of what I should be doing.

In fact, it's been so bad lately that I've created to do lists daily so I don't deter and am able to get everything done that needs to get done. On this list, believe it or not, I have to include "eat". I don't make time to always eat because I'm so busy doing other things. Right now, I decided to take a few minutes to blog about just that.

I read yesterday in my daily quiet time the following verse:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24.

This verse was written for me. I want God to know my anxious thoughts (though he will whether I like it or not), because many times its those thoughts that push me away from him as a result of lack of trust in Him. He knows we naturally do this. Busyness is what keeps us from Him and anxiousness is failure to fully trust in Him while confiding in our own ability to do so.

There's freedom in releasing those anxious thoughts and allowing Him to reign. When he takes control, It's just so amazing and liberating. True peace only comes with Jesus.

I've blogged about this subject a few times because it's something I struggle with. It helps me to blog, hope it ministers to you as you read =)

"Joy comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:5)

Which one is it?

So lately my mind has been on overdrive when it comes to the Christian walk. I've been studying Acts for the past month during my own quiet time and through some studying (and venting) with a friend, I've been able to contemplate some things that have really been bothering me and others that just perplex me.

First off, why are there so many denominations? This is mostly rhetorical. I know the origin of most denominations, but as the Body of Christ we are supposed to be united and I see very little of that. There's hardly unity within denominations and their respective "churches". I understand choosing one church over another because of preference; the worship or the way the Pastor preaches....etc. However, when you really look at it, it's usually bigger things that separate "Christian churches". It's usually doctrinal issues, many being salvation issues. This is where I'm completely torn.

If I feel confused about this, how much more unbelievers looking in at us?

One main issue I've been confronted with, at least in my heart, is where and when did water baptism become separated from salvation? In Matthew 28:18-20, the Great Commission, known to all believers, clearly states to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". This was the last command Jesus gave us before ascended to Heaven. Then on the day of Pentecost, in Acts 2:37 people were "cut to the heart" and asked what to do. Peter replied in verse 38, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin.

As you read on in Acts, when people believed they were immediately baptized. It seems they went hand in hand. Reasonably, if you think about what water baptism is...the old self dying and the new self coming alive...then just by saying words and confessing without baptism logically seems as if you'd still be your old self (This is just me thinking out loud).

Again, when did water baptism become separated from salvation? The Word of God has not changed, why have we? It's like in our mass produced society, we like everything fast and easy and we've made out salvation to be the same. I know that in Romans 10:9 it says "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved," but this was said to believers that already had been baptized in water (Please look it up if you don't believe me).

What I've noticed for probably my entire life in the Christian church (several different denominations) there is very little, if any, importance given to water baptism. It's something done maybe once or twice in the year, but definitely not when someone receives Jesus Christ as their Savior.

All I'm saying is that if you're sold out for Christ, which is what should happen when you give your life over to Him (not going back to your old ways), whether or not you believe you need to be baptized to be saved, why not just do it out of obedience...especially since it's mentioned so many times in the New Testatment? Better safe than sorry, right?

So now my brothers and sisters in Christ, "let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repenatance from acts that lead to death and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement." (Hebrews 6:1-3)

For better or for worse...

These past two months, I've been on marriage advice overload. Between a women's conference last month and a marriage retreat last weekend, I have notes to last me until next year's retreat.

As far as marriage went, I had been reading books since I was in High School about how to be a Godly wife. This was something I wanted with all my heart and to do right. Well, we're imperfect, so really, "right" doesn't exist. There is no formula to make a marriage perfect. There is one thing that will help: Jesus. I always understood that in order for a marriage to work, Christ had to be the foundation for stability.

As I write, I am overwhelmed by information to share but in order to keep the attention span of whoever is reading, I'll narrow it down to five points for a strong marriage that was outlined by one of the speakers at the marriage retreat:

1. Your marriage must maintain a strong sense of God's presence.
2. Accept those character traits that you will not change about your spouse (Romans 15:7)
3. Learn to survive those incompatible moments ~ remember you're two different people (Colossians 3:12-15)
4. Avoid getting involved in infidelity (both emotional and physical)
5. Develop a friendship

Unlike what the media feeds us, marriage is not about making you happy! Shocking, right? You can only make a marriage work when you are unselfish (Philippians 2:3-4). Selfishness destroys marriages. I've always said that in order for a relationship to work, there must be love, trust, and respect. If one of those three is missing, it's a disbalanced and disfunctional relationship.

When my husband shows me unselfish, unconditional love, I see Jesus Christ through him. I see how Jesus wants to love me through Lucas. I've told my husband this many times because he truly is an amazing husband. This is why Christ is the bridegroom and the Church is the bride. This analogy is to show the depth of what this unity is for the Lord. Marriage was created as a special union. Not to make one another happy (even though that's a bonus), but to accomplish together the perfect will of God. As a result, it brings joy.

Marriage is a beautiful thing and I am truly blessed to have been married three years to my best friend. I highly recommend it. When Christ is the center of both individuals' life, it makes it that much better!

Live With Purpose

This past weekend, there was a concert at church on Saturday night. One of the songs performed, was a rap song by Egom. I'm not a fan of rap, and had the words not been up on the powerpoint, I probably wouldn't have grasped the entire song; however, the lyrics were available and powerful at that. I changed a few of the slang lyrics to make it easily readable and colored parts I loved.

Live With Purpose

By Egom

How many grew up in a happy home?
And never had to see their daddy breaking mommy’s nose?
Or never had to watch the TV to see happy folks
Because their family is a tragedy so they can’t be those?
You see a lot of us, we can relate
To being late home for dinner cause we found escapes,
Can’t wait to run away or get away,
Crying all the way, saying “God, meet me on this road cause I know that there’s a better way”

And the pain it will not let or stray, feel you have to medicate,
To dedicate a debt a day to the One who’ll set it straight
The One who’s crying for you night and day,
Dying for the day you cling to Romans 8 verse 28
So do not set a date to run away; do not throw your love away
Run and pray to Christ and put the blunt away
There’s a reason you suffered in your younger days
Cling to the Lord and He’ll bring you joy another way

“You’ve got one life on the Earth” is
The common motto. “Lets get drunk, forget the church’s
Model of a proper person. I’m going to work this
Life and still I’ll go to Heaven when the curtains
Close over me” is believed by most but the joke is
When they die they will see Jesus but be hopeless
Treasures stored on earth all rot and are worthless
So live your life for the next with a purpose
You’ve got a purpose

I’ve met a lot of people who think the earth is
their playground; but, in reverse, where they stay now
is betrayed ground, the product of lost souls long decayed now who felt the same way how
foolish will they feel when they on the same ground
As Jesus the judge and they on a stage now
Flipping God’s pages angels are now
And your face is so anxious, sadly you’ll bow

At the end of all days, amazed how u fell
To the depths of a place, a waste that’s called Hell
“Wait – those faces I know them so well
It’s those people that told me this place is not real”
He’ll yell – getting upset cause he failed.
He listened to the actors now acting so frail.
He listened to the flesh and the dark and that tale.
Heaven’s not for all, just for those who prevail.

In keenness, keep it your brain and in meekness
Preach it to those caught in pride and in weakness
The blind and facetious – even the teachers
Get out in the game; don’t just sit on the bleachers
People need to know that’s the truths in the Scriptures
And though a lot of dudes claim its not they are mixed up
On Earth you are a tool, and people need a fix up
Work for the Lord; this is why He picked you

I dare you to "be still"

Today while in prayer at work, someone quoted Psalm 46:10,"Be still, and know that I am God". He asked that we just take a minute to be still.

Odd how that one minute felt like 1 hour. I tried to "be still" but thoughts of what I had to do today kept intersecting my meditative spirit. I didn't realize how hard it was to simply be still. Everytime I tried clearing my head of my thoughts and focus on who God is, I found myself fighting thoughts of busyness.

So, by the time the minute was over, I noticed I had spent that entire time fighting thoughts and trying to focus on others.

Why can't I just be still???

Even when I pray, I realize I'm thinking of everything else I need to pray for as I pray for something else. This is the madness in my head!

In this over saturated viral, networking, media infused world, it's hard to just stop it all and try to focus on nothing...except God. So I dare you, try to stop everything and simply "be still" and know that God is God.

Not of This World

My sister, Michelle, began studying at New World this fall with her major in Musical Theater. She's loved performing since she was young and is great at it, which is why it was no shocker to us when she was accepted.

Since the first week of school, she was immediately confronted about her faith in Jesus Christ. A teacher decided to have the students introduce themselves and what they believe in...odd...but I think it was just a great opportunity for Michelle to begin sharing her faith. Michelle's stance allowed other Christian students to feel confident in professing the same.

Last week, in a different class, each student was cast into a different play; Michelle was casted as a lesbian with another student as her lover. After class, she came up to the Professor and asked that she be given a different role. He said this has never happened before and that he'd have to discuss it with the Dean. There still has been no decision about what's going to happen, but Michelle is standing firm not because of "religion" but because playing that role goes against her faith in Jesus Christ. This isn't about being anti-gay, it's about not compromising to the world's standard of what they believe to be right.

As believers in Christ, we are not of this world.

Colossians 2:8-10 says "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority."

Needless to say, she's been confronted with several spiritual encounters that have been difficult. But, I'm proud of my little sister and the strength the Lord has given her to be bold and a light in the midst of darkness. Please keep her in your prayers. I know the Lord has placed her in this place because of her love and passion for the arts as well as people.

The Real Church

When people think of the word "church" a building immediately comes to mind. But in all reality, the Bible states the Church is the body of believers. The Church is not limited to one denomination....it's ALL believers.

This week, Acts 2:44-47 came to mind. It reads: "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

I saw this in action this week, well...indirectly that is. My Church family at the Franklin Vineyard has been such an inspiration to me. They enact this verse constantly without question. Every time someone is in the hospital, just gave birth, is ill, moves, needs help, or is in a condition that disables one from doing every day chores, they are always there to lend a helping hand. They "give to anyone as he had need".

It warms my heart to see people excited to sign up to prepare a meal for a sister in Christ who has been in the hospital for a few weeks due to a serious surgery; taking care of her baby so her husband can continue working. That is the what the body of Christ is all about. That is the Church!

I know many believers do this very thing, but to see it firsthand from people I know and love is a blessing beyond words. They don't expect thanks and don't even realize it's out of the norm in this society, but their true reward is not on this earth....

Truth Seeker

I am a truth seeker. I strive to know the fullness of the Lord, his grace and his love. I want to understand his Word with all that is in me. However, the Bible is a HARD book!!!

There are several times where I have read a verse and even memorized it, but it wasn't until years later that I read that verse again and it meant something to me. It's as if the Holy Spirit reveals something new everytime I read His Word. It's facinating really, but at the same time...so frustrating when I can't quite grasp the hard stuff.

It's not that I don't understand the verse, it's that I don't understand how it reflects Jesus or His purpose for the Church. I just want to interpret the Word of God the way it was intended to be understood and not changed or interpreted to make it more comfortable for my lifestyle. Being a Christ follower is not about comfort or tolerance. It IS about love. It's about going agaist the grain...about not conforming to the world, but being light and salt.

Through several conversations with different individuals over the past few weeks, I've discovered that the more I strive to know God, the more I realize I know nothing! I come to him with an open heart and desiring to know Him more, hoping He continues to reveal His truth to me at the right time in my life.

I know there's only so much our minds can comprehend about God, but I have so many questions. Some I know he'll answer, and others I think I won't know until I'm face-to-face with Him on that future date.

This blog is a very loaded one with a ton of underlying questions. This is simply me right now in my continuing spiritual journey with the Lord.