sin - love - God

Is sin going to keep you from loving someone? Are we another's judge? I feel like we as people judge other people's sins and stop loving them, or stay far from them, becaus what they do is "wrong". But if it were family, it would be different. If it were someone of high rank, we would pray for them.
I'm speaking some of how I am - and some of how I've been treated. But now I realize now I see- -none of us is perfect. Why do we not love one another, like the LORD has told us to?

* mercy
* forgiveness
* justice
* freedom
* love
* righteousness
* truth
* life

Shalom~

11.25.09

maybe i am too sensitive -

or maybe i don't believe as much as I say I do  -

maybe I want to believe more -

and maybe i don't see myself the way you do...

God is Good.

I want to clarify somethings I posted last time I was online. I don't condone drinking, smoking and I'm not promoting Mercedes. But what I want to point out is that so many church goers that claim to be Christian or righteous or perfect have thier own problems that they hide or deny or cover up - and they point to others' sins without mercy, without compassion, without pity or understanding.
The world will never change unless we change. The world will never be a better place unless we make it a better place. We will never get along and love one another unless we take a step towards it.
I'm just grateful for His mercy and His grace and His forgiveness for me that covers my sins. I try to share that love with others. I am not perfect by far except that the love of God through Jesus Christ lives in me. That is something I am thankful and very grateful about.
Sometimes we have to let ourselves be saved. The Lord spoke to me about this a while back.... there used to be a popular song by Hillsong United called "Hosanna", which means "Save us on high"! Like, Save us now Lord!! Like an emergency.... likea desperate cry for salvation.
So, I used to listen to this song and sing it and pray and finally the Lord asked me, "Will you be saved?"
I was like, "What, Lord?"
"Will you be saved?"
Will I be saved? I guess I had not thought of it like that before... but I had been so stubborn, so lost, so abandoned that I was almost like the children of Israel trying to find thier way out of the wilderness.
Sometimes He wants to save us... I think I had (have) been trying to save myself.
It isn't always as hard as it seems, or as we're used to it being.
I had to let go and let God. I had to learn to trust Him. And Believe.
He is always Faithful, no matter what.
It would be like trying to save a drowning child who kept flailing around and wouldn't let you grasp them.... they have to surrender and trust you, that you will bring them safely back to shore, where thay can breathe and calm down.
I also have realized that sometimes my desire to help others can become a stumbling block to my own life. It is called co-dependancy.
I never understood what exactly that word meant. But now I do. It means if I care more about someone else's life issues more than I care about my own life, it becomes a trap to me..... their comes a time when people need to fix thier own life problems. Or at least make a diligent effort. I mean , we can't do it all alone, but we can't just sit in the mud forever either.
We gotta get up and clean up and walk the walk.... not just talk the talk.
I have to go now, but I hope this blesses my dear sweet friends.
Have a happy Sunday! :)

Let Truth be the Judge

I go to church. I have attended church on a fairly regular basis for about 5 years now. Not always the same church, but churches from the Protestant based "religion". I don't want to stop going to church. I think church has a very important place in society. But what I do want to stop is judgments. False accusations. False assumptions. Hatred. Pride. "Holier - than- thou" ness.
People in church will jump all over someone who for example smokes cigarettes, or drinks one glass of wine a week, or drives a mercedes benz. But they don't realize, they're are other seemingly less offensive bad behaviors or what I can call "bad habits" aka "addictions" that are hidden under cover that people don't even recognize or consider being a bad habit or addiction.
Let me throw one out there. How about tv? How much time do you sit in front of the television set? I hardly ever even watch tv. Not just because I don't get many channels. I think it's a waste of time and energy(in more than one form).
Ok, what about spending money? or over spending. I think in technical Biblical terms it could be called greed. Lust for more bigger better newer. Never satisfied with what you have.
I think people need to find something to do with their lives. Not just earning a living (work).
We are called to be ministers. Helpers. Lovers. (in a sense of loving people, not sexual) and yes also married. I do believe marriage is a ministry and I think I see people who do not minister to thier spouses enough.
It bothers me mostly because I see it in church more than anywhere else.
The Bible does also say sin is seeing something you should do (something good) and not doing it.
Like, if you see a lady or an old man in line in front of you and they are three dollars short on thier bill and you have five dollars and more enough for your own groceries, I think you are supposed to give it to them.
We (as people) need to quit being so stinkin' stingy and selfish and helpless and cruel.
Judging people is a terrible thing to do, to experience, and to witness.
It can make or break somebody.
Your judgments of someone can determine the outcome of thier life.
Can you dig to find gold?
Can you dig to find something good? Rubies? Sapphires? Emeralds? Diamonds?
What we see in people is dependant upon us. Sometimes we have to seek a little farther, or search a little deeper or keep looking until we find that special gift we have been looking for.
And I think we should not rob someone of thier gift, but clean it, polish it, show them it's value, and give it back to them and let it shine!
Why don't people love each other more?
Why are people so quick to judge and criticize? Why don't people pray for each other more? For thier good? For what they really need?
Are we afraid of not having? Are we envious? Why should we be? Haven't we been blessed?
Do we not love to be blessed? So we should also love it when our friends and neighbors and enemies be blessed as well.
I am praying for you all. Be Blessed! (And be a blessing !!!)

Isaiah 55:1-3
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. "

I just wanna give a little Hallelujah~ to the Lord! It feels good to praise him when you know He is working ~ Oh Glory to the Lord ! In Sweet Jesus' name :) <3 <3 <3

(***SMILES**:)

Wisdom and Love (smile when you hear an owl)

What are we doing to be more like Christ?
What am I doing to be more like Christ? To be more honest, more patient, more loving, more faithfully believing?
I am trying~ I am working on it~ working it out~ pressing through~ seeing complete victory~
Praying for more~ desiring truth, love, depth, intimacy~Hope~
Settling down but not letting go~ Being calm yet still involved, not forgotten, not forgetting~ loving and letting myself be loved~ believeing in love~ sometimes unseen but always felt~ sometimes a mystery but in time revealt~ love is real and it is a big deal! it takes time~ it takes committment, patience faith and acceptence~ sometimes we don't get what we want all the time~ but that doesn't mean that it isn't worth loving, or being loved by the one ***
The stars of Orion are up in the sky~ The warrior with the bow and arrow~ reminding me of an arrow through the heart~ He caught me ~ with His love~ sometimes I try to love Him ~ and I do~ but He found me ~ when I was blue. And He made my dream my loves and my hopes come true. ~ Sometimes we , sometimes I, need to stop looking for love and find and notice and see the love I already have~inside. It is there, it is here, with me. And I am grateful. I am so Very gratefully thankful and warm and Loved. And in Peace. with the One. The One who Loves.

Yes Lord!

What is respect? to reverence.
What is reverence? How do you show reverence to someone?
what is revere? to stand in awe of... to let be what is. to regard with truth. worship. faith. trust.
We show reverence to God because He is Sovereign. What does it mean, He is Sovereign?
He can do whatever pleases him.
And He does! :)
He is Holy.
He is Pure.
He is Good.
All the time.

I want to praise the LORD. I want to live with more Joy in Him. I want to express my joy for Him. Free~ Sometimes I feel like I have been too hurt to praise, or too hurt to believe that my life can actually be more than what it has been. But I know beyond my own knowledge that He (the Lover of my Soul) Loves me more than I can imagine. And He wants greater things for me than what I could ask Him for. He loves me that much. Sometimes I find, that I have to shake myself. I have to make myself do things to breakthrough to where He wants me. Sometimes that means praising Him when I don't feel like it... sometimes it means stopping whatever I am doing and praying. Sometimes it has even been me praying that He would draw me to pray... I have been so distracted at times. But He IS Faithful. He knows when I want to come to Him, and He knows that sometimes I need an extra tug to get me moving. He knows what I need.... sometimes I just need to be more attentive and more obedient - Listen.
For every valley there is a mountain. Life is Amazing.
Wait on the LORD and He shall strengthen thine heart- Wait I say, on the LORD. (Psalms)

HAHA!!!!

ch ch...what's missing?
ur!
cu there!
a sign I saw outside a local church!!!!!!

Choice

For what it’s worth, it’s never too late to be whoever u want to be. There’s no time limit; start whenever u want; u can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best of it or the worst of it...I hope u live a life that you’re proud of & if u find that you’re not, I hope u have the strength to start all over again. ~Benjamin Button

The Power of choice.
We all have it.
We all use it.
But do we use it the way we should?
Do we use it the way we could?
Do we use it the way we need to, or the way that will be good for all of us?
(kindof a trick question there!)
What can we do with our choices?
What can we choose?

The Door is open....what will you choose????

What do you want? What do you need?

I went for a walk today. From Downtown DeLand to my house. It was terrible. It was probably one of the worst experiences I have had in a while. But what made it so bad wasn't that I had to walk... and it wasn't from the heat (it's rather nice out) - but the fact that I had to walk alone.
I felt like people driving by were hating me- and why? I do not know.
I know this might sound silly- but I wanted to be saved from that walk home, by myself.
I think I needed it though.. because I learned a little something... maybe a big something...
as I was thinking about people... mankind...human beings.... and sin... evil and wickedness on the earth... I prayed, and I pray, that people would see the truth. Of sin. About sin.
What they think they want will never satisfy thier cravings. All the money in the world will not make anyone respect you, and it will never tell you it loves you.
I see people acting out in ways they think will bring some sort of vengeance or recompence emotionally or financially- but man's ways are wrong. Man for some reason chooses the wrong way - unless he hears from God. (and does it)
I have seen it... and I have learned -
Even people of high esteem even in church, even pastors will say thing that will make you think -

Because we all need each other- and we all need to be merciful to each other. We need to have mercy on people, not on thier sins. How do you handle sin? And mercy? Confront the sin dead on. Love.

What I realized today, is that the only thing that will satisfy man's or woman's or children's or elder's or anybody's desire for life, is love.
Love, Joy, Peace, Gentleness, Kindness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, Self-Control.
These are the Fruits of the Spirit.
These are what we need to eat to satisfy our hungry hungry souls.......!

And we will never get anywhere looking at others and being envious.....Everybody is different...not everybody's needs are the same... Not everybody is called to be the same.

note:the wide and broad vs. the straight and narrow. - we are supposd to be in the world, but not of it. and we are supposed to not love the world nor anything in it, and what I think that means are it's ways - not to love the world's ways--- because God Himself sent JEsus to save the world because He loved (had pity on) it so much.

We need to be more accepting of "people's" differences... and more appreciative, too. It's not the oneness of the ways we look or how we act, but oneness of true character - do you truly love me? do you truly forgive me? do you truly love God?
That is true unity of the Spirit.

Relationships require Sacrifice and service.
Our greatest relationship is with Christ.
For whom we sacrifice and serve.
what is sacrifice? what can we sacrifice?
faith. love. a glance. a hug.
what is service? how can I serve someone?
can you wait on them? can you wait for them? can you do something small (good)for them? without telling them? without making them feel condemned?

I thank God for my heart, for His heart for me....
I thak God for His Word. And His truth. And His Freedom. And His Glory!
And I think if "people" we're more thankful and appreciative of what they have, they would begin to see a pure way, too.

Godbless you all in Christ's name!

What to do....

Sometimes I feel like I'm an apostle of Jesus Christ. I think if God can make a female apostle, that I am one!
I relate to the Apostle Paul so much... but I always try to be obedient to Jesus' teachings more.
(Because He IS tha Lord!)

My car has been broken for about three weeks now. I kindof think that it may be the Lord's way of responding to my thoughts of worldliness. (I am always looking at the world and how people always drive drive drive... computerize stay inside.... basically I want to get out and LIVE!)
So, today I couldn't get a ride to town, and I decided to walk. I wanted to take my laptop in a bag.. but I remembered Jesus said "take no 'purse'" - so I had to make myself leave it there... and I walked Downtown!
While I was walking... I was praying, for people...people passing by.
Some (guys of course) honked... which made me pray more-- like, do they wish they were outside walking? (Just Joking... well...maybe)
But... I started thinking about all the stuff I've "done" that I think is outside of what people feel like is "OK"- or "right" to do (in the worlds eyes)
I just want to list some things I've done that have made me feel good... honestly maybe a little proud, too.

I have:
- been outside in rainstorms
- jumped off a two story roof and not broken a bone
- Lived on a "fish camp" in the middle of Louisiana (pop. about 400)
- been to 4 free Christian concerts (Brandon Heath, Leigh Nash, Mark Schultz, Tenth Ave North)
-taken the greyhound by myself to ATL GA
- written a book of poetry
I've had my ups and downs with my life, before Salvation and after...
these are but a few things I have experienced, I guess in my mind the most often thought about...the reason I like to remember them is because they were moments and times in my life that I either had to decide if I was going to let my own fears stop me, or follow freedom into that joy....
I find myself wanting more and more to leave off the "old ways" of thinking.. the ways that the world or worldy people have hurt me and / or let me down and left me empty inside thatI try to fill- Yet I much more
desire to find the freedom and the Life that Christ died to give me.
I guess so often I find myself in my flesh... reacting to what I think it wants or needs. But when I think about that way, I realize that is NOT the Way.
But the Way of Life Eternal is becoming much more clear. And much more worth while. I pray more for myself... more for you. Life Abundantly, in Jesus Christ! AMEN
I am Thankful - for That!
Praise the LORD.