THE CHALLENGE

Life is simply amazing and actually comical.  It seems like just when you think you have gotten your head on straight and things are going the way you had planned, a monkey wrench is thrown and you know what hits the fan.   I love when this happens, seriously I do because I know that God is working something out in me and my life that will be for my good.    It’s actually becoming quite hysterical when times like this happen.  Many years ago this stuff would send me into a tail spin and I would have a good pity party or I’d get angry.  Now days I tend to laugh it off although sometimes, I should say most times, I laugh inside to myself.  I know God is trying to refine me and mold me into His image.  I ask Him, “What are you trying to teach me?  What do I need change?”  He always lets me know with a gentle whisper and sometimes with a smack on the back of the head.  Sometimes these challenges aren’t necessarily for me, but the other person involved in these challenges.   At those times I enjoy the fact that I just get to sit back and watch God work in their life.   

I love the fact that God has a sense of humor.   These challenges, these tests have helped me so much and I have learned so much about myself and His plans for me.  While their not always enjoyable they are learning experiences that have changed me from the inside out.  Things that used to bother me, no longer do.  I’ve stopped expecting others to give me what only God can.   To say I’ve gone much deeper with God would be true.   He has challenged me beyond my expectations and He sometimes points me in a direction I don’t want to go.  But for me obedience is the key here.  Being open to hear the whispers of God, allowing God to wake me up by giving me a Gibbs smack ( for all you NCIS fans...you get it).   

It’s amazing what happens when I allow God to deal with me.  While I’ve gone deeper than ever with Him recently, it’s still not deep enough for Him.  I have been challenged lately by God with a certain verse from the Bible.  It is extremely thought provoking and extremely challenging to me because it truly makes me question myself.   Do I really believe in Jesus Christ?   No, I mean do I seriously believe in Jesus Christ?   This is not a question to take lightly or just blow off.   The common statements like, “ I believe”, “ I go to church every Sunday “, “I was baptized as a baby”, “I listen to Christian music”, “I said the salvation prayer” can be meaningless unless you are willing to take an honest look at your life.  

James 2:19-20  You believe that there is one God.  Good!  Even the demons believe that and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

These verses have been constantly coming up in quite a few of the sermons I have listened to lately.   Talks about repentance, talks about changes, talks about beliefs have propelled me into this deep conversation with God that made me think seriously about my beliefs.   To hear the facts that demons believe in Jesus, shocked me.   I forgot that fact because it’s not really talked about much in church settings.  So if demons believe in Jesus and they’re in hell, I need to search my heart and my life deeply.   For me repentance is a big key factor here.   “Repent and be saved” was the preaching in biblical times but we’ve sort of missed or neglected the repentance part of that preaching.  

For me it is only through true repentance that change can begin to occur.  It is only through repentance that I can deal with my past and learn for my future.  On my knees repentance draws me to the foot of the cross and humbles me.   It is only through my repentance that I was led to do away with certain books, music, movies and TV programs.   It has only been through repentance that I have changed to be a little bit more like Christ.   Trust me I’m not where I need to be, but at least I’m not where I used to be.  

Belief is more than just a feeling, it’s action.   If we truly believe in Jesus Christ, than we need to repent daily.  We need to be honest with ourselves and allow God to remove those things that are hindering us from going deeper with Him.  

REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND!!!

GETTING EVEN

Ah, the peaceful joy of a sunset warns my heart and brings peace to my crazy mind.  I love sunsets and sunrises.  I love nature.  There's something about the beginning of a day and the end of a day that calms my mind and gives me a sense of peace.  Nature can be very calming to me especially after a crazy day or before a crazy day begins.  I am a person who craves peace, I think that's why I love living on a lake.  Even when this home is full chaos and commotion, when all of our children, their spouses and our grandchildren are here, I simply glance out over the lake and feel peace.   

I also am one who doesn't like conflict or arguments.  Who does?  There are people who crave drama and arguments and conflict, in fact they seem to thrive on it.  We all know those people who have to have the  last word.  They have to prove their point and give us a piece of their mind.  They are usually very vocal, sometimes loud and even obnoxious.  They feel they're right and we're wrong and they are out to prove it.  Then there are those who have a list of wrongs we've done to them over their lifetime.  They have kept track of every wrong word, every wrong action, every single offense has been recorded in their mind to relive and to resurrect if needed.  They have the ammunition to blow us out of the water and annihilate us. They look forward to the day they can argue and fight with  us.  

Listen, I am not one of those people.  I will not apologize for it either.  But on the other side, I am not a wimp and I will not allow people to walk all over me.  Most times I like to just sit and listen while these types of people ramble on and on and on.  They may raise their voices, they may point fingers, they may get very defensive, they may even raise their fists in anger, but I like to just listen.  Why?  Well I've learned many valuable lessons in my days here on earth and one of them is hurting people hurt people.  So if someone is trying to hurt me, I do my best to try to understand their hurt and pain.  

Actually I think some people I anger more because I don't argue back or fight back.  They  expect it, they want me to get upset and angry like they are.  They want me to get defensive and live my life offended but I refuse.  I know something they don't know, they are hurting deep inside.  Their is pain in their life they haven't dealt with so they take it out on us.  When this happens we can either become victims in this stupid game or we can become victorious.  How can we come victorious?  I pray for them.  

Listen Jesus Christ prayed for those men who were in the process of killing Him.  "Father forgive them, they know not what they do."  He could have cursed them but He didn't.  He could have called legions of angels down to destroy them but He didn't.  He simply prayed for His enemies.  He calls us as believers to do the same.  Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.  Seriously....read it for yourselves.

Matthew 5:44  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

I do my best to try to live this way, not by my own strength and power but through the power of the Holy Spirit of God that lives in me because of my belief in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.  Oh there are many times I fail at this so this is also a reminder to myself.  Hurting people hurt people.  So instead of cursing our enemies lets start praying for them.  Instead of getting even, love them like no one has loved them before.  What better way to get even with someone who hurt you....love them...pray for them.

CELEBRATE TODAY

Today is one of those days that seem ordinary, but it’s not.   You see there is nothing ordinary about today.   Today is a special day, heck every day we’re alive and breathing should be a special day.   Why do we only celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays?  We need to celebrate every single day!   We need to enjoy this life we have no matter what our circumstances are.   Oh I understand that circumstances can fill us with regret and bitterness but our circumstances do not have to dictate whether or not we enjoy our lives.   I know it may be difficult for some of you to understand but we have a choice each day whether or not we will enjoy this day or not.   

Every morning when we wake up we have a decision to make....will today be a good day or a bad day?   The choice is ours and it doesn’t or at least it shouldn’t depend on our current circumstances.   “Easier said than done.”   “You don’t know what I’m going through right now.”  Trust me I understand that it’s easier said than done because I’ve done it.   I chosen to wake up with a smile and enjoy my life even when my dad died.  It wasn’t easy and some days were more difficult than others but I did it.   I may not know what you’re going through but let me be honest, you have no idea what I’ve been through and still decided to enjoy my life.    Circumstances cannot dictate how we live our lives unless we allow them to.   If we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed and stressed out by what’s going on around us or in our lives, the enemy wins.   If we allow circumstances to dictate our joy, than we will be depressed and angry.   

Listen I know life is hard and it can get really ugly at times but our life is what we make of it.   If we choose to enjoy our life, if we choose to celebrate our life, if we choose to put a smile on our face, the enemy is defeated.   I know first hand how this simple choice of enjoying my life, despite of what my circumstances may be, has changed me and my life for the better.  It’s easy to make a list of everything that is wrong in our lives, it’s easy to concentrate on the problems and current circumstances.   But I challenge you to do the opposite.  Make of list of everything that is going right in our lives.   Concentrate on the blessings and the good going on in our lives and all around us.   Stop talking about all the problems.  Stop thinking about how bad our circumstances are.   Stop living with regrets and depression.    Stop thinking about what could have been, what should have been.   Choose to enjoy your day.  Celebrate today.  Smile because God loves you!

Circumstances happen, regrets come and go.   With Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior....He has already conquered the enemy.  He has already overcome the world.   With Him on our side, our circumstances cannot defeat us or overwhelm us.   Regrets are not in our vocabulary because we understand we cannot redo our past we can only learn from our past and grow and learn from it.   The we need to move on.   There is no need to live in our regrets or circumstances because He is taking us through them, we aren’t stuck.   We are called to enjoy our lives.   Jesus died for us to enjoy our life.   So today I challenge you to celebrate today.   Enjoy today.  Choose Jesus Christ and live the life He died to give you.

IT'S TIME TO TAKE A STAND

When was the last time you took a stand for something you truly believe in?  When was the last time you stood up for anything?  Now I'm not talking about protesting I'm talking about being honest about your beliefs and making them known in a loving way.  For me taking a stand at home behind closed doors is easy, but around other people it's difficult.  I don't want to offend anyone or get into an argument so I just keep my mouth shut.  Then there are times when I take a stand for something that's really not that important in the grand scheme of life.  Am I alone in this struggle?  I doubt it.  

Oh it's easy to get belligerent and start protesting about our beliefs.  It's easy to grab a picket sign and run our mouths off when we're surrounded with people who feel the same way we do, but how about when nobody agrees with us?  How about when no one listens or cares to listen to our thoughts and beliefs?  How about when we see or hear a loved one doing something or saying something we know is wrong?  Do we take a stand and voice the truth?

I look at my life and I realize I have not really taken a stand for much.  I have my beliefs, my opinions and I don't want to ruffle any tail feathers, but I think it's time I take a stand.  I'm not talking about pushing my opinions or beliefs on anyone, I'm talking about standing up and being honest about my beliefs.   Take a look at David in the Bible.  Even if you're not a believer, I'm sure you've heard the story of David and Goliath.  Everyone has.  This giant bully was being verbally abusive for 40 days.  Screaming and yelling at the Israelite's about how pathetic they were, how pitiful their God was and how they were such losers.  The Israelite's heard this for 40 days and because this giant was so big and vocal, they were afraid.  They lived in fear for 40 days.  How long have you and I lived in fear, afraid to take a stand?  How many days or should I say years, have you and I allowed the enemy, the giants in our lives to speak lies into our lives?  And we actually just sit and listen to these words hoping he will vanish into thin air?  Seriously?

1 Samuel 17:45  David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

David knew who he was and he knew who God was.  He was not angry, he did not protest or riot, he simply spoke with confidence that God was who He said He was and He'd do what He said He'd do.  David spoke in truth because he knew what God had done for him in the past.  David spoke to Goliath with faith that the Lord Almighty would deliver him from the enemy.  He knew God was with him and that God would defeat the enemy.  David knew what many of us don't, he knew the truth about God.

If God would deliver David from Goliath, don't you think He'd deliver you from the attacks of the enemies in your life?  Is there any Goliath's that are too big for our God?  If we take a stand like David did, do you think God would listen?  Where's our faith in God?  Who do we put our confidence in, God or man?  Who's truth do we listen to?  Listen I know taking a stand can be risky and even scary but if David can do it, why can't we?  David did not go around talking about his problem, Goliath, he talked to his problem about how big his God was.   We have choices in life...we can choose to speak about how big our are or we can speak to our problems about how big our God is.  Choose wisely, so will I.

IT'S TIME TO GET OVER IT

I truly believe that its time we talk about an old fashioned attitude adjustment don't you?  Our world is broken and bleeding at an alarming rate.  Blood is being shed over opinions, feelings and attitudes.   People confess things with their mouth that astounds me.  People get angry over things that seem so trivial and meaningless.  I mean in the light of eternity, does it really matter what our opinion is?  In the long run will our feelings change anyone or anything?  In looking back over our lives who does our attitudes affect?  Think about this for a moment.  Our opinion matters to no one but ourselves.  Our feelings are fickle and change constantly.  Our attitudes can propel us into a state of depression.  Who are we hurting?  Ourselves.  What or who does is change? nothing and no one.  Who is responsible for our attitude?  Look in the mirror.

I am tired of this sinful nature most people tend to live in, including many people who call themselves believers.  I am sick of people living by their feelings.  We are a broken group of human beings who need to grow up and look in the mirror instead of pointing fingers.  Get over yourself.  You are a sinner.  I am a sinner.  As such I need to constantly battle with my opinions, my feelings and my attitude.   I am responsible for my reactions, my actions and my words.  I am responsible for my feelings and my attitudes.  I cannot and will never change anyone else.  Heck I can't even change myself.  Trust me I've tried and it wasn't pretty.  My sinful nature wants me to throw pity parties and temper tantrums.  My sinful self wants to voice my opinion and argue until the cows some home and I don't even own a cow.  My sinful mind wants to be filled with anger, hatred and rage.

As a believer in Jesus Christ, my sinful nature died on the cross with Him.  My feelings can be controlled, my opinions can remain silenced, my attitudes can be changed.  My former way of life is no more.  The thing is we have to allow these changes, we need to desire these changes and we need to put on our new nature.  No one will do it for us, we need to realize that we can change by working with the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to help us put on our new selves that is clothed in the righteousness and holiness of God through Jesus' death ad resurrection.  We need to become humble and less selfish.  We need to look in the mirror and get honest with ourselves as to how we are acting and reacting to our circumstances.

Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

We can develop a new attitude with new feelings but it's not easy.  We have to choose love, choose peace, choose joy and choose forgiveness.  We have to get over ourselves and get rid of our old sinful nature and stop living offended lives.  I wish all of us would choose this way of living.  It's so refreshing and joyful when we learn to stop pointing fingers and start looking in the mirror at ourselves.  "What's wrong with me that I need to change?"  "God please help me to change, I can't change without you."