I Love My Father...Most of the Time

Most of us have daddy issues(& mommy issues, if you asked my kids) for one reason or another. I often think back to how my life was when I was growing up and how my parents raised me. Was their parenting effective? Did I learn anything from the punishments that I experienced? Did the punishment fit the crime? Yes, I think their parenting was effective. I turned out pretty normal. I'd say I learned from most punishments what not to do. Do I believe the punishment always fit the crime? Not always. As a kid I didn't always think getting a spanking, being sent to my room, or having the phone taken away was very fair punishment for whatever "wrong" I had committed. My dad was usually the one to spank me and my younger sister if my mom had just had enough. We knew the belt was coming if daddy was coming! I was a bit of a hard head around the age of 8 or so, so I laughed and exclaimed, "that didn't hurt!" Of course that didn't help. After the spanking, I returned to my room and screamed and yelled and spouted, "I hate you daddy!" Did I really hate him? At the time, yes, but honestly no I didn't. I didn't want to be disciplined. My dad's love had not changed for me because he had to punish me. He had to do a very difficult thing. I now know he didn't enjoy spanking me as much as I thought. None of us likes discipline, but the truth of the matter is that is necessary and in most cases vital in order for us to grow and to learn.
I was posting the Jesus Calling Devotional online  and one of the verses was Hebrews 12:1-13. The devotional only referred to verses 1-2 but this whole chapter was so awesome that I had to put it all in here! 1"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.  5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us,and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed."

I don't know about you, but that humbles me! So let's break this down a little bit. The first few verses explain that because so many are watching what we do that we have to shake off our everyday woes and build our strength in Jesus by keeping our focus on Him. Remembering that Jesus endured the Cross for our sin, my sin, your sin, and we have not been persecuted to the point of death or even the slightest  bloodshed. This is where it gets interesting. Verse 5 speaks about the fact that we have forgotten God's strong urging against hating His discipline and to not be discouraged when He has to discipline us. Then the later verses go onto explain that because God loves us He has to punish us. (Wait, that sounds like my dad! That can't be right!) He does it for our benefit to prosper us and make us more like Him. (Remember this is going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you?) Now here's where it gets good! Verse 11 says that while we don't enjoy being punished and we don't like the pain we endure from the punishment, afterwards we will benefit from the experience. Imagine that...being punished (spanked, sent to your room, grounded) and then learning from it (not being sassy, respecting your parents, and repenting). It sounds like a good plan to me! 

My favorite verses are 12 & 13. Keep your hands and legs strong so that you can stay on the right path and you won't have to worry about stumbling or getting weak because your focus will be on Jesus who makes us strong!! Punishment comes when we lose sight of what's really important and choose to do our own thing. Sound like your kids or you as a kid?

So, my conclusion is that, yes, I love my fathers; the one here on earth and the One who sits at the right hand of God in Heaven because they both first loved me!

Think about it!
Do you feel like God is punishing you? Is there an unrepented sin in your life? What are you learning from this punishment? What can you do to strengthen your arms and legs to keep you on His path?

Will You Answer the Call?

Ring, Ring. "Hello? Yes, this is she. What? You'd like to go out on a date with me?"

That was the strangest call I have gotten in a while. But something about this guy's voice made my heart just smile.

I accepted the date and arrived nicely dressed. After all, I wanted my date to be highly impressed.

As I approached the table, he pulled out my chair. "How lovely you look: your dress and your hair."

"Have you been waiting long?" I heard myself say. He responded softly, "Yes, I have. Forever and a day."

We laughed and we talked, the conversation was endless! This guy couldn't be real, he was too selfless!

If anybody was watching, we were unaware. Time was fleeting quickly but we just didn't care.

We talked about everything under sun. I thought to myself, "This guy's the One!"

I opened up about things I had never told before, but he listened so intently waiting to hear more.

He never checked his watch or took his eyes off me. I was the center of attention! How could this be?

He never referred to me as "hot" or "sexy" or said how bad he wanted to have sex with me!

He never mentioned sports or even talked about himself at all or looked at another woman or took a cell phone call!

There was something wonderfully different about this guy and I knew that I wasn't going to question why!

He was Heaven sent, this much I knew and I believed that all the things he told me were definitely true.

It was then that I expressed my love and gratitude and apologized for my poor decisions and bad attitude.

If only I had known the power of His love I wouldn't have waited so long. I would have run into His arms so forgiving and strong, knowing this was where I belonged.

And then His eyes grew even softer and He leaned in to say to me, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." 

That's right girls, my date was with Jesus, you know the One that gave His life to save us?

That date lingers daily in my thoughts as I remember that He gave all. And to think, it all started when I answered the call.

Will you answer His call?

But I Want it Now!!

Ask any of my friends and family and they will tell you that I talk a great deal about church and God and all the things that go along with that: Christian friends, praying, Bible studies, and of course, Jesus. My purpose is not to push my viewpoint on anybody or to scare anyone off. My intention is to tell them what God has done for me and my family. I know what my life was like before God found me so I understand completely when people look at me like I'm crazy, but I know how my life is now and I want people to know that same feeling. So why wouldn't I want to tell everybody about Him?

The obvious answer we don't tell more people or don't talk about our new lives in Christ is because we are afraid of the reaction. I try to explain to people that salvation is like this. Imagine if your child, sibling, parent, spouse or friend was about to run out in front of a speeding car and you were the only person that could save them. What would you do? Duh! You would do anything and everything within your power to save them, right? Of course you would! Salvation is the same way. Jesus sees us in our everyday struggles, making poor decisions, turning our backs on Him and assuredly getting off the narrow path but He is calling each of us to step out of the way of the speeding bus and allow Him to save us. 

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4: 13-15, "But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, "I believed in God, and so I speak." We know that the same God who raised our Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself along with you. All of these things are for your benefit. And as God's grace brings more and more people to Christ, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory." This confirms that all Christians need to keep talking to people about God!

I've often thought that I could somehow be responsible for the reason that people come to Christ, but I know that I just plant the seed and God grows it. While I want salvation for the people I am talking to, now and my way, this is not Burger King and salvation is not a fast fix that I can just serve up to somebody because "I" think they need it. God invites each of us to accept His free gift of salvation but He won't wrap it in a tidy little wrapper and give it out to make it easier to accept. God doesn't need it your way, because His way is perfect! In the mean time I have to keep speaking of God because I believe in God! 

I found this verse today while I was looking for a different verse to use in today's blog, "Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone." (Colossians 4:5-6) I think this verse says it all. Talk about God, live your life the way He directs it, and at every opportunity give Him all the glory.

Think about it!

Are you a Christian that talks about God? What are some things that keep you from sharing your faith? Do you live wisely in front of those that aren't Christians? Could it be that you are trying to do it your way and not God's way? Call on God today. He has all the answers!

Happy, Happy, Happy!

I find in my day to day life that it's sometimes easier to take the "Oh, poor pitiful me" approach when things aren't going my way. But I'm soon reminded of what's true because I will get an email, a prayer request, or somebody will post something on Facebook that makes me remember that I am so blessed! Remembering where my joy comes from helps me to understand that no matter the circumstances, I am loved by a Holy, all knowing God that holds every second of my life in His hands. So what do I have to worry about? That's right: NOTHING!

I had an experience last year that really showed me that God is speaking to me and I had better listen. I had to call a vendor and order something that morning. It was in July. The reason I remember the month is because the youth group at our church was in Daytona for a conference and we had these prayer bracelets with a child's name on it that we were supposed to pray for each day. The vendor that answered the phone was named Happy and she was so happy and laughing when she answered the phone. As her and I were talking I kept working on my computer stuff. Then I heard this little voice say, "Ask her if she has any prayer requests." I kind of blew it off thinking that the bracelet I was wearing had somehow caused me to want to ask her that. A couple of minutes later I heard it again, "Ask her if she has any prayer requests." This time the voice was more adamant than before. At this point I started arguing with the voice in my head that I most certainly was not going to ask this girl whose name was Happy and who was laughing and cutting up, but the voice persisted. At the end of the conversation, Happy asked if I had any questions. With my voice and entire body shaking, I said, "Happy, I do have a question and you are probably going to think I'm crazy." She said, "No, please ask." I asked her, "Do you have any prayer needs?" At first she didn't respond then she said "Excuse me?" So I asked again. Then she surprised me with this response, "I do. My life is falling apart around me. It's funny how life can change so quickly." I could hardly contain my emotions and I apologized for getting her upset and for crying but she insisted that I had made her day. When I hung up the phone and prayed for her I knew that God was pleased that I had obeyed. God gives us challenges that make us step outside of our comfort zone and this was definitely one of those moments. Proverbs 8:32-36 says, "Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain(don't consider it unworthy, had to look that one up) it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates,Waiting at the posts of my doors.  For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord; But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.” 

Our blessings towards others won't always be like the story I've just told, but as followers of Christ we are bound to love one another and if we are truly saved He lives in us and we should want to love others. So today, let God use you to make someone's day. Drop a note to somebody that you haven't talked to in a while, give money to that homeless person, or just love on somebody that needs your undivided attention. Be sensitive to the Spirit of God. He could be speaking to you right now! 

Think about it!
What is God calling you to do? Are you listening? Will you obey? Trust in Him today to lead you to your ministry.