In Love...

I've been reading a book called Crazy Love (Overwhelmed By A Relentless God) by Francis Chan.  It's a great book that really makes you think about your relationship with Christ.  As I was reading this morning, it was talking about what great lengths we take when we are madly in love with someone..."you'll drive for hours to be together, even if it's only for a short while, you don't mind staying up late to talk, you're willing to spend a small fortune for the one you care about, he/she is the only one you can think about, and when you're apart from one another it's painful and miserable..."  Lots of us have probably shared this experience with at least one person in our life.  But, as the chapter goes on, a question is posed:  Are you in love with God?
         The critical question for our generation -- and for every generation -- is this:  If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever say, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there.?  -John Piper

Wow! Aha moment here!  How many of us would say, "You know, I think I'd be okay with that." And how many of us could never be satisfied in a heaven without Christ?  If we are as deeply in love with God as we should be we know we could never live in a heaven without God!

Earthly relationships can only grow when we are committed to developing a relationship.  It's the same way with God.  If we aren't committed to building a relationship with Him, it's not going to happen.  Lots of times we need His help in building a relationship.  All we have to do is call out to Him and He will help us.  I love what James wrote "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you (4:8). 

Wings As Eagles

But those who wait upon the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

A Cat Tale

After a productive weekend and a busy Monday and Tuesday, I wasn't in the mood to cook supper this evening.  Have you ever felt that way?  You look in the frig, you look in the pantry, you look in the freezer, but nothing jumps out and says, "Cook me!"  The thought of everyone doing their own thing crossed my mind...cereal, a sandwich, a tasty burrito...  I gave into the guilt and decided to make something that took longer than 1 minute and 45 seconds to cook (since I only made egg sandwiches last night).  As I walked out the back door to get chicken out of the freezer, I noticed the baby kittens were all alone on the porch.  Before I got to the garage door, I noticed the mama cat - behind a potted plant - just taking it easy.  At first I was a little envious, because like the cat, I wanted a little R&R too!  Then I got a little miffed at the cat for not tending to her little kittens, weren't they hungry?  Hey! Wait a minute!  A few minutes ago, I almost did the same thing (let my kiddos fend for themselves for supper) and then there I was judging the cat for the same thing I almost did!  In life, we do the same thing, don't we?    We judge the women in our lives before really taking a good hard look at our own. We all want to be good wives, moms, sisters, and friends, and sometimes it's hard and not always a barrel of laughs.  So, let's be a little less judgemental and a lot more supportive to the women in our lives!  

"Judge not lest ye be judged."  

Throw Out The Pacifier

Just because I once sucked a pacifier when I was a baby, doesn't mean I should suck on one as an adult. Just because I looked good wearing the latest styles in high school doesn't mean those styles still look good or even fit me as an adult!!

We all change and grow and just because something "worked" for us at one stage in our lives, doesn't mean we should still keep doing it. You won't see me walking around with a pacifier in my mouth, and I don't fit into the same jeans as I wore in high school. But, that o.k.! First of all, people would probably send me to a psyche ward if they saw me with a pappy in my mouth, and my girls would be embarrassed to sit next to me in church if I tried to fit into and wear the same outfits I did as a teenager!

With that being said, as Christians, when we are trying to reach that next spiritual level why do we look back to what we once had? Have you noticed in the fashion industry that about every 20 years a certain style makes it way back on the racks in stores? As Christians, we can actually learn from this! Styles come back but with a different twist. The style has usually been revolutionized a bit. (The 80's style is back, but with a millennium twist) In the same way, we can look back at a time when our walk with God was "on fire," and use certain instances or lessons we learned in the past to revolutionize our spiritual thinking to the next level.

We might of had a wonderful Sunday School teacher, been a part of an awesome youth group, or experienced a dynamic christian seminar or retreat and that's great. But, that was for a season in our lives. Those could have been great learning times, but we can't stop there! We have to press on to a new level. I don't want to ask God to revive what I once had, I want Him to revolutionize my spiritual thinking so I can serve Him better!

"Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore, let us leave elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity..." Hebrews 5:13-14, 6:1

"Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord." Lamentations 3:40

Fiery Trials

Yesterday, I watched an awesome Beth Moore video; I'd like to share what stuck out in my mind. She gave 3 different scenarios when people of God face a fiery trial. The example of a trial she gave was a christian being diagnosed with cancer.

Scenario A: We can be delivered from the fire. (Miracle)
Dividend? Our faith is built.

Scenario B: We can be delivered through the fire.
Dividend? Our faith is refined.

Key scriptures: This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it! John 11:4

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, you love." 1Peter 1:6-9

Scenario C: We can be delivered by the fire straight into His arms.
Dividend? Our faith is perfected.

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12

"But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ, and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear!"

We never want Scenario C to happen to us. If only our minds could wrap themselves around the awesomeness of being in heaven with Jesus, we would long for Scenario C. I think that's why we are not allowed to see how marvelous heaven is. If we knew, everyone would want to die and God's will on earth would not be carried out!,