A time to remember

This is the time of year we start to reflect a little closer on our freedoms and privileges. We start remembering those who have sacrificed so much in the name of freedom. I won't get too much into the sermon I heard yesterday, but the basic theme was that, even though we have been blessed to live in a free country with many rights and privileges, we still need to remember the rules and laws that have been set in place for us to live by. Freedom does not mean we can go about this life doing and saying absolutely whatever we want. There are consequences to our words and actions. There have to be rules and laws for a manageable society to exist.

We must, however, remember that there is one who has given us the ultimate freedom. There is one who has paid the ultimate price. There is one who has promised us the ultimate future.....Jesus Christ. At the same time, there is one who is doing everything in his power to separate us from Him. There is one who puts doubts in our minds and hate in our hearts. There is one who is deceiving this world into believing we don't need that ultimate future. 2 Cor. 4:3-4 says, "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age (referring to Satan) has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." At this time of Memorial and celebration for the privileges we have, we should remember at all times what God has given to us and we should share that with others. Don't let the god of this age blind you and those you love from experiencing the true freedoms God has privileged to you. And may your memories always reflect on Him and what He has done for you!

Dear God....

I waited to list my prayers until I read some of yours, and, they were exactly what I had expected. As Christians, we all have so many of the same concerns. I think this is because we all see the Big Picture! Yes, we concern ourselves with the day to day of everyday life, but, we know there is SO much more in store for us. There is a future we are all looking to and hoping those we love look to as well. We see that this life is a constant struggle of good vs. evil, and joy vs. pain, and we know that while we can't control every aspect, there IS something we can do. There ARE right choices we can make. There IS someone who hears our prayers!

My prayers are...
1. That God will always give me the words to say in any situation, good or bad, to encourage, uplift or just to support
2. That I can be an example to others by my words and my actions
3. For growth in my spiritual life and the wisdom to live the life God wants for me
4. I pray for beautiful, healthy futures for Jenna and Alyssa and that they will desire to put God first in all they do
5. For happy, healthy lives for Mom, Angie, Will, John, Amy and Grams. I pray God will help them overcome the hardships of the last couple of years and restore joy in all aspects of their lives!
6. I pray for the local church at Pickaway, and all the churches around the world, that they will restore others to Him, remain faithful when it gets harder and harder to, and that they will keep love at the heart of all they do for Him
7. I pray for the leaders of this country, and those serving our country wherever they might be in this world. I pray for their safety, their health and healthy minds to keep them strong when the loneliness and doubt creeps in
8. I pray that this world will have an awakening and realize it's time to get back to GODLY ideals and forget about what is "politically correct"
9. I pray for strength and the abilities I need to help me as I take on a new challenge in my life
10. I pray that I will never forget to praise God for all that He has done for me and for those I love!

Prayer

Sometimes, we feel our prayers aren't answered in the way we had hoped. Sometimes we feel they are. And then, sometimes, we just get out of the habit of praying all together and aren't concerned one way or the other. The Bible tells us to pray. It is our way of speaking to God, and, if you think about it, the most awesome privilege we have here on Earth. Many people think prayers aren't important, but, in fact, there is SO much importance to praying. Not only is it a privilege, it's an opportunity to bring our will and desires into line with God's plan. They can help us to better understand the mind of God. Prayer gives us an opportunity to demonstrate our trust in God. It can build and restore our relationship to God. I believe God wants to hear everything we want to say to Him. The good, the bad, the hurt and pain...everything.

I wanted to do a ten Tuesday list on this blog for a change. Not everyone might see it or feel comfortable doing it, and that's ok, but, this week, I'd like you to list 10 prayers that you have on your heart right now. Ten things that you might have been praying awhile for, or has just come to your mind. This is a great opportunity to give it some thought, and also put it out there for others to pray about for you as well!

Just remember, "The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor."

Get out of your comfort zone!

As Mother's Day and Father's Day quickly approach, I just have to pause to thank God for giving me the two most wonderful earthly parents imaginable. Not only were they loving, protective and great providers, they cared enough about my life to take me to Church. Their love and example were the greatest gifts they could ever have given to me.

It is not "popular" today to go to Church and to be a Christian. The world doesn't see the point for Godly lives or for taking the time out of the week to give back to God a small portion of what He has given to us. In fact, it is much easier to just go along with the world, and just believe that everything is "ok" and everyone is for the most part "good". No one wants to hear the hard stuff. No one really cares to hear the truth. It's just easier to push God aside and "pretend" He doesn't exist. So why is it SO hard? Why is having faith in a loving , creator so hard for people to have today? I believe it is simply because people know deep down that having that true faith means they have to make a change in their lives. They have to start living for someone other than themselves. They have to start loving others and helping them change their lives too. They have to actually live a Godly life in an unGodly world. They have to become the "unpopular".

God doesn't give us a choice as to who our mother's or father's will be on this earth. But He does give us a choice to decide our future. He doesn't want us to not know Him. If we're Christians, He doesn't want us to be cold or even luke-warm Christians where we completely ignore His Church and His desires for us to evangelize. He wants us to know Him fully and be on fire for Him, through total life changing, obedience to His Word. You can't do this if you forsake the assembling of saints. You can't do this if you say you love Him on Sunday's, but act like you love the world throughout the week. You can't do this if you never tell your family, friends or neighbors that He loves them too. We need to get out of our comfort zones and start doing what we are here on earth to do. It wasn't comfortable for Moses, or Noah, or Job, or the desciples, or Jesus. But they did what they needed to do.

The truth is, whether you want to believe it or not....not everyone will go to Heaven. There is a Hell and it's real. Don't rely on your "goodness" to get you there. God makes it clear there are things you MUST do to enter in. There is a way of life you must live. There are unpopular choices you must make. I thank God for giving me parents that put God first in everything they do. "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." Rev. 21:27

The little things

God is so cool. You know, just when you feel the depression creeping back in or just when you feel you don't know how to go on, He gives you something to hold on to. Something good in your life that makes you feel a glimmer of hope again. Life is all about the ups and downs, but how you handle them is what truly counts. I've said in this blog before that God will not give us more than we can handle, and that is so true. But He will allow difficulties to present themselves in one way or another so we can grow. How will we ever discover our potential to become more Christ-like without it? But, even on the hardest days, the sun can shine. Even on the days when you are feeling your worst, or having doubts , or even feeling alone, He gives us some wonderful gifts.

So, today, count your blessings. Think on the things that have been wonderful surprises to you lately. If it rains, stop and listen to the beauty in it. If you get a traffic ticket, thank God that He saved you from a potential accident. If no one compliments you on your new haircut, remember that sometimes to receive a compliment, you have to be the first to give one. These might seem like silly things, but everything you do and say in life counts for something. What do you want your actions and words to say about you?