Let's Make It Easy

What if we as Christians would just live like Jesus? What if we would stop expecting the fallen world to conform to our ways when we ourselves struggle to live by what the Bible teaches? What if we butted out of political agendas and just lived lives filled with the Spirit - compassionately pursuing the lost and hurting people in our communities? What is we stopped complaining about "church persecution" and actually lived like the early church in Acts where so many willingly gave their lives for the faith they professed?

What if we actually allowed the Living God of the Universe, the creator of our body, mind, soul and spirit, to be Lord in every area of our lives? Not hiding the dirty parts or pointing out others’ sin in order to cover up our own. What if churches in America stopped competing with one another over style and theology and just united in a desperate effort to reach people who are headed for eternal separation from God?

Acts 15 tells about a meeting of the church leaders to discuss what should be required of the Gentiles who were coming to faith in Jesus. Should they have to first become Jewish? Should the men have to be circumcised? Should they be made to follow the Law of Moses? Peter said in verses 7-9, 

“Brothers,” he said, “you know that some time ago God chose me to take the good news to those who aren’t Jews. He wanted them to hear the good news and believe. God knows the human heart. By giving the Holy Spirit to non-Jews, he showed that he accepted them. He did the same for them as he had done for us. He showed that there is no difference between us and them. He made their hearts pure because of their faith...”

A few verses later, James gives his opinion and says in verse 19, 

“Now here is my opinion. We should not make it hard for the non-Jews who are turning to God...”

I have been thinking a lot lately about how I am reflecting the Light of Jesus Christ to the non-believers in my life. Do I live in a way that demonstrates the peace and hope that I have in my Savior? Am I compassionate toward people who look and act different that I do? Do I extend Grace to those already condemned or do I continue to condemn them by ignoring them and complaining about “the way our culture is”? Do I make it easy for non-believers to find faith in Jesus Christ?

I NEVER want to compromise the truth of God’s word, but I don’t want to live without extending grace to lost people who need Jesus just as much as I do. I am broken and have sinned, but God called me out of my pit of despair to experience LIFE with him now and forever. I never want to accept or excuse sin, but I don’t want to cast down the sinner as someone who is beyond saving. 

“God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world. He sent his Son to save the world through him.” John 3:17 NIrV)

Lord Jesus, help me to have a heart of compassion and a heart for your Truth. Help me to be like Jesus and live to share his saving grace and not condemn those who already stand condemned. Show me how to trust you in the everyday things of life so I can trust you when the trials and challenges come. So that when I face opportunities to proclaim your name, I will not fear awkward moments, ridicule, and even persecution. May I count it all joy when I get to suffer like Christ. Thank you Lord for loving me and saving me. Thank you for your faithfulness and gentle guidance especially when I mess up - as I often do.

May you be glorified through my life! Amen

"You Are" by Colton Dixon  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM8hxE-j4T8

What are you afraid of?

Ever since November 7 when I discovered I was pregnant with our 4th child, my mind has been flooded with fearful thoughts, ideas, and even bad dreams. Every time something like that creeps into my mind I hear a still, small voice say, "What are you afraid of?" God is not the author of fear, doubt, worry, and stress. He provides verse after verse in His Word to help us learn how to fear only him and turn the rest over to him. We are to rest in him. We are to trust him. We are to obey him. We are to take heart because Christ has overcome this world (John 15:33). These words are easy to say and much harder to live out in our daily circumstances.

As the news of another child, which we were NOT planning to have ever, started to sink into my brain the first fear was how to tell Tyrone and what his response was going to be. He definitely did not want another baby as much as or more so than me. We had just come through some very rocky times in our relationship. We were headed in a very positive direction, but could this news derail our progress. My imagination was running wild with all the worst case scenarios that could happen. I had to recognize these thoughts for what they were - sin and satan's lies seeking to destroy this family God has put together.

I started thinking about gaining weight and my brand new jeans not fitting anymore. I started thinking about feeling sick and being exhausted. I started thinking about how inadequate I feel as a parent some days and wondering how in the world I could handle another child.  We were dealing with a lot of unexpected behavior issues with Jeremiah last semester and satan really used that to attach me and amplify the negative voices in my head that said I don't know how to be a mom. Worst of all, I thought about another miscarriage.  I still battle with the fear of miscarriage everytime I go to the bathroom. I start to think what is wrong with my body if I lose another pregnancy. In those early week, I even felt guilty for thinking I could be relieved if a miscarriage were to happen.

Wow! This is crazy. No wonder God's voice kept whispering, "What are you afraid of?" I have spent a little time reading and rereading Romans 8:18- 39 as I gathered my thoughts to write this. Here are a few of the verses that really grabbed me. I encourage you to read the whole passage.

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us...²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[i] have been called according to his purpose...

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?...³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

So again, God whispers to me. "What are you afraid of?" It took Tyrone a couple of days to get past the shock of my news, but as my mentor and I started praying before I told him, he is starting to get excited. He has even been the one to share the news in some unexpected ways. It is a new opportunity for us to experience the miracle of a new child after the miracle God did in our marriage.

 

Yet again, God whispers to me."What are you afraid of?" God is teaching us so much as we work through the issues with Jeremiah and as we learn to parent elementary school children. We are learning how to depend on Him more which is always a good thing. God reminds me constantly that he would never give me more than I can handle if I trust him and allow him to lead.

 

I still struggle with allowing myself to accept this completely for fear that I will have a miscarriage. There is no guilt however, just a fear of having to grieve what we have lost. Again, God whisper, "What are you afraid of?" He has a purpose for this unborn child no matter how many days he or she is on this earth. There is tremendous comfort in that and that truth is enough.

 

As far as my jeans not fitting for while - well that just seems a little selfish. I just need to be responsible with my diet and exercise - as I normally would - and those jeans will fit again. (I imagine chasing after 4 kids will help them fit a little faster.) When we heard the heart beat for the first time a few weeks ago, tight jeans were the furthest thing from my mind.

 

I will officially start the 2nd trimester of this pregnancy tomorrow. Time is already flying by. The kids are so excited. We are planning financially for the hospital expenses and trust that God will show us the way as we begin this leg of our parenting journey. I am looking forward to another ultrasound at the end of the month to see this little person again. The kids can't wait to join us at the 20 week ultrasound to find out if we are having a boy or girl. Of course, there is that new baby smell to look forward to also. When you think about it that way I have to say to myself - what are you afraid of?