Me, me, me, me!!!

                                            It's all about me!!!
                          

          I used to see that white bunny bragging around on T-shirts,  journals,  jewelry;  you name it.  It would just get under my skin.  

                    "Man are there people really that selfish?!  Sheesh."

                  Little did I know.  Little....did I know.

                  You may not think of yourself as a selfish person.  Same here!  I never thought I was an "It's all about me"  person until God knocked me head over heals and I woke up with dirt in my eyes, nose and mouth.

                  

       

    Have you ever heard of a mirror?

                  It took  awhile for God to make me look at myself.  Not selfishly but,  critically.  

                  I love giving to people.  If I had all the money in the world I would be using it to make elaborate Christmas and birthday presents or for just because or;  to even give the chance for people to go to Disney World!!  How can a girl like that be selfish? Well, don't be too surprised.

                       When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye,  and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.

                                                                        Genesis 3:6

                  Can you guess what that was about?  If you said Eve took a bite from the forbidden fruit, ding!  You got it.   When sin came into the world it infected all of us.  

                   We want to do good things and we mean well but, it can only go so far.  I have to admit this but I really don't want to.  Sometimes when God told  me to or when I felt that someone needed a little help or encouragement, I would reach out to them but secretly, so deep down in my heart it would barely be a whisper, I would think, maybe they'll give me something back.  Only God's love can give freely expecting nothing in return.  How can we have a mindset like that?

  

                 When your words came,  I ate them;  they where my joy and my hearts delight,  for I bear your name O Lord God Almighty.

                                                                           Jeremiah 15:16

                 That was my problem.  My hearts desire was mostly for things.  I did care about the people and God but;  It was hard for me to think of and put God and others before me all the time.   

         

                When I looked in the mirror, I wanted to see "me" as the main character of the story!  I wanted to be the hero, the one who saved the day, the special one with the gift that no one had ever seen!

                                           Stand back please

                  Jesus calls us to be like Him.  A servant.  

                  "Jesus I want to be like you but... a servant.  Can I;  well...  how can I say this?  Serve you in another way?"

                  There is no way we can be exempt from serving others when following Jesus.  That's why we need to stand back and watch and listen to Jesus.

                   He says we need to love our neighbor as ourselves (including our family. Oy!).  How do we even do that?  Well,  like that verse from Jeremiah we need to be like,  what I say,  human sponges and soak up every thing that God's word says to us.  And we truly need to seek after His heart. 

                           By the grace given me I say to every one of you:  Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,  but rather think of yourself with sober judgment,  in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

                                                                          Romans 12:3

                Doesn't a slap like that sting?  Guess what?  I just read that verse this morning!  Isn't God awesome?!  Okay,  we should not think of ourselves so highly (no more hero day dreams for me) or so lowly (no more pity parties for me).  Let's look at the word sober for a moment shall we?  

                                 Sober-  clearheaded not drunk

                 We can become drunk on ourselves!  We don't need any help with that.  If we had all the time and money in the world I'm sure most of you women, including me would use that time to see how we can make our hair look better,  our skin more clear,  our body more toned, etc.  It says that God has given us a measure of faith to be able to soberly judge ourselves.  

                 Woman.  We live in a world that says...

                       "me first!"

                       "help me!"

                       "look at me!"

                       "I want/need that!"

                     

               And the list goes on and on.  It is very hard to break away from our selfish flesh and turn to our renewed spirit.  We need to turn away from ourselves and submit our whole thinking process to Christ.  It was so hard at first.  But then strangely it became easier to think and talk to God more each day and even enjoy it!!  God promises to always be there for us;  even when we unwillingly do our own thing at first.  

                        If we confess our sins,  He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

                                                         1 John 1:9                       

Blurred Lines

     

              Homosexuality seems like the new normal.  People are trying to get same-sex marriage legalized and celebrities are confessing that there gay.  Young adults and even children are coming out and admitting that they knew they were different, claiming their homosexuality is what made them feel out of place. 

              

               Is this really normal?  Should we sit back and let things be as they are?

                                               Upside Down 

             What if I were to tell you that homosexuality isn't what you would call acceptable, that it's actually causing the destruction of something else?  Something that has been around since the beginning of time.

              Marriage.   Marriage is being pushed and pulled and people are trying to change the very state of it.  

                                 So God created man in His own image,  in the image of God He created him;  male and female He created them.

                                                            Genesis 1:27

             If you haven't noticed it says created three times.  So if something is said more then once that means you better pay attention!  

             The answer is right here ladies.  God created man and woman at the beginning.  He didn't create two men and two women.  Marriage calls for one man and one woman.   Since we are created in God's image that means marriage is created to represent God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit's relationship with each other.

 Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept pure,  for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

                                                            Hebrews 13:4

             The very word and meaning of marriage is being marred!  This generation is already getting confused about exactly what marriage means.   How do we tell them and show them exactly what marriage is?

              Here's what Stacy and Paula Rinehart say about marriage in their book Choices.

                                Marriage is the first holy relationship God ordained.  Our human concept of holiness is that which is enshrined,  or set apart as untouchable.  God,  however,  takes eternal truths,  for which we use the word holy,  and place them in the living relationships of His people.  The lifelong union of a man and a woman is holy because it symbolizes in human form the unseverable love of Christ for His bride,  the church.  Husbands are even encouraged to love their wives,  "as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:2,5; emphasis added).

      God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit work together as a team and relate to each other on a deep level.  They are of one mind and one accord.  They are always in the same boat and they trust each other wholeheartedly and do their part well.  The three words that can describe them the best is respect, honor and deference.

            As followers of Christ He calls us to follow that.  

            You may be thinking this or you may have heard someone say, 

            "but I've seen a gay or lesbian couple together for like 50 years and they where happy."

              Yeah,  that could be the case but that's the world.  The world can say "they're a great couple and they love each other."  But,  as Christians is that what we follow?       

             

                Do you know  that there's the worlds standards of love and there's God's standards of love.  I'm sure you know the world's but God's is this...

                          Love is patient,  love is kind.  It does not envy,  it does not boast,  it is not proud.  It is not rude,  it is not self -seeking,  it is not easily angered,  it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth.  It always protects,  always trusts,  always hopes,  always perseveres.  Love never fails.

                                                    1 Corinthians 13:4-8 

                Okay since that's God's love read it carefully and I want you to think about what God is saying.  The part that says love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  What does evil mean exactly?  Evil means;  bad,  immoral,  wrong,  vile,  dishonorable, corrupt and sinful.  So,  evil is the opposite of God.  That means if God sees homosexuality as evil and you are practicing it or just are accepting of it that means you're delighting in evil!!  That may sound harsh but God is serious about His standards.  He wants us to rejoice in the truth!  

                You may ask, "What is truth exactly?"      

                                

                                       What's the Truth?

              I have heard some people say that being gay or lesbian was the way they are, that it wasn't a choice.  Being homosexual actually is a choice.  

                Homosexuality  is a sin just like lying, being disrespectful, murder and the like.  Being gay is going against God and what He laid down as rules for us to follow.  

                Sodom  and Gomorrah.  Ever heard of it?  Oh yeah,  that was the place to go when you wanted to do what you wanted and not get caught!!  That was the life.  You could be with whoever and nobody said anything against it.  What happened in Sodom and Gomorrah stayed in Sodom and Gomorrah!  You know what I mean?  Oh there's one thing I forgot to mention.  God completely destroyed it. 

                               Before they had gone to bed,  all the men from every part of the city of Sodom-both young and old-surrounded the house.  They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight?  Bring them out so us so that we can have sex with them."

                                           Genesis 19:4-5

              The two men that all the men in Sodom were talking about were angels.  Those angels came to Lot's house and told him "Lot you have to leave this place.  God's going to destroy it!"  Lot offered to give his two daughters to the men outside but they refused.  They wanted the men (angels).   

            

               Marriage needs to be respected and kept the way it is.  Homosexuality is just lust for another human being.  That's all it is.  There's no need to tie a knot between the two people.  No matter how much people say it's a right, that gay and lesbian people should be able to marry, it doesn't make it right in the eyes of God.  Just like above when it says love always protects, that's what we need to do about marriage.  We need to protect it and not fail!      

                                                       

To save or not to save, that is the question

           "Surely you know how it has been from old,  ever since man was placed on the earth,that the mirth of the wicked is brief,  the the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.  Though his pride reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds,  he will perish forever,  like his own dung;  those who have seen him say,  'where is he?'"
                                               

               That verse is from Job 20:4-7. 
                      One of the big topics circulating now-a-days is abortion.  Oh yeah,  that's a touchy subject.  Many people come up with reasons on why it's a good option.  
                        "It's my body I can do what I want."
                        " I was raped,  I don't wan't to have the child  of that monster"
                         "That's not a baby it's just a lump of tissue."
                     And the list goes on and on.  
                      
                      Why does abortion have to be such a big deal?  People are being so dramatic!  Are they?  What if it's bigger than you thought?  What does God say about abortion?

                      The commandments,   "Do not commit adultery,"  "Do not Murder," "Do not steal,  "Do not covet,"  and whatever other commandment there may be,  are summed up in one rule:  " Love your neighbor as yourself."  Love does no harm to its neighbor.  Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
                                                           Romans 13: 9-10

                     So,  God says do not murder.  Is abortion murder?  YES!!  Even though the girl did not commit the crime physically she did help it to get done.  She thought of terminating the child,  made the appointment and went to the clinic.  She made the choice. 

                                                Is there a choice?

                     Most people think that there can be a choice made.  Abort or keep.  No.  That should never be a choice.  
                       
                       As woman, God created us to be caretakers.  We are vessels.  Vessel means a ship or large boat and a hollow container, esp one used to hold  liquid, such as a bowl or cask.  Heh. We're not boats exactly; well, not at all but we can hold children.  A boat holds people safely in and protects them from the water and dangerous creatures that live there.  We can hold a little growing person(s) inside us and protect them from the harsh environment.
                
                      Back to the choice.   Did you know that the choice comes before conception?  The choice is whether to have sex or not.  But,  that's a whole other topic right there.

                   Here's a clip from a documentary video called 180.  If you haven't seen the whole video you can find the whole 33 minute film on YouTube or on http://www.180movie.com/ or  you can buy a copy for just $1.50 on http://www.heartchanger.com/                          
                                                         What do we do?
                     Here's a fictional conversation between a woman and her aborted child.  The woman is given a chance to meet her child and get to know him.  She feels ready to have a child.  It's ten years after the abortion. 

                    The woman walks into a white room.  There's one table and two chairs.  A boy is sitting in one of the chairs looking at his hands. 
                     " Hello,  what's your name?"
                     He looks up blankly.
                      "I don't have a name."
                    "What do you mean? Everyone has a name."
                     "You didn't give me one.  I don't know why."
                      Uncomfortably she looks at his hands, then into his eyes.
                     " Well, do you mind if I call you John?"
                     "I guess not."
                      Excitedly she pulls out a piece of paper and looks at it.
                   "Well,  is there anything you're good at or that you like to do John?"
                      " I don't know. I never got the chance."
                      "Uh,  what about... I know is there anyone you look up too?"
                     He looks at her.  Irritation then sadness fill his eyes.
                      "Look,  I don't know anything!  I never got the chance to live!  Why did you give me up?  Was it because you had things you liked and didn't want to give up or was it because you had someone you looked up to so much that you didn't want me to get in the way?"
                      She stares at him dumbly.  Then she stands and leaves the room.  Tears coursing down her cheeks.  She had no answer to those questions.  No answer could sound logical.

                       It just makes you wonder how many children could have been in the park,  in school or enjoying a day with their mom or dad today?  So many babies don't have a chance. 
                   
                        If you ever had an abortion, there's something I need to tell you.  Jesus has forgiven you.  He loves you and is hurting with you.  He knows your pain.  Don't wait a moment longer for His love and Grace to wash over and cleanse you.

                        That verse from above,  Romans 13: 9-10.  Love is the most powerful thing.  Not just any kind.  God's kind of love.  If you find yourself pregnant and you're considering abortion please don't.  You can consider adoption.  You will be giving this child the chance to live!

                       If you want to be apart of a pro-life movement, Personhood USA is a great organization.  You can find them on    //www.facebook.com/personhoodusa