Sunday, January 15, 2012

Spiritual Warfare

To be honest, i have always viewed that term as a self centered, Christianese one. I always thought of people who said that they were going through some 'major spiritual warfare' as people who thought that their lives were much worse than they were. Often their 'spiritual warfare' was their dog dying or something like that- it didnt amount to real persecution. I blame this cynicism partially on growing up as a pastor's kid who had met a few drama queens in her day.

I have recently been convicted of this stance. It's not to say that everyone who claims spiritual warfare is right on, but rather that it does exist & that it can range in degree.

There are seasons of life and in this season, I realize that there is some spiritual warfare. As Jerry said, it is humbling to experience it.

C.S. Lewis once said “God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain”

This serves as an important reminder... if we are facing spiritual warfare, we should aim to do so in a way blameless before the Lord. This isn't to say that we need to be perfect but that we should strive to honor Him through the process. A valuable lesson for me

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Wuthering Heights

Just started reading Wuthering Heights on my iPhone. It's not as bad as I thought it would be thus far. It's a book I have always avoided, but knew that one day I would have to read it. I can thank my book club for that :)

I am trying to incorporate reading, music, photography, writing, language and art into my weekly routine. It's much more tempting to play sudoko after the gym, but I know in the long run I will thank myself for incorporating the arts into my weekly routine.

God continues to work through my husband to help me with my anxiety. It really only comes out when multiple stressful situations emerge, but I don't like letting anxiety rule even a small part of my life. Lord, let me give all of this to you. Amen.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Ccing

I've experienced a few email this week where a person wants to point out a mistake someone has made and will cc other people. I have been both the receiver or cc-ed. In all of these cases, it later came out that the sender was misinformed.

Now I think this bothers me for a few reasons. First- it is passive aggressive. Second, it humiliates the person on the receiving end. Third- it doesn't follow Matthew 18 (go first to the person).

It's one of those etiquette things that has just come about in recent times... I'm glad I learned about this while I am younger, so I won't do this later in my life.

This is not to rag on those who sent those emails, but rather a conviction to ensure that I do not do that. Life Lesson #467

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Why My Bible Study Group is the Best

So I love my Bible study group- mainly because (outside of being Christians) we have nothing in common.

Everyone has kids, is much older (outside of one couple) and is in a different walk of life than we are.

Now it seems strange that I would like this, because as humans, we are naturally drawn to people who are like us. However, i think a group like this is essential for Bible study.

Why?- you may ask. Because this group challenges me in the Word. When I am with my friends, we typically have pretty similar convictions, moral and political beliefs: rarely having to bring up a challenge for someone to think differently about something than they did before.

My group members will challenge my beliefs or interpretation of a verse though bc they come from a different walk of life. I love being challenged... It either strengthens my own convictions or allows me to think of something in a different light.

And that to me is an important way to grow in my walk with God. I am so thankful for this group!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Love Your Christian Enemies

I was reading Luke 6:27-36: love your enemies. In a modern, contemporary, Christian context I often hear this about "the Muslims, the gays and those God hating secularists."

Ever since I was a teen, I could never relate to this modern interpretation. I have had and continue to have dear friends from each of these "groups."

For awhile, I thought this wasn't a verse that pertained to me as much, since by nature I am fairly laid back.

But recently, I realized that it applies to me in a much different context and was I convicted!

Plain and simple: my enemy was the Christian Right. I hated how they would ostracize and demonize homosexuals, liberals, Muslims and atheists. I would get so mad at how they would focus on the sin and not show Christ's love at all. I hated how it would become an "us vs them" battle.

Basically, I hated how they treated other people and I began to have a growing distain towards the Christian Right. They were not showing Christ's love towards their enemies. Then I realized: I was not showing Christ's love to the Christian Right.... I was not loving my enemies.

It's something I continue to struggle with. God has put many opportunities in my life to love and dialogue with those who I normally get frustrated with. He has taught me a great deal.

So now as I grow in Him, I ask Him to help me minister to both groups (the non-Christians and Christians) in both truth and love. Lord, help me to love all people with Your love!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

So Glad You Are Here 2012!!!!

As I have stated before, 2011 was a trying year (for both myself and some of the people closest to me). But through those trying times, God was faithful. He molded me and shaped me in ways I never knew imaginable. I was also able to take our relationship to the next level....

All my life, I would just take the difficulties thrown at me. When difficulty, after difficulty hit last year, I would just thank God and pray for the desires of my heart. One night, at a time when I was so overwhelmed, I was praying with my husband. My husband knew that I was at the end of my rope, burnt out by all the trials I had faced- yet I was praying the same way I always did- thanking and saying "if it’s Your will." I will never forget when my husband interrupted my prayer and said "now is not the time for that kind of prayer- now is the time for you to be honest with God."

It really threw me off, because once he said that, I knew exactly what I was doing. I was almost praying to God out of superstition....thinking if I thanked Him, the bad would stop. This was all done subconsciously until this moment. And then I prayed, crying out to God like I never had before:

"You know I can handle a lot, but I cannot handle one more trial. I am tired of not hearing Your voice. I need Your guidance right now- I am burnt out, I am at the end of my rope. Intervene."

It was prob the most emotional prayer of my life. Within days He made Himself known and began turning things around in our lives.

I am so thankful for my husband and how he pushed me to grow in my walk in this way. I know it sounds crazy, but this event completely took my relationship with God to a whole new level.

I don’t know what 2012 will hold, but I declare, in faith, that this year we will no longer be in the wilderness. My God has heard my plea and has answered faithfully.

I commit to seeking balance in my life in 2012- in my relationship with Him, my husband, work, health, other relationships, what I am called to (through the gifting’s He has placed in my life) and in the thing I love to do.

Those are my resolutions if you will- Declaring in faith that He has brought us out of the wilderness (not to say trials will not happen, but that He is bringing us out of a rough season, taking our yoke upon Himself) and that I will seek balance in my life. Here's to 2012!!!