Our Fireworks
I took this picture at a fireworks display a few years ago.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
My People
It is different for me, as an author, I see things that my readers can simply never see – I feel things that they cannot understand. My characters are a part of me, each and every one holding a place in my heart, and each one having one of my faults, my characteristics, and my hopes. It is even different for me concerning my bad guys. My readers might feel the satisfaction of seeing them fall to good and right, but I feel something else, because I understand, they’re gone, they cannot be saved. They weren’t the good guys, but they were my people. I could have saved them, but I didn’t. It is always for a reason, but it still hurts to see them go.
Is that how God feels when the unsaved die?
Mandy
Friday, September 7, 2012
Wild Horses or Tamed Kittens?
My pastor gave a wonderful sermon a couple weeks ago that I wanted to share. Thank you, Pastor Nick.
2 Corinthians 5:11-21:
"11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. 12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. 13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. 14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold , all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
As Christians, we should be like wild horses for God, not tamed kittens that just anyone can stick in a box and make silent.
What is the goal of missions? To proclaim Jesus to the world, to shout it from the roof tops, to tell it in the streets, to whisper it to our children as they fall asleep. "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." (Matthew 16:15) We are supposed to tell them of Jesus - of his life, of his death, of his resurrection.
Why? Why do we tell them? Why do we bother to throw ourselves into awkward postions, hard places, just to tell others? because we know the fear of God. The unsaved will die an eternal death and be seperated from Our Lord and Savior forever. There will be a day of judgement. So we tell them! We don't tell them for some self gain. We tell them, to save them.
And, yes, by doing this, we are going to appear utterly crazy to the world. They are going to think our cheese has slipped off our cracker, that our happy meal is a few fries too short (thanks to all my friends for the sayings.) To the world, we're crazy. And if we're not, there is a problem. Christians should disregard every part of self preservation. Christians should be the first ones to dive into the banged up lives, the dying people, the run-down, rat-infested places of the world. Why? To help them, to tell them! We should jump into angry, infuriated mobs! Why? To help them, to tell them! We should welcome dangerous people into our homes! Why? To help them, to tell them! We should give to others even if we have nothing! Why? To help them, to tell them. Our job in life isn't to protect ourselves. It is to show others, no matter the personal hardships it might cause, the Love we have found, the Hope that we now have as our own. It is to go to the worst in this world and to tell them about the Best that our world has ever known.
This is crazy. A sane person would not give away their food if they don't have enough to feed themselves. A sane person wouldn't dive into the world's worst places to tend to their poor. A sane person wouldn't give up luxury for pain, suffering, illness, hurt. They wouldn't be willing to risk the emotional pain to become attached to a bad, sure-to-disappoint person so they could tell them of God's love for them. Sane people, don't do such things. Sane people stay home. Sane people see the worst of this world and quickly walk the other way. Sane people do not willingly risk illness or death to go to the people in jungles or swamps.
Sane people do not see a drunk and go over to talk to him and tell him of Christ. Sane people don't invite the homeless into their homes to have a hot meal - or go farther and help them find a place to stay, a job. Sane people don't get involved. Sane people stay away.
But Christians aren't supposed to. Christians are supposed to look at the worst and see a price tag on their clothes saying, "God's Blood." That is their worth to God. That is what He has given. We are supposed to give with everything we have. Why? For Jesus. For Jesus.
Love hurts. Love is stepping between the guns, the fights, the hurt, the greed, the sticks and stones, and the harsh words. Love is telling a sinner he is wrong. Love is getting into someone's life, invaiding their space with every ounce of your power, and learning what is happening in their hearts, even if it breaks your own. Love is telling someone about God, even if they will hate you for it.
That is the love Christ has for us. That is the love we are supposed to have for everyone else. That is the love we are supposed to display towards everyone, even the people that we hate, that annoy us, that have hurt us. It is not our job to judge them. It is our job, our life, our gift, to love them - as Jesus loves them, as he loves us.
Are you willing to be a wild horse, that will always do what God wants, no matter the risk? Or are you going to be a tamed kitten, locked in a box, silent, sane, preserving yourself from harm?
Mandy
2 Corinthians 5:11-21:
"11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. 12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. 13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. 14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold , all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
As Christians, we should be like wild horses for God, not tamed kittens that just anyone can stick in a box and make silent.
What is the goal of missions? To proclaim Jesus to the world, to shout it from the roof tops, to tell it in the streets, to whisper it to our children as they fall asleep. "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." (Matthew 16:15) We are supposed to tell them of Jesus - of his life, of his death, of his resurrection.
Why? Why do we tell them? Why do we bother to throw ourselves into awkward postions, hard places, just to tell others? because we know the fear of God. The unsaved will die an eternal death and be seperated from Our Lord and Savior forever. There will be a day of judgement. So we tell them! We don't tell them for some self gain. We tell them, to save them.
And, yes, by doing this, we are going to appear utterly crazy to the world. They are going to think our cheese has slipped off our cracker, that our happy meal is a few fries too short (thanks to all my friends for the sayings.) To the world, we're crazy. And if we're not, there is a problem. Christians should disregard every part of self preservation. Christians should be the first ones to dive into the banged up lives, the dying people, the run-down, rat-infested places of the world. Why? To help them, to tell them! We should jump into angry, infuriated mobs! Why? To help them, to tell them! We should welcome dangerous people into our homes! Why? To help them, to tell them! We should give to others even if we have nothing! Why? To help them, to tell them. Our job in life isn't to protect ourselves. It is to show others, no matter the personal hardships it might cause, the Love we have found, the Hope that we now have as our own. It is to go to the worst in this world and to tell them about the Best that our world has ever known.
This is crazy. A sane person would not give away their food if they don't have enough to feed themselves. A sane person wouldn't dive into the world's worst places to tend to their poor. A sane person wouldn't give up luxury for pain, suffering, illness, hurt. They wouldn't be willing to risk the emotional pain to become attached to a bad, sure-to-disappoint person so they could tell them of God's love for them. Sane people, don't do such things. Sane people stay home. Sane people see the worst of this world and quickly walk the other way. Sane people do not willingly risk illness or death to go to the people in jungles or swamps.
Sane people do not see a drunk and go over to talk to him and tell him of Christ. Sane people don't invite the homeless into their homes to have a hot meal - or go farther and help them find a place to stay, a job. Sane people don't get involved. Sane people stay away.
But Christians aren't supposed to. Christians are supposed to look at the worst and see a price tag on their clothes saying, "God's Blood." That is their worth to God. That is what He has given. We are supposed to give with everything we have. Why? For Jesus. For Jesus.
Love hurts. Love is stepping between the guns, the fights, the hurt, the greed, the sticks and stones, and the harsh words. Love is telling a sinner he is wrong. Love is getting into someone's life, invaiding their space with every ounce of your power, and learning what is happening in their hearts, even if it breaks your own. Love is telling someone about God, even if they will hate you for it.
That is the love Christ has for us. That is the love we are supposed to have for everyone else. That is the love we are supposed to display towards everyone, even the people that we hate, that annoy us, that have hurt us. It is not our job to judge them. It is our job, our life, our gift, to love them - as Jesus loves them, as he loves us.
Are you willing to be a wild horse, that will always do what God wants, no matter the risk? Or are you going to be a tamed kitten, locked in a box, silent, sane, preserving yourself from harm?
Mandy
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Don't Judge - Speak Up!
Today, many people are saying, "Shh! Don't say anything, don't judge!" Christians look at Romans 14 and immediately assume this is correct, proper and right. God does say not to judge. We should work hard to not look down our noses at our family and our friends. But is that whole sentence true? Lets take a moment to look deeper.
Don't you just love the Greek and Hebrew langauges? Each word has several very special meanings so you can know exactly what they mean! The particular "judge" used here means: to decide mentally, or judicially, to try, to condemn, conclude, damn, decree, and sentence. Basically what you think when you see the word but so far as I saw, there was absolutely nothing about being silent when you see someone sinning!
Now, lets look at a new passage - just a chapter over! Romans 15:14 says, "And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with knowledge, able also to admonish one another."
Lets take a look at "admonish" and see what this word has to tell us. This word in particular means, "To put in mind, to caution or rebuke gently. Admonish, warn."
What does all this mean? God is not saying, "Hush!" when He says "Judge not!" Paul, and God, expect us to tell others when they are doing something wrong. They may not be aware of it, or they may just need someone to help them hear their conscious again. What it does say, however, is that we should reprove, or admonish, gently. Yelling at them isn't the right way to go about it. It probably won't get you anywhere anyway.
I don't know about you, but this is extremely helpful for me. There are times when we have to put this to use. I know first hand that it is painful and hard to tell someone you love that they are sinning.
I hope this helps you! Thanks for stopping in!
Mandy
Don't you just love the Greek and Hebrew langauges? Each word has several very special meanings so you can know exactly what they mean! The particular "judge" used here means: to decide mentally, or judicially, to try, to condemn, conclude, damn, decree, and sentence. Basically what you think when you see the word but so far as I saw, there was absolutely nothing about being silent when you see someone sinning!
Now, lets look at a new passage - just a chapter over! Romans 15:14 says, "And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with knowledge, able also to admonish one another."
Lets take a look at "admonish" and see what this word has to tell us. This word in particular means, "To put in mind, to caution or rebuke gently. Admonish, warn."
What does all this mean? God is not saying, "Hush!" when He says "Judge not!" Paul, and God, expect us to tell others when they are doing something wrong. They may not be aware of it, or they may just need someone to help them hear their conscious again. What it does say, however, is that we should reprove, or admonish, gently. Yelling at them isn't the right way to go about it. It probably won't get you anywhere anyway.
I don't know about you, but this is extremely helpful for me. There are times when we have to put this to use. I know first hand that it is painful and hard to tell someone you love that they are sinning.
I hope this helps you! Thanks for stopping in!
Mandy
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