Do you know what I like about the Bible.  Whenever you have an issue to resolve.  The Bible always points to your own actions and never points a finger at anyone else.  Every time I've needed to resolve a conflict, God has never said, "well if Suzie" were to do this, you would be just fine.  Instead he says "if you will do this" than....

I suppose that's why some people don't like to read it.  I don't always like it...but then again, you know what they say...truth hurts.  Except God is not looking to hurt you, he's looking to heal you.  If you can't face the truth and you always see the blame about your life by pointing fingers at someone else, you will never be set free.

You know what else is cool.  No one else has to even know anything about it.  It's personal, between you and God.  So there's no need to be embarrassed or ashamed.  God's a personal life coach and he never blabs your business to anyone else either.

Two Kinds of Wisdom ~James 3:13-18

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.




​

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 
1 John 4:20-21 NIV

I guess those are some pretty harsh words aren't they?  The Bible isn't full of lovey dovey everything.  It's full of truth.  Sometimes we don't like it.  I don't like this one, but that doesn't mean it isn't truth.  I've seen way too many family members attack each other.  It's very hard to respond to people when you see things that aren't fair, or when they hurt you.  But there must be a way.

Either we take God for truth, we take him for granted, or we ignore him all together.

I want to share with you a little bit regarding the power your words, or in this day and age, meme's have on people.  You can hurt people.  Because although sticks and stones hurt, that stupid little song rhyme lied...words can leave deeper scars.

I bet if you look back on your life, you can recall 5 major events that changed your life in a catastrophic way.  It may look like success, it may look like failure, but it can typically be those 5 events that can begin to shape the way you see the rest of the world.  For me, unfortunately, I had to go through the painful process of what the 5 major events were that impacted my life. Now while I could have chose millions of amazing childhood and past memories, the five things I wrote on my paper were not good.  So for me to see the good things out of life, I had to force myself to see past the hurt and find the nugget.  It is a constant effort for me every day.  If I don't, new situations get added to my list of defining moments for me, and  it seems it starts to unravel again.  

Anyway, I was employed one time at what I would call a "dream job".  I absolutely loved what I did.  I felt like God had answered prayers, I felt like everything I ever prayed for, finances, a position I could be confident in and love, amazing people to work with and for, and the ability to be more than I was before.  "God let me be somebody", was finally answered!  But as there always is, there was conflict.  Conflict that I didn't cause, but because of my position, I was put right in the middle of.  For someone that had confidence in their abilities and themselves without years of "you're not good enough" thoughts, it probably would have ended different.  But one statement changed my entire direction.  "You're nothing but a coffee cup counselor".  

I was called to a meeting at work one day.  It was a "surprise" meeting for me.  There was going to be 3 key leaders attending this meeting.  Big leaders, that absolute top of the leader chain, and if you read my blogs, you know that this scares me immensely. One leader had become very bitter towards me, one leader absolutely adored me, and one leader appeared to be neutral, but for some reason, I highly respected this one more than anyone else.  I knew something was wrong to have this "surprise meeting called", and in the state I live, you can record any conversation you are apart of... so I clicked "record" on my phone and I walked in.

It wasn't a good meeting.  One leader telling me I was terrible and put me on a probationary period. One leader telling me I was amazing and that I had given 300%.  It was massive back and forth confusion for me. As they instructed me as to how I should preform from this day out, the neutral leader I most respected said, "If you don't inform these people as to what your role is, they are going to be confused, you need to educate them on your role.  You are simply a coffee cup counselor".  If I was confused before...I wasn't anymore.

He might have just stabbed me in the heart. It would have hurt less.

I ended up leaving that dream job...based on many things, but this was the defining moment that sealed the deal.  Why?  Because of course, it coincided with all the other 5 defining moments in my life, and those that had been newly added from other hurts and solidified the truth of that statement.  I loved the job, I was very capable of doing the work...but I was nothing but a coffee cup counselor.

Until, I believe otherwise, I am stuck and will always be a coffee cup counselor.  Or, unless I see it differently...

As a hurtful stab, A friend at work purchased me a book called "Coffee Cup Counseling" by Harold Salsa.  No idea what it was about. I left it sitting on my desk for my respected leader to see.  After I quit my dream career, I read it.  It said... most people don't run off and pay for psychologists every time they have a problem.  They go to friends who will listen and perhaps will speak truth into their lives.  Because of that, many times, a friend can have more impact.  Maybe this respected leader was right...maybe I like to be a coffee cup counselor. Perhaps that is what he meant all along...

So next time you speak, remember that in your words you have the ability to speak life, or speak death. You have the power to lift up and tear down.  You have the power to set heaven's ways in motion, or hell's.  Yes,... YOU...and you get to choose what power you are releasing.  Will there be people that choose to release hell...yes.  Why doesn't God stop that you ask? He will, but until now, he has given us the power of choice.  So choose.

I remember going to Bible Study for the first time and sitting around a table with others and feeling like I could have just entered into another country.  I had no idea what the Pastor was talking about.  He would say a couple words and the study group would finish it.  I was amazed. "Wow" I thought, "these people are really smart".  I sat there in silence hoping no one would call on me to answer any of these half spoken sentences, because I would have no clue.  Unless of course they asked me what John 3:16 was.  Then I would look smart like them because it was the only verse out of the Bible I knew.

John 3:16 was my dead seed.

I began reading the Bible and I had come to Pastor with this question.  "Does Begot, mean have sexual relations with?"  I will never forget the look on his face.  I said, well I got to thinking and reading this part and look it says....  Pastor smiled.  No, it means that a child was born to them it's heritage.  I felt silly.  But in order to have children...something has to happen...I wasn't that far off.  Perhaps, we were even on the same page...just looking at it through different angles.

Probably the next month, because I read the Bible a lot, I came in and asked Pastor if it was a sin to cut my hair.  I remember the look on his face then too.  He smiled and said, no, in the Old Testament, the hair was a covering for the woman's head for prayer.  Prostitutes, who were considered sinful were the ones that cut their hair.  I remember thinking...oh my...I think I would like to grow my hair out.  (Mind you, I had a pixie cut.)

The next month, I came in and was devastated because the Bible said that woman should not speak in church.  They should sit quietly and not cause any trouble.  If they had questions, they should keep quiet and ask their husbands when they got home.  So does that mean that God wouldn't want me to teach?  Pastor smiled.  Back then he said, the woman sat on one side of the church and the men on the other, and if they had questions for their husband during the service it would cause interruption because they would have to talk across the church.

Later my questions got deeper...like my thoughts on the Nephilim and God destroying that creation.  Things like if the Lazarus that was brought back from the dead, and Jesus wept for, was the same Lazarus that was in Abraham's bosom in paradise.  Because it would make sense that God would feel bad for dragging Lazarus out of a safe place to be brought back only to be stoned by people.  

My husband loves Pinterest.  Right now he is experimenting  with taking some dead seeds and putting them in a jar.  He waters them and they are supposed to sprout something and then it is supposed to be good and nourishing to feed to the animals.

Interesting to me, is how God can take a jar of dead seeds and open up a story for me to share with you.

Because you see...we are like dead seeds before we come to Christ.  Just dead.  Maybe not the kind where life is ended, but the kind where there is a void in your life.  Like spiritually dead.  But what happens when you open that book we call the Bible is nothing less than amazing.  We start to ask questions.  We seek answers, and Pastors and Christian friends can help water those seeds.  If you sit too long, however, without some sort of care, those seeds will start to get moldy.  But if cared for, and watered and drained properly, those seeds will begin to spout...they have this new life that comes out of them...it's just this strange little white thing that pokes out of the seed...and pretty soon it starts to grow.  If it's at the bottom of the jar, it might take a little while for that sprout to reach the surface.  When it does, it starts to become a full grown plant.  When that plant is ready, it is given to someone else to eat for nourishment.  One seed alone won't feed anyone for long, but when it becomes one plant it becomes a meal.  Eventually that plant dies, but not before it sees that it has produced an entire head full of dead seeds, who will then have the same effect as the one dead seed that started this cycle.

Yeah...those are the things God talks with me about.  Pretty cool from a dead seed that started a Bible Study just 10 short years ago.  So you see, it doesn't matter what stage of a seed you are in...there is always hope, and always purpose.

I am one of those very intense people pleasers.  I find the adverse effect of this behavior shutting down and roller coaster depression.  It's easy to become a chameleon with an extremely amazing ability to adapt to any color around you.  The interesting thing about that is that you can change your color so many times, you become invisible and lost, because you really don't know what color is really the color you were created to be. 

I have an interesting time with social media to say the least, for a chameleon it becomes color overload.  Every post, is anxiety, because either someone is not going to "like" it.  No one ever "shares" it, and the comment is there to either socialize or give your opinion.  Now to a people pleaser, it is imperative that they are constantly encouraged and approved of, otherwise they instantly believe that they don't belong to that color and they will change, and they will continue to do so until they implode. When a Chameleon implodes, they disappear with their surroundings. This happens to a Chameleons because of their reactions to their surroundings.

I find that the best way to overcome the need to be a Chameleon is to jump into the Word of God.  There is some tough stuff in there, you will have to face about yourself.  There is also truth in there, to help you untwist the lies.  There is no condemnation, there is no rejection, there is no instruction that you can not bare.  God doesn't ask you to change your color, he asks you to be your color. This sometimes isn't the color you've become...so sometimes hard change is necessary.

People have all sorts of opinions, and if you listen to them, you will become quite confused and more than likely a large ball of depression.  If you listen to what God says, your confusion will lessen, your perspective will become clear, and you will find joy in HIS companionship.  If you seek loyalty of man, over loyalty to God...you will always be let down.

​There are 31 Proverbs for 31 days in a long month.  There is much wisdom in there.  Take some time this month to read the Proverb of the Day!

Would you be angry if Jeffery Dahmer was in heaven?  I just want you to think about what that means to you?  Do you get to decide where he goes by judging him in a courtroom?  By proving this man was guilty, and he was, does that mean that upon his death he will enter eternity in hell? Or would you pray that God would send him to hell?  Would you be angry if you were told, Jeffery Dahmer was in heaven?

We spend a lot of time on social media telling people that we don't want to be judged.  But we all judge something.  Don't we?  We would never put our sins in the same ball park as Jeffery Dahmer, but what makes your sin different from his?  If you say that your sin is not as terrible...then are you judging? How does one keep themselves from judging others, when it is such an important topic on our Social Media pages?

When you watch how a Christian behaves and they do something you don't like, are you judging them whether you say it or not?  When you want them to stop pointing out your sins because it makes you feel uneasy, is that wrong?  We are told to be genuine in our evaluations of ourselves, that we should not be fake, but real.  When you see something that angers you, is it ok to be angry?   I think we should go ahead and point out sin as long as we know what the Bible says about the matter first.  But instead we stuff it, because we don't want to appear to others as "hateful christians".  We are in constant censorship, deciding what conversations to get in and what not to, because we fear it might challenge your relationship with Christ, the church, or your image of ourselves.  But the Bible does say to hate what is evil.  If you hate evil...is that judgmental?  Is sin evil?  Is it ok to hate what Jeffrey Dahmer did.  Because I do.

​I took a look at my boys the other day.  Each of them are completely different from the other. The only thing that is the same is their relationship with Jesus and they have the same Mother and Father.  Other than that...they are complete opposites. One loves computers, and strategic programming,  loves music and comedy and is very passive in nature.  The other one loves sports, hunting, fishing, working on the farm outside, and is very emotionally charged.   If you would ask them which one of themselves is better than the other, they would each say themselves.  I'm pretty sure of it.  They were both raised to be confident in who they are and in their own abilities.  If, on the other hand, you asked their Dad or I which one of them was better, there is no way we could answer.  Absolutely not.  They are both perfect to us in their own ways and in their own abilities.  Even if one of them did something wrong, it wouldn't change which one is better, love is love, there is no competition in that.

I think of the disciples fighting like my kids would about "who is greater in heaven".  We all have this thing about needing to feel like we are important because of the job we hold, the work we do, the volunteering we give, the money we provide.  Is the little old lady in the nursing home that can no longer walk, talk, or eat by herself, any less then a Pastor like Bill Johnson?  Or if you answered, would you be judging?

We do judge, that is why we don't want to be judged.  Because we go by the standards that we set in our own perimeters of what is good and bad.  We base those decisions on the things people have done, either to us or to others.  We choose our friendships carefully and we never say anything that might set a fire.  As long as we don't say what we are really thinking, perhaps no one else can judge us.  

So I ask you again, if you were to be standing next to Jeffrey Dahmer and I asked God to tell us which he loved more.  You or him.  What do you suppose HIS answer might be?  I have no idea where this man has ended up in eternity.  In my own head, I've decided where I believe he is, but then that would be me judging him and not God, and I don't want God's job.  But as a Christian, I would have very boldly pointed out his "SIN". Would that have been wrong if I offended him or hurt his feelings?  I don't want anyone thinking that I would condom such evil behavior.  I would never tolerate such things, nor tell anyone that it was ok.   What he did to those babies was sinful and wrong, and as a Christian I am not going to sit back and say it was ok.  It wasn't.  So is it OK to point out and judge the sin?

God has told us, not to compare ourselves to others.  It's taken me a very long time to understand that, mostly because of things that were bedded deep in my own head.  If I have to get in front of the board, or be called in the office of my boss, if I have to talk to "important" people I shake like a leaf on a windy day.  My insides turn and I want to throw up.  Why?  Because in my mind, they are better than me.  I have nothing of status of any sort, not a famous name, not money, not any sort of important job, in my head I'm a nobody. I am an encourager, but a Servant, or a Pastor seems a whole lot more needed and effective than just someone that shares words, except when those words are God's words...did you know they will never go out void? My husband on the other hand, has no issues talking to anyone, regardless of their financial or leadership status.  He doesn't feel less then them, no matter what position they hold.  It's amazing to see, he is confident in who he was created to be, and doesn't see himself as less.  

God has asked us to have a one on one relationship with him.  He gives us the Bible for instruction.  We can trust it, even when we can't trust others.  The God that created you does not see you by your job, your works, or your talent.  He sees you as a little child.  He sees your trust in Him. Whoever comes to him will never be turned away.  Some people do not tolerate children very well.  I think it's sad to see.  They think they are burdensome and in the way. They don't want them interfering with 'adult' stuff.  Children don't worry about the work that needs to be done, or what kind of impact they are having on the world, they are just playing and loving.  They forgive easy, they depend on their mommies and daddies.  They don't pick and choose friends based on color, religion or sexual orientation.  We don't think about that until we start making boundaries, setting up perimeters, becoming adults start judging and becoming "tempted with sin".  Little children are not afraid of making new friends, or how much money their family makes. 

God does not choose favorites and neither do little children.  Only adults do.  But here is the key.  NOT EVERY ROAD LEADS TO HEAVEN.  The Bible is clear on that.  So next time you feel that someone is judging you, especially someone that loves Jesus and reads his words, instead of getting angry right away, stop and see what Jesus says about the thing you are being judged for.  Satan is tricky and sin presents itself as subtle.  We fight for sin sometimes, because our flesh tells us it's ok to feed it, but the Holy Spirit tells our spirit it is not ok.  We all struggle with some sort of sin, all of us.  It is what makes the world go round.  We are all fighting some sort of battle.  So next time, instead of waging war against each other, how about we lock arms and wage war against sin instead.

I always wondered why the Father of "cinder" Ella didn't do anything against the wicked step mother and step sisters.  Why didn't he stop the abuse?

I began reading about God's promise to Abram, married to Sarai. He promised him a son.  I've read this story many times, but never the way I've looked at it this week.  

So Abram must have told Sarai of this promise and she does not believe God will give her and Abram a baby because they are too old. She decides to "play God" and make the baby happen her way, anticipating it will belong to her.  She has a maidservant named Hagar, who must do anything that Sarai tells her to do.  She has no choices.  So Sarai TAKES Hagar and GIVES her to her husband.  In other wards, against Hagar's freewill she forces her to have sexual relations with her willing husband Abram.

I can't see where God's promise was to anyone but Abram.  Certainly God knew what was going to happen?

A baby is conceived.  The step child, as far as Sarai was concern - Ismael.  Hagar has contempt for Sarai.  We are not told why but we can make assumptions.  Perhaps she became prideful and felt a sense of power because she was going to be the mother of Abrams first born.  Perhaps she was cold and bitter against Sarai because she was forced to have relations with Abram against her will.  Either way bitteroot appears to have set in.  

Sarai apparently feels this dissension and the blame game begins.  Adam and Eve did this too.  Everyone wants someone to blame when they make mistakes and don't want to own up to them, don't they?  It's hard and nearly impossible for people to say they are sorry for hurting others when they do.  We have an amazing way of twisting the scenarios around to make it someone else's fault.  In this case, after pointing fingers at each other, they decide it's Hagar's fault.  Hagar...remind you had no choice in the matter, she had to do what she was told.  She was a servant.  

After being probably beat and shamed, with no help from Abram, Hagar runs away.  But God, through an angel, goes after her and tells her to go back and endure the harsh treatment from Sarai.  My question is why?  God does this several times...in the Bible. Our loving God tells us to instead of running away, go back and "take it".  God doesn't leave her without a promise.  He says that he will be giving her a son, Ishmael, which name means "God hears".   He tells her that her son will have a great nation as well.  Have you ever had to endure a abusive situation, and you wondered where God was in it?  God heard your cries, just like he did Hagar.

So Hagar returns, because instead of laughing at God's promise, she trusts and believes it. So despite the abuse, she goes back and "takes it". Sometime later she delivers Ishmael. The promise that "God hears".

God changes Abram and Sarai's name to Abraham and Sarah. God seems to give us new names when he gives us new natures and let's us start again.  He makes all things new and old things pass away.  Abraham will become the father of "many nations".  Unity.

God then comes to Abram and Sarai and gives them a NEW covenant.  He gives them a fresh start.  They will be given a child, and this covenant he is making will be through this son Isaac. He will also bless Ishmael.  So Abraham and Sarah are named the Father and Mother of many nations. I'm not sure if either Abraham or Sarah believed God's promised, because they both laughed and doubted because they were so old.

Isaac is born and all seems peaceful, however sometime later, an incident occurs where Sarah catches Hagar and Ishmael making fun of Isaac.  Now I can only assume that it's because the bitter root that grew in Hagar for being forced to have relations with Abraham by Sarah, then treated harshly, having her son be excluded from his birthright in her eyes made her feel hateful towards Isaac.  It's hard not to get jealous when family members lift one child higher than the other.  But God tells Abraham to send the servant Hagar away and do just as Sarah wants.  He promises that he will bless Ishmael.

But...if you were Hagar would you have felt cheated?  Not only by Abraham and Sarah, but also by God?   Hagar is sent away with a little food, and water with her son on her shoulder and hope is lost when she runs out and lays her son down to die.  As a mother and a step child, my heart aches for Hagar.  God promises Hagar that Ismael will become a great nation and opens her eyes to see the well of water, and Ishmael grows to be successful.  Perhaps if she would have stayed...the hate would have grown like Cain and Abel, but instead, God made a way.

We don't always understand God's decisions and direction, sometimes when other people make mistakes, we pay the price. But we can trust His promises that he will keep us in his care.  God later sent his very own Son, Jesus, to be tortured and killed to carry the burden of our sins so that we can have free access to God. I hear people say, I couldn't have sent my son, I would have gone to take the pain myself.  Exactly.  God did something for us that we may never understand or grab hold of fully.  But he did it.  So even if God doesn't seem like he is there or that he understands, he let his Son take the punishment of your sins...because you are his adopted son's and daughters...and he let his son, Jesus, pay the price for you, because HE CHOSE YOU.

And unlike Cinder Ella's father, who did nothing to take away her pain and suffering, instead a Prince came and freed her from slavery and bondage.  He gave her a new life, and a new name, Cinderella, and he gave her a new heart, that welcomed her step-mother and step-sisters in, even after all they had done.  Just like Jesus does.

Our ways are not God's ways...but we can trust that God's way always has a happy ending.

My husband and I had marital issues twice in the lifetime of our 24 year relationship that were severe enough to see outside counseling.  Both times we sought the counsel of a Pastor.  The first time, however, we went to a Pastor that had never gone through the issues we faced.  Although, he was an outstanding Pastor, the resolve, although correct, was simply reciting words without emotion, because he couldn't relate.  It worked...because I believe scripture and the power of God can change anyone who is willing. The second time, we sought another Pastor, because it was rumored that he had been through a similar ordeal. His situation was nothing like ours, except similar in nature. Because that Pastor could relate, however, it was easier to speak Scripture into our lives with emotions and feeling.  I know, everyone hates that "feeling" thing in the church, like it is some evil twin of faith, but when it's needed, it's needed.  No one wants a hug from someone that is cold and stiff...you can definitely tell the difference from a warm embrace.

I was thinking after a hard day for me yesterday, why some of us can let issues go, while others take a very intense emotional roller coaster ride.  Why some of us Christians are called a hypocrite, while others are called angels.  While some Christians have dirty faces like me, and some shine bright.  Some Christians are accepted and loved, others are scoffed at.  I recalled a conversation that I had with another member of the church.  I shared about the pain of mental abuses, physical abuses, sexual abuses.  I shared about alcoholic and illegal and prescribed drug addicted lifestyles, I shared what it felt like to grow up with 3 Dads. What it was like to go through a broken marriage, broken friendships, instability and all the scars that come with those lifestyles.  After I dumped all that garbage all over the floor, she looked at it and said, I don't know what it's like to be in that...my family was very loving growing up, but I do understand your hurt, and even through I don't understand, Jesus does. 

So the age old answer then is...than if Jesus loves his children, why didn't he stop it?  Did he love her more?

I listen to people say God instantly healed them...while in some cases, I have received the same miracles, and yet there are some scars inside of me that seem to be cut open at the onset of a similar situation and I begin bleeding uncontrollably...like the woman with the issue of blood for 12 yrs.

I listen to people say what an emotional drain it is to work with people like this, because it's like "these people" don't want to get it.  Or they "refuse to receive it".  They just feel more comfortable in the drama, it's like a security blanket for them.  I get instantly angry, because I guarantee that these scars are anything but comforting.  After awhile you just withdraw because you are so tired of sharing garbage with people and being such an emotional burden that it's better to be alone. And people will let you stay that way, because to a person that doesn't have those colored glasses, you will see them as a bi-polar mess.  But it's hard to walk alone and sometimes scars stay for years.  I bet that is why that guy laid at the pool of Bethesda for 38 years. People got tired of listening to him whine about no one helping him in the pool, and when he tried to drag himself in, someone always beat him.

I had a nice visit with a couple friends going through these types of similar feelings the last couple weeks.  No one had really stopped to check on these people. I get that. Both had gone through some EXTREMELY PAINFUL situations.  They are both trying to get through the only means they know how.  Sometimes during these times, it's best to check on them often. God spoke to me for both, I believe, although, it's hard to tell some days...and asked me to provide them a message.  Both basically consisting of Christ not always being in a "perfect church setting" where people have been brought up in Christian homes, their financial needs were nearly always there, they didn't have to struggle with scars of mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, alcohol, drugs and broken homes... but instead, God is in that fiery furnace, standing beside you.  It doesn't feel good, and it sucks, but, keep a hold of Jesus no matter what you do.

You can call me a hypocrite Christian, or dramatic bi-polar, you can stay away if you wish because it's too much for you to handle.  Most days it is for me too.  Most times you don't have to stay away, people like this will push you away, because frankly they don't want to handle one more rejection or perfect person to call them crazy. But one thing I know, is that Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood after 12 yrs, he healed the man at Bethesda after 38.  People aren't the answer anyway...Jesus is.

So next time you hear someone say that we shouldn't talk about Jesus, or that we are just a hypocrite...just smile and wear it like a badge, because you know that with Jesus, you have overcome things that most people can't.  There are people everywhere sitting lonely in their homes contemplating their own lives, because they don't want to share their twisted garbage with anyone.  They don't want to be truthful and appear weak and insane to others.  They want to look strong and successful.  If someone could just stop to tell them, they are ok...and that the answer is Jesus.  If someone knew what they were "feeling" it would be easier to speak into their lives because you've gone through it yourself.  You can go to someone who has the right scriptures but never has experienced it and it will work, because God's word will never go out void.  Or, you can find some hypocrite Christian that has lived it, gone through it, and Jesus healed them...either way...  

Jesus is the answer and you are not an emotional drain, because HE has en endless supply of life giving water.

So let's say that you believe that God saved and "called" you for a higher purpose.  We like to call it the "Great Commission" it is found in Matthew 28:16-20.  But if you are not familar with it yet, just click on the link I provided and it will take you there.  So now what?  You are called to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded you.

Reading the Bible...you can be encouraged and really feel good bout being called.  It's a great feeling!!!  Let's get to it!  Tell everyone we can. Shout it from the rooftops, until everyone knows how amazing Jesus is!!!

Powerful isn't it!!!

Now...let's get real....

So your first assignment might be to believe in yourself and your ability...but you have all this "past baggage" that follows you around that tells you that you are worthless.  You are a hypocrite.  You can't teach, you can't possibly believe that who you used to be can be a witness to anyone, they'd never believe you or listen to you, and why should they?  Who are you to tell them anything?

Next, friends start dropping off left and right.  You've just taken this "Jesus" thing much too far.  You are a freak, a holy roller, a Bible thumper, a hypocrite.  You don't drink, don't smoke, don't swear, you don't go to the bars or clubs anymore, you just are not fun.  Matter of fact, you are a fun hater and a joy killer!

Further, you come across a couple that is having marital problems.  You speak into their lives, and nothing happens.  They begin to have affairs with other people, you share with them that it is wrong, that they are hurting themselves and their family.  They scoff at you, and spite you for meddling in their lives.

You are led to pray for someone who is dying of Cancer.  They get sicker and die.  Your prayers didn't appear to help anything.  Matter of fact most of the rest of the family now hates you because you provided false hope to them!

You encounter a homosexual couple who have just heard that the law passed that they can now be married.  Because you truly love these individuals, you as loving as you can, try to explain the Bible's views on the matter.  You share that if homosexuality was about "love" it would not be sin, it's the "sexual nature", as it is with porn, adultery, sex before marriage, molestation, incest, it's about the sexual content, not the love... and they are not synonymous. You are exploded with rainbows and hate mail, about how hateful and spiteful you are that you would say such terrible things!  Christians are hypocrites and haters!

Let's not mention, that you caught someone in church lying and you felt the need to confront them.  It made it really uncomfortable and all of a sudden you were the yeast of the church and being cast out for Satan to sift because how dare you make trouble or say something against one of your brothers in sisters in Christ?  You are doing what they call dissension in the church!  You should be cast out, ignored, and shunned!

Or, about the battles we have around the "Bible Study" table because we have more "types" of religious choices and doctrines than we have nationalities. We can choose whatever man made path we want to take, and it blurs the true gospel of Christ.  We begin arguing our points and battling in the walls of the church to create even more division and perhaps just one more religious doctrine if we are lucky that might actually fit "our" belief system.

So why would we want to possibly be called to this "Great Commission".  What is so great about it?  It sure doesn't seem like a great amazing life, it sure doesn't seem like an easy beautiful amazing miracle.  It doesn't seem like we were "saved" it feels more like a prison sentence!

Because God....

You know that baggage that you used to carry around with you?  At some point, you trusted that God could carry it for you.  You let it go, and now you are walking in freedom.  You no longer feel guilty for the things you did in the past.  Although you know the things were wrong, you have asked for forgiveness, you are not doing it any longer and you've been forgiven.

You know those friends that walked away.  One by one, they all realize that when the time came "Jesus" was the only one they could turn to for the issue that arose, and you were the only one that came to mind that they knew that they believe "really knew" him (Jesus). They've seen the things you've walked through and they need a little help with prayer. Their prayer was answered in a way that only they would understand and now they know that you are not crazy...they even picked a favorite scripture.

You know that couple that were having affairs?  They now know Jesus as their Savior.  They have 3 kids and they are all now praying at the supper table.  Praying for their children.  Their children are not into drugs, they are into loving people.  They are touching other people that are going through marital issues.  They are modeling a Christ marriage, and they are investing and impacting marriages everywhere they go.

That cancer patient that died?  Well they had a family member that was there that needed to hear the prayers because now they are battling a sickness, but this time when they prayed God provided a healing answer instead of a "coming home" answer and you saw a miracle that increased your faith. They provided a testimony to someone else that needed prayer and now they are laying hands on people and releasing God's healing miracles everywhere they go!

That homosexual couple?  They no longer hated you, they began reading the Bible together, believing the word of God, they began to find love in deeper places, they were released of any condemnation from hateful comments, they were thrown into a deeper relationship with each other.  They did not have to break their relationship, it just "changed". They were able to speak into lives all over and release the true promise of the rainbow.  They lived in freedom.

Those church conflicts?  Did you know that iron sharpens iron? Did you know that they learned how to "discuss" hard topics.  They learned to not lean on their own understanding, but instead to "seek the word of God".  They didn't have to be right.  God did.

I've seen it With my own two eyes.  I've seen God time after time, take a nasty dirty situation. Add a willing vessel like you or me.  Throw them into a fiery furnace.  Stand beside them through it all and watched them walk out refined and stronger than ever with all their chains removed.

That's what is so good about this "Great Commission".  God does it for anyone who asks...and "no one" that receives.... ever gets left behind.  

I, personally, think it's worth it.

 

I am currently enjoying a a 6 season series called "Lost" on Netflix.  Many people have watched the series, and I will definitely be watching it again.  I am on season 5 and I have already picked out my favorite character, although I've changed my mind several times throughout the seasons.  I find myself so wrapped up in what they are doing or why, or what the point is, or what is going on, that each episode captures my attention for the anticipation of a new adventure.

My favorite character in all... (which I won't share who it is) has an amazing amount of confidence.  I would call it "swagger".  What draws me to this individual is not the perfectness of their choices or actions, but instead the confidence and swagger they carry.  Does this character make mistakes?  Yep. This character is not the star, and many times throughout the show this character messes up A LOT!  But there are a few scenes that brings us to see their heart, and that's what blows me away!

We can sure put on a show for people can't we?  A show on the outside that we want people to believe, because if we allowed them access to our heart, people might destroy it.  Why would we offer such a valuable organ to people that do not know the value of it's carrier?

I love vulnerable.  I love real.  I love that we can mess up a lot, make really poor choices, and yet, we can still love, we can still move on.  We can pick up the pieces and start again.  I love pieces, a million busted up, scattered pieces.  The more the better...because I've seen God pick up a million shattered pieces and create a NEW masterpiece.  Want to know how to win my loyalty?  Trust me with confidence in telling me something, you wouldn't trust anyone else with.   I love confidence.  I am drawn to it.  Like the confidence of a police officer that has to uphold the law when he is being spit at, cussed at, or called a "pig".  Like the confidence of someone that can take a nasty remark, smile and nod and come up with a mirrored reflection that just bounces off and never leaves a mark.  Confidence like John Travolta when he just gets done performing the greatest dance show ever and brakes free from the adulterous woman in Staying Alive.... swagger.

We can most definitely have that same confidence in Christ.  There is no need to hide our light or use Christianity to defend.  We do not need to be ashamed because of the God we serve.  We don't have to worry about what the world might do, or the devil might tempt us with....we have Christ.  The Bible tells us that we were not given a spirit of being timid.  We were provided with a Christian "Swagger".  It doesn't look like arrogance, it looks like confidence.  We don't have to push our views, we don't have to join in the games of the world...we need to overcome, resist, stand, we need to share, to pray to walk along side those that are seeking.  We need to look different than the average world.  People will be drawn to the "swagger".  No one wants to have something that you have to hang your head down at, cry all the time, full of problems and issues...although that will always be part of "real life."  People do not want to see Christians acting the same way the world acts, or coming up with some new age movement that blurs Jesus with Witchcraft. They want to see steadfast, immovable, never changing.  They want and need stability, structure, confidence and assurance.  People want to know that the God they trust in, still answers prayers, still gives peace where it seems impossible, still provides hope. People want to see that even though "real life" happens, they can still strut in confidence that "God's Got This!"