Wednesday, February 29, 2012

I’m Not Religious, I’m just ME

This is the blog post my wife wrote this week just wanted to share it with all of you. -Curtis

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created them.

I’ve seen a lot of posts lately about being ‘religious’ vs. ‘christian’, about being religious in general and how people sometimes think religion is forced on them or that they have a hard time accepting God because they’ve witnessed hypocrites in the church. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and unfortunately man is to blame for the way some people view Christianity.

I said all that because I’ve been thinking lately. Really questioning what makes me different than other christians. Am I different? Sometimes I struggle understanding why people who say they love God don’t do anything for Him. Or can even act like they have a multiple person disorder. I know you know what I’m talking about. The people who come to church on Sundays and act like christians but then on Tuesday use sign language to appreciate the person who cut them off on the highway. So, again I’ve been thinking…

AND THIS IS MY CONCLUSION…

I am different. I have always been different. I am not from this world. Growing up before I was saved, before I knew all that Jesus had done, I never quite felt like I belonged. I was different even as a kid. I didn’t fit in. People in school and in my family teased me; I didn’t even feel normal when I was surrounded by family. They loved me, they were my family, but I still felt different, weird even. Truly, I never understood the feeling. Why I felt sort of different, out of the loop. I just knew I was. And it made growing up a little difficult. I didn’t fit into any of the clicks at school. I was a loner. That’s where I fit in best at, being by myself. And when I had great friends, I still felt like I wasn’t being my totally true self. Like a part of me was still in hiding. And even after I got saved, I felt the same way. I was still different than other christians, I at times felt like I didn’t belong. This feeling has always stayed with me. Sitting here today, I feel the same, I don’t quite fit in. But this is the revelation I have had.

You know what, it’s okay. I don’t fit in this world because this is not my home. Jesus did not create me to be normal, to be like you. And while I’ve struggled my whole life to fit in, I realize it was never my purpose to. I’m different because that’s how I was created. I only feel completely at home, completely normal, whole when I am in His presence.

I am thankful to say that I have not conformed to this world! That I have not allowed “religion” to rule my life. To say it simply, I am who I am. I am the daughter, mother, wife, friend, servant that God has called me to be. My life is just not lived on Sundays or when I am thinking someone is watching me. My life, the person who I am, who God created me to be, stays the same 7 days a week. I don’t change my attitude or thoughts for anyone or any situation.

And I think that statement is what mess’s people up. While I just stated that I don’t change for anyone that doesn’t mean that I don’t sometimes make mistakes. I’m not perfect and I mess up. And I think at times that’s where the label ‘hypocrite’ comes out so strongly. People aren’t perfect and not everyone lives there life like Christ, even if they say they do.

But ‘for me and my household we will serve the Lord’! While I am far from perfect, I strive to be like Jesus. And you know, look at Jesus’ life. Who he hung out with, who he talked to, who he surrounded himself with … He was different; he didn’t fit into the realm of normalcy. But you know the one thing He was, he was Himself. He was the person God had called him to be.
So you know what, I am going to take the stand that He took.

I AM NOT NORMAL….ODD…POPULAR

I AM NOT RELIGIOUS

I AM ME

Posted on 2/27/12 by Amy Jones at www.amylynnjones.wordpress.com
Be sure to check her stuff out!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Honor Others Not Yourself

My wife and i taught our children ministry this past week, the bible story was on Absalom. Absalom or Abe (as the kids called him) was one of the many sons of King David. As you read his story you find he does not seem like a bad guy.

In 2 Samuel chapter 13 we become aware of Absalom, we find one of Abe's brothers likes (a little too much) their sister Tamar. Abe must have known this because you can almost sense the tension in their relationship. Well the other brother, Amnon received some bad advice on how to get his sister and Amnon thinks it’s a good idea to put his buddy’s plain in place.

Well things get a little strange and Amnon ends up raping his sister and Abe finds this out and as you can imagine is NOT happy. We start at this point to see a different side of Abe, he becomes a scheming thinker on how he can get back at his brother. Well two years goes by and Abe's plan comes together to get the rest of his brothers and his servants to kill Amnon to revenge his sister.

Well needless to say Absalom and his father King David relationship becomes a little strained after all that. David would not even call Abe into his court after he moved back into town. This gets Abe a little frustrated and he starts thinking about how to get back at his father. He decides to try to take control of the kingdom and it almost works. 2 Samuel chapter 14 thru 18 tells of how he almost defeated David.

One of the things that stand out about Absalom is he started out trying to judge and justify his early action based on something that happened to his sister. But he instead of asking for forgiveness and seeking reconciliation with his father he became hurt and offended. He set out then not to honor his father or those over him but to try to get himself power.

Now Absalom in his life time had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the Kings Valley. For he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance. He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absaloms Monument. 2 Samuel 18:18

We must remember even when we think our actions are justifiable, we have to submit to those over us and honor others and it will come back to us. Not seeking power for ourselves but seeking to serve God.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

The Cost

Luke 9:23-26
23 Then He said to them all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Fathers, and of the holy angels.

Remember this week to give your life away, pick up your cross and follow Jesus! Even when it's hard and you don't think you can, He is there for you and cheering you on all the way. Be encouraged.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

A Husband and His Bride

This past week i taught a class on Hosea and we went through all the things that he went through in his life, a life that God called him to live. Let me give you the highlights of Hosea's life if you have never read the story, and i recommend you read the story.

Hosea was a prophet of God and was part of the last generation from the Northern Kingdom (Israel), and was their last messenger of the coming judgement of God. God had a hard life he wanted Hosea to live.

The book starts out with God telling Hosea to take a woman who some translations call a whore or harlot to be his wife. After a wile they had a child together and then she has two more children who most believe are not Hosea kids. Well as you can image Hosea was not excited that his wife had gone back to her old ways.

So he did what most people, man or woman would do, they split Hosea had nothing to do with her.

But then God tells Hosea to go back to her, and she had got into so much trouble she was not even a free woman anymore. So Hosea bought her from her debtor and her his wife again. So you ask yourself, why? Why would God want a man to have to live through this?

We find out that God wanted Hosea to live out what God was experiencing with Israel. So he could write this book and we could see how much God loves us. Even when we leave him and go out and do our own thing, he still loves us and is happy he already paid the price for our sins. Don't ever forget that, that God seeks after you. He is waiting for you to fully commit to Him.

Hosea 2:14-23 Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Will bring her into the wilderness, And speak comfort to her.15 I will give her her vineyards from there, And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; She shall sing there, As in the days of her youth, As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.16 And it shall be, in that day, Says the Lord, That you will call Me My Husband, And no longer call Me My Master,17 For I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, And they shall be remembered by their name no more.18 In that day I will make a covenant for them With the beasts of the field, With the birds of the air, And with the creeping things of the ground. Bow and sword of battle I will shatter from the earth, To make them lie down safely.19 I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy;20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the Lord.21 It shall come to pass in that day That I will answer, says the Lord; I will answer the heavens, And they shall answer the earth.22 The earth shall answer With grain, With new wine, And with oil; They shall answer Jezreel.23 Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, And I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; Then I will say to those who were not My people, You are My people! And they shall say, You are my God!

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Jesus is inviting Himself into our conversation.

Luke 24:13-32
 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.17 And He said to them, What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?19 And He said to them, What things?20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.25 Then He said to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.29 But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to stay with them.30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.32 And they said to one another, Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?

Here we see there are two men who are trying to figure out what will happen next after the one they followed, Jesus, has died. We need to remember that many Jews in the time of Jesus were looking for the Messiah, who was going to come and free them from the oppression they were under from the Romans. But, that's not the kind of Savior Jesus was coming to be. 

So these men were sort-of arguing or debating as to what was going to happen next. Then enters Jesus, he gets them to try to explain the way they see it, then teaches them about what is happening and why. Jesus told them that everything was happening just like the prophets of the Old Testament said it would. All these men could see is the one they followed was dead, but God had something so much more in-store and they could not see the big picture.  

God does not want you to argue about what is happening in your life if you miss the whole point about why it is happening. We  need to be looking for where God is in our situations. We realize that when Jesus shows up with these men it was not by accident. He had a purpose to everything he did, and he was trying to show his followers to be looking for the BIGGER PICTURE.