Sacrifice

Short thought for the day. When was the last time you didn't go to work, or you skipped a class because you had a headache, or you were stressed, or too busy, or had cramps? Honestly, I don't hear of people missing work at all for things like that. Unfortunately, I hear these excuses from people all the time when it comes to going to church. And I'm not talking about people who come because someone is guilting them into it, but people who truly confess to love the body of Christ. Not only are you giving up worship, fellowship, ministry, etc…but the body suffers as well. Weigh the consequences. Be careful and mindful of what you're sacrificing. And yes, I use the word sacrifice (which means the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.) What are you considering to have a higher or more pressing claim than corporate worship?

Networking...duh duh duuuuhhhhhh!!!!

Lets talk about facebook, blogging, or whatever your venue is. If your friends list is anything like mine, there are a lot of people who see my profile or blog who live miles and miles away from me. What they know about me is through my statuses, blogs, pictures, etc. What do they see? Shouldn't it be Christ that they see through me? Unfortunately these venues are often used as a way to "vent" or a way to say things that you want to say in a way that you feel there will be "no consequences" for since you're "just venting". When you sit down and take the time to update your status or blog…you're taking time out of your day to tell me what's standing out the most. So what's standing out the most? Things that have nothing to do with the grace and mercy of our wonderful Savior, but rather things that annoy you or things that your frustrated about. I understand people need ways to "vent". But as Christians, our "way" should be and needs to be different from the world. You have things that frustrate you or annoy you? It's not something you need to tell everyone about…being easily frustrated is nothing less than sin and being easily annoyed shows your lack of patience. These things need to be taken to the Lord…not to your social network. Often times these statements are just thrown out there unjustified…with no reference as to how Christ is sanctifying you through the situation. Are you being sanctified? Are you allowing these things to overcome you? I don't know…because you don't post about things like that, and to me that would be much more important than the other issues. Christ's redemptive work should always be more important.

Freedom

The dictionary defines freedom as the following…

1. the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint: He won his freedom after a retrial.
2. exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.
3. the power to determine action without restraint.
4. political or national independence.
5. personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery: a slave who bought his freedom.
6. exemption from the presence of anything specified (usually fol. by from ): freedom from fear.
7. the absence of or release from ties, obligations, etc.

…and believe it or not they had TEN MORE definitions of freedom! Most of them sounded a lot like the definitions above. As Christians, what is our definition of freedom? I can tell you this, it's nothing like what the dictionary defines it to be! Just look at definition #2 or even #6.
What is our definition?
Now don't get me wrong, we definitely have freedom! 2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." But it's not freedom from ties, regulations, commitments, or duties. Our freedom is from evil! Romans 8:21 "…creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God" Those sins that once held us captive now no longer confine us. NOW we have the freedom to pursue righteousness through Christ. Here's what I'm trying to get at…having "freedom" isn't being commitment free. True freedom comes through Christ which commits you to a life time of righteousness and ministry.
We need to be mindful of how we portray our definition of freedom. I remember having the summers off during high school and middle school and portraying my "freedom" of no homework as watching TV all day, going to the beach, or sleeping in until 1 in the afternoon. Now TV, sleep, and the beach aren't bad things (depending on how you use them), but my point is that I justified my LAZINESS as freedom. 1 Peter 2:16 totally addresses this type of living "live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover up of evil, but living as servants for God." Some Christians define freedom through the liberties they decide to pursue. For the sake of conflict I won't get into that too much right now. But how we DEFINE freedom isn't through our pursuit of liberty (what movies you can watch, whether smoking or alcohol consumption is okay, etc); our definition of freedom should be as clear as scripture. So what does scripture say... are you ready for this: Galations 5:13 "For you were called to freedom brothers. Only, do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." BAM! It doesn't get much clearer than that…our freedom calls us to love others and serve them.
My intentions with this post isn't to give you a list of things you can't do; just the same, my intentions with this post isn't to give you a list of things you have to do. I pray you take this opportunity to search yourself and see which definition of freedom you've been pursuing/portraying. 2 Peter 2:19 says "whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved."

Temperaments

Tonight in Women's Biblical Guidance, Pastor Kenny talked about something that's been on my mind constantly for the past week. In a nut shell he was talking about people who excuse their temperaments on "that's just the way God created me" as if they can't help it. As Christians this just isn't acceptable!

Amber R, Nikki T, and I have been memorizing Colossians 3. Verse 12 says "put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience". If I'm being honest I didn't really understand why the verse started with 'put on'. HELLO! These things don't come naturally...our sin nature is everything opposite of these qualities. It's our responsibility as children of God to pursue ('put on') these things and not excuse our sin when we fail in these areas. Patience is still something I struggle with and seek help and strength from the Lord. Anyone who knows me could tell you that I often lack compassion in certain situations. This isn't because God created me that way; it's years of habitual sin in my life previous to salvation (passed down from Adam...not from God).

"What about people who aren't Christians and are kind and compassionate?" This is what I'll say about that, (and please correct me if I'm wrong or if this isn't Biblical) their 'kindness and compassion' is tainted with pride and done under selfish motivations...which in return isn't true kindness or compassion at all. There is no way they're honoring a God they don't even believe in...they completely lack humility. These qualities are meant exclusively for Christians. A lost person would see no significance in these characteristics because everything inside them goes against them.

All I'm saying is that I hope I never hear a Christian again try to justify their lack of compassion, patience, meekness, humility, or kindness on the way they were "created". I think it's important that we're all transparent with each other and realize that these things may never be fully, righteously achieved here on Earth; however, WE need to take responsibility for it, not blame it on God.

On another note, I had some sweet sweet fellowship with some middle school girls tonight after church in KFC. They were asking about my testimony and I was so encouraged by their attentiveness and their own testimonies. I had the opportunity to be extremely honest with them and shared some really personal stories with them that I haven't shared with very many people....at all. But it was so important to me that they knew that I haven't lived a perfect christian life, but at the same time God has spared me from so much sin that I could have fallen into. Man...they were just so eager to listen and learn! I pray that I said the right things and that they'll seek Christ more and trust in His strength instead of their own.

Something New

Not that I have anything important to say or anything that will be more significant than what the Word will bring you, but I pray that this will be an oppertunity for me to let any readers know how to pray for me better and also encourage any readers in ways to push them towards Christ. Also, I've been praying that the Lord would teach me to apply James 1:19 "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, SLOW TO SPEAK, slow to anger;". For some reason I have a lot to say and unfortunately I tend to say things with out thinking. I believe this will be a great oppertunity for me to take the time to express the thoughts and convictions that the Lord has given me in a gracious and thought out way. WARNING: I'm not good or fluent in writing. Forgive me if my grammar or spelling is incorrect or if my thoughts seem unorganized:)