My church is ending tomorrow.
On Palm Sunday.
I will be sad.
I get a new church next week.
On Easter Sunday.
I will be happy.
Today, I'm sort of confused.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Scary Story
This Sunday I was on the way home from Camp Sumatanga and Young Adult Chrysalis #66. It had been a wonderful weekend and I felt God's presence so much. I was driving home, and somewhere between Oneonta and Hartselle I started feeling scared. I knew that so much good had been done in the name of Jesus over the weekend that the devil had to be mad about it. I could suddenly feel the evil around me almost as strongly as I had felt the Good just moments before. I was driving through the woods, total darkness and looming trees all around me. I am always paranoid that a deer is about to come hit me when I am driving alone at night (it's happened before), and I just knew that something bad was about to happen. I called out to God, "Father, save me from this evil. Or, if I need to die tonight to fulfill some higher purpose, I am fine with that too. I am happy with the good I did this weekend and can't wait to go to Heaven and be with You." I know this sounds melodramatic, but I had this overwhelming feeling that I was about to die. This was a totally new experience for me. I have never felt evil before, and I have certainly never told anyone about it. After I finished praying, I felt God's peace enter me and I knew that He was with me. I tensely gripped my steering wheel and stared as hard as I could at the road, just waiting for the big deer that was about to cross my path. Not even thirty seconds later, something did run in front of my car.
It was a cat.
I slammed on my brakes and let the cat pass in front of my car. I took a deep breath, and burst into laughter. My God has such power, and such a sense of humor! Instead of just banishing the evil and letting me think I was crazy, he sent me a message to make me smile! I love Him so.
It was a cat.
I slammed on my brakes and let the cat pass in front of my car. I took a deep breath, and burst into laughter. My God has such power, and such a sense of humor! Instead of just banishing the evil and letting me think I was crazy, he sent me a message to make me smile! I love Him so.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
About as Emo as I Get
I am not a sad person by nature. I could probably count on one hand the number of times in my life that I have felt "depressed." This week has been one of those times. It's probably a combination of a lot of things going on in my life right now. Things are changing. I have some tough decisions to make regarding my future. The earthquakes in Haiti really shook me up. And then a friend passed away unexpectedly. I know that my life is so blessed. I don't usually have much to be sad about. I am kind of taking this opportunity to have a new experience. By allowing myself to feel sad, I hope I will be able to use the memory to relate to people who are hurting. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
Monday, December 7, 2009
I wrote this and it is on the Conference website. Is it a sin to be proud of myself? :)
http://www.northalabamaumc.org/news/detail/601
http://www.northalabamaumc.org/news/detail/601
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Experiencing God and "Gettin' Saved"
Tonight, I came across a blog that is written by a lady who goes to the church where I teach preschool (she's a truck driver - which, for some reason, I think is really cool!). I have never met her, but the internet is exciting like that - it lets you get to know people you never would have otherwise. Anyway, her blog entry, HERE, compares the different types of learning to different ways of experiencing God. Everyone learns differently; some people can hear something and remember it right off, some people learn by seeing, and some need to write things down. Experiencing God in one's life is like that. Not everyone is touched by Him in the same way. Jacob had a vision of God and wrestled with Him. Elijah heard a still, small, voice. I experience God every day through my relationships with people that He has put into my path.
Junebug56 told a story on her blog about when she was a teenager and a friend told her about "getting saved." As hard as she prayed, the sixteen-year-old didn't feel a difference in her relationship with God. Then she realized that not everyone will experience that heady rush of feeling that some get when they are in God's presence. She interacts with God in her own way. I love what she says about being in a relationship with Him. "God loves me. He knows me. He does speak to me. In His own way and in mine."
Her story reminded me of a funny tale my cousins told at Thanksgiving last week. When Betsy and Cindy were teenagers, they went to a church event with a Baptist friend of theirs. When they got home, they told their mom that they had been "saved." A devoted Methodist, my aunt said "no, you did NOT get saved! You go back to school and tell those people that you did NOT get saved!" My whole family hooted as my cousins told us the story, but we related to it, too. Of course, my aunt didn't object to her daughters accepting Jesus into their hearts. I think she just objected to the public declaration of being "saved." She knew that our neighbors are not the judges of our salvation; our relationships with Christ are very personal and individual. As for me, I can't name a specific event when I "got saved." I have gradually grown in my relationship with Jesus Christ as I go throughout life, having adventures, making mistakes, and experiencing God's grace every time he forgives me yet again. (I'm so glad Jesus wasn't speaking literally when he said to forgive your neighbor 490 times. I am WAY over that benchmark, and he just keeps on forgiving me!) He speaks to me daily through my jobs, my family and friends, and sometimes through a stranger's blog. Isn't that just awesome of Him?!
Junebug56 told a story on her blog about when she was a teenager and a friend told her about "getting saved." As hard as she prayed, the sixteen-year-old didn't feel a difference in her relationship with God. Then she realized that not everyone will experience that heady rush of feeling that some get when they are in God's presence. She interacts with God in her own way. I love what she says about being in a relationship with Him. "God loves me. He knows me. He does speak to me. In His own way and in mine."
Her story reminded me of a funny tale my cousins told at Thanksgiving last week. When Betsy and Cindy were teenagers, they went to a church event with a Baptist friend of theirs. When they got home, they told their mom that they had been "saved." A devoted Methodist, my aunt said "no, you did NOT get saved! You go back to school and tell those people that you did NOT get saved!" My whole family hooted as my cousins told us the story, but we related to it, too. Of course, my aunt didn't object to her daughters accepting Jesus into their hearts. I think she just objected to the public declaration of being "saved." She knew that our neighbors are not the judges of our salvation; our relationships with Christ are very personal and individual. As for me, I can't name a specific event when I "got saved." I have gradually grown in my relationship with Jesus Christ as I go throughout life, having adventures, making mistakes, and experiencing God's grace every time he forgives me yet again. (I'm so glad Jesus wasn't speaking literally when he said to forgive your neighbor 490 times. I am WAY over that benchmark, and he just keeps on forgiving me!) He speaks to me daily through my jobs, my family and friends, and sometimes through a stranger's blog. Isn't that just awesome of Him?!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Ok God, I Get It. I'm a Chicken! Cluck, Cluck!
There's not much point in me having two blogs if I'm just going to repost everything I write on my bible blog onto this one, but I'm going to do it anyway because I'm excited about it!
Luke 19:26 (The Message). Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.
This verse is the moral of Jesus' parable about the rich man who gave his servants money to hold for him. The servants who invested it and made more money were rewarded, but the one servant who buried his in the ground was punished. I'm not sure if I really understand what Jesus was getting at - some of the parables are a bit beyond me - but I take it as a reflection on our lives as Christian. If you are a "safe" Christian, you just go about your life loving Jesus, but you don't get out into the world and spread his message of love and forgiveness. If you are the type of person that Jesus wants you to be, you do everything you can to spread the word about him, even at risk to your comfortable life.
I will readily, though not proudly, admit that I am a safe Christian. I think I mentioned in a previous post that I am not a brave or strong person at all. I'm pretty average on the courage front, even leaning a little bit towards chicken. I don't stand on high things, ride roller coasters, touch bugs, or tell strangers about Jesus. Heck, I rarely even tell my friends about Jesus! I have definitely been a chicken when it comes to following God's wishes. I always have some excuse, but usually the truth is that I'm just plain scared! It might seem to some people that this way would be the most comfortable way to live, and that is the truth! But who really wants a totally comfortable life? For all my fears, I really like adventure! I love to travel and try new things. I can't think of any greater excitement than following God's perfect plan and being his disciple. Think about the prophets. Do you think Moses, Daniel or Paul wished for a more comfortable, dull life? No! Their lives were exciting and fulfilling because of what God did through them. They weren't scared, or if they were, they didn't let it stop them! I want to let God take me on my life's greatest adventures, and with him at my side, who could be afraid?
Lord, you are the king of excitement! I don't want to be a safe Christian and only do comfortable things. I want to have adventures with you! The problem is, I'm scared. I have gotten too comfortable in my own life. I need you to shake things up! Use me for your will! I'm terrified as I'm writing this, but I know that you will give me the strength to do whatever needs to be done. Thank you so much, Father! Amen!
Luke 19:26 (The Message). Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.
This verse is the moral of Jesus' parable about the rich man who gave his servants money to hold for him. The servants who invested it and made more money were rewarded, but the one servant who buried his in the ground was punished. I'm not sure if I really understand what Jesus was getting at - some of the parables are a bit beyond me - but I take it as a reflection on our lives as Christian. If you are a "safe" Christian, you just go about your life loving Jesus, but you don't get out into the world and spread his message of love and forgiveness. If you are the type of person that Jesus wants you to be, you do everything you can to spread the word about him, even at risk to your comfortable life.
I will readily, though not proudly, admit that I am a safe Christian. I think I mentioned in a previous post that I am not a brave or strong person at all. I'm pretty average on the courage front, even leaning a little bit towards chicken. I don't stand on high things, ride roller coasters, touch bugs, or tell strangers about Jesus. Heck, I rarely even tell my friends about Jesus! I have definitely been a chicken when it comes to following God's wishes. I always have some excuse, but usually the truth is that I'm just plain scared! It might seem to some people that this way would be the most comfortable way to live, and that is the truth! But who really wants a totally comfortable life? For all my fears, I really like adventure! I love to travel and try new things. I can't think of any greater excitement than following God's perfect plan and being his disciple. Think about the prophets. Do you think Moses, Daniel or Paul wished for a more comfortable, dull life? No! Their lives were exciting and fulfilling because of what God did through them. They weren't scared, or if they were, they didn't let it stop them! I want to let God take me on my life's greatest adventures, and with him at my side, who could be afraid?
Lord, you are the king of excitement! I don't want to be a safe Christian and only do comfortable things. I want to have adventures with you! The problem is, I'm scared. I have gotten too comfortable in my own life. I need you to shake things up! Use me for your will! I'm terrified as I'm writing this, but I know that you will give me the strength to do whatever needs to be done. Thank you so much, Father! Amen!
Monday, October 5, 2009
The Stuff Challenge!
I am copying this from my bible study blog so you can see it.
Luke 18:29-30 No one who has sacrificed home, spouse, brothers and sisters, parents, children—whatever—will lose out. It will all come back multiplied many times over in your lifetime. And then the bonus of eternal life!
Jesus has been telling a rich man that the way for him to have eternal life is to give up all of his possessions. Peter, being the suck-up that he always is, chimes in with "We left everything we owned and followed you, didn't we?" Jesus tells him that they will be rewarded for their sacrifice while they're on earth, but even better, they will live forever in heaven!
The issue of material possessions is a hot one in this day and age. We are so obsessed with wealth and stuff. I love stuff. Only a few minutes ago, I caught myself getting mesmerized by a Target commercial! Stuff is a big stumbling block for me. I don't have a problem with money — I can give it away just as easily as I can spend it. It's the stuff I can buy with the money that really gets me. Oh, I know that possessions shouldn't be so important to me. I know I can't take my new shoes to heaven with me. But somehow I always turn back to shopping for a feel-good outlet. Recently, God has been putting this on my heart. One of our scriptures last week talked about worldly things and our preoccupation with them. It was Luke 12:29-32- "What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works." I woke up the next morning, which happened to be pay day, and thought, "I am not going to buy anything this month and see what happens." I knew that God had put this challenge on my heart for a reason. I was up for it, but before I could stop myself I started thinking about what cool things I could buy at the end of the month with the money I had saved. Then I heard a very distinct voice in my head say "No. Give it away." I rolled my eyes in disgust at myself. Of course, give it away! What good would it do me to go the whole month without shopping, just to blow it on November 1? So, I made a commitment to refrain from buying all the extras I usually would scoop up this month (obviously, I will need to buy things like gas and food). So far, it has been difficult but I am doing pretty well. Of course, I'm only five days in! I am definitely going to need to do a lot of praying to succeed with this challenge. I can't wait to see what God is going to accomplish in me this month!
Father God, I have read your words about not letting the things of this world take precedence over you. Then I heard it straight from you. I will need your help to accomplish the task you have given me. Thank you for not giving up on weak, material, human me. I love you so much. Amen.
Luke 18:29-30 No one who has sacrificed home, spouse, brothers and sisters, parents, children—whatever—will lose out. It will all come back multiplied many times over in your lifetime. And then the bonus of eternal life!
Jesus has been telling a rich man that the way for him to have eternal life is to give up all of his possessions. Peter, being the suck-up that he always is, chimes in with "We left everything we owned and followed you, didn't we?" Jesus tells him that they will be rewarded for their sacrifice while they're on earth, but even better, they will live forever in heaven!
The issue of material possessions is a hot one in this day and age. We are so obsessed with wealth and stuff. I love stuff. Only a few minutes ago, I caught myself getting mesmerized by a Target commercial! Stuff is a big stumbling block for me. I don't have a problem with money — I can give it away just as easily as I can spend it. It's the stuff I can buy with the money that really gets me. Oh, I know that possessions shouldn't be so important to me. I know I can't take my new shoes to heaven with me. But somehow I always turn back to shopping for a feel-good outlet. Recently, God has been putting this on my heart. One of our scriptures last week talked about worldly things and our preoccupation with them. It was Luke 12:29-32- "What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works." I woke up the next morning, which happened to be pay day, and thought, "I am not going to buy anything this month and see what happens." I knew that God had put this challenge on my heart for a reason. I was up for it, but before I could stop myself I started thinking about what cool things I could buy at the end of the month with the money I had saved. Then I heard a very distinct voice in my head say "No. Give it away." I rolled my eyes in disgust at myself. Of course, give it away! What good would it do me to go the whole month without shopping, just to blow it on November 1? So, I made a commitment to refrain from buying all the extras I usually would scoop up this month (obviously, I will need to buy things like gas and food). So far, it has been difficult but I am doing pretty well. Of course, I'm only five days in! I am definitely going to need to do a lot of praying to succeed with this challenge. I can't wait to see what God is going to accomplish in me this month!
Father God, I have read your words about not letting the things of this world take precedence over you. Then I heard it straight from you. I will need your help to accomplish the task you have given me. Thank you for not giving up on weak, material, human me. I love you so much. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)