when 30 is young and wise

1 Timothy 4:12

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

In the spring of 1999 I was inducted into the Junior National Honor's Society. My family was so proud of me. My Granny bought me a beautiful light tan and white hounds tooth two piece skirt suit set. She purchased white panty hose and small white heels for me to wear. With my hair pulled back and my glasses, everyone said that I looked 13 going on 30. Teachers commented that my maturity was that of an almost 30 year old.

Fast forward 18 years, I am 30, just a few months away from 31.

And there are times I feel that I am much older than my almost 31 years.


When I started my ministry I was anxious. Why me? What could I possibly share with women about marriage at my young age and with so few years experience?

But then I remind myself of the saying, "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called." If God calls you to do something, He has a reason, and obedience is the answer.

One thing I have been working on is listening. Not just to God, but to the other "W.I.F.E.'s" in my life. I have been working on not interjecting a thought, or my own similar occurrence, but just listening. I am not perfect, but I am trying.

Here is what I have heard:

• That gorgeous woman with long blonde hair and great make up, who works outs several times a week....her husband doesn't find her attractive.
• The lady with a growing business, husband and a child, she doesn't want a 2nd child at this point. And she feels shame because everyone around her tells her she should.
• That lady with the happy little boy who is almost 2....she is experiencing secondary infertility. She wants another baby and for some reason she cannot get pregnant. She struggled to have her first child, but everyone reassured her that once she had that first baby it would be easier to conceive next time. But that has not been the case.
• That woman with a husband, two children and a great job. She struggles with self image. Her husband thinks she looks amazing, but she constantly puts herself down and struggles to see the beauty he sees.
• That young lady who has friends, a supportive family, yes with a crazy one or two and a new love interest. She takes everything personally and it is a struggle for her. She gives her all and feels crushed if something doesn't work out.

But what does the world see?

They see women who keep on going. Who go through each day, who do not quit. Life has thrown things at them, but they haven't stopped. Oh don't get me wrong, they get down, they get upset, they even scream at times, but they keep going.

And it is because of women like this that God has called me to serve the Women in Faith.

I am not sure what I am supposed to do exactly. I know I have a book to finish, and an idea for a Bible Study brewing. Beyond that right now, I am not sure. But what I have been told by God for now is to listen. And listen I will. And when I hear what I need to, I will move where God directs.

So, though I am only 30, have only been married 5 years, and only a mother 3 1/2 years, I have something to say, and say it I will. My age will not discredit me.

Dallas

Last night my husband and I watched "Risen."

I highly recommend the movie. It gave an interesting perspective of the resurrection from the eyes of a Roman soldier. It was thought provoking.

As a rule these days, my husband and I attempt to leave our phones in another room during movies so we can actually engage in the movie in front of us.

Last night after the movie we both got on our phones...

Minutes after bullets started raining in Dallas we were made aware of it. Media is a gift...media is a curse.

We are killing ourselves. America is dying.

Life matters. Blue, black, unborn. We are killing ourselves, with senseless crimes, by choice. Life no longer has value to the average person. We must stand up and fight for life.

My husband and I went to bed last night whispering about how senseless it all is. We woke up this morning and turned the news on. We turned the volume down, but children are curious. We had to explain to our daughter, in terms should could understand, what happened.

The world my children are growing up in is different then the world I grew up in.

My Pastor challenged us last week to teach our children the Bible:

¹⁸ “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ¹⁹ You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. ²⁰ And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, ²¹ that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth. - Deuteronomy 11

Folks, the Bible needs to be our everything. In the days ahead, the answers we need will only be found in scripture.

My family and I are praying for Dallas. And our country. And our future.

America is Judah - An In-Depth Look at Isaiah 5 (A continuiation of my Politics post)

Last night I shared some of my thoughts on the politics in America. And to be honest for the rest of the summer, minus something happening that calls me back, I am going to avoid the political scene. I easily get upset/stirred up/agitated by politics, which honestly is not a healthy way to live.

But before I remove myself from politics for a short season I wanted to expand on what I wrote last night. After I clicked "Publish" and shared on my Facebook Page I felt the Holy Spirit tell me I needed to go deeper. That I skirted around the Isaiah 5 passage too lightly. That I did not make a proper comparison of how that passage applies to America today. And, to be honest, if it were not for my husband training a client in my living room currently, I probably would not be going deeper. But I know this, obedience is always best when it is immediate. And if God wants you to do something, He will get you into a position to where you have no other alternative.

Last night I shared the following:

"Let's be honest, our country is collapsing in on itself. To quote my pastor from this weekend's sermon, "America is morally and spiritually bankrupt." And he is right. We are living in the days of the Bible mentioned in Isaiah 5."

Now I want to break down how we compare with Judah.

Isaiah 5 (NLT):

Judah’s Guilt and Judgment

⁸ What sorrow for you who buy up house after house and field after field,
    until everyone is evicted and you live alone in the land.

When I read verse 8 the housing crisis/bubble a few years back comes to mind. Homes and subdivisions popped up everywhere, fields and trees were torn up, and new communities sprung up. But then people had to face a cold, hard truth. They could not afford what they had purchased, and homes were left empty. Numerous subdivisions, full a year prior, had only a handful of families living in them.

⁹ But I have heard the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
    swear a solemn oath:
“Many houses will stand deserted;
    even beautiful mansions will be empty.

Again the housing bubble a few years back. Everyone was affected: lower, middle, and upper class.

¹⁰ Ten acres of vineyard will not produce even six gallons of wine.
    Ten baskets of seed will yield only one basket of grain.”

I can't help but think of how much trouble farmers have had the past decade with their crops. Drought, flooding, fires, freezes... the list goes one and on. While this verse specifically mentions grapes not producing wine, I see the parallel of a staple crop not producing enough, so in modern times it could be corn, cacao, or even wheat.

¹¹ What sorrow for those who get up early in the morning
    looking for a drink of alcohol
and spend long evenings drinking wine
    to make themselves flaming drunk.
¹² They furnish wine and lovely music at their grand parties—
    lyre and harp, tambourine and flute—
but they never think about the Lord
    or notice what he is doing.

Oh where to begin! I am generally disgusted with television and the news these days. Most shows show people living life and that the only way to have fun is drink and party. There are news shows, and I use the term news lightly, devoted to Hollywood and the gatherings they have. Social media is filled with people who are celebrities just for partying and drinking. And that is all those individuals are known for! These people seem to live in a 24 hour party: drinking, sleeping around, using drugs, disregarding morality and responsibility.

Now I understand that most Americans, most individuals, do not live completely like this. But honestly, the lives of most believers today does not reflect the life of believers in the Book of Acts.

¹³ So my people will go into exile far away
    because they do not know me.

Many churches are dying - by numbers and in faith. The Gospel is not being preached, so more and more people are staying home. Oh yes, there are numerous "MEGA" churches in our country, but God's word is not being shared there. A feel good, God means for you to prosper if you pray hard enough message is coming out of those monstrous buildings. People have forgotten that a building is not a church, the people are the church. A building is just a shell, a place for the Living Church (God's children, believers!) to gather in His name for worship and edification. But too many "churches" today are large shells with lost people in them.

Those who are great and honored will starve,
    and the common people will die of thirst.

This ties into what I said above. The starvation and thirst here though is not about hunger. People are starving and thirsting for the Gospel, the Good News, the Love of Jesus! Only He can satisfy.

John 7 NLT - Jesus Promises Living Water

³⁷ On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! ³⁸ Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” ³⁹ (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

¹⁴ The grave^[d] is licking its lips in anticipation,
    opening its mouth wide.
The great and the lowly
    and all the drunken mob will be swallowed up.

People are dying sisters. Without hearing how Christ died for us they are dying. Unless someone hears of Jesus, unless we share His message how can seeds be planted to be watered by the Holy Spirit. We cannot save others. But we can introduce them to God's word which is proven, true and living. Because if someone does not know Jesus, after the tribulation period they will be in Hell for eternity.

¹⁵ Humanity will be destroyed, and people brought down;
    even the arrogant will lower their eyes in humiliation.
¹⁶ But the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will be exalted by his justice.
    The holiness of God will be displayed by his righteousness.

This is prophecy. This is what is to come! This is happening... I started this post 2 days ago (7/6/2016). Last night, 7/7/2016 individuals attacked the Dallas Police Department. 10 crusaders for law, justice, and what is right were targeted and slaughtered. There have been numerous acts of terrorism, mass shootings, riots that destroy entire communities in the past few years. Humanity is being destroyed before our eyes. When I ponder on the arrogant lowering their in humiliation, I instantly think about politicians, and the very wealthy who think they are above the law, are above the rest. But I know that even believers can be arrogant. We can even be judgmental. Anyone with a spirit of arrogance will be put in their place. God allows and does all that He does to bring Glory to Himself, to exalt his holiness.

¹⁷ In that day lambs will find good pastures,
    and fattened sheep and young goats will feed among the ruins.

Oh sisters, find comfort! We are the lambs. Remember John 21:17:

(NKJV)
¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Did you read Isaiah 5:17 - the lambs find good pastures, the fattened sheep and young goats will feed among the ruins. Humanity will be crushed, but believers will be fed. There will come a day when we will be fat with the WORD OF GOD!

¹⁸ What sorrow for those who drag their sins behind them
    with ropes made of lies,
    who drag wickedness behind them like a cart!
¹⁹ They even mock God and say,
    “Hurry up and do something!
    We want to see what you can do.
Let the Holy One of Israel carry out his plan,
    for we want to know what it is.”

Now is the time. People need to hear the gospel. If not, their hearts could become hardened like Pharaoh to where they will not repent and will be forever separated from Jesus.

Do you remember your life before Jesus? I do. Fear, hatred (for self and others), belief in the notion of victim hood, blaming others for all my problems.

But when I accepted Jesus as my Savior, I was changed. I saw His miracles all around me. I had a peace that surpasses human understanding. I have a hidden strength to go on when the world shouts to stop, fall, and fail.

People mock God everyday. We take His name in vain, we neglect the widows and orphans, we snub our noses at those in need. We are all guilty. We are all sinners.

²⁰ What sorrow for those who say

    that evil is good and good is evil,

that dark is light and light is dark,

    that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.

This is life now. This is our country. Those on the extreme liberal side of life want to demolish the values that established our country. They want to go away with the rules that God laid out for us.

• Punish people if they think differently than you.
• If someone doesn't condone your sin, destroy them.
• Abort those cells in your uterus, you have a choice, it's not yet human.
• Go ahead and marry your cat, marriage is not about man and woman, its about who or what you love. If you love something, you can marry it.
• Shame on women for not wanting their children to use a restroom with a man who has a mental condition that makes him think he is a woman.

I probably will make some people mad. But God clearly says what is right! And I will not whimper or apologize.

• Grow up, if someone thinks differently than you, get a spine and don't be offended.
• I will pray for you, but will not condone your sin. And you should not condone sin in my life. Pray for me!
• God knit us in our mother's womb. We are not a mistake, all life is precious.
• Marriage is between a man and a woman - ONLY! If you want to support someone financially and pay the expense of another individual, go for it. More power to you. But do not take something Biblical and make it worldly.
• I feel bad for those who suffer from mental issues and are not getting help. But if I take my daughter into a restroom and a man is in there, I will leave. I am not going to have that conversation with my 3 1/2 year old.

²¹ What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes
    and think themselves so clever.
²² What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinking wine
    and boast about all the alcohol they can hold.

²³ They take bribes to let the wicked go free,
    and they punish the innocent.

Have you watched the news this week? The average American, you and I, have been deceived and watched Lady Justice be hit to the ground. Hilary Clinton betrayed America and she was given a free pass. The Justice Department said she didn't intend to break the law, but she still did. If we are going to judge by intent then everyone can say they didn't intend to.... "hit my wife"..."molest that 10 year old"..."drive drunk"... The justice system is about making sure laws are obeyed, and she did not!

And the innocent are punished! Bakers who don't want to bake a cake for a gay couple are put out of business, fined, and have to go into hiding. Because they didn't want to bake a cake!! But Hilary Clinton disregarded protocol and put America in jeopardy and was given a free pass. Then after that joined President Obama on Air Force One and flew off to a rally.

Good grief! Deplorable.

²⁴ Therefore, just as fire licks up stubble
    and dry grass shrivels in the flame,
so their roots will rot
    and their flowers wither.
For they have rejected the law of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies;
    they have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
²⁵ That is why the Lord’s anger burns against his people,
    and why he has raised his fist to crush them.

We have turned from God, and He is removing His hand from us. He is allowing us to suffer the consequences of our actions. Our country is falling apart around us because we have neglected our first Love. If we as a country focused more on God than TMZ, Facebook, and pimple videos on YouTube, maybe, just maybe our country would not be killing itself.

The mountains tremble,
    and the corpses of his people litter the streets like garbage.
But even then the Lord’s anger is not satisfied.
    His fist is still poised to strike!

²⁶ He will send a signal to distant nations far away
    and whistle to those at the ends of the earth.
    They will come racing toward Jerusalem.
²⁷ They will not get tired or stumble.
    They will not stop for rest or sleep.
Not a belt will be loose,
    not a sandal strap broken.
²⁸ Their arrows will be sharp
    and their bows ready for battle.
Sparks will fly from their horses’ hooves,
    and the wheels of their chariots will spin like a whirlwind.
²⁹ They will roar like lions,
    like the strongest of lions.
Growling, they will pounce on their victims and carry them off,
    and no one will be there to rescue them.
³⁰ They will roar over their victims on that day of destruction
    like the roaring of the sea.
If someone looks across the land,
    only darkness and distress will be seen;
    even the light will be darkened by clouds.

Unless we turn to Jesus the days ahead will only get darker. Citizens are killing the peace keepers, parishioners are accusing the pastors, teachers are violating the trust of their students. Wrong is now right.... 1+2=4 now. Truth is no longer truth, truth is feelings. Our enemies will take us over if we don't do 180* right now. Turn to Jesus!

Politics

Once upon a time I had a blog where I ranted and raved against liberal bias, corrupt government, and unfair/unequal representation. I pulled out my college papers on tyranny, and brought my faith into the middle of it.

When I felt called to serve the Lord by serving women of faith I closed down that blog.

But the course of this presidential election is calling me to merge again my faith with my politics.

To say that I am disappointed by the options available this election would be an understatement. The man my husband and I both were wanting (2 different men actually at one point before we agreed on the same one) are out of the running. I was semi crushed when the gentleman from Texas bowed out.

Trump or Hilary.

I get a headache thinking of what could happen to this country under wither one of them.
Just today a travesty to the justice system occurred.
The FBI said that Hilary Clinton should not face charges for the email server debacle that has plagued the news for over a year. I feel bad for General Petraeus. From my understanding of history/news he did far less and was punished more severely. Granted any punishment is harsh considering Hilary will not be facing the justice system for her actions. I am team #neverhilary

As for Trump. I do not care for the man. I have seen some videos were he sounds intelligent. Then I have seen news clips were he seems a fool. I am not sure what to believe about the man. I doubt most of what he says. I honestly do not believe he is a better choice than what we currently have or our other option.

I am not writing you to tell you who to vote for, or if you should or should not vote. That is a personal decision every individual has to make on their own.

Just remember this, Israel begged for a king and God gave them the kings they deserved. They were not happy with just serving God, and being accountable to Him, so God gave them what they asked. I do believe due to our own action and inaction in this country we will get the president we deserve. And may it cause our nation to humble itself and turn back to God!

I could be in an emotional upheaval if I let myself. Let's be honest, our country is collapsing in on itself. To quote my pastor from this weekend's sermon, "America is morally and spiritually bankrupt." And he is right. We are living in the days of the Bible mentioned in Isaiah 5 (NLT):

Judah’s Guilt and Judgment

⁸ What sorrow for you who buy up house after house and field after field,
    until everyone is evicted and you live alone in the land.
⁹ But I have heard the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
    swear a solemn oath:
“Many houses will stand deserted;
    even beautiful mansions will be empty.
¹⁰ Ten acres^[a] of vineyard will not produce even six gallons^[b] of wine.
    Ten baskets of seed will yield only one basket^[c] of grain.”

¹¹ What sorrow for those who get up early in the morning
    looking for a drink of alcohol
and spend long evenings drinking wine
    to make themselves flaming drunk.
¹² They furnish wine and lovely music at their grand parties—
    lyre and harp, tambourine and flute—
but they never think about the Lord
    or notice what he is doing.

¹³ So my people will go into exile far away
    because they do not know me.
Those who are great and honored will starve,
    and the common people will die of thirst.
¹⁴ The grave^[d] is licking its lips in anticipation,
    opening its mouth wide.
The great and the lowly
    and all the drunken mob will be swallowed up.
¹⁵ Humanity will be destroyed, and people brought down;
    even the arrogant will lower their eyes in humiliation.
¹⁶ But the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will be exalted by his justice.
    The holiness of God will be displayed by his righteousness.
¹⁷ In that day lambs will find good pastures,
    and fattened sheep and young goats^[e] will feed among the ruins.

¹⁸ What sorrow for those who drag their sins behind them
    with ropes made of lies,
    who drag wickedness behind them like a cart!
¹⁹ They even mock God and say,
    “Hurry up and do something!
    We want to see what you can do.
Let the Holy One of Israel carry out his plan,
    for we want to know what it is.”

²⁰ What sorrow for those who say
    that evil is good and good is evil,
that dark is light and light is dark,
    that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.
²¹ What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes
    and think themselves so clever.
²² What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinking wine
    and boast about all the alcohol they can hold.
²³ They take bribes to let the wicked go free,
    and they punish the innocent.

²⁴ Therefore, just as fire licks up stubble
    and dry grass shrivels in the flame,
so their roots will rot
    and their flowers wither.
For they have rejected the law of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies;
    they have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
²⁵ That is why the Lord’s anger burns against his people,
    and why he has raised his fist to crush them.
The mountains tremble,
    and the corpses of his people litter the streets like garbage.
But even then the Lord’s anger is not satisfied.
    His fist is still poised to strike!

²⁶ He will send a signal to distant nations far away
    and whistle to those at the ends of the earth.
    They will come racing toward Jerusalem.
²⁷ They will not get tired or stumble.
    They will not stop for rest or sleep.
Not a belt will be loose,
    not a sandal strap broken.
²⁸ Their arrows will be sharp
    and their bows ready for battle.
Sparks will fly from their horses’ hooves,
    and the wheels of their chariots will spin like a whirlwind.
²⁹ They will roar like lions,
    like the strongest of lions.
Growling, they will pounce on their victims and carry them off,
    and no one will be there to rescue them.
³⁰ They will roar over their victims on that day of destruction
    like the roaring of the sea.
If someone looks across the land,
    only darkness and distress will be seen;
    even the light will be darkened by clouds.

Now after reading that you can be depressed or your be a believer in Christ Jesus.

A few months ago my mom and I took a trip to New Orleans. A girls trip, a time for us to relax. The drive there took well over an hour longer than anticipated, we had to make a few more restroom stops in some out of the way places due to traffic, construction and the like.

While we were on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway we ended up discussing world events and how God could allow what happens to happen. Abuse, horrible weather, communities destroying themselves, senseless killings, and etc. From a worldly perspective, it would seem that God is cruel.

But I, and you dear sisters, are called to look at things from a biblical perspective. We are to look at events through the eyes of Christ.

What I explained to my mother is that the world is functioning in an ungodly worldly system. And that in order for Christ to establish the New Jerusalem, to create the new heaven and new earth the old must pass away. And what is happening is that the worldly system is collapsing in on itself. That everything has to fall apart in order for the new to rise (think of the mythical phoenix that rises from the ashes).

It is a hard concept to understand or accept. It's not pleasant. But the fact of the matter is, God is allowing all that is happening: horrible weather, travesties against humanity, governments collapsing...all for one reason. In order to give people a chance to turn to Him. The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV):

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Use the upheaval in Washington D.C. to share the Gospel dear sisters. My Pastor said more this weekend than the fact that America is morally and spiritually bankrupt. He put all believers in their place, because we have had a hand in that bankruptcy. We have let others silence us, because we enjoy our comfort. We enjoy the pleasures of the American dream and do not want to disturb things. We are guilty of letting America slide into the moral decay it is in.

We need to read our Bible daily, it must be a way of life. We cannot share the Gospel, or defend the Gospel if we do not read it. One cannot share what one does not know. My challenge for myself and for others is this:

1. Read your Bible, even if it is just a verse a day.
2. Pray that God will give you an opportunity to share the Gospel.

Family Life

Father's Day 2016 (Stone 20 months Abigail 3 1/2)

I am an extremely blessed woman. For some reason the Lord has seen fit to bless me with an amazing family. I have a husband who works extremely hard to not only provide for us, but so he can serve the Lord. He loves me more and more each day and is an amazing example to our children.

My littles. Oh my, my heart melts. My children are such a gift. To have been told at 14 that the only way for me to have kids is if I used medical intervention was devastating. God had other plans. With the mindset that it could take years to get pregnant my husband and I started trying to get pregnant before we were even married a year. And she was born exactly 1 1/2 years after we said "I do." Then Stone. We thought we were done after Abigail. We were pretty comfortable with the idea of only one child. But God had other plans. And I am thankful. My son is such a delight, stubborn, but a delight.

This week has been rough for me. Professionally I am in a great place. I work with about 20 amazing women, we have our issues from time to time, but mostly we work in harmony. Spiritually, I am on a path that has me growing. I am serving in a new area now, hello summer choir. My prayer life is more. And I have songs back.

That last part probably sounds odd so let me explain.

About 2 years ago I asked the Lord to put a song in my heart. I wanted to sing His praises. And He answered me. Instead of wondering and idle thoughts, worship and praise songs would pop into my head. Middle of last fall they stopped. Over the spring this year, a song or two would pop up. But about 3 weeks ago it became constant again. I like to take it as a sign that I am doing what God is calling me to do.

Now to why this week has been rough.

A few weeks back, the kids and I were almost in a wreck. It didn't happen, so I didn't share really with anyone, minus my husband. I was leaving the gym, and if I had not been paying attention, a gentleman would have t-boned my car, hitting my son directly. But I did see him, praise be to God! I slammed on my brakes, sounded my horn, and by the time he stopped his car was in front of mine. I was sore as I left the gym, so I gave it no thought. This past weekend though my neck/shoulder started bothering me. Right where my seatbelt passes. Add pain, some swelling, and tingling/loss of feeling in two fingers.....

I went to the chiropractor and was informed I have a pinched nerve. It is painful people. Let me tell you, if my mom who has nerve issues from a car wreck is living with this type of pain, I am ashamed for not being more understanding of her. My wonderful husband has made dinner, been home early to take over with the kids, he has done all our laundry and our house looks good.

Stone's1st hair cut! 6/24/2016

Stone hasn't understood why I can't pick him up (afraid I could drop him!), but Abigail has been more understanding. Last night she played doctor on me, to try and fix me. She is so tender hearted. She has a heart for people, and I pray she always does. I can't believe how big my littles are getting.

Kemah Boardwalk - June16, 2016

They are both so fearless. Such an inspiration.

I love my little family. They truly are a gift.

Misconceptions on Faith and the Honest Truth

"Christianity is nothing but a list of do's and do not's."
"Oh your a Christian, so you can't have fun right?"
"So obviously you don't party...so what do you do for fun...knit? sew?"

For some peculiar reason, people think that if they become a Christian they will never again have any fun. That to follow Jesus is to be bored the rest of your earthly life.

Let me tell you what, that is as far from the truth as it can be.

Life is never dull for me, or my family, or my friends in the faith. Now yes, there are things we do not do, but that is because we have made a choice no to do them.

Many do view living a life of faith, a life for Jesus as a list of do's and do not's, but that is legalism, and not a way to live for anyone. That is nothing but bondage and takes away from your faith in Christ. That list is saying faith in Jesus is not enough. And that is not the truth.

Galatians 5:1 (NIV) Freedom in Christ

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Now for that fun part. Everyone has their own idea of what fun is. When I was younger, I did some stupid things that were considered fun. Up all night, work all day and repeat, all on very little sleep. I once upon a time would go dancing and drink. As an adult my definition of fun has changed.

I no longer drink, I felt called by God to stop doing so. I am obedient to Him. Now if you drink I am not condemning you. It is a personal choice. How I sometimes did it as a young adult was not wise, might have been considered fun by others, but it was a choice I made during that time period that I would do differently in hindsight (isn't it always 20/20). 

I rarely dance or stay up all night. Not because those things are bad or not fun, but my life is different. With age and with my faith.

At this point in my life, I have two children 3 and under, a dog, my dad lives at home with us, and my wonderful husband is self employed. We work hard, we work long hours, and our life is busy. We have fun in that mix. We enjoy family outings, time outside, trips to the zoo, couples dates to shows.

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I started this post several months ago.

Reading over it I somewhat see where I was going with it. This is one of those post I mentioned in my post on being content where I started to write but God said wait.

Freedom. As the world goes crazy, I am thankful for my freedom in Christ. As long as I abide Him, I am free. This crazy, broken world is contorting what God says is pure, holy, and right. And the rabbit hole we are all in is stripping us all of our constitutional freedoms, but sisters, friends, please rest assured that if your hope and trust are in Jesus, no matter what the world does, says, or threatens you are free in Christ.

Silent But Not Gone, Learning to Be Content

God has been doing a work in me.

Many times I have sat to write, but then I stop. God says not now. Wait.

So I have been waiting. But I have not been doing nothing.

I went to New Orleans. I refreshed my mind, body, and spirit. I came back with a renewed purpose: personally, professionally, and spiritually. God reaffirmed in me His plan for my life. And slowly but surely I am working towards that.

• I am joining the choir.
• I take my mornings slower. I let my children (& myself) wake gently so we can ease into our days.
• I take the time to rest when my body needs it ( I had the flu a few weeks back and my PCOS is flaring).
• I am no longer trying to please everyone.
• I am pausing in my day to be with Jesus.
• I am praying more.

And I am learning to say no. I feel that my marriage is stronger (this past Saturday was our 5th anniversary!!!), my bond with my children is better and that I am enjoying life more. I am reading for pleasure (Christian authors), working out moderately, tending to my house, and learning to live simply.

My father moved out a week or so ago. Time is flying by. But by him doing so we have shifted how our house works for us. We no longer feel cramped on each other. Not saying my dad cramped us, but we do see that we have way too much stuff. And though we have purged many things, there is more to be done. I shared on my Facebook page a sermon that I deeply love. One of our pastor's, Dr. Gamble, taught on the subject of being content. And to me it was powerful. I received a rhema from the passage he shared.

1 Timothy 6:8English Standard Version (ESV)⁸ But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

Read that verse. Food and clothing. Dr. Gamble said clothing could be interpreted to mean covering (shelter and clothing). Not free Wi-Fi, a 4 bedroom house, 2 cars, and a bursting closet. We are to be happy with food and clothing. Everything else is a blessing.

The two verses leading into verse 8 shed more light. We need to strive to live for Christ and be happy:

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain, ⁷ for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

This sermon really convicted me but also inspired me. This world is temporary. The steps I have been taking to enjoy life, enjoy my family are guiding me on how to be content. To quote Dr. Gamble, "We should be the most content people in the world." But I know there are times when I am not content, when I think I need or deserve more. What I deserve, what we all deserve is death. Thankfully we have a merciful good Father who loves us and blesses us. What can you do today to simplify your life? What can you do to stop being so "busy" that you do not have time for God? This is not to condemn, I am just as guilty. I get caught up in the stuff and forget about the one who died for my sins. But let me challenge you to press pause on life, and take inventory of all the stuff that is not food and clothing. Do you need it all? Or can you live without it? It is an adjustment but it is easy to live without much of what we all have.