You want SCARRY? REALLY SCARRY?

If you want to be scare, be scared of this:

In 1991 a very large denomination had over 290 THOUSAND decisions for Christ in one year. In that very same year however only 14 thousand of those folks who professed a decision for Christ could be found in a local fellowship.(1) Do the math..280 THOUSAND could not be accounted for! Now, that is scarry and infuriating. Why infuriating?

Because people are being decieved and lied to..and accepting false teaching as the 'gospel truth'. Today in many churches the message is a feel-good, prosperity-filled show! When is the last time you heard words such as "purity", "discipline" and yes, here it comes.."sin". God makes His gospel very clear. He loves you, but absolutely HATES your sin. What is sin? Anything that seperates you from Him. Need a quick list? Just start with the ten commandments. Have you broke even one? Of course you have..we ALL have. (There are none righteous, no not one Romans 3:10)
Today people are deceived into believing they are "saved" because they say a prayer. Being saved, which is having a personal relationship with God, isn't about words you say, but a change in who you are..or more precise, in Who's you are!
In 1990 I said the prayer thing..and meant it..I did want the love of God in my life. It was a very emotional time for me. And there I was in church for the next 14 years with a false sense of security. I should have seen the signs...struggling to behave like those around me, struggling with the same 'ol habits, same thought processes, no constant desire to get to know God...there wasn't a new me. I assure you, when you truely surrender your heart to God, you are new indeed! 2Corinthians 5:17-18 says " therefore if anyone is IN Christ, he is a new creation, old things have gone (passed away) and all things have become new!..All this is from God who reconciled us to Himself through Christ..."

The other aspect to the astounding numbers of those who made a profession is that now, over ten years later..I think the situation is worse. This narsistic society we live in is incredibly blinded. People are creating their own gods because of what IT does for them...makes them comfortable and feel good. Confront a person with the ten commandments and hey..wait a minute! I'm losing my feel good here...lets not use that as a standard! Instead I'll go over here because they teach we should all accept one another..confusing loving one another with embracing the sin in their life. And now, instead of me be a great friend and sharing the truth, I'm perceived as being intolerant! Well, intolerant I am of anything that waters down God's Holy message to us. Want real? This is real: "But God, demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. How much more of a display of love do you need?
(1)Hell's Best Kept Secret: http://www.livingwaters.com/listenwatch.shtml

For all to see

Yesterday in the Florida Times Union was an article on judges handing out unusual punishments for crimes such as stealing, shoplifting, property damage and such. It referenced the colonial times that those guilty would be placed in stocks in a public common area to shame them. A particular judge referenced offers a choice to the guilty to hold a sign in front of the store that thief stole from that said “ I am a thief who stole from this store” or something similar. The point of course is to embarrass this thief to death so as to not do it again and make others think twice before stealing.

The person’s sin (wrongdoing) being displayed to all wasn’t a first in the Colonial times. I read about it this morning in my daily Bible study in Colossians. In the 2nd chapter in the book of Colossians are references to two types of debt acknowledgement (such as the sign being held up for all to see).

Col.2:13 “ …. He had made alive together (you) with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” (Emphasis mine).

Wiped out the handwriting refers to the handwritten certificate of debt by which a debtor acknowledges his indebtedness. Paul graphically compares God’s forgiveness of believer’s sins to wiping ink off a parchment.

The list of crimes of a crucified criminal was nailed to the cross with that criminal to declare the violations he was being punished for. Both wiping out the handwriting and nailing it to the cross express the forgiveness of Jesus. Because he took our sin upon Himself. He bore the shame of our sin as His own. Can you visualize it now? My sin of____________ was placed upon Him for all to see. How shameful. Through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, God has totally erased our certificate if indebtedness and made our forgiveness complete. Believer’s sin (this requires action on your part to be a believer, it isn’t automatic) were all put to Christ’s account, nailed to His cross, He fully bore the punishment for them all. Thank you Jesus for Your sacrifice.

I am thankful that my sin will not again be declared to the world. I asked Jesus to forgive me, and he did. I asked Him to restore me, and He did! I repented (turned away) from my selfish and wicked ways and turned to Him. God tells us (John 14:6) I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.
Words in blue font (MacArthur Study Bible)

And the winner is...

Today while we ladies were at the PLBC Women's Retreat, our children were playing their soccer games. My two children play for "The Storm" where the others children play for "The Blue Lightning". Last week they played their first match against each other and my kid's team won. Today was their second match and the other team, The Blue Lightning won. Those in attendance said it was a great game. The match was tied at the end of the game and there was a shoot-out and the other team had the victory. What gives? Same players, same field, nothing is different except a different day.

I liken this scenario to our struggle with sin. Some days you reign in VICTORY! Soon thereafter you face the exact same senario, but this time you fail. What gives? There are a few steps that can help us to lead a consistent battle over that sin that leaves us defeated.

1. Listen to the coach. The coach of the team has a game plan and needs you to follow the plan as it (should) lead to victory. Our Coach, Jesus Christ has a plan for us. This plan has OUR best in mind..a victorious life, one for His glory.

Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans to prosper you.."

2. Practice hard! Steven and Lauren Kaye's practices initially were 3 days / week: Tues for 1 hr, Friday for 1.5 hr and Sat @ 8-10 am! Running, footwork, skills stations, drills and scrimmage. If you're not sweating, you're not working hard enough!! Gettin dirt everywhere!

What about you? Are you working hard at your spiritual drills? Are you sweating from effort in prayer? Are you digging deep in your reading of his letter to you? Are your knees covered in dirt from kneeling before God the Father? Are you putting your "armor" on to scrimmage?

Titus 3:8: "...be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone."

3. Always stretch before a game. When you stretch you are warming up your muscles and ligaments to handle the different movements and rotations they may experience so there will be no harm. Are you stretched out prostate before God before you exit your house in the morning to be prepared for the twists and turns of the day? I know if I miss my quiet time with God in the morning, I can tell you what..I feel easily bruised and battered. Unprepared..my muscles are not ready for the day's jarring.

Joshua 3:5" Consecrate yourselves and the Lord will do amazing things among you." (Thanks Donna for the verse!)

Last, when you are trying to overcome a issue in your life (sin, not doing what you should..you fill in the blank_________) seek out accountability. Hold yourself responsible for your actions or inactions. Declare to God..Lord, I just can't ________. I need you to hold me accountable for my activity or inactivity. HE ALREADY KNOWS YOUR STRUGGLE! Let the referee declare Him the Victor through your surrender. Find a godly brother or sister to share your burden and have them hold you accountable. Try facing the same person each week and declare you struggled and yielded to the same temptation -again.

"Did you flee when it presented itself?" Uh, no.

"Did you pray earnestly about this as in preparing for battle that very moment?" Well, I did pray for a few seconds about it...

"Did you guard your eyes, ears and mouth and avoid the situation that would entice you?" Ok..get the picture? The real question is are you serious about having victory in your life?

Sometimes you win the match, sometimes you don't. But ALWAYS stay in the game..and praise Him. He knows your struggles, for He has chosen you! (Isaiah 43:10).

Running the (Good) Race

Today is my first entry on the Galatians 5:1 Life. Why Galatians 5:1? This scripture has become a life verse for me.
Galatians 5:1 “Standfast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

My Student Pastor, Kevin hooked me up with his blog and I loved it. I certainly don’t have the flair as he does but feel this is a great way to communicate. This is a forum for my friends and extended family to keep appraised of lessons in my life, updates in ministry and simply stuff. It is for those friends that are believers my brothers and sisters in Christ, and for my cherished non-believer friends too.

About four months ago I decided it was time to take my faith to another level. I was seeking consistency in my life, discipline in my spiritual walk, and a desire to grow closer to my Savior, Jesus. To those of my friends that are non-believers, it is a deep desire to experience ALL that God is, not just who we make Him out to be. But for this to happen, there needed to be a strong foundation. I compare it to my River Run experience last year. Mt son Steven and I trained for 12 weeks to complete the run before "the bus" came around to pick up those behind the cut-off time. That was our goal, completing the race. The fellowship along the journey in those 12 weeks was awesome; Steven and I had a blast.
Well it is now 7 months later and I am training EARLY this year because my GOAL is different for the race. I want to run more, walk less. I want a better time than 2 hrs and 40 minutes. (Hey, we still WAY beat the bus!!) So, in order to meet my goals, my training has to be different. I need more endurance, this isn’t a sprint. I need to run farther in my training. See what I mean? Same run, same streets, same distance of 9.23 miles. But I want a different outcome. What will it take? Training and effort and consistency. Slowly challenging myself to push a bit more each week. Add 5 more steps here. Run to the green roof house next time. Swim one more lap.

The same applies to my spiritual walk. I am secure in my salvation in Jesus. I have had a personal relationship with Him for four years. My desire to deepen my relationship causes me to consider...what am I doing to deepen my faith? Have I matured in Him? Am I more disciplined and consistent than when I was first New in Him? Am I tripped up with the same temptations that tripped me up 5 years ago? The process to get the desired results in my faith is the same for the River Run. Consistency and discipline are areas I need to “train in” . The Bible says in
1 Timothy 4:7-8 (New International Version) 7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
Last year at the beginning of the training I could run for 1 minute before I had to stop. Then after 12 weeks I could actually run a mile without stopping. This year, that is my start point. One mile, 17 minutes. Hey, it’s a start!! I have consistently worked out 3 days a week and two of those times being jogging. My goal is to run for 30 minutes without stopping. I’ve reached 22 minutes before. But I want a consistent pace. Building upon an already established work..moving forward, same with my faith..moving forward going deeper.

Whiskey Bottles?!

Our pastor Tommy preached a sermon this past Sunday on Church Discipline..or Body Maintenance whose precepts are living Christ-like and doing what it takes personally and corporately to keep His Church pure. Part of that lesson was a point on how deceiving our interpretations of what we see and hear can be. Ever been in a situation where your first impression or the snippet of conversation you overheard was TOTALLY wrong? Things may not be as they seem.

This point was driven home to me this morning. The girls and I (yes, I got people) went out to breakfast after we dropped the kids off at school and Tia got off work from her street corner (again, not what you think!!). We met up @ Cracker Barrel for some breakfast. I decided to splurge some serious Weight Watchers point on breakfast and ordered a kid's pancake breakfast w/ turkey sausage and coffee. With the meal came a cute little bottle of CB Syrup..warmed too. Oh, the bottle of brown nectar....what a delight! My mouth waters now recalling the flavor of a pancake with butter and syrup...sorry, I digressed for a moment.

Anyway, our purpose of breakfast was to hear stories from our newly minted Romania missionary Holly. You know, the REAL stories and the stuff we women want to hear specifics on. We laughed so hard hearing of her and our other friends' adventures. We delighted in hearing the ways the Lord displayed His presence. To give you an idea, we were @ Cracker Barrel from 8:30 - 10:00! As I left, I decided to grab the two small syrup bottles. When I returned home I brought Mimi the paper and she said, "What's in your hand? Whiskey bottles?" We had a laugh about that! I left them on the kitchen counter and later after the kids got home from school they also asked "Are those alcohol bottles?"

Small bottle, dark liquid, a seal..they sort of do look like a sample bottle of alcohol that's served on a plane. However upon closer inspection the label says syrup, not whiskey. There are many similarities such as color, bottle appearance, size and at quick glance, the label. But when you actually take time to examine them then you'll see the difference. Looks the same but what about smell (aromatic or pungent) ? What about taste (opps! bad example but you get my point..sweet or nasty?) There are many ways to discern differrences.

I think that was one of the point of Tommy's message. Don't jump to conclusions about what you see or hear about folks. Don't be quick to judge. Don't let someone else's assessment of a situation influence your opinons until you have all the facts.

Philippians 1:9-10 (NKJV) 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.

Don't confuse the syrup for the whiskey!!