Archive for February, 2011

Testify (Marriage Monday)

by admin on February 6, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, Feeling It (Thankful), Marriage Monday, My Year of Right Sacrifice-TIME with No comments

I have always attended church…was raised in a little conservative fellowship chapel. Made a commitment to follow Christ at 14 years of age and became part of a charismatic group. This choice was birthed out of years of emotional struggle and pain. A feeling of insecurity at home and at school left me feeling unhinged. The climax was when my Grandpa died. Living as a regular member of my culture held nothing for that volatile adolescent me…

I had no real idea what this choice to be a Christian meant and for many years I mostly saw it throw selfish eyes… as if the relationship was for me and my benefit…Christ was a part of the puzzle and along for the ride…church was a place we where commanded to attended and might get a good high from…

I am now in a place where I question how much I have really counted the cost of following Jesus Christ. Have I really left it all to follow him and given up my self in true worship? Is he my life or just a piece? Do I invest in the body of Christ, The Church, or just attend a church?I am looking at breaking out of another cultural norm, feeling as if I need to go beyond the limits of comfort that the north American church has set for me… wanting more.

I found it strange to share my testimony at this time in my life, because in some ways I feel like I am at a point of greater transformation then when I said that initial prayer in tears. I used to go into great detail about the sad little me lead to Christ and the fire-y little me that followed the sinners prayer but now I am feeling like I must not allow myself to stay there. I am desiring more growth then I have thought necessary or possible for the last several years of my Christian walk.

I am truly thankful for the beautiful and the painful lessons that I have experienced. Wouldn’t trade in a single experience that has made me who I am today. Excited about what the future will hold. Desiring to grow in love always and I am seeking to live for Christ NOW.

LINKS to related posts RIGHT HERE and RIGHT HERE.

TTFN

Snow Family

by admin on February 6, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, Four Little Eggs In My Nest, Little Things with 1 Comment

Daddy is on the far left with the little round snow hat. Next is myself (the mommy) and then little Baby Boy in front, Eldest Damsel behind him, Big Boy next with Little Woman right near by and Riddick the dog in front.

It was a remarkably lovely February day with a little falling snow and higher temperatures. My crew took advantage and where very busy for hours. They only came in once soaked through. With great enthusiasm they insisted I come out to meet their snow family before they retired to the house for good.

(My adorable eldest son, petting the snow dog.)

Our Friday was very busy with a dance and movie birthday bash for Eldest Damsel and Sunday is showing signs of not being so restful, honestly as it so often is, so we had a simple day at home today… snoozing, playing in the yard, trip to the toboggan hill, warm baths, much snacking and cozy cups of tea. Saturday was my lovely day of rest this week.

TTFN

Transforming Worship (ten)

by admin on February 2, 2011 in Better Check Out Links, Feeling It (Thankful), My Year of Right Sacrifice-TIME with No comments
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
ROMANS 12:1 (NIV)

Been involved in more conversations then I can count about what worship should look like… To be honest I am really tired of worrying about music and service style. I feel like praise is what often happens on Sundays but I am not convinced worship has a regular place there, not the worship Paul expresses… I still don’t understand our current church cultures idea of worship. Thus I have been craving a clear definition and as you go through Paul’s teaching he lays out worship as not a song and dance thing but a LIFE SACRIFICE thing. Being able to trust so clearly in the love and mercy of our God that we willingly offer ALL OF US in true worship.

By dwelling on this truth and then going through a journal of mine from a few years back I was able to see a pattern in my walk that has held me back…

MY CHRISTIAN WALK WAS ON REPEAT!

Influenced by the church culture I came into when saved I was a high seeker. Selfishly viewing church and all possible Christian experiences as for me and my spiritual mountain climbing benefit I was completely missing the boat! It took many many ups and downs; dry patches or apathetic patches and then flying high experiences for me to grow tired with this rat race… Looking back at my scribbles in my journal I am even more horrified at the futility of it all.

Thank God he started pulling me out of my comfort zone! I was comfortable with deja vu!

Today I can honestly say I am looking for lasting consistent joy or happiness in all circumstances and I like to think that even back then that was my goal. What I lacked was an all consuming relationship with Christ. I wanted to drive and he was a passenger… I would only start to give it , or more honestly, bits of it all up to him once I was again bludgeoned with my own shortcomings! That isn’t worship! That is about me still!

This was my way not Christs. In order to grow Christ requires ALL. He requires my true worship as the message puts it; ‘Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.’

So what now? Well Paul covers that in the following verses in Romans 12. A wealth of opportunity to break bad habits and unlearn incorrect lessons. This true worship of my Lord will lead me to the place where I can understand his will in my life and will be able to willingly follow him.

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. ROMANS 12:2 (the message)

Worship is sacrifice and so I think I finally see why last years word was sacrifice. I am thankful for Christ’s changing power in my life and thankful that he loves me so much I CAN trust and lay it all at his feet.

P.S. Link RIGHT HERE to the last message in a transformation message series, check them all out! I hope to go through them with a fine tooth comb because I have come to realize there is so much more to becoming and being a Christian then saying a little sinners prayer. I am SO ready for this!

TTFN

by admin on February 1, 2011 in Uncategorized with No comments

by admin on February 1, 2011 in Uncategorized with No comments

It all starts with an understanding of your total security in Christs love. This is ment to be learned in community. We should be able to learn and extend love and mercy to our brothers and sisters in the Lord NO matter how messed up we ALL are.

The second step is understanding and practicing true worship. This is puttig off shelfish patterns and behavior and offering your WHOLE SELF. Not an act spured on by an epifiny of how faulty we are but done as THE act of worship.

Third there is a renewal of the mind. Time to process a clear vision of life once you no longer have Jesus as just a passanger. This involves accnologing what you MUST stop telling yourself and what you must stop doing. Then you must accept the truth that God is telling you.

Once you are doing this you will be able to test and see clearly what God’s plan is for your life and this will always include putting back into community and sharing your gifts to edify one another.

Find a community that will help you make the new God given habits right over the old habits and behaviors.

TTFN

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