Christian "Light"

Ever since the tragedy that occurred here on October 1, and a little bit before, I have been disillusioned with Christians in general, especially Christian leadership. I know we are all human and all fallible, but I'm very frustrated with the Christian "light" attitude we all have. We are Christians but how dedicated are we really. How far are we willing to go to be followers of Christ. Here in America we are not persecuted. Sometimes it feels like it but we really we aren't. But, on October 1 and afterwards, I witnessed how quick we are to jump into the spotlight and not to defend our faith.

Now I know evangelists have been in the spotlight for years. Moody, Graham, Spurgeon, but it seems different lately. It seems it is more about the person and less about God and sharing Jesus. As I get to know leaders I see compromise. I also see it in other Christians lives. I'm not trying to be judgmental, I see it in my life as well, and maybe it has always been there through the ages, but where are the "hot" Christians. It seems as if we've all cooled to lukewarm.

That is what I mean by Christian "light". We are Christians but, we want what the world wants. Money, fame, popularity. Sometimes it is hard to tell a Christian from anyone else, even pastors. I know of pastors who drink, not only at home but in public. Some pastors spend more time on vacation than in the pulpit. The way I see it, when our leadership goes soft, so do the people. We complain about what is happening in our world and we should be offering the solution, but our testimonies have been compromised.

How can we tell others about Jesus when there is as much divorce in the church as in the world. Drinking and smoking are not as taboo anymore. Our young people and older people have sex outside of marriage, live together without marriage...how are we ANY different.

My heart's desire is to be different. It says in the Bible we are to be a peculiar people. That is in 1 Peter 2:9, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light". That is what I want. I want to be a light, a beacon, not little of faith.

This Christian life is not about me. It is about Jesus and bringing others to Him and helping struggling Christians with accountability, to helping raise up our children to not only pray the sinner's prayer, but give their whole being to Jesus. I think that is where I failed when I raised my kids. We went to church pretty faithfully, we had family devotions, we prayed together, but once they accepted Christ as Savior, it was like that was the completion. I feel like I neglected to show my kids how to have a relationship with Jesus, how to build that relationship.

I want to be different, peculiar. I want people to see Jesus, not me. God has been showing me things in my life and with Christians in general that break my heart. We are failing. We are not doing what he has called us to do, be LIGHTS. Jesus is the light of the world and we are called to share that light, not be "light", doing just what we need to get by. I want to make waves by being different. That is my prayer for myself and all Christians. That we all will have our eyes opened and see that we need to fully commit to Christ and be different.

Now, not all of my Christian friends are Christian "light". I know some awesome people who have dedicated their lives to Christ and it shows in their lives and their children's lives. I want to be like them because they are like Jesus.

Father,
It seems your children have not been fully committed to you. We are not doing what You have asked us to do. Sometimes we are no better than unbelievers. Father, I fully believe we need to be set apart from the world and I pray that You will touch the hearts of every Christian and give them a hunger for Your word and for You. I pray that we will all commit our lives to serving Christ and developing our relationships with You and Jesus. I pray Father, that you will open our eyes to our sins and our thoughtlessness towards You. I pray for sincere repentance and revival among all Christians and may it start with me.
In Jesus Name,
Amen 

God's Wondrous Creation

God's Wondrous Creation

Today I thought I would re-post a post from my old blog. These pictures are from Toketee Falls here in the Umpqua Valley. It is a very beautiful place and I hope I get to hike up there again soon. Enjoy.

                             

Do you ever go on a walk or hike and just marvel at the beauty and just plain amazingness (I know not a word) of God's creation?  I do.  Usually as I am walking or hiking hymns and verses are running through my mind reminding me of my Creator and how great he is.

His creation amazes me and I have to whisper prayers of thanksgiving as walk along in the stillness of the forest.

I marvel at the majesty He shows us in nature.

"Then as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen saying

'Blessed to the King who comes in the name of the LORD!  Praise in heaven and glory in the highest!'

And some fo the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd.  'Teacher, rebuke your disciples.'  But he answered and said to them, 'I will you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.'"

Thanks for stopping by,

Beth

Father,

Thank You for providing such beauty in our surroundings. Thank You for showing us Your love through Your creation.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Prayer

"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Sounds easy enough to do, and I do throughout my day shoot prayers up to God, but I feel I'm missing out on something much deeper and soul satisfying by not spending a certain time in prayer.

Throughout the Gospels Jesus goes off and spends time alone in prayer. Early in the morning on more than one occasion. Mark 1:35 is an example of this, "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed." This verse tells us quite a bit about Jesus' prayer habit. First, He rose long before daylight. I know for some that is hard to do, especially if you aren't a morning person, but I find it about the only time to have a quiet time because the rest of my family are not morning people. Could this be why Jesus was up early, before daylight?

Second, He went to a solitary place. I can picture a nice quiet place, away from the crowds and all the questions and scrutiny. Someplace where He could just focus on His Father. Right now I have a hard time finding a quiet place, solitary place. I know I said my family doesn't rise early, but they rise earlier on days I'm trying for alone time. I think the enemy doesn't want much prayer going on in this house.

Third, He prayed. He talked to His Father. I imagine He also listened. Listening is an important part of prayer, after all prayer is a conversation and in conversations you must stop talking and listen to the other person once in a while. How else are we supposed to hear that still small voice, we must be quiet, and listen. Sometimes it is so hard to sit and be still and just listen. I have so much to say to God, you know. But, unless I quiet my soul and mind, I cannot get direction and guidance from my Father, and I need that very much.

I have always wanted to be a prayer warrior, but I have lacked the ability to be quiet. I am learning. Now, I am working on finding a place where I can set up my prayer closet and have a quiet, solitary place any time during the day. After all, morning is not the only time Jesus prayed and at times He left the crowds and the disciples and went away to pray and refresh His soul by communing with His Father. I know the times I am able to spend quality time with God, in His word, and in prayer, my soul feels very refreshed.

Father,
Thank You for Your insight and guidance. Thank You for Your love and care. Guide me and my readers throughout our days.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

Obedience

Every time I hear the word OBEDIENCE, I think of the children's song O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E.
You know the one,

Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe. 

Doing exactly as the Lord commands, doing it happily. 

Action is the key, do it immediately, joy you will receive. 

Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe.

That little tune runs through my mind a lot, especially when I'm working with children. I even taught it to my preschoolers. Why? Well because children should be obedient to their parents, teachers, all those in authority right? We work hard to raise our children to be good listeners and do what they are told or asked, to do it right away. We try to train them to not grumble when they are doing what is asked of them, even if it something they would rather not be doing. We try hard to raise children who will be a blessing to society and not a drain.

But what about us adults? Are we obedient? Do we do what we are asked to without grumbling? Do we do it immediately or when we have time? 

I don't know about you, I can only speak for myself, but I tend to grumble and I tend to put things off until I want to do them or I can get out of them. This also transfers to my relationship with God. I'm not always obedient, especially not right away, or if He wants me to do something I don't want to do. It took me a long time to resign at the preschool, even though I knew that is what God wanted. But, I loved the kids so much, and I loved teaching them, but I wasn't happy because of other parts of my job. Let's face it, I also wasn't happy because the job became my God, but that's another post for another day.

Last spring when I was dealing with the SAD and my job and getting things sorted out with my Father, He directed me to do some things. At first I was doing it. This blog is one of those things, but as you can tell I have been neglecting it. God keeps giving me things to write about, sometimes I even put the thoughts into a notebook thinking I will get that typed up later, and later never comes. I use the excuse that I have no quiet time without family about to sit and type and think. The best one, God, who am I to write a blog about You? What do I know about teaching the Bible? So, I put things off, but it is always there in the back of mind and the ideas for posts keep coming. 

And, the stresses keep coming. Why? Lack of obedience. It is very plain to me what is happening in my life right now is a direct result of disobedience. Yes, I read my Bible. I go to Bible study. I study the Bible. What's missing is action. I'm not doing what I know God wants me to do. He has given me two specific things He wants me to do, this blog is one, and I have not been doing either one. If we are to experience the joy and blessings God has for us, we need to be obedient to Him in ALL that He asks, without grumbling and right away.

So, here we are. I'm being obedient. As for my excuses, well, I just got up earlier this morning so I could have some quiet time. Who am I, I am God's child. He gives me the words to say and really this isn't a Bible study, it is how God is leading me and growing me to become the woman He wants me to be so that I can best serve Him. This is my journey and I pray that some of what I am learning can help someone else on their journey to becoming the person God wants them to be.

Father, I thank You for Your patience with me. I thank You for not giving up on me. Your mercy and grace is so amazing. Father, whoever reads this, let them find something that will be of help to them. Bless all who read.  

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Catching Up

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It has been a busy, busy summer and a lot has happened. God has been present and guiding me through all of it.

I have spent a lot of time in God's word, reading, studying, praying, which has led to growing and sometimes growing pains as He brings new challenges for me to face. I have not always been successful in meeting the challenges. I lose my patience and get frustrated with a situation I am placed in instead of immediately turning to Him, or I get frustrated and turn to Him at the same time but it makes for an emotional, self-centered pleading and demanding session of prayer. Sometimes I even do the wrong thing and complain about what is going on to family and friends. But, I am growing and learning and everyday I grow closer to Him and trust Him more.

So, one new thing going on is a new job. I now work with some wonderful Christians at our local Christian radio station. I am loving my job. I am a production assistant and announcer. I have learned a lot and honed some skills I haven't used in a while on the computer. If you would ever like to listen in you can listen online here. I read the news on Mondays and Tuesdays at 5 p.m. Pacific time.

I believe this is going to be a great season in my life. God is guiding one step at a time as I spend time in His word and in prayer. I have gone back to my church's ladies Bible study (since I'm not working during that time) and we are currently working through Colossians. My daughter is attending with me. I am doing a couple of Bible studies online as well. One is through Good Morning Girls at Women Living Well Ministries. We are going through the book of Acts. Check it out it is free. I am also doing a study through Stone Soup For Five. I am currently working on Colossians to go along with the other Bible study at church.

Father,
I thank You for all You have blessed me with. Please continue to guide me and grow me.
In Jesus Name
Amen

Waiting

Waiting.  Waiting is not something I am good at.  In fact  you could say I hate to wait.  I can be very impatient.  Sometimes I jump into things before really checking them out or seeking God's counsel.   But, waiting is something that God asks us to do at times.  He says in Isaiah 40:31, "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not grow weary; and they shall walk and not grow faint."  This verse has popped into my head a lot lately as I have been seeking God for guidance in my job. 

Well, I have left my job, so the waiting is over.  Now there is a new waiting period.  A period or rest and seeking and growing.  I know God has something for me, I'm just waiting to find out what it is. That is the hard part, waiting.  It is weird not having to get up every morning and go to work.  To have nothing to prepare for the kiddos to do.  Instead I wake up and get into God's Word and find direction for my day.  I exercise my faith that He will show me the next step as I am stepping forward in the dark.  

I find it interesting how God has interwoven everything.  Listening, doing, waiting, having faith to go and do what He asks, even if we don't have the whole picture.  Trusting that He won't let us fall off the mountain into the abyss.  There are times during the day the thoughts in my head turn to worry and fretting about the drop in our budget and God will put a song in my mind:

Be not dismayed whate’er betide,

God will take care of you!

Beneath His wings of love abide,

God will take care of you!

God will take care of you,

Through every day o’er all the way;

He will take care of you;

God will take care of you!

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,

God will take care of you!

When dangers fierce your path assail,

God will take care of you!

All you may need He will provide,

God will take care of you!

Trust Him, and you will be satisfied,

God will take care of you!

Lonely and sad, from friends apart,

God will take care of you!

He will give peace to your aching heart,

God will take care of you!

No matter what may be the test,

God will take care of you!

Lean, weary one, upon His breast,

God will take care of you!

(by Civilla Durfee Martin)

I particularly like verse three, 

"All you may need He will provide,

God will take care of you!

Trust Him, and you will be satisfied,

God will take care of you!"

And this involves waiting.  Waiting for the new adventure, wondering what it will be.  Will it be in ministry again?  Children or adults?  Will I be waiting long or is something just around the corner.  It is exciting and scary at the same time.  But, I'm working on my listening skills and my waiting skills and my doing skills. They all work together.  I just need to remember that it is in God's time, not mine.  

Here is a video of a beautiful version of "God Will Take Care of You" performed by the Oakridge Boys.

Father,

Thank you for Your patience with me, for guiding me, and teaching me.  

In Jesus Name

Amen

Hearers and Doers

While I was teaching preschool, we would always say, "Use your listening ears" or "You need to be a good listener".  Well one day, as I was talking to one of the children, it dawned on me that they were listening, they just weren't doing what we were asking them to do.  So, I started saying be a good listener and a doer.  It helped, somewhat, but as teachers we would still see the same thing happening day after day from the same child(ren).  Why won't they learn?  Why do they keep doing the same thing, over and over, even after we have talked to them?

One day at school as I was pondering this while talking to the same child for the upteenth time, a thought popped into my head, why do I constantly mess up and not do what God wants me to do. Hmmm...James tells us in chapter 1 verses 22 to 25, "But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  (23) For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  (25) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

How many times have I sat and had my devotions, read God's word, heard what He has to say to me and I say, "Yes LORD, I will do that" and then I get up and go about my day, sometimes without a second thought as to what God has directed me to do.  Or, I repent of something, like mismanagement of my finances, and ask for help and take the Dave Ramsey workshop, but time and time again, I spend money on frivolous things that I don't need or really want.  Makes me feel a bit of a hypocrite when I am not being a doer but expecting the children to.  But God is patient and merciful and continues to give me opportunities to be a doer.

While teaching preschool I probably learned more than what the children did.  God would show me things every day.  Mostly how much like a preschooler we all are.  We are His children after all, and we do not always act like "adult" children, but like little children.  Which would be good if it were in the faith department and we had the faith of a child.  But we tend to be good listeners but poor doers. I know I'm that way.

But I'm learning, and I'm growing, just like my preschoolers.  They eventually learn what they are supposed to, how to treat their friends, sit in group time, and walk down the hall.  They become better doers.  Now, I need to work on me.  I need to do more than spend time reading and studying God's Word and praying.  I need to be a doer.  I need to forgive the person who hurt me and move on, I need to guide my children, who are adults, in a way that respects their adulthood and the right to make their own choices and shows them God's love, but show them His Word as well.  I need to keep walking in faith, like God has been showing me He wants me to do, even if I can only take one step at a time.

Father,
Thank you for your grace and mercy.  Thank you for your forgiveness when I mess up, when I'm not a good doer.  Please help me to learn and grow and do in You.

In Jesus Name
Amen