Sorting out the Thoughts

"Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander."
Matt. 15.16-19

You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices. You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the Lord your God.'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.' 'Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled.'
Lev. 18.3-4, 22, 24

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Rom. 14.1-4

this is a difficult post to begin. on one of the blogs which i frequently visit, there has been an heated discussion about intolerance or acceptance of homosexuality. and my little mind has been rolling around what i believe about it, not what i've read or seen or experienced. admittedly, i'm not close friends with anyone who lives a homosexual lifestyle. i have some acquaintances, but none who i would consider a close, intimate friend. with that being said, i find myself drawn to homosexuals. perhaps it's because i want to know what originally drew them into that lifestyle. perhaps because God has given me a compassionate heart for them. perhaps it's because i want to see God's amazing transformation in their lives. or maybe it's a tactic of satan to try to get me involved. in any case, i'm drawn like a bug to a zapper.

i'll never forget hearing tony campolo speak about loving others, especially anyone living as a homosexual. with tears in his eyes and a broken heart, he spoke of his relationship with a good friend who is a homosexual. that's the kind of humility and love we are to have for all of God's people, no matter what type of lifestyle they are pursuing.

in my pursuit to find what i believe, i've become increasingly annoyed by people who use the verse, "judge not, or you also will be judged," (matt. 7.1) as a cop-out. that's using scripture as a knife to kill, instead of a tool to transform lives into obedient disciples of Christ. which leads me to what i believe. i believe that each of us was born with a sinful nature. and this sinful nature manifests itself in each of us different. for some, we struggle with arrogance, some have a wicked tongue, some have murderous thoughts, some have a need for sex, some have lust for humankind. some people struggle from abuse at a young age which leads to different sins. each of us carry this sinful nature like a heavy coat. and i believe with all my heart that anyone can be set free from any sin which leads us away from being obedience to the scripture. i think that if we fail to do what the Bible asks of us, we sin. James of the bible says, 'Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.' (4.17) being aware of what sin is seems to make the difference.

so you could say i'm being intolerant. but i know i'm a sinner. and i have to repent of my sin every day. but i'm trying with all my heart to allow the Spirit of God to cleanse me from the wickedness from which i was born. i try to give up my heavy coat on a daily basis. i know my sin is great, but i also know that the grace of my Father is enough for all the wrong i've done or will do. that's what it means to be free. and for this freedom i am forever grateful.

God,
i lay down my beliefs before You. i want to be righteous and holy - being right in word and deed before and at the same time being set apart of your purpose. break me of the sin which entangles me. if i'm wrong, show me where i've sinned. He have a way of turning things upside down. what i nature would do, is often the opposite of how You expect me to react. teach me to be more like You. help to be love those who cross my path. let me to friends with sinners, so they can see You in me. let my heart radiate with Your love so that others can bask in your warmth. let me love - even if it is tough love - those whom You would set before me. Father, i am not enough without You. You've changed this sinner's heart to sing Your praises. You've given me new passion, new reason to uphold what is right. and You provide the strength to flee from temptation. thanks for the reassurance that Your grace is enough, even for the worse of the sinners. thanks for transforming lives with Your Holy Spirit. thanks for still moving in the midst of the darkness. give me compassion for those who need to be loved. help me to love without judgment.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen.
*adam *cat *robin

Blogs

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
isaiah 43.19

so what is it that draws readers towards blogs? what blogs do you find yourself returning to, day after day in hopes that the writer will update?

for me, its constantly getting into the lives of people. finding out what makes them tick. (perhaps i should've pursued sociology or psychology!) i love reading life happenings, which seem ordinary to them, but to me they seem extraordinary. like the little things - those people who can constantly see God moving in their lives - drawing them from regular life to do amazing feats. those who hear God's voice, recognize His promptings, and respond with abandon. and they update nearly everyday. that's amazing to me.

i also tend to read people's blog who are struggling w/ life. not sure if that's a woman thing, or if i'm naturally drawn to the downtrodden. looking back, most of my friends from high school needed help - and that's how i became their friends. i responded. curious to know what that says about me?

the sinful side of me falls into the temptation of reading blogs which tell of a wild child's life. some people are just a mess and they love it. some are bi-sexual and tell freely of their desires. some are married and tell of their messy families. many are non-Christian and freely proclaim that.

so i guess that blogs that draw me the most are people who share life with the world. they are the ones who update consistantly about the ridiculous things of life. the ones who can express themselves via a keyboard. the ones who look deeper than surface level - to find who they are and how they are most satisfied with their lives. for me, i find who am i thru the words of Christ. tho my blog is lame with devotions, that's who i am - or who i aspire to be - or where i find i'm most satisfied. since i don't have a husband or kids - or am sexually active - or jobless - or in a band - or cuss - or an alcoholic... all that doesn't matter. i'm me. and other bloggers are themselves, too.

so thanks to readers who link to this site from yours. thanks for being real.

jesus,
what a strange time - when people connect more thru the net than in real person. God, you know my heart - and you know there are times when i desire to have more friends to hang out with. but then there are times, when i'm reminded that You've blessed me with some pretty incredible friends. i chalk up to You my praise for my friends. tho i may struggle at times to be single, i trust that You are my Friend in all situations. You know when i sit and when i rise - when i go out and when i lay down. You're familiar with all my ways. that's inspiring! tho my heart may not always be content to be single, i lay down these feelings to you. thanks for reminding me this morning that Your unfailing love will sustain me. and that Your plans are best for me. so if you have a spouse for me, help me seek You for patience and wisdom. and if not, i will always trust You as my Husband - the one who purchased me at a price, but not one that money could afford. thanks for my 'net friends who don't even know that i read their blog, but still i talk with You about them all the same. may You fill the brokenness some of my close friends are feeling. may Your unfailing love embrace them - and quench the desires of their hearts. may they seek Truth, instead of instant gratification. may their hearts blaze when they enter Your presence. may You awaken our passion to find You, our first love. tho my words fail, i trust that You hear my heart's cry.
thru Jesus ~ Amen
*misty *susan *kevin

The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.
isaiah 50:4

Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
psalm 119:34

this verse in isaiah beholds much wisdom. first it speaks of God giving me an 'instructed tongue' - a tongue that knows the words which sustain the weary. that's a big responsibility - speak to the weary and give them words which will encourage them and lead them to satisfaction. we've all been there before: when we know one of our friends is down, and we feel it's our responsibility to cheer them up. and we try to give them a shoulder to cry upon or a listening ear so they can get rid of whatever is weighing them down. but sometimes we are expected to tell them of the love which Christ has for them - and that is the word which will sustain them.

secondly, this verse speaks of God wakening us on a daily basis with ears that listen for His voice. seems to me this part of the verse should have preceded the other part of the verse. first we need to listen for God's voice - teaching us how to give the words which sustain the weary. without His word of instruction, His promptings, His leading, His guidance . . . we are lost and purposeless.

i have many friends right now who are going thru hard times. i'm not going to name them, but i can sense them becoming weary. their faith once blazed the way - taking on challenges much larger than they could conquer, but they faithfully went thru the unknown with help of the Known. now the One whom they knew so well in the past, has become commonplace. . . and this saddens me. one of my friends who is struggling with temptation said, 'it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission'. it breaks my heart that we've cheapened grace. oh the wise words of bonhoeffer. so i ask myself, in what ways am i cheapening grace? where in my life have i given into temptations - or where have i been numb to the Spirit's leading? what in my life is unholy? what white lies have my lips spoken - what exaggerations have i said? where have i been a hypocrit? is there someone whom i should ask for forgiveness? what in my past is causing fear or discouragement? where have i withheld my love for Jesus or others? when have i shown a 'don't care attitude'? have i said i'll do something and didn't do it? how's my daily pursuit of Jesus - am i digging into His word and truly listening for His voice? do i hear Him speak and forget? am i who i think i am? what things in my life cause dissatisfaction and what am i doing about them? am i pursuing righteousness? is my money being spent on things which will have a lasting effect on others - or am i being selfish in my spending?

dearest Friend
i ask these questions in Your presence. help me to find the true answers. give me understanding and i will keep Your law and obey with my whole heart. Jesus, forgive me for not being real with You. too often i try to cover my struggles from You - help me to get them out in the open so that You can cleanse me for falling into sin. use Your hyssop to cleanse - wash me, then i'll be whiter than snow. when i wake in the morning, let my first thoughts be of You - speak to servant for she is listening. may i be silent long enough to hear the words which satisfy and give rest to the weary. i'm not an island.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen
*Kimberly *Maverick *Lexi

Combining Worship

In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance."
Isaiah 19.23-25

so i'm working my way thru isaiah. man, i love that book! the Jesus story, the fall of satan, the history of our Christian faith all rests in it. good stuff.

so this verse - about egypt, assyria and israel all being part of God's amazing plan - brings so much history together. normally i'm not a history buff, but to hear that egypt - the land where moses was enslaved by pharoah will be a blessing is beyond me. and to hear that assyria which includes nineveh (the terrible people from whom jonah was running) will be included in being a blessing - that's beyond me too. and not just that - but that israel will be third in line. israel, the gaza strip, and all the fighting going on there will be a blessing? that is beyond me.

the more i think about it... the more it concerns me. because these verses speak of egypt (in africa) and assyria (syria/iraq/turkey) will have a highway connecting them. well, israel seems to be in the middle. no wonder there is much fighting going on there.

religion stats for israel: Jewish 76.5%, Muslim 15.9%.
for syria: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%
for egypt: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%

Most Gracious God,
You are the original blesser. and even today You are the One who pours out so much blessing that we don't have room enough for it. Your word has many mysteries to me. i see in part - but someday i will see full, even as i am fully know by You. and this road that leads from egypt to syria will be one of worship - that will be an amazing day. so i think about the roads i travel on to work, to play, to south dakota . . . are they roads of blessing or curses. i pray that where i travel i may be a blessing to those whom You place in my path. may You use me as an instrument of Your love. may these roads before me lead me deeper into our relationship. i seek to know You more.
by Jesus ~ amen.
*kerri *President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak *philip

Become a slave

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Romans 6.18

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.
Lev. 26.13

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 8.17

yesterday in sunday school our class went thru Romans 5. romans just gets me right there! tho i may have a shallow understanding of the book because of this culture and current traditions, it still remains relevant. if i could choose one main theme which draws me to Christianity, it would be the theme of having to become a slave. slaves don't have rights - or a vote - or say-so in any matters. they are expected to do what they are commanded without pay. they can be abused or honored, depending on their master. they are to be obedient and submissive.

ephesians 6.6, speaking to slaves about their masters, goes on to say, 'Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.' so being a slave of Christ is to draw new joy and strength from the depths of their hearts.... and our hearts, too. we are not excluded from being slaves to Christ. too often serving and submitting does not draw joy and strength from my heart... usually it tends to draw out the heathen in me.

o merciful master,
you've ask of me to give everything i have ever possessed, including my very soul. when my focus is so shallow - when my eyes fall upon how hard i have it, show me that You've already called me into priesthood. tho You've given me the status of kingship, help to remember that You've equipped me to perform the duties of a slave. i want to be obedient to You. i want to submit with a grateful heart. break me when my ego arises. o Lord, it's hard to be humble... in You i am made whole. as i abide in You, i see how surrendering to Your commands is not a burden, but a joy. my heart rejoices that i can abide in You, even when i fall hard.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen

*lexi *juanita *cynthia