Anything without life is dead. Sounds pretty elementary doesn't it? I've been pondering this topic the last couple days. A blog post for example... could have a ton of good content.. but if there is no personal edge in the writing.. if there is no sense of a "life" being experienced through the content.. it is just dead content. But when you come across a post that comes from the heart of someone living through an experience and sharing it, those words seem to be more real and meaninful. There is a life being lived out through the expression that gives it passion and value.
A singer could have tremendous skill and talent and sing a the most polished song without flaw..but if the person singing the song does not put themselves into the meaning of the words being said and sang.. then it is just a dead meaningless song. We enjoy music that expresses our lives. Our feelings, our victories and our heart breaks. Songs with a real life behind them speak to us on that certain level that grips us emotionally and helps us connect to the very source of life coming from that song.
God's Word is the same to me. The bible is a wonderful book without question... but if I read it like just another book it makes little sense and has little to no affect on me. The text on the pages of that book are just text on the pages of that book. However when you receive the person of Jesus Christ and begin to find out who he is, and begin to let him unfold His character to you. Then the words suddenly have a life behind them. What was a dead letter becomes a love letter. An account of real passion, suffering and overcoming. Words that sing such an emotional song that they become interwoven in your life. So much so that as you experience day to day life you see yourself battling through the same things and finding solace within the remedies given from within those pages. There is a real, super real, life behind the words and it brings forth such a passion that causes it's life to be transferred in you. Like Adam meets Eve. Bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. They are two, yet they are one because of that life source between them.
Now here I stand with newness of life where there was only death before and I become that valuable resource. The city on the hill for all to see. Will you be gripped by the life behind the song and be changed? Changed so much that no longer are you death without life.. but live without death.
I was driving around with a friend today and we got to talking about facebook, the internet and texting and how it has changed our lives. What came to mind and out of my mouth shocked even me.
There are pros and cons to instant messaging. For example, you have time to think about your response and can make an intelligent reply and check your spelling ect. You can delete your first 5 attempts of expressing yourself wrongly before you get the perfect reply that won't offend.
Some of the benefits of texting are also pit falls. When you send a message/text they can't see your facial expressions or your tone of voice. They cant even see your true initial reaction. They only receive your fine tuned reply. It really take the pressure off of you to know that you are not having a face to face conversation and you have the safety net of blind communication... but is it really good?
Ok so all this wonderful technology..... what is the catch?
All of my kids use online and texting to communicate with me. Most of them say they "hate" the phone. Truth is I don't like the phone much either. Not when it is so much easier to instant message. Who wants to talk face to face. It puts you on the spot! Your pressed not only to say the right thing instantly but you have to pull it off with all the right facial expressions and body language! YIKES!!
So we go through our lives.. texting, blogging, facebooking the things we want people to see. But that is exactly all you get when you receive a message.. is the front that that person puts up.
When I look at my kids and even myself I can see that all this technology has made us lazy and too comfortable with blind communication. It grows phobias and socially ackward people who are just not comfortable making the simplest of phone calls. We have been robbed of expressive facial and body movement, emotionally charged voices and the story that only eyes can tell.
Do you get an emotional comfort from a texting *hug* ? Me neither. I'm making it my goal to reverse this attempt to kill peoples ability to see the real me. I told my girlfriend she would be so proud of me because I recently called four girlfriends in the same day!! She just grinned at me and said "Was it at the Harvest Festival?" lol It actually was NOT.. but she knows me too well! =op
I just wanted to expose this because when I really took a true look at this today is astounded me just how much was stolen from me without me even realizing it!. BOO DEVIL!
I had always heard and been taught that Jesus was hated because He was God.. and to be hated for His sake was gain. So I often thought to myself.... well, I don't know of anyone who hates me because I am a Christian..... they find a lot of other reasons..LOL
Tonight after the preaching I had a talk with my Husband and I realized..that most of them dislike me because I proclaim to be a Christian all the while they see my faults. So in that light.. I do suffer for His sake. Because I try to shine His light..while still robed in this sinful flesh. Ive been sort of retreating lately..laying low and trying to figure things out..but tonight with the Lords help I realize that If I don't continue to shine my light among the people and I don't extend my hand and heart to others..I am just a guilty as the people who close themselves off from me. If we all pull into our shells.....who will be Jesus for the people like me who need that outstretched hand? It seems like its all part of bearing the cross...Jesus loves us despite our failures..we need to love people despite their failures ... even in the face of rejection.
Self righteousness has to be one of the blindest conditions I know of. It makes people so eager to throw big rocks and accusations at another brother or sister's short comings and yet they themselves are so unwilling to reveal or deal with their own faults. Which of us is blameless and able to fling that first stone? Not me. You fall.. I fall. We are saved by Grace..not our successes and failures. Can we be big enough to Love anyway?
Lately.. I've come to the conclusion that is must be popular to dislike me LOL.
Sounds pathetic doesn't it.. but read on. Have you ever had people that don't even know you decide they do not like or approve of you? Its a bit odd.. If someone I knew got mad at me for something I did..then that's repairable..but what about people who do not know you and have no cause? Perhaps it's a painful flaw in my personality but I cannot stand it when people dislike me without even getting to know me. But - it almost seems like its the "in" thing at times. It baffles me..but tonight as I was pondering the latest drama the devil has thrown at me - it occurred to me that the type of people that come against me are like that for a reason.
I'm not wealthy, well known or popular. I battle poor health and I'm always praying and watching the hand of God for my every need. I guess for those reasons people tend to look down at me and not give me a chance to be somebody of worth to them.. but there is someone that sees it differently.
When the call to the wedding supper went out in the Bible....it was to the upper class..but they had their own thing going on and ignored the invitation.. then Jesus reached down his hand for me..and I accepted.
He was not known for rubbing elbows with the upper class. He was mocked for being with the low lives.. If he was here today as He was then he would not drive a sports car or live in a big house. He would not have a ton of friends or be popular. Most people would just steer clear of Him and chalk him up as another wandering loser.
My heart pulsates when I see Him in this humble light....He took on that form for a reason...and I realize that I take on this form for a reason too. HIS reason.
So let the wolves snap at my ankles and shove their noses in the air when I walk by. Let them talk and poke. Everything they have may make them well off and popular..but what I have/don't have causes character..and character is the only thing that will remain when everything else fails..and it will fail. Jesus's trials molded Him..and their molding me to be like Him.
This revelation does not make peoples painful actions easier..but it does make them worth it! ! Thank You Lord
There is just not enough chocolate to overcome days like this...gonna have to tighten my armor and whip out the sword!
Here are the 5 best things to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk:
#5 They told me at the Blood Bank this might happen.
#4 This is just a 15 minute power nap they raved about in the time management course you sent me.
#3 Whew! Guess I left the top off the Whiteout. You probably got here just in time!
#2 Did you ever notice sound coming out of the keyboard when you put your ear down REAL CLOSE?
#1 Raise your head slowly and say..."In Jesus name....Amen."
