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."
Facebook..I'm just asking myself why I even do it? It's a weapon in the hand of the enemy. On any given day I could brag about what I'm doing of value that day.. but thats not good character to show off like that is it? I get zero joy out of reading everyone else's posts about their supermom activities for the day. I do not need to compete! lol, So I just breeze past those posts.... then there is the tons of "whos playing what and needs what item for what game posts" Ive been known to do them in mass quantity but it got old fast when i realized how much time it was sucking from my day...oh then theres the ones that love to stir up the drama. Ask loaded questions that stir up the pot and then stick their head in the sand like it was soooo unintentional *bats eyes innocently* and last but not least there is extended family that you never hear from except on facebook..... Yeah.. enough said! *goes and takes an aspirin*
Last Sunday Brother Donnie preached a wonderful uplifting sermon about how there are Angels in the services at Church and among us. It brought back a neat memory that I had almost forgotten..so I'm going to share it here so I will never forget it and perhaps it might bless someone else.
About a year ago we bought a new/used mini van. It ran very nicely. No problems at all. I had been driving it for a couple months without an issue. I was on my way to drop my Sister back off at her apartment. After she went in I put the van in reverse and stepped on the gas to back out of her driveway..suddenly..and i mean suddenly the van stalled and the entire vehicle jerked hard making me sort of lunge forward in my seat. I no more then got sat back upright in my seat and I happen to see another van in my rear view mirror fly by behind me moving pretty fast. I realized just then that if I had not stopped so sharply I would have been hit very hard! Then I realized..that my van had never stalled before..and usually a van stalling will not cause it to immediately stop rolling but mine had came to an abrupt hault as if I had been stopped by force...and I realized..I had been stopped by a Great force..so I paused and thanked the Lord for His protection and then drove safely home feeling quite loved.
Forgive me Blog..its been over 30 days since my last post. *Sarcastic Look* LOL
I just had an urge to share a tip for chicken. We use chicken thighs but any cut of chicken will work. I just put the chicken pieces in a pan and baptize them with one of our favorite salad dressings and bake @ 400 for 45 minutes. So far we have used Catalina, Ranch, Honey Dijon and tonight we used sweet vidalia onion dressing and it turned out fantastic! This method also goes good with cut up onions or fresh/frozen veggies in the same pan and sauce. Or if you like to fancy it up.. cook the veggies seperate and drizzle the hot dressing from the chicken over the veggies and serve. Just make sure the dressing your using semi matches your veggies. I've not tried potatoes yet.. but it would be worth a shot =op
Don and I are working on a large product bundle. Exactly what we are making it top secret until the day it is launched. We are so close to done it is getting very exciting! We have been working for about 2 weeks now on it. There are over 15 3D items being created for it. It's been a very full day..and tomorrow is another one. Looking forward to Church tomorrow night!
Blogging on days like this is dangerous.. I'm learning that when you get your eyes on someone whom you believe is very spiritual in their walk with the Lord and you set them up above the rest because of what is on display...God will shine his white light and knock them down. We all fail. We all get grumpy and misjudge others and we tear down when we should be lifting up. There is only one worthy of a pedestal. All others amazingly are just as human as I am. So glad there is Grace.
Song stuck on my heart: There is a place called Grace
There is only one unforgivable sin and there is no sin greater then the other...If the Lord forgives repentive hearts who are we to throw stones? The Law calls for every one of us to be put to death....but Mercy said NO !! =o) (ok second song on heart now! LOL)
4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Thoroughly enjoyed church this weekend. I had a late night Saturday because it's hard to come down after such a service so I was dragging a bit Sunday morning but the Lord sure overcame that! Now just spending some quiet time at home and basking in the afterglow.
I have this strange urge to drop a red scarlet cord out my back window...but I know spiritually.. it is already there. Though the walls of the city fall around me.. I know this house will stand. He promised if I would be true.. He would come for me.
I'll take the super natural over the super bowl any day!
We rearranged the living room and we are loving it! Don has a special touch when it comes to arranging things and our tastes are very similar =o)
I made a new image today to celebrate my new blog.
I named the blog "Consider the Daisies" =op
Well we had a change of plans due the yucky weather forecast tonight. So I took some of my baked goodies to my Sister and Michelle and we went down to the river behind the church and we had a nice surprise when we found 4 Geese!! This is a most awesome sign of Spring!! We fed them some bread and watched the rushing waters. The river is at flood stage as you can see from the pic. The water was really churned up and moving fast. It was awesome!
It's fellowshipping time..some friends are on my mind and the lovely ones will be coming in in plain view!! LOL Going to have some friends over tonight. I spent most of the day yesterday baking goodies for today. Really looking forward to it =o) Got a new blog too that posts to facebook when I do entries. Its a pretty neat site!
