Day 24: "Transformed By Truth"

Welcome back readers!! For new readers, we are taking a day by day journey through Pastor Rick Warren's book: The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? I have read the book once & I LOVED it SO much that I'm reading it again & sharing my experiences & how I've begun to apply what this book teaches to my life.

This chapter discusses the IMPORTANCE of The Bible. I'd like to tell ya'll a story. I have a VERY dear friend that has studied, Studied, STUDIED the Bible & I really didn't know how STRONG of a BELIEVER she was, when we first became friends. I mean...I look to her as a TEACHER to me. I had asked her to help me at one of my auctions (NEVER worked at one before) & she just swooped in where she was NEEDED & did a great job. I'm an EXPERIENCE kinda gal & when I took the BIG step to go at the auction business FULL-TIME I saw God workin' in ways I had never seen before & havin' things revealed to me & saw how certain things were SO connected to each other. Whew! I can get on the phone and talk to her for HOURS & one day she asked me what kind of Bible I had...I told her. Well next thing you know she brought me a Catholic Bible that had four different versions of God's Word in it. I've said in a previous blog that I just had a HARD time falling into a way to REALLY read The Bible. The BEST thing that worked for me (and it wasn't workin' all that well) was to read it cover to cover & I wasn't half way through it yet.

Well...she gave me this Bible and it sat on my table for at least a week and a half. Finally, one day I went to it. I was gearin' myself up to have one of those HARD conversations & I needed MORE than what this book & my devotional could give me. I opened up the Bible & the heading in the text was about dealing with anger. It drew me in. Then over the next couple days I continued to do that (I know many people will tell you that is NOT the best way to read & understand The Bible.) I kept feeling myself DRAWN into it. Now I feel drawn to the book of Matthew & it will be the first WHOLE chapter I finish since I started reading it again. Just now as I was TRYING to find what book of the Bible I was in that talked about dealing with anger I was again...DRAWN to Hebrews Chapter 11, which talks about remembering the heroes of faith. I NEEDED to read that. I NEEDED to hear the multiple stories of God's disciples that walked out in NOTHING BUT FAITH...even when it didn't makes sense...AT ALL...to do it.

I re-read the chapter & had all kinds of bullet points on what would be a good idea to share with you, but I think I'll end this way. When you start walking out into faith, asking for a relationship with God, calling upon The Holy Spirit & having FAITH that help is coming...you will see changes. You will start feeling NATURAL tugs. I had some natural tuggin' goin' on when I finally opened up my new Bible.Once you start surrendering yourself, He will REVEAL more to you.

Two of my favorite things from this chapter: "Decide that regardless of culture, tradition, reason, or emotion, you choose the Bible as your final authority." & "Daily Bible reading will keep you in range of God's voice." This chapter also discusses the importance of sharing our journey with others...our thoughts...our concerns...our experiences.... That is why I ENCOURAGE you to SHARE whatever it is you are thinking about these posts. It will help us all GROW more.

"Point to Ponder: The truth transforms me."

Daily Bible Verse: "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32 (KJV)

Daily Question: "What has God already told me in his Word that I haven't started doing yet?"

From my journal after reading the first time: 1-Completely trusting Him and letting go of worry: I can tell I'm getting better, BUT when worldly pressures come down - the anxiety comes back. (THIS has gotten EXTREMELY better since the first time I read this chapter.) 2 - Reading the Bible cover to cover. (Working on that & have some guidance that has been working for me.) 3 - Learning more - specifically about my church. 4 - I started forgiving people on "my list," but I have not started forgiving each one: Some I need to forgive & some I need to ask for forgiveness. (I've talked to MOST everyone on "my list," but haven't talked to everyone yet.)

Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus. If you don't have one, go get you a BIBLE. It'll be the best readin' material, road map, & instruction manual you'll EVER find. God Bless!

"Day 23: How We Grow"

On to Day 23 from the book: The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Pastor Rick Warren.

I feel like there is a line in this chapter that I need to continually read over & OVER again...for the rest of my life! "Nothing shapes your life more than the commitments you choose to make. Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you, but either way, they will define you....We become whatever we are committed to." -Pastor Warren

We all have commitments: our marriages, our families, our careers, our friendships, our church...

When I was working as a marketing liaison for the skilled nursing facility I learned something....& (no doubt) The Holy Spirit was teaching me....& all the people I came in contact with. I took the job for a couple reasons...one was money. I was SO concerned about having enough $$$ to support my family like I was able to with my previous job. The other was that I'd be able to help people on a level that was SO important to them & help them find solutions. Well....mind you...INTERNALLY I wanted to do the same thing, using my auctioneer license....make enough $$ to help create a good life for my family & HELP PEOPLE on a level that they REALLY needed help with. So I went on for almost a year working as a marketing liaison, going into hospitals, talking to patients & families will all kinds of different needs, diagnosis, backgrounds, financial issues, etc. I talked to doctors, floor nurses, case managers, specialists, hospice managers, home health marketers, administrators, social workers, gatekeepers...

So what did I learn (that applies to this chapter)? I learned that although...I was staying bUsY & I was TRYING to help EVERY patient or family I came in contact with....I couldn't....at least not the way I thought someone in my position would be able to. I also learned as I was getting HOUNDED for not having a 144 page market analysis done (which I was required to do BEFORE OR AFTER my 8-5:30 job & before & after my hour long commute each way) & not "staying on top" of 2 of my BOSSES... that what the company was asking me to do....was REALLY just BuSy work too & wasn't ACCOMPLISHING anything....for anybody really. It also made me see that this money that I was making was coming with a HEAVY price on my part. I was accomplishing one goal....having enough $$$ to provide for my family, but it was SO UNHEALTHY...for everything important to me: my family, my friendships (although I picked up some pretty special ones along the way), myself & my health (physical, mental, & emotional), BUT most importantly MY GOD.

My ability, my drive, & my ENERGY of having the ability to call an auction, raise money for people, & run an auction were all DISCOVERED, GOD-GIVEN talents. STRAIGHT UP....the simple thought that came to me through INTENSE prayer was the CATALYST for the chanGE that you are witnessing....& I was abandoning it....to have enough $$$$ to support my family (what I thought...was enough money)... I think I called one auction the entire year I had that job. I was sitting there in this MISERABLE situation I put myself in, with other MISERABLE people (not all of them, but many) & PRAYING to GOD to give me some answers....when he already had.

When I say the journey we are walking with The Holy Trinity is intense...I mean it, BUT the REALLY intense parts...we usually do to ourselves... ALL I have to do is TRUST in GOD's PLAN. So...besides having to go to work everyday the TOUGHEST part of making the break was explaining to my husband what I felt like I needed to do, understanding & accepting how this choice would look to many PEOPLE, & preparing myself for the hard times, which include: being tight financially, going day to day or auction to auction not knowing how successful or unsuccessful they would be, my husband not understanding what I'm doing & what it takes & losing faith, the critics..., & the process of figuring out EXACTLY what I'm supposed to be doing & HOW to do it. BUT...I know it is a process. I know that what God has planned for me is BIGGER than ANY of my problems. I KNOW that my husband is walking his own spiritual journey & I am WELL familiar with the layers that are getting peeled back & the process that he has to work through to understand it. What is SO beautiful to me is that I can see his FAITH increasing as mine is increasing. It may not be quite as strong (in this area) as mine is, but he is right there with me...working more hours & leaving the house around 4AM most mornings. As I walk this walk there are things that I have to change & different opportunities that present themselves & things that I thought would work that don't, but I KNOW it is the RIGHT path.... I'm not so sure that some of the detours are right, but they all still lead back to the RIGHT path... My work as a marketing liaison was not the right path & I felt it, BUT NOTHING is wasted. The LIFE & SPIRITUAL experience I gained in that position are ALL given to God to bring him the glory & add to my tool bag.

In the MOMENT where I sat down & talked to my husband & told him what I was thinking & MOVED PAST all the FEAR & ANXIETY & DOUBT we BOTH became COMMITTED to following God's plan & not our own. I don't expect EVERYONE to "get it," but I'm glad he got it. I still have FEAR & I know he does too, but I NOW have a DEEPER fear of not DEVELOPING my PURPOSE - GIVEN to me by God.    

Here are some lines that are REALLY important to me from this chapter:

"Spiritual growth is not automatic. It takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing." (Note: PERSISTING is the tough part.)

"Behind everything you do is a thought. Every behavior is motivated by a belief, and every action is prompted by an attitude." (This line is SO important to me because I tend to downplay myself or extensions of myself. I also doubt myself...quite a bit. It is some layer that is DEEP. I'm aware of it, but don't know exactly how to shake it. I know that it is probably one of the devil's biggest defenses against me & he's PISSED that I even know about it. I should probably read this line every day too.)

"You repent whenever you change the way you think by adopting how God thinks - about yourself, sin, God, other people, life, your future, and everything else." (So here is the answer & DEFINITELY easier said than done.)

"The Bible says that selfish thinking is the source of sinful behaviour: 'Those who live following their sinful selves think only about things that their sinful selves want.' -Romans 8:5 (NCV) The second half of thinking like Jesus is to start thinking maturely, which focuses on others, not yourself." (Stop being selfish & think about others.)

"Point to Ponder: It's never too late to start growing."

Daily Bible Verse: "Let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God - what is good and is pleasing to him & is perfect." Romans 12:2B (TEV)

Daily Question: "What is one area where I need to stop thinking my way & start thinking God's way?"

From My Journal From the First Time of Reading: In everything really. The first thing that came to mind was my work/job/creative projects surrounding it.

It really is EVERY area. It AMAZES me on just how much I try to CONTROL on my own.

Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus! TRUST him & he'll take the lead in EVERY avenue of your life. God Bless!

Day 22: "Created To Become Like Christ"

Welcome back readers!! Yes...I took a week long hiatus from my blog posts. Not because I didn't want to do them, but I had a general consignment auction this past weekend & it literally consumes my time. Yes...I could have taken SOME time to write these posts, but not much & you wouldn't get the quality post you'll get since my time has freed up...not to mention the new experiences to share. Sharing this with all of you is very important to me. I want to shine the light to whoever will read this book (The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? by Pastor Rick Warren) on how IMPORTANT finding our PURPOSE is & then living it. It's a journey...not automatic & I feel DRIVEN to share that with you.

Today marks the beginning of the THIRD purpose of our lives....To Become MORE like CHRIST.

Like I mentioned, this has been a BusY week. I worked at the sale barn on Monday. Then, on Tuesday, we started setting up tables for the auction & breaking down chairs & lining up chairs & moving benches, then Wednesday was FULL of sorting through items at 2 estates, boxing them up, and bringing them to the auction site...along with furniture & cement blocks & not getting home until after 3AM. Thursday held MORE of that & tagging & lotting all the items & displaying them and what not. Friday was preview day where there was more lotting & organizing & having consignments come in & Saturday was auction day.

Let me just say that this has been an educational week in the world of this Entrepreneur. I found myself SEARCHING for the PURPOSE of ALL. THAT. WORK. Here is what I can tell you.... I have had 3 of my own general consignment auctions now....since I got my auctioneer's license. Of the 3...my ANXIETY level was the lowest it has EVER been....and it seemed StraNge to me. Not unwelcome, but stranGe. I also SAW....how BLESSED & LOVED I am. I am BEYOND blessed & I am in AWE of it....& not very understanding of it. I was in VERY good company this week & had more fun with both of my siblings (at the same time) than we've had in a long time. I felt their SUPPORT & it is a blessing. I had some of the BEST friends that a girl could ask for come out & BE THERE & WORK HARD....without question... & when things didn't go maybe EXACTLY how I'd a liked them to go....they were there to SUPPORT & ENCOURAGE me. I could see SO MUCH BEAUTY in  ALL THAT MESS.... I SAW so much positive growth in MULTIPLE areas.

God's plan is SO beautiful & SO HARD...all at the same time. I can recognize God's PROTECTION for me & his REVEALING to me. It's like glimpses... I still find myself trying to CONTROL certain aspects of my life & I RECOGNIZE more every day of how I need to let go & LET GOD. As I was reading through this chapter again this line popped out at me: "Move ahead in your weakness, doing the right thing in spite of your fears and feelings. This is how you cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and it is how your character develops." Man....have I learned how to do this & LET ME TELL YA....It isn't much fun DURING the process....but you will be left in AWE. I can also say that a lot of times I'm not sure AT ALL that I'm doing the "right" thing, but I'm trying to do the right thing.... Yeah....sometimes "The right thing" can get your wheels a spinnin' & a lot of times...YOU JUST DON'T KNOW & you can do all the prayin' you want to & God's probably not gonna drop the answer in your lap in a perfectly wrapped box with a pretty ribbon around it.

This chapter says: "God gives us our time on earth to build and strengthen our character for heaven." It also says: "You are a work in progress. Your spiritual transformation to developing the character of Jesus will take the rest of your life, and even then it won't be completed here on earth." Yep...I'm tellin' ya...just when you think you MIGHT have somethin' figured out...there's a whole 'nother layer that you didn't even know about. We HAVE to EXPERIENCE the tough times to TRULY appreciate the GOOD times & in those TOUGH times we HAVE to TRUST that whatever we are going through, dealing with, faced with...it is developing our character & we have to choose how to react to it. There is a line from a quote that I saw on Facebook & I have no idea who wrote it, but it says: "My name has been dragged through the mud more than once & every time I pick it up & wash it off!" My name...my pride...my work...& YES...I wash all that CRAP off & get back with it! Figure it out! That is the OTHER thing I've learned this week. I have always known that I DON'T QUIT. I may re-position or adjust, but I don't quit & I was sitting outside the auction (BEFORE the auction started) already thinking about PLAN B. Was I bummed about the turnout...yes. BUT for once I DIDN'T BEAT MYSELF UP. At the time I did what I thought needed to be done & what I had the ability to do. Now I have to do the same thing with the knowledge & experience I GAINED from this auction.

So here is my SPIRITUAL take on this week....I felt a CONSTANT calmness because my FAITH & TRUST in God has gotten stronger. I know that ALL will be okay & I could see with my eyes how ABUNDANTLY blessed I am. When you pump the brakes on all that WORRY you can sure see a lot of things clearer. I can see the ties that bind my family, friends, & staff are strengthening... Those are all the things that REALLY matter. The rest will fall in place.

"Point to Ponder: I was created to become like Christ."

Daily Bible Verse: "As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more." 2 Corinthians 3:18B (NLT)

Daily Question: "In what area of my life do I need to ask for the Spirit's power to be like Christ today?

From my journal the first day of reading: Developing good habits... good Godly habits. That is the area in my life that I need to ask The Holy Spirit to help me with. I am feeling like my lack of habitually doing things (not necessarily having bad habits (although I do)) is an underlying source of stress and chaos.

My take on things now....I was a little hard on myself that day. I need to be ALL I can be in any given day, without taking into consideration what EVERYONE else thinks I need to be. Maybe I'm not made (and this is highly likely) to habitually do things. I'm working now to do the best I can, with what I can & realizing that worry, jealousy, anxiety, are all roadblocks to finding my divine purpose.

A priest asked me one time: "Do you see God when you look in the mirror?" My answer then was "No, not really, but I feel a strong resemblance to Jesus." Well DUH!! Jesus is our living GOD, so the answer is YES. He moved passed that one probably thinking she'll get that when she reflects back on it.

I can tell you what I REALLY need The Holy Spirit to help me with.... Stripping myself of the expectations I put on myself, which are based on what, the society that I look towards, deems as acceptable & good & what I have also adopted. It's probably the MAIN way I still try & CONTROL things that are not mine to control.

Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus! When you stay in GOOD COMPANY you pick up their habits! God Bless!

Day 21: "Protecting Your Church"

Hey everyone! Thanks for reading! Today is the final day for the second purpose of our lives that Pastor Rick Warren talks about in his book: The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For?

This chapter STRESSES & brings home the IMPORTANCE of us getting along with people...especially in places where we fellowship & with other believers. It goes into discussion about ALL kinds of people: the ones that are hard for us to get along with, our church leaders, aggressive people, complacent people, gossipers...& offers guidance on how to handle ourselves & all these kinds of people.

If you are reading this book & my blog I surely don't want to beat you over the head with this, because the book itself can be intense...(in a good way). It is VERY IMPORTANT that you take something away with you from this chapter. We aren't expected to fix everything overnight, but it shows you & tells you areas where you can start.

I also want to say that the church is important to me....& so are all the relationships I have with other believers that are not members of my church. I KNOW the areas of FELLOWSHIP that are VERY SACRED to me & they don't just happen at church. PROTECT THEM. In my opinion those relationships of fellowship are like supernatural, GODly links between us here on earth to help minister to others... They aren't JUST friendships. They have a deeper meaning. This is why I also urge you to be mindful of your fellowship & don't get drawn into the acts of competing for who is closer to God, or knows more about God, or who sins less. "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. " Proverbs 27:17

I have learned (in such a short time) how important it is to just TALK to other believers about what is going on with you...spiritually. It helps you gain understanding & they may just know something you don't. INCLUDE each other as often as you can in whatever area of SPIRITUAL GROWTH you can find. It's important to spend time alone, but WE NEED EACH OTHER'S HELP!

Here are some of the key things I took away from this chapter: (Everything not from the Bible is Pastor Warren's words."

"You are commissioned by Jesus Christ to do everything possible to preserve the unity, protect the fellowship, and promote harmony in your church family & among all believers."

"We share the same salvation, the same life, and the same future..."

"...It was God who chose to give us different personalities, backgrounds, races, and preferences, so we should value and enjoy those differences, not merely tolerate them."

"Longing for the ideal while criticizing the real is evidence of immaturity. On the other hand, settling for the real without striving for the ideal is complacency. Maturity is living with the tension."

"...the church is made up of real sinners, including ourselves."

"Reconciliation, not running away, is the road to stronger character and deeper fellowship."

"God warns us over and over not to criticize, compare, or judge each other."

"Whenever I judge another believer, four things instantly happen: I lose fellowship with God, I expose my own pride and insecurity, I set myself up to be judged by God, and I harm the fellowship of the church."

"The Bible calls Satan 'the accuser of our brothers.'" Revelation 10:12

"Gossip is passing on information when you are neither part of the problem nor part of the solution." 

"If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him - work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you have made a friend. If he won't listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won't listen, tell the church." -Matthew 18:15-17a

"Jesus says to take it to the church. If the person still refuses to listen after that, you should treat that person like an unbeliever."

"...when people find a church where members genuinely love and care for each other, you would have to lock the doors to keep them away."




"Point to Ponder: It is my responsibility to protect the unity of my church."

Daily Bible Verse: "Let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony and the growth of our fellowship together." Romans 14:19 (PH)

Daily Question: "What am I personally doing to protect unity in my church family right now?

From my journal the first time of reading: I'm thinking the blog writing seems more and more like a good fit, for helping to bring more unity to the church, but it could also divide it. That is why I'll have to refer back to this chapter & open that up in discussion to the group.

What I think now: I need to explore what I journaled about, but I also recognize that there are some things that I do to protect the unity of my fellowship groups/relationships. I am OPEN & HONEST allowing spiritual growth among us. I am opening up discussion & helping my readers work through and think about the topics I write about.

Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus! Protect your posse! God Bless!!

Day 20: "Restoring Broken Fellowship"

Welcome Readers! Glad to have you. Today is Day 20 of our journey through the book: The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? by Pastor Rick Warren.

Well...I've done quite a bit of work on this chapter the last few weeks & after I went to confession & sleeping on it I've come to a realization...well a few.

"Point to Ponder: Relationships are always worth restoring."

Daily Bible Verse: "Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody." Romans 12:18 (TEV)

Daily Question: "Who do I need to restore a broken relationship with today?"

From my Journal: I'm not giving you names. Let's just say I had SEVEN on my list. Of those seven I've had 4 HARD conversations where I had the intention of repairing them OR strengthening them.

Of the four I've had. I know 2 of those relationships have started from a NEW place where both parties have given COMPLETE forgiveness & have a MUCH clearer understanding of the other. One of those I truly believe is headed in the right direction. There is A LOT of hurt that won't heal overnight & it ultimately may not have the ultimate outcome I'D like it to have, but it will have an outcome (from my end & hopefully from the others) that will bring glory to God. The other....was had & received well, but I'm not sure that the other person understood the importance in why it needed to happen or REALLY listened to what was said.

Of the three remaining (that I initially listed out): one is a long-time (somewhat distant) friend. The other two are people (when I REALLY break it down) are people that I want to help, are close to people I'm close with, BUT I don't & haven't really had much of a relationship with. Of these three that remain...I've struggled with a few things. This chapter tells you: "Schedule a face-to-face meeting as soon as possible. Delay only deepens resentment and makes matters worse. In conflict, time heals nothing; it causes hurt to fester. Acting quickly also reduces the spiritual damage to you." I also know that when you feel anxiety (& not the peaceful kind) creep up...it's not from God. I fall into this trap easily; The one where you want to do what you are SUPPOSED to do, but you start acting on YOUR schedule and not God's. Well...after NOT acting on ALL of the people I felt I needed to have a conversation with right away...I've discovered a few things. If I don't really have a relationship with 2 of the 3 remaining...I don't have a relationship to RESTORE. I have a relationship to BUILD... You can't fix something that isn't really there. The other needs to happen. I have accepted & KNOW that I can't change the potential outcome. I just WANT the outcome to be a good one & have put it off, in fear that it won't be.

Someone (that I HIGHLY respect (especially regarding spiritual matters)) asked me: "Why are you carrying their monkey?" Hmmm... I don't know... I guess I'm trying to MAKE it what I WANT it to be. Sigh...trying to CONTROL something that isn't mine to control. This is one of the BIGGEST things I have to work on about myself. I want to fix peoples problems for them, which (in turn) creates MORE problems for me. I am called to FORGIVE, but I don't have to put myself in the line of fire & DO WORK for them that they need to do themselves.

Every person is DIFferEnt & every person has their own set of complex relationships. I can't tell you how yours will go, BUT I can tell you that: you have to be prepared to be wrong & see the TRUTH of the situation. You have to be HUMBLE & VULNERABLE. You have to come from a GOD place. What I mean by that is you have to WANT something for Him. You may not want to have this conversation. You may not want to be wrong, BUT you have to WANT to do what you have to do to bring GLORY to God. Remember...we are leadin' people to Jesus.

The book states it like this: "For the sake of fellowship, you must destroy your arsenal of relational nuclear weapons, including condemning, belittling, comparing, labeling, insulting, condescending, and being sarcastic. Paul sums it up this way: 'Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.'"

One line from the chapter that spoke straight to me was this one: "...make the effort to maintain them (relationships) instead of discarding them..." This was my defense mechanism growing up. I threw that wall up so fast it would make your face hurt. If I was hurt I'd either say it...in a less than tactful way...BUT got my point across OR I would hold it & to forget about it would shift my attention to something more positive. We grow. We learn & what I've learned is do the work to FIX whatever is broken. Doing the work I've done on the relationships I've discussed in this blog post...I can tell you it is worth it. I can also say that the more work you do...the easier all the ones after get. It is what it is. We all have common ground with each other by the simple fact that we all mess up.

Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus! Buck Up Baby & go CONVERSATE! God Bless!

Day 19: "Cultivating Community"

Welcome Readers!!! We continue onto Day 19 of The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? by Pastor Rick Warren.

This chapter is wearing me out. It is a GREAT chapter, but it really makes you do the work & THINK about the work that needs to be done. I think this part of the chapter can, pretty much, sum the whole thing up: "..."I urge you to make a group covenant that include the nine characteristics of biblical fellowship: We will share our true feelings (authenticity), encourage each other (mutuality), support each other (sympathy), forgive each other (mercy), speak the truth in love (honesty), admit our weaknesses (humility), respect our differences (courtesy), not gossip (confidentiality), and make group a priority (frequency)." - Pastor Warren

I started writing this blog yesterday & I started having a little bit of a negative spin on it, HONEST, but negative. I think the main reason why is because to DO & BE all the things Pastor Warren talks about is HARD...and what parts are HARD, vary depending on the person you are dealing with, the group of people you are dealing with, and what emotions you have regarding each other.

Here is my REFRESHED & POSITIVE spin on this. Sometimes I do the majority of what is listed above & just have trouble with a couple of the others. Sometimes...(especially if I have a large amount of RESPECT for the other person) I don't have any problem doing any of it. Just like I can sit & look at that list & see what I need to work on....WE ALL HAVE THINGS TO WORK ON. We have to TAKE THE TIME to work on them. We can't sit around beating ourselves up about how much we are not living up to what we are supposed to be. We have to OWN the fact that we RESPECT ourselves enough for HONESTLY trying. REMEMBER...when your head space is gettin' all jammed up about what YOU want & what YOU think YOU should be or how YOU should act...GOD LOVES YOU & sees what you're doing. Take your own judgments off of yourself & work on what needs to be worked on & HAVE FUN DOING IT. He wants us to have fun. He wants us to HELP each other. He wants us to TRUST ourselves as much as He trusts us, with our blessings.

"Point to Ponder: Community requires commitment."

Daily Bible Verse: "We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave his life for us. That means we must give our lives for other believers." 1 John 3:16 (GWT)

Daily Question: "How can I help cultivate today the characteristics of real community in my small group and my church?

From My Journal: I think the hardest struggle is complete and utter honesty. We fear we will hurt the other person OR we are too afraid of the other's judgments. Probably...the best way for me to help cultivate it, is to be TOTALLY honest and bring up examples in my life - that are uncomfortable to share.

After reading the book completely through, applying what I have (thus far) to my life, & circling back to this chapter I still think HONESTY is the key. We need to be honest with others & with ourselves. I also feel like, as individuals, you have to find PEACE in yourself. You have to REALLY start peeling back the layers of the expectations & judgments YOU place on yourself & just be who you are. I don't have that kind of peace yet, but I'm working on it & I see glimpses of it.

This chapter goes into A LOT more than what this blog post contains...each one of the areas I listed above.
When I read it the first time I underlined some things that resonated with me. Here they are: (All credited to The Bible or Pastor Warren)

"You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor." James 3:18 (MSG)

"An honest answer is a sign of true friendship." Proverbs 24:26

"Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself." Ephesians 4:25

"...the tunnel of conflict is the passageway to intimacy in any relationship." Pastor Warren

"Thoughtless words leave lasting wounds." Pastor Warren

"Pride builds walls between people; humility builds bridges." Pastor Warren

"We receive God's grace by humbly admitting that we need it." Pastor Warren

"Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people." Romans 12:16

"Humble people are so focused on serving others, they don't think of themselves." Pastor Warren

"Courtesy is respecting our differences, being considerate of each other's feelings, and being patient with people who irritate us." Pastor Warren

"Excel in showing respect for each other." Romans 12:10

"When you know what they've been through, you will be more understanding. Instead of thinking about how far they still have to go, think about how far they have come in spite of their hurts." Pastor Warren

"God hates gossip.." Pastor Warren

"Gossip is spread by wicked people; they stir up trouble and break up friendships." Proverbs 16:28

Yeah...LOTS more than what I discussed. Spend some time with it. Buck Up Baby & Ride With JESUS!! He LOVES you...even if you think you don't deserve it!! God bless!!

Day 18: "Experiencing Life Together"

WELCOME readers!! Today is Day 18 as we journey through The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? by Pastor Rick Warren.

This chapter echoed ALL of my concerns that arose from yesterday's reading & addresses them. I remember myself feeling the same way the first time I read yesterday's chapter. Like I didn't want to DISAGREE with some of his points, but I couldn't help myself. I'm sharing these blogs as openly and honestly as I can, because that is the only way to do it.

This chapter focuses on FELLOWSHIP. It begins by discussing how today's use of the word has taken pretty far out of context to what the Bible says it is. "Real fellowship is so much more than just showing up at services. It is experiencing life together. It includes unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting, and all the other 'one another' commands found in the New Testament." This chapter ultimately talks about the importance of small groups. He discusses how even Jesus traveled in a small group of 12 disciples. Pastor Warren urges us to become a member of a small group within our church.

"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." Matthew 18:20 (NASB)

I am blessed to say that I have friends where I DO FELLOWSHIP REGULARLY. Some are members of my church & some are not. I hold these relationships so sacred. I am truly AMAZED by some of them & know that The Holy Spirit was instrumental in joining us together. This is MORE than being a best friend and knowing all the surface things & secrets...this is talking about all the things we don't know about our faith and God. This is praying for other people you don't know, but that are close to your fellowship friend. This is having the courage to say things to the other that you didn't WANT to say to anyone but God. This is asking for HONEST opinions from friends who's answers will be based on FAITH & UNDERSTANDING & FORGIVENESS. These are SACRED. Go get you some FELLOWSHIP.

The next part of this chapter talks about AUTHENTICITY, which was the MAIN thing I was having trouble with in yesterday's reading. "Authenticity is the exact opposite of what you find in some churches. Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, there is pretending, role-playing, politicking, and superficial politeness but shallow conversation. People wear masks, keep their guard up, and act as if everything is rosy in their lives. These attitudes are the death of real fellowship." I'm doing a lot of quoting, but Pastor Warren REALLY explains this perfectly. This is his description of REAL fellowship: "It happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. They share their hurts, reveal their feelings, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, admit their fears, acknowledge their weaknesses, and ask for help & prayer." I HAVE DONE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE THINGS - JUST A FEW DAYS AGO - MULTIPLE TIMES & I'll probably do it again in less than a week's time. I can't do this to everyone...truly...hardly anyone, but I can to a few.

This chapter also discusses CONFESSING, which I want to touch on a minute. A LOT of people get hung up on the Catholic religion because of the focus they put on CONFESSION. Look...I get it. You don't HAVE to (& most probably don't) tell EVERYTHING to a priest, BUT this is a sure act of FELLOWSHIP. Even if you don't share everything. You are taking the time to REALLY talk about things that some people may NEVER talk about to any other human. I'm not sayin' it's gotta be for you. You can participate in FELLOWSHIP other ways. I LOVED the idea of confession before I converted & I love the actual act of it now. I REALLY like it when there are several priests doing confession & I can really take the time I need without feeling rushed b/c someone else is waiting in line. I remember my first face to face confession. It was with a priest that was doing an Easter mission. He had seen very ungodly things & heard very ungodly things. He listened to confessions in a high security prison for sometime. I got my list together of all that I wanted to confess....ALL of it. My heart was beating out of my chest. I guess I thought he'd be a good priest to break the ice with, considering other things he had heard. Let me tell you...I felt relieved walking out, but I also learned a few things...he wasn't easy on me & he hit the nail on the head  in some areas. A sin is a sin. I can also say that all I do now are face to face confessions. Once you start stepping out into the light...you won't want to go back into the darkness.

This chapter also discusses the importance of giving and receiving to one another in fellowship. The importance of sharing our faith with one another in aim to grow each other's even more. Pastor Warren lists out and explains the different levels of fellowship. For the record...let me say...there are SO MANY LEVELS to EVERYTHING. "The simplest levels of fellowship are the fellowship of sharing and the fellowship of studying God's Word together. A deeper level is the fellowship of serving, as when we minister together on mission trips or mercy projects. The deepest, most intense level is the fellowship of suffering, where we enter into each other's pain and grief and carry each other's burdens."

The last section of this chapter really hits home for me. "In real fellowship people experience mercy." MERCY....We all received mercy & we HAVE to give mercy to others & we have to be able to receive it. FORGIVENESS is a big deal here. We have to do it immediately. "Fellowship happens when mercy wins over justice." This is SO hard, but sometimes you have to look at what will justice really give you & what will mercy give the other person...and yourself? Are there times when we might need MERCY?

These are the lines that hit home & give me direction. "Forgiveness must be immediate, whether or not a person asks for it. Trust must be rebuilt over time. Trust requires a track record. If someone hurts you repeatedly, you are commanded by God to forgive them instantly, but you are not expected to trust them immediately, and you are not expected to continue allowing them to hurt you. They must prove they have changed over time." This is HARD, but it is the ONLY way. Sometimes people may take steps in the right direction, but the amount of hurt they caused is SO DEEP that you can't allow yourself to forget. I've said before that you have to protect yourself & you do. If you allow other people to continually hurt or attack you...you are dealing with situations that aren't God-given. It is taking away time & energy from your purpose.

"Point to Ponder: I need others in my life."

Daily Bible Verse: "Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 (NLT)

Daily Question: "What one step can I take today to connect with another believer at a more genuine, heart-to-heart level?"

From my Journal: I have key people I do this with. Yesterday I talked to my friend for over 1.5 hours about how Awesome God is and what what he is doing in our lives. I also wrote notes in developing my idea of what I can bring to our church.

Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus!! Let's FELLOWSHIP! God Bless!

Day 17: "A Place To Belong"

Welcome readers! For new readers, we are taking a chapter by chapter journey through the book: The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? by Pastor Rick Warren.

 This chapter goes into a deep discussion about the importance of CHURCH. I had a little moment with this chapter. I AGREE...being a member of a church & regularly attending ADDS to your spiritual life. It has added to mine TREMENDOUSLY. I have said that the Catholic Church I attend REALLY helped me to KNOW Jesus Christ. BUT...I go back to when I wasn't regularly attending church in my youth & I KNOW that God was DEVELOPING my faith then too. I didn't feel "disconnected" like the book talks about. I felt CONNECTED in a divine way. I can also say that I liked the Lutheran Church that we were members of that I attended (regularly in young youth & not very often in my pre-teen/teenage years). There were things I learned about myself. I remember sitting in confirmation class & we were talking about God's creation & Cain & Able finding wives & I asked "If Adam & Eve were the only humans on earth & their only sons were Cain & Able...well....How did they find wives?" The Bible doesn't talk about him going on to create others, which he did OBVIOUSLY, but I was introduced & MOVED by the mystery of the Bible.

I don't know. I guess what I'm saying is I did a lot of PRIVATE spiritual development in those years that I think were SO important to me. So much so, that when I did start regularly attending another church & eventually becoming a member, it meant so much more for me. I wasn't just blindly going because my parents told me to go. I WANTED to go.

I agree that it is IMPORTANT, but I NEVER felt like what the book says the Bible talks about: "Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we?" Never felt...dead or useless... Anyways...I digress a bit, but just wanted to say that. I'm going to go into the different sections of the book.

"Your Local Fellowship"

This section again says: "The Bible says a Christian without a church home is like an organ without a body, a sheep without a flock, or a child without a family. It is an unnatural state." I yet struggle with this...BECAUSE...everyone's experience is different & I AGREE we would ALL hugely benefit from the RIGHT church for us & I NEED the church that I regularly attend & appreciate it, BUT...you can be going every Sunday...because that is what we are supposed to do & you can be listening & applying some of the things you learn to your life....You can be an ACTIVE member...an usher, church council member, Eucharistic minister...BUT if you pass judgement or FAIL to help a current member, new member or a non-believer or an on-the-fence church member....how does that make you any better than a church member that is attending, but not actively participating in day-to-day church activities and events, BUT in private helps another member that is struggling. I don't know...It's gonna take me a minute to wrap my head around it. If everyone gives God the glory for whatever their doing than it all would be coming from the right place, but if people are doing things to bring themselves the glory...I just don't know. People are just so complex & we all have a plethora of sin & emotion whirling around us & a plethora of talents & needs that are not cookie cutter, and a lot of churches leave an impression that you have to fit that mold, if you want to fit in & I just can't get with that.

I think that we are all blessed with unique talents & we can all bring something unique to ANY church...even the most traditional. I was a Lutheran & the Catholic church really led me to Jesus. You may be a non-believer that feels left out & judged in a Catholic church, but feels TOTALLY accepted & RIGHT at the United Methodist church. I guess what I'm sayin' is WHATEVER GETS YOU TO JESUS can't be wrong. That is one of our main goals: To get to know Jesus Christ. Another thing....some of us are outgoing & love to be around people. Some of us are more structured and EXCEL at leading a meeting. Some of us are afraid to get up in front of large groups of people & read a reading OR collect the offering. All I'm sayin' is we ALL have a UNiquE way we can add to our church. AGAIN...I AGREE that it is important to be a member of a congregation for MORE than what makes you seem like an "active member." There isn't a right or a wrong gift you can add. A lot of times people don't join a church because they feel intimidated, or don't feel comfortable doing/acting/saying certain things. You have to feel accepted & a church will HELP you develop whatever relationship with The Holy Trinity you are working on.

"Why You Need a Church Family"

I love this book, but I'm not buyin' in to this first line: "I can't claim to be following Christ if I'm not committed to any specific group of disciples." I don't know man... I mean I WAS following Jesus Christ when I was not regularly going. I was committed to him. I prayed to him daily (or almost daily). I reflected back on things I was taught. I mean...I guess if you are just walkin' around sinnin' all the time & not thinkin' about it AT ALL that's one thing... If you didn't take some time to pray & talk to God/Jesus maybe not. BUT I was following Jesus Christ.  Again...not saying a church family is unnecessary, just sayin' that we all go about things a little differently & our aim should always be to get to know God, Jesus, & The Holy Spirit. This section of the book also says: "A church family moves you out of self-centered isolation." I can get with that. You start becoming a part of other peoples lives & you learn lessons from the Bible that encourage you to do just that. You are held more responsible.

Aaaand...as the chapter rolls on...it all starts comin' together for me....

"The Body of Christ needs you." Agreed! I believe that we are supposed to work in numbers. I believe what this chapter says when it says: "God has a unique role for you to play in his family. This is called your 'ministry,' and God has gifted you for this assignment: 'A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.'" Yes Sir -E Bob! Now we're talkin'! Now I KNOW I need to develop & initiate MY ROLE within our church. Here is another important line from this chapter: "Your local fellowship is the place God designed for you to discover, develop, and use your gifts. you may also have a wider ministry, but that is in addition to your service in a local body. Jesus has not promised to build your ministry; he has promised to build his church." His church...which is now HIS body here on earth. Also...what I take away from this is that when we use our spiritual gifts, that God gives us, we are strengthening the church & enabling the body as a WHOLE  to pull people in by the numbers. We all identify with each other differently & the more people using their gifts, the more it will resonate with people. Last thing I took away from the last line I quoted: When we we start developing our ministry...we start DEVELOPING our relationship with GOD. There is a BIG difference in having a relationship & developing one. We all have one, because we are his creation.

"A church family will help keep you from backsliding."

 Folks...I can tell you Jesus is workin' with me right now. Over the last several months I have talked to people about things I KNOW I wouldn't have talked to them about a few months ago. I have talked to them when I didn't want to. I have talked to them when I know they didn't want me to. I have talked about things that I would have maybe been ashamed of or feared judgement. I have encouraged, and believed, and hurt for others. I have BLESSED things (conversations/travels/souls of the deceased/friendships) by prayer in a way I NEVER did before. These are the two lines that helped serve as a catalyst (I think): "'Mind your own business' is not a Christian phrase. We are called and commanded to be involved in each other's lives." Do you wanna know how many times I have "Minded my own business," just so I didn't ruffle any feathers? Too damn many....and I know it. I also know that for every time I "minded my own business" I have left a situation that is NO BETTER today than it was days, or months, or years ago. I'm not sayin' you go out lookin' for things, BUT when something DEEPLY affects you or someone you love & has the potential to HURT, RUIN, or DIVIDE you better get nosy!! Who do you think wants to HURT, RUIN, or DIVIDE??? God or the devil?

"Point to Ponder: I am called to belong, not just believe."

Daily Bible Verse: "In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." Romans 12:5 (NIV)

Daily Question: "Does any involvement in my local church demonstrate that I love and am committed to God's family."

From my journal: No. I need to speak with Father about a good role for me. My thought is a different blog where there can be several different contributors & can be shared with anyone that leaves an email address with the church office. Let's say the contributors could be: a younger person that has converted to Catholicism (myself), an older person that converted, someone that grew up in the Catholic church (younger & older) & maybe a Priest or Bishop. That way we can include several different viewpoints from members of the church. We could talk about a plethora of different topics: what certain things in the Catholic church mean, the importance of Saints & Mother Mary, the different ways we each value confession, and a description of the importance of our Holy Days.

Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus! Go find you a church that feels like home! God Bless!  

P.S. I just watched an Oprah interview last night with Mike Fisher & Carrie Underwood. Soon after they started dating they started reading this book together....& he's re-reading it (per the interview). Kinda cool.

Day 16: "What Matters Most"

Welcome Readers!! Today is Day 16 of our journey through The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? by Pastor Rick Warren.

"Point to Ponder: Life is all about love."

Daily Bible Verse: "The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Galatians 5:14 (NIV)

Daily Question: "Honestly, are relationships my first priority? How can I ensure that they are?

From My Journal: Right now - it seems like my first priority is my relationship with God & I feel the tug in many of my other relationships. I think it is, yes. I have other priorities also, which seem important, but I brought the priority of even my business - back to God, to focus on our relationship within it. I had a friend/old co-worker pass away yesterday. Totally humble, Nice, Nice guy. His name is Ryan Wachel & he was my age. He REALLY knew how to love and appreciate the relationships he had. We really need to be as present as possible in our relationships. The time is NOW to mend, to love, to strengthen.

I LOVE HARD. I put SO much of myself into it. I used to think that I tend to put feelings and concerns and what is best for others before my own. Now I know...that what I really wanted was to fix things or mend things, but mend them the way I wanted them mended & maybe not what is best overall.

I have had to come to the realization that I can't always FIX whatever might be broken. Sometimes I have to go as far as what is healthy for ME. I have to be TOTALLY HONEST...even if it hurts another person to hear it. If I don't I could potentially RISK others getting hurt along the way & other relationships being ruined.  I can't MAKE someone think a certain way. I can't MAKE another person see what I see & I can't MAKE another person be open to listening & understanding. Truly open...

So what do you do when you love somebody & you want to help them with whatever is hurting them, but what you say &/or do is not resonating with them? You love them through it. If it is toxic to you...you love them from a distance...BUT you love them. You pray for them. You make yourself available when they openly & HONESTLY want it. You can't force it & your role may just be to plant a seed that someone else helps water. One of the HARDEST things for me to come to terms with is that I DO NOT HAVE THE POWER to keep a group of people together or make right wrongs that I did not commit. Fellowship of groups of people do not dissolve because of one person. One person can cause the hurt, but if the others are not willing to come to a resolution with their problems & just sweep them under the rug, they did nothing to contribute to mending the relationship.

God has taught me something...well lots of things. LOVE is not cookie-cutter. Nothing about us is really cookie-cutter...society has made us think that it is...but it's not. Just because I want to love somebody a certain way does not mean it is HOW I am called to love them. If I force it...it won't work.

This chapter discusses how IMPORTANT relationships are. We are called to love everyone like we love ourselves. Tough thing to do... REMEMBER...there are all kinds of ways to love. Make sure, however you're doing it, it is coming from a good place...a GOD place.

We have to be in REGULAR fellowship with others to learn what love is....all the different kinds of love. As much discontentment, anger, & other evil things that may be wound up in a relationship....there is more love. Maybe not more love between you & that person...but more love SOMEWHERE to mend whatever ails.

One of my favorite lines in this chapter: "Love leaves a legacy. How you treated other people, not your wealth or accomplishments, is the most enduring impact you can leave on earth." When you are dead and gone & your money squandered, what you did for people sits in their hearts LONG past your time here on earth. The LOVE my Grandma had for me still sits with me & I can SHARE it with my husband & my children & my friends & their children. LOVE LIVES ON. LOVE is more. Love multiplies. LOVE CONQUERS!

The hurt you put on someone can sit there too, if they don't get some LOVE on it.

This chapter also puts a lot of focus on TIME. When someone gives you their time...they are giving someone part of their life. We only have a limited amount of TIME here. LOVE gets stronger the more time you spend with it. I have friends that I want to spend more time with. I have some I try to spend more time with, but it's not yet (and may never be) a priority for them. I have some that I KNOW I need to make more of a priority & I am situating myself to where I know I can offer that. My husband and I are situating ourselves, so our children can offer that to others. Relationships are a two-way street & (like I said before) you can't MAKE somebody do something they aren't willing to do. BUT you can be honest & humble & tell them what you need.

Here is how this chapter ends: "Knowing that one day you will stand before God, here are some questions you need to consider: How will you explain those times when projects or things were more important to you than people? Who do you need to start spending more time with? What do you need to cut out of your schedule to make that possible? What sacrifices do you need to make?"

Buck Up Baby & RIDE WITH JESUS!! Spread your LOVE. Start LOVING!!

Day 15: "Formed For God's Family"

Welcome! Welcome! Today we continue to Day 15 as we journey through the book: The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? by Pastor Rick Warren.

Today is the beginning of the SECOND purpose the book discusses. So just when you think your mind has hit COMPLETE information OVERLOAD & things are starting to get a little foggy, it switches up on you & you start FOCUSING on ANOTHER important avenue of your life....people & RELATIONSHIPS.

"Point to Ponder: I was formed for God's family."

Daily Verse: "His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ." Ephesians 1:5A (NLT)

Daily Question: "How can I start treating other believers like members of my own family?"

From my Journal: When people hurt me, harm me, love me, loathe me, question me - REMEMBER that they are ALSO a child of God. They are also a unique, beautiful, and perfect being created by God for his love & his plan. They are on their own journey to Him & always be open and ready to let them back in.

I'm telling you now that this second purpose will make you REALLY look at things, IF you apply yourself. I mean the whole book does, BUT now that I have read it & understand the things I understand I am now responsible for how I move forward. Here are a few things this chapter discusses. It briefly points at some VERY important things, so I'll mention a little from them, because it will be discussed more later throughout this section of the book.

Our "spiritual family" lasts forever UNLIKE or physical family. From the book: "Your spiritual family is even more important than your physical family because it will last forever. Our families on earth are wonderful gifts from God, but they are temporary and fragile, often broken by divorce, distance, growing old, and inevitably, death. On the other hand, our spiritual family - our relationship to other believers - will continue throughout eternity." I KNOW.... a lot to take in.

One of my very best friends reminded me of something this weekend. We went to the same couples marriage retreat before we got married. My husband & I went a couple years before her & her husband, but one of the things that was told to us at the beginning of the retreat is that it was our responsibility to get our spouse to Heaven. This chapter didn't SHOW me this right away, but the further I read into this purpose, the MORE I realized that we have a responsibility to each other...not just spouses & parents to children & children to parents, but believer to believer & believer to non-believer & friends & frienimies & long-time friends & acquaintances & strangers....aunt/uncle to niece/nephew, grandparent to grandchildren, siblings...... We have to HELP each other get to Heaven.

The next part of this chapter discusses the BENEFITS of being a member of God's family. This was probably the part that I liked the most. The fourth one hit me to my core: "First, we will get to be with God forever. Second, we will be completely changed to be like Christ. Third, we will be freed from all pain, death, and suffering. Fourth, we will be rewarded and reassigned positions of service. Fifth, we will get to share in Christ's glory." Makes you wonder why so many people OBSESS about their inheritance when God gives us ALL the  EQUAL OPPORTUNITY to share in His kingdom.

This chapter also talks about BAPTISM: why it is IMPORTANT, what it means, what it symbolizes. This is a celebration of becoming a part of God's family. The books says: "The only biblical condition is that you believe."

Last night I read about Pentecost in Acts & how thousands received & witnessed The Holy Spirit & how THOUSANDS were UNITED in CHRIST. I LOVE how it made me think that, THAT many more people enlisted in God's army.

Mount Up & Buck UP Baby & Ride with Jesus!! God Bless!!

Day 14: "When God Seems Distant"

In college and in my past career in TV advertising sales I learned that it took a frequency of a person seeing an advertisement (at least) three times to associate the message with the brand. What I find interesting (And I didn't notice it when I first started blogging chapter by chapter) BUT its kinda happening for me that way... For the last week, it seems like I experience something that resonates with the next chapter that I discuss. Then I discuss how I apply it, making it (at least) the third time this information is cycled through my brain. Parts of these discussions overlap in different chapters which also helps me to apply it.

Man, this chapter.... It is pretty much a guideline of how to worship and keep communicating with God when we are mad and upset and feel forgotten and alone and worthless. We may feel that way with others OR With God himself.

This chapter ultimately tells us that God wants to see our faith and trust for him in action. Some people may see him "testing" us as  "unfair." Well... I don't really see it as testing us... It is just like a friendship...or any relationship for that matter. The older you get, the wiser you get. How much do you reveal to someone that has not earned your trust? How much do you reveal to someone who had your trust and abused it? I am SO thankful God has this figured out! I pray that he teaches me how to protect myself like he protects his kingdom.

One of the highlights of this chapter is to "tell God exactly how you feel." Well... on my way home tonight I unloaded some stuff on him in prayer. It sure wasn't all rainbows and butterflies either. I feel really bad now when I get mega grumpy about things b/c I know it serves no real purpose & I know I am wasting energy that could be put elsewhere...BUT sometimes it is really hard. I can tell you what it does do for me though... It makes me quite aware of my responsibility to deal with it.

I am so thankful to know of four people that read my blog and went and got this book! I know some of my blog posts probably show some levels of mental exhaustion...BUT... I'm considering giving myself a break after this reading and reading it again. I can be totally exhausted and want more all at the same time...

"Point to Ponder: God is real, no matter how I feel."

Daily verse: "For God has said, 'I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.'" Hebrews 13:5 (TEV)

Daily question: "How can I stay focused on God's presence, especially when he feels distant?"

From my journal: I have felt this way on several occasions and what has helped me is honest, sometimes pretty constant, prayer. I think my new Rolodex-ish thing of Bible verses will tremendously help me in these times. I have had rising doubts crop but I've always renounced them as soon as they creep up. I give credit to my first real "Coming to Jesus Meeting" -  as I like to call them. At an early age, God made his presence known to me and I haven't forgotten it.

I am going to post a large portion from this chapter. My first time of reading it I sobbed (gasping for air & all). It amazes me at how soon we forget...

"We forget the cruel details of the agonizing sacrifice God made on our behalf. Familiarity breeds complacency. Even before his crucifixion, the Son of God was stripped naked, beaten until almost unrecognizable, whipped, scorned and mocked, crowned with thorns, and spit on contemptuously. Abused and ridiculed by heartless men, he was treated worse than an animal. Then, nearly unconscious from blood loss, he was forced to drag a cumbersome cross up a hill, was nailed to it, and was left to die the slow, excruciating torture of death by crucifixion. While his lifeblood drained out, hecklers stood by and shouted insults, making fun of this pain and challenging his claim to be God. Next, as Jesus took all of mankind's sin and guilt on himself, God looked away from that ugly sight, and Jesus cried out in total desperation, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' Jesus could have saved himself - but then he could not have saved you. Words cannot describe the darkness of that moment." -Pastor Rick Warren

Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus. Considering his sacrifice it's the least we can do...