Batter Up

Sometimes life throws us these curve balls. I always think about the movie Hook... the mom is watching her son play baseball, he's at bat, and she's sitting in the stands praying, "please, not a curve ball, please, not a curve ball..." Knowing that your son isn't strong enough a player for a curve is a hard part of parenting. You know it's coming, because you've seen the same scene before, probably in your own life, but you can't do anything about the impending "STRIKE", so you pray. You pray it doesn't hit. You pray that if it does, he'll get through it. You pray for the strength that you need to help him get through it.

**I am not a baseball type of person. I'm not a football type of gal, either, nor do I really enjoy soccer, hockey, or golf. I only know sports analogies because my pastor uses them occasionally, and I was raised in west Texas, so I have picked up on some of the key words. So I'm going to stop with that while I'm ahead.**

But what about when the curve is thrown towards you, about your kid? One name and you know where I'm going with this: Abraham. God asked him to sacrifice his son in honor of Him. BURNT OFFERING. I hope you're grasping the importance of that. Look up burnt offerings and how they were done, what happened to that animal... and know that not only Abraham, but Isaac himself, was prepared for that! According to Josephus, Isaac was "pleased with this discourse"! Basically, he told his dad to do what was needed in the eyes of God, 'cause he not only respected his father, but his God so much. 

But in a few spare second's time, there was the voice of God, saying "STOP". Why? 

Only one son need be sacrificed. He'd come later. And no man would have to give up his son. I think only God was strong enough for that. Humans can't even watch their children strike out from the curve balls.... let alone be the ones throwing those curves. 

**See, I really should stop with the baseball talk now!**

So God gave Abraham and Isaac a ram in Isaac's place.
And later, God gave Jesus in humanity's place.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son, that whoever should believe in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." - John 3:16 (NIV)

He sent down a part of himself so rare, to walk among us and live with us again, to experience life as a man, to play in the dirt (even write in it instead of directly answering a question!), to not only swim in the waters, but walk on them... all the while knowing that Good Friday was brewing, that the pain and torture was at hand, and that despite it all, some people would never know how much it meant.

Would you send your son to bat, knowing that not only will he strike out, but that it would bring pain? That it could end his life? Would you be able to send him out there, knowing for a fact that his death is the only thing that will come of it? No. Not even Abraham could do that. Only God was strong enough to.

Commissioned

How often do we, as American Christians, go out and share the word of God just because we are allowed to so safely just because of where we live? Personally, I don't think I do it often enough. I wear a cross necklace (but, so do many other people who haven't heard the call of God to share His word), and I have a band around my wrist proclaiming that "I am Second" to my One True God. But how often do I share the word of my God who commissioned me to share Him with my neighbors? Not often enough. 

While we are busy being fashionable for God, there are others who are passionate for God. Some Christians risk their lives, not just their reputation, for not only wearing a piece of jewelry, but for pulling out the Bible and preaching to those around them. Churches meet in underground rooms, pray to not be killed before worshiping our God, but understanding His Will may bring them to death. Still, they're going to praise him. They're going to go out into the world that hates them and love them anyway. Here are some examples: 

• Saeed Abedini, a pastor from Iran who is an American citizen, was arrested while visiting his homeland for being a Christian. His story, from what I have read, is amazing. I've gathered some of his story, but won't publish it because: 1. I don't know what's true and what isn't, and 2: it's HIS story to tell, so I suggest you look him up (of course, google and wiki are awesome), and pray for this Idaho resident, father and husband, to return home safely and soon. 
• Winxi Li, arrested December 19, 2012 and sentenced to two years prison time on June 17, 2013 in Xiaodian district of Taiyuan in central China. He was opening a book store and among his merchandise was $6,000 worth of Christian literature. Even through this, Li led three people to Christ while awaiting his trial. Learn more here.
• Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel, arrested May 23, 2004, for his religious beliefs. He is one of probably 2,000 in Eritrea held in prisons, military camps, police stations... he is one of 28 clergymen being held. Learn more here.

Search around Persectuiton.com while you're there. Learn more about what's happening in the world we live in. Think about it... people are still sharing the gospel and love of Christ, even when it means persecution. What are we worried about? That someone may reject us? That they'll say "no, thanks" when we invite them to church? 

What are you worried about? The gun to your head? 

Didn't think so. 

"Go and make disciples of all nations." -Matthew 28:19

Standing Still but Not Dying

I have hit a road block! My computer is broken. Apparently, hard drives die off after so long... Good to know, huh? So while my computer is dying, I'm not. Actually, my computer is being revived! I was super sad, but I feel like it's just an obstacle that I have to figure out how to overcome if I'm serious about sharing my journey. For now, I have my mother's computer to take over until she gets back from her vacation. Hopefully mine will be fixed pretty soon, so I can get back to writing when I want. I am really praying my blog post drafts were saved! When I draft posts, I do it in Word instead of online. I may change that policy! lol
So that's a quick update... I'm done for the count as far as online goes.

BUT

I have to say quickly that there's a great new sermon series at church that I can't wait to tell you all about! Soon!

Comment below any prayer requests you have, any situations needing a lift, or any praises that you just can't wait to share with people. God is good and will provide. And He will improve, too.

Bedtime Stories

It's hard to write when you can hear your two year old son screaming from his bed because he wants to get up and play instead of sleep, even though it's obviously bed time and he's tired. But I'm going to try this, even if it breaks my heart to hear him crying for me. He's not really crying for me... he's crying and using "mommy" because he knows how a parent's heart is. He knows it's breaking me down; he knows I'm close to cracking. Soon, I'll go in his room, hold him, rock him until he's asleep, and lay him in his bed when his breathing has calmed and the tears are dry.

As Christians, we do this. Our prayers can be so pathetic sounding; our pleas to God for whatever we think it is we need or want probably break him down as our children's do us. But unlike me, God doesn't let up sometimes. We see this in our unanswered prayers. For instance, when I found out that I was pregnant with my son, I asked God to please find something else. Take it away. When I learned that I was too far along for a medical procedure (which was something God for sure had plan in), I looked into adoption. I didn't want to have to raise a child alone. I didn't want to have that cross to bear after all I had been through already. But God didn't see fit to take that cross... I didn't know why at the time. I can look back and know with all my heart that it's because God knew what my son would bring into my life. He knew how much I needed him. I know now that his lack on intervention in this situation was planned for perfection.

He has a plan for us. Sure, we're going to cry. We may even opt to make decisions like get my son, and get out of bed when we aren't supposed to, try to open the door... we stray off His path, and soon, he comes to our rescue and holds us, rocks us until we are calm again. He's our father, who loves us. He made us in his image. He is love. So we, in turn, are love.

Even when I know I don't want to, I know that as a parent, sometimes it's in my child's best interest for me to just not act. Lack of action from me may bring a little disappointment in the moment, but soon, they'll look back and know why I didn't come to the rescue.

Oh. Listen. No more screams. See? Sometimes, it's best to just not get up. It's best to let them know that we're always close, like God is with us. But sometimes, every parent has to just not intervene.

Beginnings

I have been struggling a little with God and His plan for me. Despite what you’re thinking right now, I’m not talking about “what I’m going to be when I grow up”… I’m still struggling with that one! I’m talking about the will of God in my life; how I’m going to be a disciple of Jesus, how I’m going to show the world His love, grace, and power.

During the last school year, I switched up Sunday school classes. I moved around a bit, trying to find the one at my church that I fit into the best. There are wonderful people in each room, great teachers everywhere I looked, and God’s presence and knowledge in every session I joined, no matter which room I landed in at 10am on Sunday morning. But something drew me back into “Homebuilders”, and I stayed there. I joined during the last few chapters of a book by Chip Ingram, “Good to Great in God’s Eyes: 10 practices great Christians have in common”. I read the book a little backwards, but the last few chapters that I read first were so phenomenal that I had to start the book over, and finish the entire thing.

Obviously I had joined this class at the appropriate time; else I’d have never found this book. Every single chapter had something in it that I needed to hear. But one chapter in particular just really resonated. I spent over a week on this chapter; praying to God that He would give me a dream that was great enough for Him. Ingram wrote about his “Big, Audacious Dream” for his ministry (you have to read it, I’m not going to give away the good parts of the book!), and as I’m sitting on my bed, I found myself simultaneously reading and praying to God: “God, please let me dream dreams this big! Work in me the way you have others; give me something to DO for your kingdom!” I've been pleading with him for something for weeks.

For the first few weeks, he sure taught me some patients. Through the patients and the quiet waiting time; the moments I would sit in my room, reading, praying, asking God for direction; I learned to listen. I learned that only in my quiet meditation and silence would He speak to me. God wants me to use my life to touch others… I am positive that it’s going to change sooner or later, or at least, it will grow, and I’ll be using a different method to do God’s will. But for now, social media, blogging, my testimony, and my life will be what God is using in order to show the world around me His love, His grace, His power, His will. I pray that I am not using my own dreams as His, claiming them to His will when they’re my wishes. Only time and God will show me if that is true. But for now, get ready for some revelations and some conversations with me and others via this blog, other social media networks, and perhaps even a text message or phone call on a personal level. I’m going to write about my journey with God. Finding Him (appropriately, my Sunday school class just got a new book to start. It’s called “Wild Goose Chase”, and it’s about finding the Holy Spirit. So this is going to be interesting and fun!), getting to know Him, and learning how to love and adore Him in the way He desires. I’m excited about the change in my blogging topic. I’m excited about getting to know God. I can’t wait to show you how amazing He is.