Tag Archives: Jesus

Separating the Sin from the Sinner

13 Jul

We have come to a place where we automatically assume because something is lawful it must also be moral.  Morality has changed a great deal just even in my lifetime (35 years). We, for some reason, think that if we wrap sin in pretty paper with a shiny bow and throw a party for it, it somehow changes how humanity and God sees it.  Because one is acting within law they automatically assume they are “a good person”(which is subjective without the moral parameters given to us by God). There has been a drastic culture change and it just isn’t within the secular world but also within the lives of believers. We are challenging people to redefine what God already defined. I sit in church and see just as much cleavage, thigh, and backside as one would see at the beach. Many Pastors and churches are riding the worldly train looking to attract new members by going against the very word of God-perverting the Bible in ways to make sin irrelevant to ones salvation. We have caved under pressure and are afraid of defending the word of God because we covet the love of man more than the Son of Man.

We have to learn to separate the sin from the sinner.  We can love and support people without celebrating their sin. James 5:19-20 says-  My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back,  you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

Of course I understand not everyone is a believer but we as Christians need to live a life that reflects God’s will toward them. For example in Colossians 4:5-6 it says-“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone”.  When we are asked, we need to be ready with an answer and do it in such a way that conveys truth, gentleness, and respect.  Titus 2:1 says-“You must teach what is in accord to sound doctrine”. Their are many other verses dealing directly with false doctrine. When we sugar coat, add, or purposely misinterpret for gain Titus 1:11 says it well-“They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach–and that for the sake of dishonest gain.

I know the new popular slogan is “I want to be on the right side of history”.  While that might bring worldly pleasure, I would much rather be on “the right side of eternity”.

Love everyone fiercely, be the first to offer encouragement, and always speak the truth in love.  Let’s be bold for Jesus!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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My Thoughts on Paula Deen

11 Jul

I just read an article about the rise and fall of Paula Deen. Let me start off by saying that I don’t condone the use of hateful speech.

I think as a culture we enjoy building people to superstardom status and then we love to watch them tumble hard, all the way down and when they are as far as they can go we start to stomp and kick them. There is some sweet satisfaction that is gained by almost stripping all humanity from them. It isn’t just with celebrities. I have seen it done just generally with everyday people.

I have said things that I regret. In the heat of the moment I have said things that I didn’t mean but said them because they were convenient, easy, trash words readily available to the situation-even though they don’t mirror my true feelings. I have felt shame and remorse and grateful for not being in a position where it would haunt me for always. I am pretty sure if we were all to be honest we are all guilty at one time or another. Under oath, I would hurt a lot of people I love with all I got. Good or bad we have given some words a lot of power. In any extreme emotion we naturally want to pull at those words, grab them and breath life into them. They have meaning and they can bless or pierce a soul.

She is a wounded bird. I think many of us can relate to being in a place of such remorse and sorrow, willing to give and do anything just to have a little mercy thrown at you. To be given the grace needed to prove that it was all just a big mistake and the grace to pick oneself up and to continue on being a wiser better person.

As Christians we need to be better at setting that example. The measure we judge someone we will be judged with. So we need to make sure we remove that log in our eye before we point out the speck in someone else’s eye. We can then see clearly and take a different approach to the situation (Matthew 7:1-5). Romans 3:23 says we ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. I doesn’t say some, but all.  I like what Galatians 6:1 says about the attitude we should take as believers when another believer sins “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believeris overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”.

Ephesians 1:7 reminds us that we have redemption through His (Jesus Christ) blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance of God’s grace. If God is willing to forgive who are we not to?

This is my perspective as a believer to other believers. I think we need to be the ones offering the olive branch to our brothers and sisters. Remember, forgiveness doesn’t mean we let them off the hook it just means that when they repent we give them the grace and mercy needed to make things right again. We can stand behind them and offer love and encouragement just as our heavenly Father does time after time for us.

I know I am better because of the grace given to me and through it God was able to use it for good (Romans 8:28). Let’s take joy in building up and not tearing down.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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Talking to our kids about Boston

9 Jul

This was something I wrote and shared on our MOPS blog right after the Boston bombing. My thoughts on talking to our children about such things–

It seems more and more we are having to be so deliberate to shield our children from never ending bad news. Shooting, war and now a bombing.

I still remember the morning more than a dozen years ago when I turned on the TV just in time to watch live as a plane took out the second tower. It was the first time I knew that I couldn’t hide the bad news from my then five year old, Alison. Minutes later my nightgown wearing barefoot daughter made her way sleepily to the living room. As she snuggled down deep next to me she knew that this morning was different. You don’t necessarily think when you are cradling your baby in your arms that one day you would have to explain evil to them. You are not prepared and I don’t think you can be. It is just one of those jump in head first and pray that what comes out is sufficient enough to be truthful and satisfying without ruining the innocence and wide eyed curiosity that only childhood can yield. How do you remind them the that here and now in my arms or at school or at grandma’s they are safe? I know we need to filter but most of the time it is unavoidable.

Several months ago. Another school shooting. This time it was Brouke’s turn to see what evil looks like. And now, an all American wholesome activity marred by destruction and devastation is plastered everywhere. The horror and destruction is all over the TV and on the lips of every adult.

It is a fine line and letting your kids steer your conversation will generally give you parameters to work with. Kids usually ask great questions and beyond what they ask is most of the time unnecessary. They will clue you in to what is in their heart and how much they can handle. With the little ones be selective, you don’t want to compromise their sense of safety. Older kids will be able to process more but all children will need extra love and reassurance. Speak scripture to them. Remind them not be worry or be anxious (Matthew 6:27) that God will deliver us from our fears (Psalm 34:4). Tell them that God will give them peace and that He is in control (Phillipians4:6-7). Remind them for every bad person their are thousands of good people. Let them get involved in making the world a better place by giving them opportunities to serve others and their community. It helps channel all their fears and gives them a sense of control over their environment. Mostly, trust your instincts. God gave you the children you have for a reason.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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Come to Me

7 Jul

Today a friend posted on her Facebook wall “Please let there be only one set of foot prints today.”  I remember seeing this poem on my parents’ wall as a kid.  It made no sense to me then but it is such a comforting visual now.  I am sure many have read it but here it is.

foot prints

  Matthew 11:28 says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”.

A yoke was a piece of wood designed to allow animals to support one another in pulling heavy weight.  We can be yoked to many things and people in our life, good and bad.  When hardship and stress happen in our life, Jesus invites us to be yoked to Him.  This means that he longs to draw you closer to Him, to trust, and rely on Him.  This isn’t an invitation to drop all at His feet and carry-on, no it is a process where you will walk together and a heart transformation will begin. Though the hardship may remain, how we respond to it will have changed.  We can find that if we believe and trust we will find peace in our hearts and freedom from stress and anxiety.  A wonderful transformation will happen in your life and you will find true freedom and healing and you will have been changed from your old ways. Our trials strengthen us (2 Corinthians 12:7-9) and allow God to comfort us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) among other things. I believe our trials are necessary to make us more like Him.

Are you here at this verse where the burden is bigger than you?  His yoke is big enough for us all!  No matter what you are going through you never have to go it alone.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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So Good to be Reminded

4 Jul

I had the chance to spend some time speaking with a Nigerian woman today. She spent some time telling me about the twenty-some years spent in Nigeria, a life that we don’t see or hear about in the media. I was shaken listening to her stories of polygamy, abuse, corruption, and cult like rituals. She touched on that for a while before moving on to her new life here. Her face suddenly lit up as she spoke with enthusiasm and gratitude of simplistic things, everyday norms that get overlooked in our busy, abundant, entitled lives. Her joy was undeniable and my guilt and embarrassment apparent. You see, I was doing a little complaining.

It got me thinking about how very blessed we are to live in a country where we are free to share our thoughts and opinions, to disagree, to think freely, to dress as we please, to go where we please, to eat what we please and to worship our God freely and openly without fear.  This is normal life to us.  We don’t really appreciate these freedoms until we are reminded that life isn’t so everywhere else.
Despite all the problems, we are blessed.  So I will shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth (Psalm 100:1) and I will do it without fear, for I am a blessed American woman.

A prayer for you:
Thank you God for blessing me with being a woman, wife, and mother here in America.  Thank you for the blessing of clean water, abundant food, education, and medicine regardless of money.  Thank you God for the freedom to worship you wherever and whenever we choose- free from persecution.  Lord, I pray for the women who live oppressed persecuted lives. For the women who live in fear and without hope.  Lord, somehow someway touch them and deliver them from the bondage.  With praise and thanksgiving to you, my mighty King-Amen!

Happy 4th of July and remember freedom isn’t free. With gratitude, I celebrate!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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Teaching our Children to Have a Servant’s Heart

2 Jul

More than anything else I want my children to have a servant’s heart and to have empathy for those who are lost and hurting. I want their eyes to be open to see that life doesn’t revolve around them but life could be better for someone because of them. To serve in the name and love of God and not in the name of their ego and pride. To serve knowing their eternal reward is far better than any worldly award or recognition (Knowing it is by grace they are saved not works-Ephesians 2:8). To put all selfish desires aside, religious beliefs, social class, racial class, and any other worldly obstacle aside and love because He loved us first ( 1 John 4:19). To teach them to be ready to give their coat, to bandage a wound, to give a hug, to offer encouragement, to offer a prayer, a listening ear, a strong back, but mostly be ready to tell of their Savior and the great gift of salvation He brings (Proverbs 11:24-25, John 3:16).

How, in the midst of an entitled culture do I do this? First, and most important, I need to be in the word and in prayer. Second, I don’t indulge every whim and fancy of my children. A gift then becomes a real surprise, welcomed with true gratitude. We discern the difference between want and need and they are learning to appreciate a job well done. Lastly, practice what you preach. Your children do as they see not as they hear.

I am a work in progress, always! I fail more than I succeed. I just pray that in the middle of my shortcomings, they see the true intentions and through that, I pray, compassion sprouts.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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This is not Heaven

1 Jul

“The song of the whippoorwill. Let her sing. Let her sing in the dark. let her sing at the dawn. Let her song remind you that you were not made for this place and that there is a place just for you. But until then, be realistic. Lower your expectations of earth. This is not heaven, so don’t expect it to be.”

~Max Lucado~

I just now read that. I had to stop and read it a dozen times. As I sat quietly looking this over, this thought came to my mind-“Will what you sow now be worth reaping in the future?” In Galatians 6:7-10 it says that “for the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

When we live for worldly things it creates turmoil and misery in our lives, well, actually our soul.  When we give in to the lusty appetites of our flesh our only gift is endless disappointment.  But, when we live under the influence of the Holy Spirit we reap everlasting life.

It is hard to comprehend sometimes. We are fallen and of the flesh brings immediate gratification. Doing something for eternal value sometimes can be uncomfortable and even painful. I needed the reminder that what I do or don’t do has eternal effects. Is what I’m planting going to have kingdom value for tomorrow and tomorrow’s tomorrow?

Not always, but God reminded tonight to be more mindful of my life and those who pass through it. To plant seeds of truth and life. To look up and remember this is only my temporary home. To find my joy in the Lord and to not make this place heaven because heaven will never let us down.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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Image courtesy of [ponsulak] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Welcome Letter

29 Jun

Sweet ladies-

We all come together broken sinners. We are all at different levels with our faith, from those growing up in a strong Christian home, those still seeking and searching, and all of us in between. Some are married, some are not, and some are divorced. Regardless, we all come together with the commonality of women, wives, and mother’s seeking to make a difference, become stronger and better versions of ourselves, and to make meaningful connections. I write, in hopes that I can encourage you where you are and hopefully give you tools to help you along your journey. I will try to cover a variety of topics in the hopes that I never shy away from the biggest things we go through as women. They might not always be relevant to you now but it might in the future and then you have the tools and resources to help guide you or maybe help someone close to you. I encourage you to step out in faith even if it is a little uncomfortable. This is a safe place to discover and bloom. To ask questions and seek answers. We are all on a journey and remember we all have a story to tell. God has led me here and given me the opportunity to share my mess-my testimony piece by piece and he has used it all for good, for His glory and it has set me free. The women I have encountered, whether good or bad, for a season or for life, have been instrumental in helping me become the woman I am today. They were there to answer questions, to challenge me, to speak the truth in love, and to encourage me. This ministry is dear to my heart and I pray that you too are blessed by what you read and see in these pages. This is my story, what is yours?

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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