Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Why Do Bad Things Happen.......To Good People?

When I first saw the story about another missing mommy, Krista Dittmeyer I honestly didn't have peace about where she could possibly be.  She was reported missing Saturday morning after a passerby found her car running and her 14-month-old daughter in the back seat. The car door was open and the hazard lights were blinking.  I thought, "There is no way she left her daughter behind like that on purpose, so this couldn't possibly have a happy ending.  Lord, I pray for Krista, that you would have mercy on her soul.  For her family that you would comfort them while they grieve.  And Lord, for her daughter, I pray that she will be brought up to know You and to love You.  In Jesus name, Amen."

Why do bad things happen to good people?

This is the question of the millennium.  I have not only heard this question many times, I have asked this question myself.  I really sought to get some understanding.  The best answer I got was that we live in a fallen world.  No one is exempt from tragedy, trauma and trials.  When I think of joy w/o pain or sunshine w/o rain, the only place that comes to my mind is.......Heaven!  This world we live in is a far cry right.  Realizing that God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts brings me comfort because I trust Him.  For me He is the only one that I can say that I trust 100%.

You might ask how I can trust someone that I cannot see.  It takes faith.  I have written about faith many times.  I have a history with God.  He has shown me in more ways than one that He does exist and He is in control.  He didn't say that I would not experience pain, but when I do face trials, He promised to walk with me.  I not only believe that, I know that because He has walked me through some very tough challenges.

Bad things happen to everyone and so do good things.  The question you should be asking yourself is, "Will I go to Heaven?"  That is where only "good" things happen and where you will only find "good" people.

It Is Well Within My Soul


Warrior
 I always have songs in my head and I have written many songs.  This is a song I wrote a few month's ago.  I have been a little shy about sharing with people but what the heck,

 It Is Well Within My Soul.

It is well, it is well within my soul
Where the Holy Spirit dwells, and let's me know
I can do all things, with Him by my side
He will give me strength, He will provide

The Lord is good, His love is kind
His word will never return void
I once was lost, but now I'm found
He placed my feet on solid ground

I thank Him, I praise him, I magnify His name
Oh Lord, Oh Oh Lord
He made me, He saved me, He forgave my sins
Oh Lord, Oh Oh Lord

It is well, it is well within my soul
Where the Holy Spirit dwells, and let's me know
I can do all things, with Him by my side
He will give me strength, He will provide

He died for me, He set me free
I can't believe He would do this for me
They hung Him high, they stretched Him wide
He hung His head and for me he died

But that's not how the story ends
Oh Lord, Oh Oh Lord
For in 3 days, He rose again
Oh Lord, Oh Oh Lord

It is well, it is well within my soul
Where the Holy Spirit dwells, and let's me know
I can do all things, with Him by my side
He will give me strength, He will provide.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Your Faith Is on Front Street

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. Hebrews 11:1  But what is front street you ask?  That is where the christian faith is showcased.  Let me give you some examples.  As a Christ follower, we should stand out like a sore thumb around those who do not follow Christ.  I'm not saying that we should go around giving people a sore head by knocking people upside the head with our bible so calm down.  But we should be allowed to do that every now and then too.  I'm just sayin because I know some hard headed people that probably wouldn't even feel it the first few times. 
My point is, our actions should speak louder than any sermon.  We don't have to tell people that they should know better when they act like a fool but if we don't join them, they will  begin to wonder about you.  When your co-workers complain, how do you respond?  If you join them which I am guilty of doing when I am in agreement, but what kind of faith am I displaying when I do that?  None, you are exactly right.  But when you don't join the complaining or if you say something encouraging, they might think you are crazy at first but thats ok because it will spark their curiosity.  What makes Miss Starla Sunshine think that things will get better?  What makes her avoid assuming that our employer won't listen to our ideas?  I use work as an example because that is where I spend a lot of my time.  But what about your friends and family?  Your actions can show them the high road too.  When you express your gratitude for answered prayers that is such a good witness to them.  Now people, please learn the difference between bragging and sharing what the Lord has done for you lately.  Every conversation gives you the opportunity to shine God's light in you.  The next time you have a conversation about the economy (because that is the topic of daily conversation) how can you give God glory? 
Example:
Someone says, "The government is going to shut down by midnight.  The last time that happened, the democrats were in office so what does that tell you?" 
You respond, "All my blessings come from above and God can use anything or anyone to bless you, including the government.  It really doesn't matter whose in office politically because if God is in office for you personally you don't have to worry about what the government is doing and when they are going to do it."

I really overheard someone at work say this the other day but I didn't respond because at the time I was quite annoyed because this person is my friend who knows my political views so my reaction would have been more like this, "Why do you have to be so negative and loud?"  Besides, no one else responded so maybe they were thinking the same thing.  Or maybe it was because most people try to avoid discussing politics or religion at work.  The other day someone told me that they don't talk about religion at work and my response to them in a very loving way was, "I don't talk about religion either but I do talk about God."  No response but I do think they got the point.

Actions really do speak louder than words and sometimes it's what you don't do that can be a positive witness.  So by not complaining and saying negative things that says a lot right there. God has been working with me on my complaining for years and years.  I'm not where a I should be, but I'm also not where I used to be.  You see, I'm a talker and I wear my feelings on my sleeve.  I always thought it was good for people to see all your emotion's but I'm learning that it's good to hide them sometimes to avoid hurting people.  You can be saved and act like the devil, trust me.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Lost and Found

My daughter lost her brand new jacket on the second day of the school year.  She went to the lost and found to see if it was there but it wasn't.  A few days later she saw a girl with the exact same jacket but since there was no way to be sure that it belonged to her, we counted it as a loss.  You see, clothing and material possession's can be replaced.  We all know that right?  But one thing that you don't ever want to lose is your soul.  Yes, you read this right. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul.  For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  Mark 8:36,37 NAS

Some of you may wonder how can a man lose his soul?  First, we need to understand exactly what your soul is.  In the bible, when used as an action word (verb), your soul is often mentioned with and after your heart.  Your soul is that between your body and spirit.  It is controlled by your spirit and it uses the body to carry out the thoughts of the Spirit.  Maybe that's why God instructs us to hold our bad thoughts captive.  Just thinking the wrong thing is a sin because it can cause you to eventually act on your thoughts.  He who guards his mouth & his tongue guards his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23 NAS  You know what they say?  If you speak it, so it shall be.  Well at least that's what I tell my girls.

To me it sounds like our soul and our feelings are one in the same.  What the eye sees is better than what the soul desires.  Ecclesiastes 6:30.  Your soul sobs and weeps, troubles and grieves, longs and loves, delights and angers.  I think in order to truly grasp what the soul is, you must understand your spirit (heart).  It seems that they are both intertwined and both can be involved in what pleases and displeases God.  Your Spirit must speak to your Soul which uses your body to carry out your thoughts or put your thoughts into action.  Your Spirit mediates between your body and Soul.  I think of our soul as our feelings and our spirit as our thoughts.

Now that we hopefully have a better understanding of the soul, we can find out how it can become lost.  If a person has never accepted Jesus as their savior, they can be considered lost spiritually.  Some examples of lost are having gone astray or ending in defeat.  If you do not have a real relationship with God, consider yourself to be forfeited, gone, ruined, distracted, distraught, desperate, hopeless, missing, confused, perplexed, squandered, doomed and condemned to hell.  If your soul is lost and you want to find it say this simple prayer:
Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour

Just like the song Amazing Grace, you once were lost but now you are found, was blind but now you see.