Plastic.

Because of recent events in my life, and what God has been teaching me through the study of His word, the sermons on Sunday, and the discussions at prayer meeting, I have many things to rejoice about.

Rejoice! Rejoice, and again I say Rejoice!!

When I was young, a childhood friend 'stabbed me in the back', causing me great humiliation. This caused a logical 7 year old to decided that she would never ever say anything that wasn't true. (I can use the word logical because at times I was, and am.) Further cementing this pact with myself was the fact that this little girls parents taught her that God hates liars, and so, fearing the wrath of God this little woman kept this promise.

I am not claiming I haven't ever lied, oh no, I've lied. I know when I have, and in fact I know God knows when I have even if I don't recall. If I claim to have never lied, then I denounce Christ, and His perfection, that only He lived. So yes, I am a liar.

But I have been very careful to really try not to if I can help it.

It takes too much brain power to remember the lies, the truth is easy to call up from the memory. Plus, that verse, be sure you're sins will find you out, rings true.

Now, being completely honest can get me into trouble. Oh yes, it does. I have had many foot-in-mouth moments saying something that, after, I realize could have very well offended the person I was with at the time. If said person doesn't say anything to me however, I dismiss my concern that I'm just a bit too conscientious. Other people don't care as much as I do.

Now, being me, if someone hurts me I tell them, "You Suck." Or some such language to let them know my displeasure with them. But then, I'm good. I usually don't need an apology because I have found that human beings fail continually and an apology is worthless without works to prove it. Some have accused me of not dealing with things, which may be true, but really, who am I to hold anything against another person while I myself have been forgiven for breaking Gods Law?

I have noticed a prominant member of my family has been trying to patch up things that I have, with the help of Gods word, clearly torn apart. I didn't mean too. I don't want rifts between people I grew up with, whom I care about, whom I want to spend eternity with.

And yet it's not my choice to make. It's not within my power to change anything that happened.

God had already ordained this misunderstanding would happen before He created the Universe.

People are not happy that this seemily 'perfect' Christian Unit may not be what it seems.

This is a burden no human being should bear.

We are gathering together in a few days with 'outsiders', people we haven't seen in years that are related to us. So for 'Dad's Sake' we are playing nice. It is his birthday party don't ya know, and birthday's are supposed to be happy! So, we'll gather together, each to his/her own corner and make civil while on the inside our guts will be churning with disgust with either ourselves (if we have a conscience) or with one another. Because let's face it, we're all a bunch of judgmental, critical, OCD wanna' be's who put on a good show for the world.

I'm dreading this with all my being. I want to shout out, "No! This is SO FAKE!! Do you know so and so and such in such has done this and that? And yet they claim to WALK with Christ?"

(insert the judgmental badge here.)

"Is THIS HOW Christians are supposed to act?"

(and here.)

Who do we think we are?

Do we really think we're entitled to anything but death and pain?

Do we really think we're entitled to be respected by one another?

We deserve nothing but Hell.

In fact, we're born hating God, and so we CHOOSE HELL HAPPILY.

Being a Christian means that God plucks you from your dead state, replaces your stone heart with one of flesh, and puts you on His path, where He is leading you.

If we're not walking in the same direction then we're walking away from each other. That is okay. That is Gods plan.

So don't pretend. Don't put on that plastic smile, because there is a problem.

What it is, I don't know. But I know it's there.

Ignore me, block me, and avoid me all you want.

I am filled with much Joy to see God at work! He promised He would divide.

Satan is cunning and smart, and always attacking who exalts Jesus Christ. Being attacked for convictions from The Holy Spirit is such a wonderful blessing!!

This of course is my opinion, to which I am entitled to. I by no means expect anyone to agree with me, but I do expect people to tolerate me.

Know that I Love you, and accept you for who God has made you, and for what He is doing in your life.

Even if He's doing nothing at all.