Impudent

I can assure you in real life, I'm not this blunt.  

Sort of.

Writing is the best way I communicate, at least I think it is.  Keeping my thoughts in line, remaining logical and not getting all mushy or emotional, my topics seem bumptious.  And well they should.  I am real.  My life so far has been very real.  I do not live in TV land, nor do I base any of my life choices on what the television, or latest best selling author says I should practice, or change, to better me and those around me.

Nope.  My natural reaction is to do the opposite of what I am told to do.  It's a sickness.  I'd like to think I respond to everything like it's a challenge.  This can be a good trait, but mostly it can be harmful.  I remember, in the days I was on my own, avoiding God, and all things associated with Church and Churchy things, my life was spiraling down a path the young me (who had been baptized, giving her heart fully to Christ, teaching Sunday School and doing whatever she could to be a good and faithful servant) would vomit at the thought of becoming.  What happens when one ignores the way to receive Christ's Ministry, established by God before time began?

Left to myself, I was falling, blindly walking, I had my umbrella up and there was no way I wanted anything to do with 'Christianity.'  Those people were fake, hypocritical, judgemental, and frankly illogical.  How can people claim to be free from sin one minute, and then make inappropriate physical advances the next?  How can people claim to live a new life because of Christ, but they can't speak to certain people because they hate them?  How can people praise God on Sundays with you, and not inquire about your life through the week or even talk to you on the actual Sunday??

I will tell you.

Because people are human.  People fail.  It's what we do best.

Now, my very experience with church was what gave me these ideas.  I am not saying there weren't genuine people, who dearly loved The Lord, but there were more people who went through the motions of attending the service every Sunday because that's what Christians do.  That is the tradition of Man.  People for centuries gathered together in one place to worship their Creator on a specific day, or at least had a specific place for their god to live.  Even after Jesus Christ came, this practice did not cease, rather it was made more orderly, with specific offices and duties set up by the Apostles on the command of Christ.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret. 

Attending Church doesn't make anyone a Christian. 

Reading the Bible doesn't make anyone a Christian.  

The effort anyone puts in with anything to do with biblical ministry, this does not make anyone a Christian.

So what does?  What is the tell-tale sign, the fruit, the badge of honour?  How many times does a person have to fail at life before others write them off as someone who has no hope?

Well.  Until a person is dead, there is always hope.

I was told the other day I should stick to blogging about my kids, and general family life.  You know what my reaction was?  I am sure you can guess.  Now, more than ever, I am determined to share the things on my heart, and of course I will continue sharing cute antidotes of this household as well.  (Lets face it, my family is entertaining and adorable.)

How has GOD established His people to receive Christ's ministry?

Some will tell you as long as you read God's Word, that's all you need.  And I am going to tell you, that isn't enough.  Sure, God allowed me to be on my own, to make choices that would hurt me, but I was reading my Bible and nothing in the Bible was telling me I was doing the wrong thing.  My Bible was telling me as long as I trusted in Jesus Christ, everything would be okay, right now didn't matter.  I wasn't learning anything new, or being challenged in my studies, rather I was reading Gods Perfect Word with blind eyes.  I was stuck in my own understanding, and we all know how leaning on our own understanding turns out.  Pretty dangerous stuff.  I can look back now and see the process The Lord put me through, and the battles I had to fight.  These battles weren't against anyone but myself.  And God, in His great mercy, showed this to me. 

Conversion is instant, and it is also a slow process that happens over time.  Some people approach me as a new Christian, while others approach me to lead discussions about The Word Of God.  All I know at this point is that I have so much more to learn about what Christianity is.  What I do know is this: reading the Word of God necessarily leads one to find a local gathered Church, to receive more.  There is a hunger, a thirst, a desire....for MORE.  Scripture is full of so much Spiritual Food, and I would be dumb to think I can make myself a feast, with the help of The Holy Spirit alone on my own all the time.  I need more!

I am confident in My God, I know the way He has set out before me is Perfect.  I will fail along the way, even fall a few times, but The Holy Spirit is an excellent  and patient guide.  

My purpose is secure because I am a grape in a bunch God established through Christ Jesus.  May He never allow us to turn into vinegar, burning the open sores of those surrounding us.

Instead, may God cause us to be sweet wine soothing to the hearts of man.

Psalm 104

Jeremiah 9:23

Philippians 3:8