The Antithesis Of Love

I read an interesting conversation on a social forum, started from a father posting his story about instructing our children, whose son got trapped in prickles, you know, those large green plants like gaping jaws, ripping into your feet and not letting go?
Yeah those.
So the dad took the opportunity to teach his son a lesson, while the son was being pierced by these sharp needles, withholding the son's shoes during his lecture. The child was in pain, and all he wanted was his shoes. The child would have said anything to get what he wanted yet the dad was eager to share his 'teaching opportunity' God provided with the world. The father I'm sure loves his son, I don't doubt this one bit, and the evidence leads me to believe his theology seems very works based so I'm not at all surprised by his response to his child's cries, or his misuse of what we know as grace. He refused to give the child his shoes until the child recited certain things back to him. Sort of like a catechism. At the end of the conversation, my heart was literally torn from my chest in grief, mercy does not exist is some households.  

We're taught that life is PAIN. Life is HARD. We're taught to grow a back bone and suck it up and it's just how it is. I'm not against that teaching for the most part, it does no one good to collapse under pressure or hide when things gets tough. My concern with this outlook being the only option is this:

Despair.

If your focus is teaching and preaching despair, who's going to listen after a while? Will this not cause people to lose hope? Will this not breed fear? If a person has no hope, but lots of fear why should they live? This kind of mentality usually ends up in rebellion and and the very worst, suicide. We can open a newspaper and see the devastating result of this message.
"Do or die."
"Only you can help yourself."
"Surround yourself only with people who have the same world view as you."
"No one is worth the effort."
"You deserve everything and it doesn't matter who you hurt in the process of achieving what you want."

See how wily Satan is?

No parent or parenting style is perfect, least of all mine. I'm learning as I go, leaning heavily on my spouse, his leadership and on God's grace and the Power of Christ Jesus, carried out by The Holy Spirit.

I do see the pendulum swinging too far to the other side, families with zero rules, neglecting to teach their children to respect authority, forgetting that children thrive on boundaries and as they mature the parameter of trust widens and spreads until one day they leave the nest...or that is the hope anyway; To grow individuals to maturity and capability of contributing to society? We do see the consequences of being too lenient out there, but we reap what we sow do we not?

We only have our own little ones for a short time. Let's use this time to point them to the love of Christ Jesus, and the beauty and wonder of God's earth and all that it offers. Let's focus our time cultivating the gifts and talents our children were born with, not scaring them into submission. Yes it's a big scary world out there, but teaching our children love and grace actually provides them with the tools desperately needed on this cursed earth. Producing people with the capacity to love no matter what gives hope to the lost!

When God gave His instructions to the Israelite people, it was to show a need for a Saviour, someone who could rescue us from the thorns of life and all that it demands in all it's merciless hateful drudgery. God's instructions for our life as His Creation is to promote love of Him and love of others. Unfortunately many of those who teach and practice Torah or 'Law' or works of any kind miss this beautiful truth. King David is a prime example of a sinner saved by grace and wrote many times of God's law:

Psalm 119:97-100 (ESV)

Mem

⁹⁷ Oh how I love your law!
    It is my meditation all the day.
⁹⁸ Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
    for it is ever with me.
⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers,
    for your testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged,^[a]
    for I keep your precepts.

David loved God's law with the love only those with the mind of Christ Jesus understand. We relish God's Word, we devour it and crave more. We don't view Scripture as a puzzle with missing pieces but instead see a complete and breathtaking picture of The Lord Jesus Christ who is the expressed nature of God's Law. 

If Christ Jesus is not the focal point the law is the antithesis of love.

We are called to be like Christ, 1 Peter 2:5, living and breathing testimony of God's abundant grace and mercy. Ephesians 2:3-5, 2:8-9, Psalm 45:2, Ex 33:19, Prov 28:13.

I'll leave you with the story, you can decide for yourself whether you agree with the dad's methods or message.

Remember, we are the light of the world, the greatest commandment is to Love God and Love others. Love is an action, saturated with Mercy and Grace. I've seen my own husband react to a similar situation and he was swift to help and heal before any instruction or reminder was given, when the child was clearly able to focus on the lesson instead of reacting through a threshold of pain. Pain offers nothing but more pain.

Hope offers everything.

*names have been changed 

>>>>>So my Son's friend comes in and asked where Bobbie's shoes were, so I asked where Bobbie was. 

He said "Bobbie is stuck in the yard in some thorns."

I walked outside and said, 

"Son, what is wrong?"

He said, "I am stuck in stickers and can't move, get my shoes it hurts."

So I patiently asked him, "How many times have we told you don't walk around outside without your shoes?"

He replied "Alot."

I said, "So the instruction was that you do not walk around in the yard without shoes, what is that?"

He said, "Torah Dad hurry it hurts."

I said, "So do you think you deserve me giving your shoes?" 

He said "No Dad, I am sorry."

I said, "What is that when you tell me you are sorry."

He replied, "Repentance dad, I really am sorry, please give me my shoes."

I then gave Him his shoes and asked, "What is that Son?"

He said, "That is Grace dad, I won't do it again."

"Even the simplest of opportunities that may cause the children a little pain will save them from hell, always use every opportunity to instruct your children." -The Father <<<<< 

Speechless Seeking

Oh fear, oh fear my inner self!

This truly hates my love for You!

Wants not Your Will but what it seeks;

Kill that which vapours vainly teach.

No room, no room in this marred heart;

Keep it full of Your Grace and Love.

Fill me up with Your Mercy, Dear Father, and then:

Pour into me more of Yourself.

I deserve not this, nor time, nor view

I would rather have my own desires fed

But though I seek my own demise

My God you plucked me from these lies!

Dear God, dear God you gifted life in Christ.

Oh Lord, oh Lord, 

I'm Speechless. 

~Rae

Affirming Debt

I think we let ourselves off too easy as converted human beings. I think we allow our sin nature to take the lead more often than not. It is after all, our auto pilot, and if we're not being intentional and diligent in keeping up with prayer for instance, sin will be killing the desire for it.

There is no empty space in your heart. You are either being filled up with God, or filled up with sin.

We're born into a putrid foul decaying earth. We are rotting from within. I apologize for getting so graphic but we need to understand our place in creation. Certainly we were made in the image of God, (Gen 1) but the point is that we were made, and we remain tainted by sin even after being found in Jesus Christ. Forget this, and one will immediately think they deserve to be treated and respected or acknowledged a certain way, or have obtained a less 'sinful state'. I've fallen prey to my inner sin nature many times. I was angry when I found myself in a predicament where a wedge was slammed between me and those I've known and loved for years. My anger was sin. I didn't like what God was doing and I showed my true colours when He shone His pure light on me. But even though He does this, even though God reveals my true self to me, the self that is continually going to battle for life instead of accepting death in Christ, His Grace is abundant and like a soothing salve to a severe burn I find rest and solace on my face before the cross.

“He can make the dry parched ground of my soul to become a pool and my thirsty barren heart as springs of water. Yes he can make this habitation of dragons this heart which is so full of abominable lusts and fiery temptations to be a place of bounty and fruitfulness unto Himself.” 

~John Owen

God provides all. He is the source of all things good, justifiable  pure and lovely. When comparing anything to Him, it is but dust, dirt, or like webs of nothing.

Jonathan Edwards wrote:

“Of all the knowledge that we can ever obtain, the knowledge of God, and the knowledge of ourselves, are the most important.” 

&

“If the heart be chiefly and directly fixed on God, and the soul engaged to glorify him, some degree of religious affection will be the effect and attendant of it. But to seek after affection directly and chiefly; to have the heart principally set upon that; is to place it in the room of God and his glory. If it be sought, that others may take notice of it, and admire us for our spirituality and forwardness in religion, it is then damnable pride; if for the sake of feeling the pleasure of being affected, it is then idolatry and self-gratification.” 

Edwards words carry as much truth today as they hour he penned them.  As soon as we think we need a pat on the back, 'good for me', God has been replaced and self reigns our heart.  Even putting that effort into going to Church every week can be a snare to our steps, if the effort we put in is from a place of pride.

It is good to check your personal motive for doing something.  Why am I doing this?  What am I doing?  Who am I doing it for?  Where is it taking me? When do I do it, out of convenience or necessity or duty?

Proverbs 1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Job 28:28  And he said to man,’Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,  and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Proverbs 2:10-11  for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,

James 1:5  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God,who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.


Ecclesiastes 7:12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.


When you are confronted with your sin, present it before the throne, asking God to kill it, and if it remains ask Him to kill it again. If it continues to remain, God is using that particular sin to grow you up, to refine you, to build your knowledge and wisdom of His Grace and Love, His Will. Don't ignore the lessons associated with that sin, but own it.  I struggled with smoking for several years, I tried to quit time and again but each hour my craving for the taste and feeling of that sweet slow heat in my nose and throat overcame me.  I could not die to that desire. I had no strength in me to, even though I hated my addiction. So I cried out to God. I cried out day after day. I resolved myself one day to not light up, believing the power of The Holy Spirit would help me, and any time my hands started to shake I prayed, calling out to my Perfect Redeemer to remove that selfish desire from me. You see it wasn't the smoking that really was the issue. Yes it stinks. Yes it causes oral issues, health issues and affects anyone in close proximity to you. But the underlying sin of smoking is *self*. Gratifying self is our human nature. It was very difficult, I'm not going to lie, but eventually God did what I asked of Him, and I've been smoke free for 7 years. In Matthew 7:7 Jesus says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Life changing truth!

Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." 

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

Be sure to ask for the right thing. Make sure you are asking God.

“Being sensible that I am unable to do any thing without God's help, I do humbly entreat Him, by His grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ's sake.” 

~Johnathan Edwards 

Our hope remains in Jesus Christ, that one day we will be free from this flesh and sin, united as one body before the throne of Grace, Mercy and Love. Take heart dear Christian, God's help is Efficient and His Work is Eternal. He is not a hands off Master, but is indeed the only One who can reach into our heart and write His Will on the walls. He owns you, and is faithful. You must own your sin and kill it. This is done by God alone through Christ alone by The Holy Spirit alone. Ask Him.

1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

Rhodonite, Serpentine, Aventurine, and a Zebra.

I got all scientific today.

Don't expect this to happen again in the near future.

I enjoyed doing experiments growing up, but I am not interested in figuring out stuff.  I know the colour wheel, I know that wool can be paired with anything, and Salmon does not do well with a tomato sauce.  I'm not interested in why this is true, only that it is.  God has gifted me with the ability to find out if necessary but I'd much rather just think I know something then to go looking for proof of it.

This is my struggle.  You may have that urge to go out and connect the dots, figuring out why X+U%9=That, which is totally cool and gnarly and I will ooh and ahh over your findings if it at all interests me.  It probably won't though.

This past Sunday I missed morning service as I had been struggling all week after being out and (YES) eating out.  I'm going to start another blog based on my gluten adventures so stay tuned, it may be awhile because I am a Momma to five children and homeschool and have two dogs and want a clean house and don't have anyone else to cook three squares a day plus snacks so my free time is few and far between.  I only have one kid right now interrupting me to ask the same question over and over only in slightly different ways as right now the other four are outside enjoying the snow/slush/muck. Yes it involves food. No I will not give in this close to when I start preparing dinner.
Even though I missed the service my Honey was able to tell me a bit about what our Pastor presented from God's word.

We are stones, in a Tumbler, being tossed around with dirt.  The kicker? This is God's design.  God uses our filth, our sin, this cursed planet, to refine us, His people. There was more, so much more, about the natural decay of the church, but I'm focusing on what I understand at this point.

Picture this:

There we are, minding our own business, doing whatever it is that we like to do, not aware of our plight or situation.  We don't realize that we're dirty, filthy, unwanted, surrounded by a substance when wet is MUD.

But then we are picked up.

   

No warning.  

No conscious decision on our part.

In an instant we are removed from what we were comfortable, happy and secure being in.

What we knew.

What we understood.

We were snatched from our simple rock life and tossed with other stones in a big tumbler that is spinning!

Why did this happen!!??

Being tossed about with other rocks and dirt produce the very best product.

1 Peter 2:5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

 Matthew 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

1 Kings 7:9 All these were made of costly stone, cut according to measure, sawed with saws, back and front, even from the foundation to the coping, and from the outside to the great court.

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste."

Isaiah 54:11 "O afflicted one, storm tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony,  and lay your foundations with sapphires.

Mathew 24:2 But he answered them, "You see all these, do you not?  Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon the other that will not be thrown down."

We have a calling dear Christian, one that is painful, foreign, and sometimes upside-down. Isaiah 28:16 prophesies the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, and he was indeed tested beyond a mere mans ability to endure. He felt the Eternal wrath of God, not something to take lightly. He was put through the unimaginable, but because he endured the life God ordained for him to, we who put our trust and faith in him benefit, by our reconciliation with God!

1 Peter 2:4-8

 4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,

a cornerstone chosen and precious,

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

7So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,”^a

8and

“A stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

Take heart dear Christian!

You will be rejected by men!

You will experience pain like never before!

You will endure hardship, it may be physical, financial, mental, or all of the above, but even thought this is the Christian life, The Almighty has already equipped you for every good work. (2 Tim 3:17)

The end result of the filthy chaos we find ourselves in reveals the precious stones we are in Christ Jesus.  So put on The Lord's righteousness, and forge ahead, and welcome the beating you will receive.

This is our calling.

This is our end.

Revelation 21:11 Having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

Reference Link 

And Here.

Scripture

No Hope For The Hopeless Except Those In Christ

I was told that I would lose my Salvation today, that my place in Heaven was only secure if I did what the Jews of old tried to do, things like keeping Sabbath, and not eating pork, you know, the easy stuff, the stuff we need to guess how best it applies to us today.

Our best guess keeps our place in Heaven.

I'm not the gambling type, so 'best guess' doesn't sound that good at all.

My heart broke for the poor woman who spoke those words to me.

I asked her how often she thinks is required for Christ to be nailed to the cross.  I am still waiting for a response, but I doubt I will get one.

This woman's theology matches her belief system: if you think you chose god then of course you can lose god...but the god she chose is of her own making, a weak and insignificant one at that.  Her god will lose her because *she* fails.

My sadness was compounded when others agreed with this woman's statement, that God would toss me out of Heaven for bad behaviour...

They have yet to learn the good news of the gospel.

Christ died for me while I still behaved badly!

Romans 5:6-8 ESV

 ⁶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Christ did not die for those who had it all together, for those who rejected him and said they had the law so they got it covered.

Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

Genesis 4:11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

Deuteronomy 27:26 "Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

Jeremiah 11:3 Tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Cursed is the man who does not obey the terms of this covenant--

Galatians 3 ESV By Faith, or by Works of the Law? 1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected bya the flesh? 4Did you sufferb so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?5Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 7Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justifyc the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.... .....12But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirite through faith. ......21Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Galations 3:28  Romans 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, Romans 3:29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, What Good News! Pass it on!

Gorgeous

Alright January  you've been a little rough.  I'll admit, even though my resolution is to just be, I still want to plan my days ahead of time and give myself a check list of to do's to accomplish so that at the end of the day when I sleep I feel like I deserve it.

Silly eh?

I add more to my plate because being a wife, a mom to five kids and all that this entails to my mind is the easy stuff.

I was a working mom at one point in my life.  I felt guilty when I was home because I knew my son needed much for his future and I was the only one who was going to provide it, and I felt guilty when I was at work in the few minutes break I had to remember who I was in between clients because I was not with my son.  People ask me if I miss working outside the home, and really, the honest answer is still no, that my busy life now is not comparable in the least, however it is fulfilling.  A little.

What I miss about being out in the work force is my individuality.  I wasn't this mom person. I didn't have people telling me what to do or telling me they hated the meal I prepared, or be put in the position to discipline when all I wanted to do is either fall on the floor in tears, or cackle until they came.
I miss being 'Me'.
The 'me' that was sought out, recommended, referred to.  The 'me' that was admired and nothing compares to being handed cash while someone says, "I've never felt this good about myself in my life."

Maybe that's why call girls do what they do. Ahem.

But I digress.

Fortunately the attitude I have is normal, and when I stop to think about it God is merciful to point out my selfishness in desiring this idol called individuality   Certainly I'm an individual, that will never change, unless in The Lords providence I end up losing my marbles and become three of myself (horrors!)  but even then, my heart and life belongs to Him and instead of wanting to be this 'me' who gets all the glory, my focus should be stepping back and saying:

"To God be The Glory.

Great Things He Hath Done."

And so, being 'Wife' and being 'Mom' is all I need to be because this is where I am in this Season of my life.

It is enough.

Just Be

New Years Eve came and went, other than us recovering from being sick nothing exciting happened.

Oh there were a few typical messages put out there that Jan 1st isn't the start of the New Year in God's eyes blahblahblahblah but you know what?  Who really cares! If you do, cool, that is your business and your conscience before the throne, but don't tell me I need to believe or participate in the same thing as you because my walk is not like yours and that's okay. Besides, the free calendars says what it does and my schedule goes along with it as does the world....

Which brings me to my thought for today.  New Years Eve brings on resolutions, people publicly promising themselves that they will do 'better' in the unblemished brand newness an unmarked calendar brings. What they forget, and I do this too, is that there is nothing new under the sun, that the brand new year is already tainted with our sin, and that 'bad things' and 'pain' will continue to happen because that is the nature of this world.  Despite this truth, there is hope in Christ, and even though us Christians continue being sinners, we know that upon death Eternity is our reward, an eternity filled with God's glory and nothing else, and so we endure the days, weeks, and months associated with humanity plodding on year after year.

I tend to avoid making resolutions as I know myself. I'm lazy, and if I do say I'm going to do something I do it like a boss and so I'm cautious at what I commit to.  (See my pride there?)  I don't promise something if I'm not 90% sure I can go through with it. I'm good at saying no, but it had to be learned.  I'd like for people to think I'm willing to do anything, but I'm not, I struggle with helping others because it may cause me to say something which can get me into trouble.  I get into trouble a lot.

While I'm writing this a thought popped into my head as thoughts tend to do and that is knowing my perspective is so out there, so crazy to other people that I've lost relationships because of it and yet I am not in denial or fretting over it.  I know I come off as a know it all, because I am confident in the knowledge I have.  Am I open to changing my views? You betcha, because I fully believe a renewal of mind is vital in the Christian walk. Does my openness negate my beliefs right now? Nope.  I stand on the rock and my faith is secure, God's got this. Knowing this do I regret 2012 and all that it brought?

Not one bit because God designed it to be exactly how it turned out.

I made chicken soup today.  It was delicious.  No I am not humble when it comes to my soup because I make good soup, something I learned and thankful I was able to.  I had left over chicken bones, some meat and baked and boiled all the flavour out of them.  I then added thyme, sage, garlic and pepper, and a pinch of salt, not too much as we don't like terrible salty tasting food, we like the food taste.  I added turnip, carrots, baby brussel sprouts and rice.  Weird combo but it turned out hearty, filling, and perfect for a cold wintry day.  Rice is pretty bland on it's own, and brussel sprouts are an acquired taste.  I know people who can not stand turnip and others who avoid carrots.  On their own these ingredients are okay, but put together they nourish my body and promote my children's growth.  If I just fed them rice, I don't think they'd develop well and I think I would be weak.

My point is that I can learn something on it's own, but if I don't add it to another lesson already learned or in the process of understanding I'm missing out on the fullness of that trial and will not apply it to my life correctly or in the most beneficial way.  I need the other ingredients to appreciate the whole thing, this challenging walk we call life.  If I only stick to one or two things I like and feel comfortable with, I am totally missing out on the complete package variety produces and the heartiness doing so promotes, whatever that may be.

That is why I can safely claim my resolution for 2013 is to just be...

Be open.

Be vulnerable.

Be loving.

Be weak.

Be humble.

Be quiet.

Be loud.

Be there.

Be me.