The closer it creeps upon my Moms death anniversary the farther I creep from sound sleep. When I do fall asleep I dream of her, I replay everything in my head...and I lay awake trying to remember her voice with tears falling down my cheeks. I miss her more now, more than I did a year ago. Every. Single. Thing. I. Miss. It. All.
In all of my sleeplessness I have found a great appreciation for reading...as if I needed a further appreciation! I've always loved reading...but, lately...words have kept me from tears...and for that I'm so grateful.
Last night while my husband slept beside me I was busy munching on Cheez-It's, and reading my Bible. A blogger I follow had recently been writing about the impact 'Way of the Master' written by Ray Comfort had on her life. "Life changing" she called it...so I decided to download a few excerpts from Amazon...and I cannot wait to purchase the full book!
Between stuffing my face with Cheez-It's and my Bible I came to so many profound revelations! Some of us...actually...I'd dare to say ALMOST ALL OF US have been lied to before by a preacher. (not my current pastor...but many I've talked to before have lied to me!) Yep, I was lied to by a preacher...and I bet you've been lied to before too...maybe not by a preacher, but a follower of Jesus. In fact, I've lied about this!!! How many of you have ever said "life is so much better with Jesus!"? Anyone? How about this one...."Jesus makes it all better"...or "God wants great things for you on this earth?" While I do not doubt that God does want good things for you and I...I have to say...this book made me think twice about what I tell people when I share my faith! These things...I say them! I say all of the time that life is easier with Jesus...and often it is...but NOT ALWAYS. It doesn't come naturally to me to just want to always do what is right...it isn't always a cakewalk to choose His way over the worlds way's. And, I have to admit...I've been made fun of for my faith...which, did hurt.
Joel Osteen...goodness...for years I've read his books and while they motivate me...they empower me...THEY ARE NOT GOSPEL. He is a brilliant motivator...but, in my opinion I have to say those lies I listed above, he's ever so guilty! He is constantly "preaching" that if we want good things...if we want that promotion...if we want more financial stability...if we want a bigger house...a new car...if we want to marry... God will give it to us if we stay in his "favor." Maybe God will...but, the Bible sure doesn't say He will. NO WHERE in my Bible or any of our Bible's downstairs collecting dust does it say God is going to grant me and give me amazing things on this earth. Does it say that in your Bible???? I mean...trust me, I've looked. No where in my Bible does it say that my life here on this earth will be just so easy if I am a follower of Jesus Christ, in fact, my Bible tells me I'm likely to be persecuted for my faith.
Um...I don't think it's just me...but, when I really look at history...recorded Biblical history I don't see that Andrew, James, John, Judas, Matthew, Peter, Simon, or Thomas (including all other 12 apostles) died in a big mansion with expensive cars...amazing jobs...and lots of money. In fact they were all either crucified, stoned, exiled, beheaded, speared to death, or beaten for their faith! And, so, my question is this. WHY WHEN WE ARE SHARING OUR FAITH....WHY ARE WE PROMISING NON BELIEVERS THAT COMING TO FAITH WILL BRING THEM EARTHLY PLEASURES? I'm not trying to be harsh or pessimistic. I won't neglect my faith out of fear...I'm saying that just because we commit to Jesus Christ...that doesn't mean that we will be blessed with earthly treasures. That doesn't mean our life here on this earth will magically become easy.
Alright, I don't think we need to go around telling people to prepare to be crucified for their faith...or prepare to be beheaded. I don't think that at all...I just think that sometimes we count on earthly blessings because we are faithful. It isn't biblical. I mean...have you read the Bible at all?
I heard a quote recently and I cannot recall to whom the credit is due...but it went something like this "before God uses a man...He will break the man...". I think that there is some truth in that, AND, I think that is why so many who claim to have faith or have had faith fall away from the faith...because it isn't serving them on this earth in the way they feel it should.
The reward isn't here....the reward is in Heaven...the reward is one day being able to bask in the presence of The Almighty! THAT is the reward...eternal life.
In all of my sleeplessness I have found a great appreciation for reading...as if I needed a further appreciation! I've always loved reading...but, lately...words have kept me from tears...and for that I'm so grateful.
Last night while my husband slept beside me I was busy munching on Cheez-It's, and reading my Bible. A blogger I follow had recently been writing about the impact 'Way of the Master' written by Ray Comfort had on her life. "Life changing" she called it...so I decided to download a few excerpts from Amazon...and I cannot wait to purchase the full book!
Between stuffing my face with Cheez-It's and my Bible I came to so many profound revelations! Some of us...actually...I'd dare to say ALMOST ALL OF US have been lied to before by a preacher. (not my current pastor...but many I've talked to before have lied to me!) Yep, I was lied to by a preacher...and I bet you've been lied to before too...maybe not by a preacher, but a follower of Jesus. In fact, I've lied about this!!! How many of you have ever said "life is so much better with Jesus!"? Anyone? How about this one...."Jesus makes it all better"...or "God wants great things for you on this earth?" While I do not doubt that God does want good things for you and I...I have to say...this book made me think twice about what I tell people when I share my faith! These things...I say them! I say all of the time that life is easier with Jesus...and often it is...but NOT ALWAYS. It doesn't come naturally to me to just want to always do what is right...it isn't always a cakewalk to choose His way over the worlds way's. And, I have to admit...I've been made fun of for my faith...which, did hurt.
Joel Osteen...goodness...for years I've read his books and while they motivate me...they empower me...THEY ARE NOT GOSPEL. He is a brilliant motivator...but, in my opinion I have to say those lies I listed above, he's ever so guilty! He is constantly "preaching" that if we want good things...if we want that promotion...if we want more financial stability...if we want a bigger house...a new car...if we want to marry... God will give it to us if we stay in his "favor." Maybe God will...but, the Bible sure doesn't say He will. NO WHERE in my Bible or any of our Bible's downstairs collecting dust does it say God is going to grant me and give me amazing things on this earth. Does it say that in your Bible???? I mean...trust me, I've looked. No where in my Bible does it say that my life here on this earth will be just so easy if I am a follower of Jesus Christ, in fact, my Bible tells me I'm likely to be persecuted for my faith.
Um...I don't think it's just me...but, when I really look at history...recorded Biblical history I don't see that Andrew, James, John, Judas, Matthew, Peter, Simon, or Thomas (including all other 12 apostles) died in a big mansion with expensive cars...amazing jobs...and lots of money. In fact they were all either crucified, stoned, exiled, beheaded, speared to death, or beaten for their faith! And, so, my question is this. WHY WHEN WE ARE SHARING OUR FAITH....WHY ARE WE PROMISING NON BELIEVERS THAT COMING TO FAITH WILL BRING THEM EARTHLY PLEASURES? I'm not trying to be harsh or pessimistic. I won't neglect my faith out of fear...I'm saying that just because we commit to Jesus Christ...that doesn't mean that we will be blessed with earthly treasures. That doesn't mean our life here on this earth will magically become easy.
Alright, I don't think we need to go around telling people to prepare to be crucified for their faith...or prepare to be beheaded. I don't think that at all...I just think that sometimes we count on earthly blessings because we are faithful. It isn't biblical. I mean...have you read the Bible at all?
I heard a quote recently and I cannot recall to whom the credit is due...but it went something like this "before God uses a man...He will break the man...". I think that there is some truth in that, AND, I think that is why so many who claim to have faith or have had faith fall away from the faith...because it isn't serving them on this earth in the way they feel it should.
The reward isn't here....the reward is in Heaven...the reward is one day being able to bask in the presence of The Almighty! THAT is the reward...eternal life.