DEAR LORD, THIS YEAR YOU TOOK MY FAVORITE ACTOR, PATRICK SWAYZIE. YOU TOOK MY FAVORITE ACTRESS, FARAH FAWCETT. YOU TOOK MY FAVORITE SINGER, MICHAEL JACKSON. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, MY FAVORITE PRESIDENT IS BARACK OBAMA. AMEN.
I’ve seen “Christian” people on facebook, like this(become a fan). I really think this is sad. I do not agree with Obama, but we need to at least love on the guy. We need to pray for him no matter who he is. Obama is just like every one of us, we’re all sinners. Just because I am saved does not give me the right to condemn him. The only righteous judge is God.
I’m also tired of racists who talk bad about mexicans. How they need to stay away and how they want to kill them and do such mean things to them. Can we stop and think for a second and know they are just like us? Just because skin color is different, does not mean what’s inside is different. We all have a sin problem, every single one of us. Just because a person is a “Christian” does not give them a right to talk bad about other people. Being a Christian means we are saved from God’s wrath, we are forgiven.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. - 1 John 4: 7
If you do not love, how can God be in you? We truly do not know what love is, until we know Him. How can we be so bitter and mean? How can we hold things against people and NEVER let them go, if God’s love is in us? How can we be so cruel and unjust?
I saw on the news this morning.. A man was injured and bleeding out on a sidewalk, no one stopped to help the man. I THINK they said, he was there for 2 hours before someone called 911. I wonder how many Christians walked by him? We do it to people each day. We see someone in need and we just leave them there. We don’t want to help them because of this or that. We make up every excuse in the book. “OOOH they’ll probably spend it on drugs or booze”. “They stink! I don’t want to shake their hand in church or talk with them, pray with them”. “So and so will be there tomorrow, I’ll do it then”.
I hate who we are, we are nothing like Christ. We are nothing God wants us to be. People seem to “follow” Christ now a days and stay in their own bubble. It’s you and me, God! When it comes to “Let’s go do”.. no no no… I’ll do it later…. Or… I read my bible and pray, that’s enough.. I’m guilty of this myself, it’s very easy to fall into.
People are shocked when they see a church feeding the hungry, helping pay a medical bill, or simply walking throughout the neighborhood. Why is that such a shock? NO ONE DOES IT! When someone finally does so, let’s call the news! TAKE A PICTURE! WOW!
I am ashamed of who I am and of Christians. We need to do better. We need to represent Christ better and put Him before us. If we never do, things will only get worse. We need to get out of this stagnant water we are in.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. - Romans 12:10
Honor each other. Honor also means high respect, do you respect anyone? You may respect your mom or your preacher.. What about your neighbor? The one with a drinking problem. The one that cheats on his wife and has hit her a time or two. Do you respect him? What is different from the respect you have for your mom? Or your preacher? Why do you respect them and not your neighbor?
Christ saw our filthy sin and died for us anyways. He respected and honored us enough, even in our sin. He knew we would mess up and deny Him. He knew some would not accept Him, sadly a majority do not. He chose to die for us anyways so one day we could see His face.
When looking at Christ’s love for us and how He thinks of us. Is our respect still the same for those people? Why not love on your neighbor no matter what he has done? Talk with him?
Let’s make a change. I hate to sound corny, but it starts with yourself.
]]>My mom has been in the hospital since Monday night, with a stomach virus. It must be something massive, because they usually don’t keep you for a stomach virus. I remember both times I was sick with one when I was younger, they gave me a shot and sent me home. heh
So, please keep my mom in your prayers. My grandmother has not been doing well lately as well, but better now than was. Mom has been taking her to appointments and running all over, now is sick with this virus. I just pray I nor Matt do not get it.
Here lately I’ve been having more panic attacks and anxiety issue’s. I have no clue why, I take medicine for it. Although I talked with my dr about stopping it, but I could not do it. I tried cutting back a little and that was not good. So, I’m back on my full dose, which I have been for quite some time now. I just get like this some times, without explanation. I have IBS and some times I think with my stomach, instead of my head. I know that does not make sense to a person that does not have IBS, but for one that does, you know what I’m saying.
I just hate having IBS, because it’s harder on me to perform different places. I hate that I’m even talking about this, when people are out there in worse conditions than I’ll ever be in. We are all babies compared to those in a third world country.
Anywho, just an update. =)
]]>It’s amazing where God leads us. Even more so, the wonder of where He’s going to lead us next. There is never a dull moment being a Christian. Sure, we hurt, we cry, we have feelings. Saying you are a bored Christian though, that is untrue. The wonder of what is to come is enough in itself. Living for God is not boring in the least bit.
I’m thankful for his blessings and all He is doing in our lives. God is good! =)
]]>Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight? If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there. If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there.
Psalm 139: 7-8
This scripture describes that no where we could ever go, can we escape God. We can never escape His presence. He is always there to see our mistakes and our accomplishments. He knows what we are going to say before we even say it, God is all knowing. I am so thankful He is.
Some live their lives not knowing what to say to God. Not feeling close to Him. Because He knows all of me, I feel very close to Him. He knows my secrets, the things I am ashamed of. I can just go to Him and talk about it.
My husband and I are in the midst of buying a computer business. Matt has been working on a computer here and there, but this shall be his main job, starting Monday.
Many things cross my mind. I’m scared but more so than that, I’m happy. I know this is what God wants. Some may think we are idiots for doing this because they just don’t understand how God works. It’s very hard explaining how God is telling you to do something, to an unbeliever, they just don’t know. I can’t blame them though, because they don’t know what I know. Oh so easily they can though.
We know God will never leave us. This is something we have never done before, but we’re going on Faith. We trust in the only thing worth trusting, God. He will get us through this. He’s wanting us to take this on for a reason, God knows what He is doing.
Here we go God! =)
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I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love–not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Romans 8:38-39
It always amazes me that God loves us no matter what. I don’t even know why He loves me, because I’m such a terrible person. He knows who I am, yet He still sent His son to die for my sins.
No matter what happens, no matter what is going on in our life. Our friends might abandon us, parents might kick you out, husband/wife might pack their bags and leave one day. God… He never will. I find comfort in the fact He’s always there. I also tend to take it for granted.
I wrote a song once called, Different. It’s mainly about how selfish I can be at times. The chorus goes.. “What if things were different, and you weren’t there? Would things still be the same? Would you hold my hand, tell me who I need to be? Would you still love me, would you still love me?”
What if God was not always there? I tend to take Him for granted more times than not, because I know He will always be there. I hate that part of me, the part that takes advantage of certain things. I take advantage of my husband. I’m use to him and I know he’ll always be here, so I tend to treat him badly at times. I tend to say the wrong thing, when easily I could have said the right. I get lazy, I get stupid.
Nothing can separate us from God, nothing we can do or say, will make Him love us any less, or make Him turn away. Everyone we know, will leave us at some point in time, in life. Either they mean too, or it’s by death. Even when we die, God is there. Here on earth, God is here. It’s amazing! We can not hide from him, no where we could run, can we hide.
I’m also amazed how He let’s us mess up, but even when we pursue our own needs, He is there. I always make a fool out of myself. Without even thinking some times, I venture out on my own. I follow the world and my desires, I get in trouble. God protects me each time, when He doesn’t have too. I have pushed Him away, but He doesn’t do the same to me. That kind of love, I can not comprehend, I am speechless at that kind of love.
The most amazing thing of all though, it’s not that we love God. It’s that He loves us.
]]>Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to respect and to know the LORD God.
- Proverbs 2:4-5
I was reading through Proverbs 2 this morning, and this verse stuck out to me. “Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure.” It’s really sad that I don’t search for God that much. I’m lazy when it comes to reading God’s word, praying, love. Many times I have chosen other things before God. I am suppose to search for wisdom as I would search for silver or hidden treasure.
I tend to put God on the back burner. I think some of us are comfortable knowing God is God. At the same time, we feel He is up there. We are down here, and if I chose this…… Well…. It really wouldn’t matter. God really does not care if I do this or that. Yes He does, and He hates it when we put Him on the back burner. When we treat Him like crap.
We take for granted what He has done for us. Not in just sending His son to die for our sins. We take for granted that we are healthy! That we have a roof over our head, that we have food in our belly. Most of us do not know how it feels to starve. To go to bed hungry, actually hungry, because you have no money for food.
I have no clue what a hard life is. My husband and I have been through stuff, but nothing terrible. Even the stuff we have been through, I am thankful for. It has made us a stronger couple, made us stronger in Christ.
If we ACTUALLY do what God says, we can gain wisdom. The only wisdom that truly matters, wisdom in Christ! We will learn what it means to respect and to know God! The fact that we can even pray to God, is a blessing.
I’m a Christian and I need to work on wisdom in Christ. I need to work on learning more about God, learn about my king who I say I love, but toss Him aside. This is a serious matter and I need to be serious about it!
So, do pray for me. I get distracted, I let Satan get to me. He will use whatever he can to sidetrack me. I’m not a huge reader, but I have a thirst for God’s word. I want to stay strong in this area.
Nicci
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After we left church, Matt and I tried to go over to waffle house. Both restaurants in town were packed(figures). We hoped they would pack out Ihop, not our lovely waffle house.
When we pulled out of the waffle house on stateline, I saw an ambulance and a car behind it with it’s flashers on. It suddenly hit me, this night is not a good night for some. I prayed for whoever they were. They are bringing in the new year at the hospital. Some are bringing in a not so good year. Just because it started off bad, does not mean the whole year is done for.
We are not promised our next breath. 2010 could be it for you, for me. Tomorrow could be our last day.
What are you going to do with 2010? Is it going to be the same as 2009? Will you share Jesus with more people? Will you share Jesus with people you like…. and like not so much?
Let us think of our actions more. Let us think before we act more so this year, than the last. If we are going to make a difference, we need to actually do so. Some times we are more talk than we are do. Sadly, it seems Christians are terrible at that.
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
- James 2:14-26
Happy New Year to whoever reads this! 2010 is a time for change, a time to put actions to words.
]]>I remember when I was a kid, I hated doing chores. It was something my parents made me do, and I dreaded doing all of them. In the long run, I figured out it was something I needed to do anyways. Now that I’m grown and married… guess what? I still have chores to do, my whole life is one big chore, being a housewife.
Love should not be a chore. It should not be something we dread to do, it should not be something we are pushed to do. It should be some thing we do freely, and it’s not a problem for us.
I find things go better for me, when I surrender to God. When I actually sit down and study His word, things seem to flow better. When I give God His time, things I once hated, I love.
The word “Love” is always thrown about. We are told as Christians, we should love one another. I think more hate is around than love, some times. We are told to love, like it’s a chore. We some how put it in our heads, that love is a bad thing. Jesus tells us to love, we are suppose to be like Him. He loved us so much, that He died for us. I know us “Christians” say that a lot, but it’s the truth. He knows everything about me, yet He chose to die for all of us. He didn’t just die for John down the street, He did it for us all.
When Jesus tells us to love one another, it’s not meant to be a chore, some thing we do with a sigh under our breath. We should actually love, even though it’s hard. It will always be hard to love certain people, BUT if we stay in God’s word and close to Him, love makes since. Love is not so much of a chore for us all. We start to do it, without even thinking about it, it’s in our system.
What is love?
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
After reading that, ask yourself….. Do you love? You may now think it’s impossible to love someone, if love is all this. I am not patient, I am not kind. I do envy, I do boast, I am proud more times than not. I am rude, I am self-seeking, and I am easily angered. I do keep record of wrongs. I delight in evil, because even though I am a Christian, Satan dangles certain things in front of me. He knows what will knock me off my path with God. I delight in evil more so than rejoicing in the truth. I don’t always protect nor trust, I don’t always have hope, nor do I persevere. The best thing is the last sentence! It says, love never fails!
God is love. In Him, I can love. I’m learning each day how to love people, and some times I believe it’s more than a chore than not. I have to make myself love, instead of freely loving a person. I want to love like God loves, it’s not impossible, it can be done. I will never be perfect, but I can strive to get this love thing down.
Love never fails! Love is going to stand the test of time, love is going to conquer all! We need to realize that love is not impossible, it can be done. WE need to move out of the way and let God do HIS work. If we are always getting in the way, with what WE believe, and what WE want to do, love will never move. Love is not of US, it’s of GOD. We can’t truly love without God. It took His love to save us, so why do WE think our ways are right? We’re foolish, little, humans. We are lifeless without God.
In Christ we can do all things. In Him we can love, like love is suppose to, not something we think it should be.
]]>I’m thankful that God saved such a wretched soul as myself. Earlier tonight, I sat outside and watched the many leaves I raked, burn. I looked up to the sky, it was a perfectly clear night. The moon was half, the weather was just right. I had my husband by my side, I had our dog in my lap. God gave us so many things to enjoy in this life, and we don’t deserve any of it. Who am I, that He’s mindful of me? I’m thankful for His grace and unconditional love.
I’m thankful for life. I’m thankful that I wake up each morning next to a wonderful man. We don’t always get along, but I’m thankful for him. Some times things cloud my mind and I forget just how much I really do love him. He’s an amazing man of God, and I’m thankful God put us together. He’s a great matchmaker if I must say so myself, if you let Him do it all for you. 
I’m thankful for my family! I’m thankful that my mom and step dad took me to church, made me go. Thankful they told me about God and that you have to actually live for Him. It’s not about getting saved and forgetting about Him, it’s about giving your all to Him.
I’m thankful for a roof over my head. I’m not one to be caught up in material things, but I’m thankful for the necessary things. God has blessed us so much and we don’t even deserve it. I screw up so much, and yet He forgives me and sends blessings. Some times I think about giving up, but He has never given up on me. Loving me, is not to hard for Him.
I’m thankful for more things than this, but if I went on and on…. this would be the longest blog entry known to man…
Hope you have a great Thanksgiving! Remember to be thankful and praise God for your blessings. He gives and takes away!
Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
- 1 Chronicles 16:8
God bless,
Nicci
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