This past Sunday started out like any other Sunday at our house. Ben and I got up, got ready, got baby up and ready and then headed out the door to church. We had a normal drive to church, we dropped Leilani off in the nursery as usual and then headed upstairs to the sanctuary. We had a time of worship followed by a teaching. Our pastor has been going through the book of Philippians verse by verse. Sunday's message was based on chapter 1 verse 21, the second portion of the verse. The message was about death being gain for the Christian. It wasn't until service was wrapping up that something unusual happened. Something pretty scary at that.
As our pastor began to pray, my husband leaned over to me and said "Chelle, I don't feel good," and then he laid his head on my shoulder. The last time he had said those words to me was when he had the stomach bug and he ended up jumping up shortly after and running for the bathroom. My first reaction when he said this in church was to ask if he was going to throw up. I didn't get a response. I then proceeded to ask him if we needed to leave. No response. Next thing I knew, Ben's head rolled backwards, his eyes rolled back in his head and he began to shake. No one at this point saw what was happening because we were in the middle of praying. He stopped shaking after just a few seconds but he was completely unresponsive to me. I tried patting his leg, wiggling his arm and whispering his name. No response. This is when I started to panic. What should I do? What was wrong with him? Do I yell out and draw everone's attention to us during prayer? Do I tug on the stranger sitting next to me and ask for help? Do I just keep violently shaking Ben and hope he comes to? It didn't help that the whole message we just had was based on death! I felt this pressure build on my chest which I think was fear, but then I looked over and saw my Dad sitting across the aisle from us. That's when I knew what to do. I quietly got out of my seat, sat down next to my Dad and said, "Dad, something is wrong with Ben."
This is where the beautiful lesson comes in. As soon as I passed on my fear to my Dad, I knew that someone else was involved who would know what to do. The weight of the situation was no longer just mine to bear. I felt the pressure lift off of me. Ben was still unconscious at this point and I had no idea what was happening, but as soon as I finished telling my Dad what I knew, we both looked over and Ben had snapped to and was rubbing his eyes. I was able to motion to him to walk out of the sanctuary, we got him some orange juice and water, and he ended up being alright.
(He's going to the Dr. tomorrow just to get checked out, but he hasn't had any other issues since then. We think it was related to a nose bleed he had earlier in the morning as well as some nausea over talk about Paul being beheaded at the end of his life.)
Here is the picture I got though. As soon as I took my fear and uncertainty and brought it to my Dad, a weight and pressure was taken off me. Though I was still in the midst of a scary situation, I was no longer in it alone. I realized, this is exactly what Jesus wants to do for His children.
"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Jesus says to bring all of our burdens to Him. By bringing those burdens to Him, we do not get rid of the situation or the trial or the tough times, but we do allow Him to help carry our pain and our stress, allowing us the opportunity to have a clearer mind and a lighter load during those times.
I realized that so often I try and hold onto my "burdens" because I feel like they are mine to bear. I feel like they are insignificant compared to what others may be going through or in comparison to world hunger, war or natural disasters. The truth of the matter is that nothing is too small to bring to Jesus. He will never turn His children away and call them insignificant. Jesus is that loving father who WANTS to help shoulder the weight of the burden and help us through. The sooner that I release my burden to Him, the sooner I can feel free of the pressures and weariness of this life. Why wouldn't I want to do that?
Jesus, may you always be the FIRST person that I turn to in the good and the bad in my life. Thank you for being my strength when I am weak and my rest when I am weary.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Lessons I'm Learning
Once again, haven't written a blog post in a while! Life just gets so busy with a little one running around. :)
Currently, in my devotions, I have been going through the book of Jeremiah. I started in Genesis and have been working my way through. When I got to Isaiah I started feeling like I needed a little more to go along with what I was reading, so I started reading Matthew Henry's commentary alongside my daily reading. I cannot even begin to say how blessed I have been by doing that. Back to Jeremiah though, I am about half way through the book. I am being ministered to on SO many levels in this book! I think that current circumstances in life as well as the election we just had have made my reading all the more applicable.
I have never really spent a lot of time in the book of Jeremiah before because it's pretty much all about Jeremiah declaring God's judgement on Judah for their continual sin and unrepentance. The main sin that Judah struggled with was idolatry, although there were many more including adultery, lying, defiance, false teaching, etc. Honestly, all of the things that are so prevalent in today's society were happening back then. This is where I start to get frustrated and God speaks to me.
I am not frustrated by the unsaved people in this world. They do what they think is good and right in their own eyes and don't interfere with others who do the same. Those people I continually pray for and share the love of Christ with as opportunity arises, but I know that they are blind and lost and don't know any better. This makes it easier to explain away what scripture would portray as "bad" or "evil" behaviors.
I am frustrated with the modern day church, fellow "believers." The church today has gotten to a very dangerous place where everything is all talk about love and forgiveness. I am in no way arguing that these are very key characterisitics that a Christian should have, but that is where people are drawing the line. There is no such thing as conviction anymore. There is no more black and white, there is no more sharing the truth in love. There is no more need to live a life set apart.
If you try and share with someone that something they are doing is wrong scripturally, you are the bad guy, you are rejected and called unloving. If you do not cater to the sin in someones life, then you are unforgiving, bitter and angry. How did we get to this place? What happened to 2 Timothy 4:2?
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."
I guess if you keep reading the following verses in 2 Timothy it explains itself.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
It has been said that if you believe a lie long enough, it becomes your truth. That is what I see happening today. No one wants to be told that they are wrong. They tell themselves that something is ok and right long enough and then there is no changing their mind. Scripture that you share with them gets twisted or manipulated or completely dismissed for one reason or another. People justify their actions in whatever way they can and don't care who they hurt in the process. Pastor's are catering to sinful lifestyles, telling people that no one has a right to judge you and God is love and grace and therefore, no matter what you do, as long as you believe that Jesus is who He said He was, you're good.
This is exactly what was happening in Jeremiah's time. The priests, who were supposed to be the voice of the Lord to the people, were telling the people what they wanted to hear. They were proclaiming peace upon the land. In reality, God was not speaking to these priests, but He WAS speaking to Jeremiah. What was Jeremiah's message? Repent and turn from your ways, God is not pleased by your actions, and if you don't repent and change then there is judgement coming. The crazy thing is that some of Jeremiah's greatest opposition came from the priests and his closest family and friends. They were actually plotting against him to kill him simply because he spoke the truth. The truth just so happened to be what they didn't want to hear. It was not loving or catering to their sin. These people claimed to be close to God. These people were some of the most visible and prominent in the temple, yet they failed to heed or recognize God's word.
"Those shall be made to know how much they deceive themselves who say that they have not offended God, that they are innocent, though they have been guilty of the grossest enormities. Who expect that God will be reconciled to them though they do not repent and reform. They own that they had been under the tokens of God's anger, but they think that it was causeless, and that they by pleading innocency had proved it to be so, and therefore they conclude that God will immediately let fall His action and His anger shall be turned from them. This is very provoking and God will plead with them, and convince them that His anger is just, for they have sinned and He will never cease His controversy till they, instead of justifying themselves thus, humble and judge and condemn themselves." -Matthew Henry
This is so scary! The way that Christians down play sin! We do have a gracious and loving God, but we also have a just and righteous God who will not wink at sin in our lives.
The people in Jeremiah's time were not willing to own anything as the word of God that went against anything that they were doing. They would rather make God out to be a liar, than simply confess and forsake their sin. Jeremiah 7:8 "Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit."
"Those that think to excuse themselves in unchristian practices with the Christian name, and sin the more boldly and securely because there is a sin offering provided, do, in effect, make God's house of prayer a den of thieves, as the priests in Christ's time." -Matthew Henry
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" -Romans 6:1-2
I know that we will never be perfect this side of heaven, but if we are truly following the Lord and seeking Him and His will for our lives, then we will not be able to live in continual sin. There will be conviction for wrong actions, which should lead to repentance and change. Change will always be the result of true repentance. It doesn't matter how many times you speak the words "I'm sorry" if you never do anything to show it. If someone goes out and kills someone and then says "I'm sorry" and goes out and kills again, do you think that person is truly sorry? Of course not! Your actions will back up your words. Your fruit will bear witness of who you belong to. It is not unloving to call something as it is.
"Ye shall know them by their fruits... A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." -Matthew 7:16, 18-21
All that being said, I guess what I really want to do is just encourage all of my brothers and sisters out there to really dig into the Word of God, know what it says, and grow in the knowledge and truth of it, applying it's principles to your life. Do not be so prideful as to not be able to receive a word spoken in truth to you. Do not allow the lukewarm attitude of this world to take root in your heart. That is not of the Lord! He has called us to live lives set apart, different from the rest of the world, yet being an example IN the world.
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." -Hebrews 4:12
"Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces. -Jeremiah 23:29
One last thing, to the people of Judah who would not repent and turn from their idolatry, adultery, lying and wickedness, this is the message God gave to them:
"And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten." -Jeremiah 23:40
Please don't let this happen to you! Be encouraged, check your heart and encourage and edify your brothers and sisters in the Lord to do the same. Hold one another accountable. This is what love looks like.
Currently, in my devotions, I have been going through the book of Jeremiah. I started in Genesis and have been working my way through. When I got to Isaiah I started feeling like I needed a little more to go along with what I was reading, so I started reading Matthew Henry's commentary alongside my daily reading. I cannot even begin to say how blessed I have been by doing that. Back to Jeremiah though, I am about half way through the book. I am being ministered to on SO many levels in this book! I think that current circumstances in life as well as the election we just had have made my reading all the more applicable.
I have never really spent a lot of time in the book of Jeremiah before because it's pretty much all about Jeremiah declaring God's judgement on Judah for their continual sin and unrepentance. The main sin that Judah struggled with was idolatry, although there were many more including adultery, lying, defiance, false teaching, etc. Honestly, all of the things that are so prevalent in today's society were happening back then. This is where I start to get frustrated and God speaks to me.
I am not frustrated by the unsaved people in this world. They do what they think is good and right in their own eyes and don't interfere with others who do the same. Those people I continually pray for and share the love of Christ with as opportunity arises, but I know that they are blind and lost and don't know any better. This makes it easier to explain away what scripture would portray as "bad" or "evil" behaviors.
I am frustrated with the modern day church, fellow "believers." The church today has gotten to a very dangerous place where everything is all talk about love and forgiveness. I am in no way arguing that these are very key characterisitics that a Christian should have, but that is where people are drawing the line. There is no such thing as conviction anymore. There is no more black and white, there is no more sharing the truth in love. There is no more need to live a life set apart.
If you try and share with someone that something they are doing is wrong scripturally, you are the bad guy, you are rejected and called unloving. If you do not cater to the sin in someones life, then you are unforgiving, bitter and angry. How did we get to this place? What happened to 2 Timothy 4:2?
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."
I guess if you keep reading the following verses in 2 Timothy it explains itself.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
It has been said that if you believe a lie long enough, it becomes your truth. That is what I see happening today. No one wants to be told that they are wrong. They tell themselves that something is ok and right long enough and then there is no changing their mind. Scripture that you share with them gets twisted or manipulated or completely dismissed for one reason or another. People justify their actions in whatever way they can and don't care who they hurt in the process. Pastor's are catering to sinful lifestyles, telling people that no one has a right to judge you and God is love and grace and therefore, no matter what you do, as long as you believe that Jesus is who He said He was, you're good.
This is exactly what was happening in Jeremiah's time. The priests, who were supposed to be the voice of the Lord to the people, were telling the people what they wanted to hear. They were proclaiming peace upon the land. In reality, God was not speaking to these priests, but He WAS speaking to Jeremiah. What was Jeremiah's message? Repent and turn from your ways, God is not pleased by your actions, and if you don't repent and change then there is judgement coming. The crazy thing is that some of Jeremiah's greatest opposition came from the priests and his closest family and friends. They were actually plotting against him to kill him simply because he spoke the truth. The truth just so happened to be what they didn't want to hear. It was not loving or catering to their sin. These people claimed to be close to God. These people were some of the most visible and prominent in the temple, yet they failed to heed or recognize God's word.
"Those shall be made to know how much they deceive themselves who say that they have not offended God, that they are innocent, though they have been guilty of the grossest enormities. Who expect that God will be reconciled to them though they do not repent and reform. They own that they had been under the tokens of God's anger, but they think that it was causeless, and that they by pleading innocency had proved it to be so, and therefore they conclude that God will immediately let fall His action and His anger shall be turned from them. This is very provoking and God will plead with them, and convince them that His anger is just, for they have sinned and He will never cease His controversy till they, instead of justifying themselves thus, humble and judge and condemn themselves." -Matthew Henry
This is so scary! The way that Christians down play sin! We do have a gracious and loving God, but we also have a just and righteous God who will not wink at sin in our lives.
The people in Jeremiah's time were not willing to own anything as the word of God that went against anything that they were doing. They would rather make God out to be a liar, than simply confess and forsake their sin. Jeremiah 7:8 "Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit."
"Those that think to excuse themselves in unchristian practices with the Christian name, and sin the more boldly and securely because there is a sin offering provided, do, in effect, make God's house of prayer a den of thieves, as the priests in Christ's time." -Matthew Henry
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" -Romans 6:1-2
I know that we will never be perfect this side of heaven, but if we are truly following the Lord and seeking Him and His will for our lives, then we will not be able to live in continual sin. There will be conviction for wrong actions, which should lead to repentance and change. Change will always be the result of true repentance. It doesn't matter how many times you speak the words "I'm sorry" if you never do anything to show it. If someone goes out and kills someone and then says "I'm sorry" and goes out and kills again, do you think that person is truly sorry? Of course not! Your actions will back up your words. Your fruit will bear witness of who you belong to. It is not unloving to call something as it is.
"Ye shall know them by their fruits... A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." -Matthew 7:16, 18-21
All that being said, I guess what I really want to do is just encourage all of my brothers and sisters out there to really dig into the Word of God, know what it says, and grow in the knowledge and truth of it, applying it's principles to your life. Do not be so prideful as to not be able to receive a word spoken in truth to you. Do not allow the lukewarm attitude of this world to take root in your heart. That is not of the Lord! He has called us to live lives set apart, different from the rest of the world, yet being an example IN the world.
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." -Hebrews 4:12
"Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces. -Jeremiah 23:29
One last thing, to the people of Judah who would not repent and turn from their idolatry, adultery, lying and wickedness, this is the message God gave to them:
"And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten." -Jeremiah 23:40
Please don't let this happen to you! Be encouraged, check your heart and encourage and edify your brothers and sisters in the Lord to do the same. Hold one another accountable. This is what love looks like.
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