Snap out of it!

If Christians spent half the time actually trying to share why they love and follow Christ with those that don't know him as they do arguing about how they should do it, or that their way is better than someone else's because the way they live is more Christlike...etc, etc, etc...can you imagine how many people would actually be living changed lives as a result of giving their lives to Christ? It would be a number that I'm sure none of us could predict. Others will be drawn to Him because of the life we're living...because we're different and we shine with our love for Him (and His love for us)...because we belong to a community of broken people who love each other through past/present/future hurts and triumphs. Because His Truth, Love and Word are the only things that will fill our emptiness.

Tuesday Tag

Here's a tag from my great friend, Kim

1. Go to Wikipedia and type in your birthday, month and day only.
2. List 3 events that occurred on that day.
3. List 2 important birthdays.
4. List 1 death.
5. List a holiday or observance. (if any)
6. Tag 5 other bloggers.

Birthday: June 12

EVENTS
(just so you know, my birthday has been a pretty violent day throughout history, it was a little hard to find three things that weren't completely scary…yikes)

1902 - Australia: Women in the four Australian States without female suffrage achieved the right to vote in Commonwealth elections under Section 3 of the Commonwealth Franchise Act for an Uniform Federal Franchise. Specifically excluded from enrolling to vote were 'aboriginal native[s] of Australia Africa Asia or the Islands of the Pacific except New Zealand' unless covered under Section 41 of the Constitution of Australia. (Rock on, girls!!)

1942 - Holocaust: Future essayist Anne Frank receives a diary for her thirteenth birthday (It's hard to believe a girl so young and going through such an ordeal could write so eloquently)

1967 - The United States Supreme Court in Loving v. Virginia declares all U.S. state laws which prohibit interracial marriage to be unconstitutional. (yippee for me…my hubby is Hot Hawaiian)


BIRTHS
1519 - Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (d. 1574) (gotta love their wine)
1919 - Uta Hagen, American actress (d. 2004) (Two Tony awards…she rocked)
Other notable bdays: Jim Nabors (golly), Chick Corea, George H.W. Bush…not sure how I feel about that, Marina Semenova-the first Soviet-trained Prima Ballerina.

DEATH
2003 - Gregory Peck, American actor-he was amazing. (b. 1916)

HOLIDAYS/OBSERVANCES
Brazil – Dia dos Namorados (Lover's Day; similar to St. Valentine's) (do you even have to ask why this is on my birthday?)

I tag:
Deborah
Ben
Olivia
Bill
Erin
& anyone else who wants to play...

Walls

When my husband and I bought our house, there were a few walls that we wanted to take down. Our home was built in the late 60s and didn't have the open feel that so many of the newer homes do now. The walls were barriers where we needed and wanted freedom to roam seamlessly from one room to another. We have a good friend who works in construction...someone who knows how to take these particular types of walls down. He came over so he could help us-so we wouldn't have to do it on our own.

This weekend, our pastor talked about Joshua and the wall that was in his way. Joshua had faith that God would provide. He also had friends who shared his faith. He didn't have to face the wall alone...they were right there with him-each person doing their part. They blew their horns, marched around the wall and finally "gave a loud shout" just as God had directed them. The walls came tumbling down and God "delivered Jericho into their hands."

We all have walls we face throughout our lives, some are taller or wider than others. Some come down easily, while others seem to be so solidly built that nothing could bring them down. I have a dear friend whose 2-year-old daughter is fighting cancer. She just finished chemo and her sweet little body is tired. She's in ICU right now trying to "mobilize her fluids." My friends are looking up at a BIG wall. This friend of mine came to church tonight. She hadn't been able to make it to church since her daughter had been diagnosed, but she came tonight...when God chose to speak through our Pastor about facing big walls and having the faith to take them down. He found out she was there and asked her to come to the front so he could pray for her and asked us, her church family, to pray with him. As I sat next to her during the service, I realized-God doesn't want us to tear down our walls alone. Joshua had fellow believers at his side when the walls of Jericho came down. My dear friend has people she doesn't even know praying for her and her family. We are facing this wall with her, standing beside her and she and her husband will not have to bring it down on their own.

The Joy of the Lord

One of the reasons I started this blog was because there were so many Christians out there with blogs that seemed to spend a lot of time talking about how horrible the church is and how horrible other Christians are. It's true...there are a lot of issues in the church...it's filled with people doing their best to get by...and on many occasions those people aren't always the best ambassdors for Christ (myself included).

We all sin. We all have junk. The church (meaning the institution and the people who comprise it) will never be perfect. BUT...we do have a choice in all of this.

Will we just sit back, complaining about how great it COULD be and mourning all of the lost opportunties and broken hearts incurred because of imperfect people? OR will we do what we can to make it better? Will we put our frustration and irritation aside and live the life that Christ has for us? It's really a simple choice...we can move forward, embracing and owning the JOY that has been bestowed upon us because we are His beloved OR we can throw up our hands, saying "What's the point...the hypocrites have ruined it."

I'm not so naive to think that life isn't hard. I know it is...believe me, I know. BUT I also know what it was like to live without Christ as my Lord, Friend, Father and Savior.
I remember the emptiness that could never be fulfilled, no matter how hard I tried.
I remember the loneliness of feeling like I had to do it on my own.
I remember the hopelessness of thinking that life on this earth was all there was.

I know the difference between having nothing and having everything.

He loves me enough to not accept mediocrity from me. He loves me enough to give me the most amazing, Christ-focused husband and allow me to help raise two beautiful little boys. He loves me enough to put people in my life who love me enough to put me in my place when I need it. He loves me enough that he gave his life for ME...knowing about all of my junk...because I AM worth it to him. How can there not be joy in that?

Life is hard...relationships are hard...people are REALLY hard. But that doesn't mean that we can't stop and revel in the sheer joy of knowing that our Lord, our King, our Savior chose each one of us to be his children. Shout it from your rooftop!! Jesus loves me this I know. Help others see how much joy there is in knowing and believing that to your very core.