Chosen

I am chosen. God chose me to be His child. Even now, 12 years after I gave my life to Christ, this still boggles my mind. The whole unworthiness but chosen thing has always been so hard for me to understand. My parents gave birth to me. My teachers didn’t have a choice as to which students were assigned to them. I was always the last one chosen for sports teams during PE, and even for party invitations. But God looked at me through the blood of His son, and he said “She is acceptable to me.”

I decided on the name of this blog–He Chose Me– because this is a key point of my faith in Jesus.

“For it is by Grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8

Nothing I physically did caused God to choose me. There isn’t a way under heaven to earn God’s favor. The only way to be saved is by faith in Jesus Christ, which enables God’s grace to be given to us.

“Sure I’m a Christian. I don’t break the law or anything. I celebrate Christmas.” Well, good for you. It’s a start, but it will never be enough for a holy God, who by His very nature cannot even look upon sin. When we allow Jesus’ sacrifice to cover our sin, only then God can look upon us and give us His grace.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” John 15:16

God chose me, not to just sit around and feel all holy and comfortable, but to bear fruit. My actions are the evidence of my faith, not the basis of it. I should be willing to do God’s will fully, rather than selectively. Even if it takes me out of my comfort zone.

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
John 15:7-9

By allowing God to work in my life, by using the gifts that he has given me, I am able to bear fruit. My life is so different from before I got saved! I used to struggle with the WHYS of it all. WHY did I have to live through that? WHY did I have to be that way to my parents? WHY did God let me mess up my life so badly? And then one day I decided to throw up my hands and say “OK Lord, use this for your good.” Right away He sent a troubled teenager to me, with problems specific to what I had lived through. And my testimony was shown to be valid. MY testimony helped someone strengthen her faith in God! I hadn’t realized until that point in my life, that God’s plan really is the best plan of all. I mean, I’ve known it, but it wasn’t REAL to me like it became then. The fruit in my life was evident, and was used to further God’s plan for another person. And for so many years I’d just sat on my testimony, never using it for God’s glory.

And I was chosen. Adopted, brought into the family of the kingdom of God. Not because I prayed a certain way, or dress a certain way, or pay my tithe. Not because I sing hymns, or don’t, or do community service, or have adopted kids. I was chosen because I love Jesus. And that’s enough for God.

Hello world!

I’ll work on this!! Give me a few days to transfer some posts over. This blog will focus entirely on my relationship with Christ, and Christianity-related topics.
Any posts dated older than this one are merged from my other blog.

See You At The Pole 2007

Well, I made the circuit of our three schools this morning. J wanted to go pray with her friends at the middle school, even though she doesn’t attend there, so I dropped her off and headed for high school #1 to drop off P (who also isn’t going to school today, due to a big nasty batch of pink eye!), and headed for high school #2 where G attends. I was able to get pictures at one high school & the middle school. God was moving at all three schools, with approx. 55 kids at HS #1, 17 (3 teachers and a pastor included in this count) at the middle school, and at least 75-80 at HS #2! Totally awesome! Praise music was playing at the high schools, kids had brought their guitars, and they were singing and praying, praising God.

Why stab your brother?

Recently I came across a Scripture which, although I’m sure I’ve read it many times before, I’d never noticed. It talks about gossip. Ephesians 5:12 “For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.” This Scripture has literally JUMPED at me at times, when I’ve overheard or been part of certain conversations.

So many times I’ve heard it spoken or preached on that gossip is harmful. Gossip is sin! It sickens me at times, to hear the things that my fellow females say about others, whether inside or outside of the Church. To laugh sarcastically when someone’s sin is found out, or to “update” each other on “what’s happening with so and so now”. I try very hard to steer clear of these types of conversations. I am not perfect! But I do try. It frequently occurs to me that they could be talking about me this way when I’m not around too.

It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. This is talking about believers who are disobeying! Call them backslidden, or just temporarily disobedient. But they are believers! Brothers and sisters in Christ. So why do we stab each other in the back? It’s time for the Church to start behaving as Christ called us to.

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:25-32

There is a Reliant K song that addresses this too from The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek (one of my fav’s). The song “Down in Flames”… part of it goes
“The enemy is much ignored
when we fight this Christian civil war.
We’re cannibals, we watch our brothers fall
We eat our own, bones and all…
Finally fell asleep on the plane
to wake to see we’re going down in flames”
and later in the song…
“We see the problem and the risk,
but nothing’s solved.
We just say, “Tisk, tisk, tisk,”
and, “Shame, shame, shame.”
Yes, and isn’t that the very sad truth. Remember the old adage about when you point a finger at someone, you have three more fingers pointing right back at you.

Lest you cause anyone to stumble

Being a born again Christian with a past, a history of living far from God, has it’s ups and downs. I try to be careful in the way that I speak, both in the here and now and of my past. I realize that other Christians and I, although we may have common past histories, can easily cause each other to falter in even discussing our pasts. My crazy friend Kat is a great example: She and I have so much in common, we could have partied together and not even known it. When we get to talking about “before” Christ in our lives, we can get laughing about the stupid stuff, and others around may not know what in the world we’re laughing about. Why would we laugh about the past sin in our lives? But doesn’t everyone laugh at their old mistakes? Ours are just different than someone else’s. We weren’t raised in church; we didn’t cut our teeth on the church pews.

One major stumbling block for both my friend and I is music. She is ten years older than me, so her particular music set is a tad different than mine, but not entirely. Names like Pink Floyd, ACDC, the Who, and Lynrd Skynrd bring back whole floods of memories and emotions for her. For me, her list is included in mine, but add in Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Anthrax, Iron Maiden and the Grateful Dead. One song can set me back. Not take me back–set me back. And now, our son G (16yo) has a friend that listens to all “the old music” that Kat & I both spent our high school & beyond years listening to, and attending the concerts of.

When ever this particular boy comes over–and that is frequently–it happens. He’s a nice kid: not into drugs or parties, doesn’t lie to his parents and isn’t disrespectful. But then he loves to bring up music. His dad has a recording studio and his parents aren’t Christians. He plays guitar, and is constantly asking me “Hey, do you remember this song?” and plays it for me on guitar. I think it’s cool that he enjoys what he does (playing guitar). I am just having trouble with the whole music issue. Myself, I don’t listen to secular music. Christian music is my sanctuary–something I can surround myself with any time I want to, and be able to think and focus myself vertically, toward my heavenly Father, rather than looking back at my past. Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back. While I know that I won’t become a pile of dry whiteness, I still feel like I get dragged back to “then”. And sometimes I can feel a tad dry after an extended encounter with him.

I know exactly what I was saved FROM. My life is entirely different now than it was prior to 1995, when I got saved. The Lord Jesus Christ is my Redeemer, my Savior, and my Friend. He is my Everlasting Peace, my Comforter, Keeper, and my Fortress in the time of storm. I know that this boy was placed into our lives so that we can lead him to live for the Lord. It’s just a challenge, having someone around so much who brings up my own stumbling blocks, when I am so careful to try not to do the very same thing for others around me.

Morning devo’s

One way I found that really forced me to get back into doing daily devotionals was joining a weekly bible study. Our church has a ladies bible study that meets Tuesday mornings for two hours, and I’ve been a part of it off and on over the past ten years or so. Well, more off than ON in the last five. Homeschooling several children, along with extra-curriculars, speech and OT, kept me running and there was no time for another weekly committment. I started going again, and landed right in the middle of a wonderful Beth Moore study on the Book of Daniel. If you’ve ever done a Beth Moore study, you know that there is a LOT of homework.

Beth Moore has a way of really digging into Scripture, like nothing I’ve ever seen before. This Daniel study is as much a history lesson as it is a Bible study, and homeschool brain that I am, I totally LOVE that! Our group is working through the study over the course of a year, so the 12 week study will end up taking 36 weeks. We’re in the midst of week 10 right now, just delving into Daniel Chapter 11. I’m getting more history than I did in four years of high school, and more gut-it-out Scripture study than I’ve had in a very long time. I just love it when the Lord puts the tough stuff to my wimpy brain, and then gives me the ability to understand what the heck He’s talking about!

So this morning I spent breakfast with Beth *grin* and the Lord, and my Adam Isaac Band CD has been playing nonstop since I got up. What more can I ask for? (OK, maybe someone to finish my XHTML coding assignment and research by tomorrow? lol)
Have a great morning!

A weekend of stretching

Stretching heart, mind, and spiritual muscle! I’m midway through a Joyce Meyer conference, and so far it’s been really good. She’s not what I expected. Very practical, tell-it-like-it-is, which is exactly what I need right now. Two more sessions (one tonight and one tomorrow morning) and then maybe I’ll post some thoughts. At this point, I can say “Thank you Lord!” and as far as Hillsong & Darlene Zsech… awesome! Love the worship! Hillsong’s “Shout to the Lord” tape is the very first worship tape I bought when I got saved. I literally played that tape until it broke!

Too many Christ-followers and not enough disciples

Last night our youth group had a special speaker, one who is near and dear to all of our hearts, because until six months ago he was our junior high pastor. He has been working in a servant capacity being mentored by Pastor Keith Kippen since he left us. He blew in as he always does, a whirl of Holy Ghost fire. What he preached on was the fact that our churches are packed with followers who are comfortable to occupy the pews, rather than disciples living out God’s Word in every part of their lives. As Youth Staff, I am present at nearly every youth gathering our church (and local youth as a whole) have, and rarely is there a time when the Lord isn’t speaking to me right along with the kids. God’s Word cannot return void. Whether you’re there as a spectator, or a servant, His Word is for you.

I didn’t take notes, but the Spirit of God was so upon this young man that much of it is impressed upon my heart. How many of us are guilty of this very thing? We are so COMFORTABLE going to church, saying hello to the same people, sitting in the same seats, living our nicey-nice Christian lives, that we never step out in the faith that God has given us. We know the Word, and we pray, but how often do we actually dialogue with our Savior? We know the Word, and we praise, but only when we feel like it. We love God, but we think about Him only when someone reminds us to–as on Sunday. We believe in missions, but we don’t reach out to our next door neighbor when he is in need. Disciples follow Christ AND pray AND praise AND spend time thinking about the Lord AND reach out to others. Disciples reproduce themselves in others, leading others to become disciples. This was the whole premise of following a Rabbi in the early days of the Hebrews. The rabbi’s students learned to follow God by following their Rabbi. When Jesus called the twelve, saying “Follow me”, they were coming to Him to become LIKE HIM. Not to become God, but to be discipled. (I learned that from an awesome Nooma video..Watch a clip HERE-Go to clip 008Dust to see a quick piece of it)

It’s time we let God really reach inside and clean out what shouldn’t be there. Ryan preached on John 15:1-17. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. In order for trees to bear fruit, the branches need to be pruned. Pruned? Is that painful? Well, maybe not for a tree, but if you’ve ever been through this pruning process, as I have recently, you know that it can be mild or it can be an extremely difficult and painful process. Sometimes those unhealthy branches take a while to hack off. Once the pruning is done, the growth can begin. This is the amazing part! God uses these trials and difficult times to produce fruit in us. As Ryan said to the kids last night, “Smack your neighbor and ask them, ‘How fruity are YOU?’”

Boy was I wrong

I thought that situation was over! WOW I couldn’t have been more off. How does a Christian say “I have prayed about this and…” and proceed to accuse another Christian of lying? Unbelievable. The LORD knows the truth. “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” Luke 8:17

I praise God for strengthening me in my faith over the past several months. As the stress has increased on different fronts, so has my ability to stand up under it. I am so thankful for my husband, for his strength. This last attack was a blow that I could NEVER handle with my husband’s support. God puts our men in our lives for a reason, ladies. Let your man take the lead, and he is your first and faithful shelter within God’s shelter, when the storms come. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” Ephesians 5:25

Trusting God

I think today has been the most stress-filled day that I have had in a very long time. One personal family situation was in chaos, but thankfully I believe it has been resolved. I have been on my knees several times today, just asking God to keep His almighty hand upon me, the others involved, and on this situation, to bring about the good He has for us all. I believe He has answered, and peace is being restored, praise the Lord!

On top of this situation, I had a test today in one of my computer classes. The testing software wouldn’t load properly on my laptop, so I headed off to the computer lab on campus to take my test. Easy, since the computer labs are open until 7pm every night. Every night, except Fridays. Fridays they are only open until 3:30. ARG! Of course, I got there at 4:15. I came home, and at the suggestion of my dear hubby, installed the software on our desktop computer (I normally use my laptop). It WORKED! Another praise, as I do not have any idea what I’d have done if it hadn’t. The test is only available until midnight tonight, and if it’s not taken by then, I’d take a zero. And zero is *NOT* a grade I can live with. But I took the test, got 95%, and now I have a project to do for my XHTML class. I’ve coded two pages in the last two days, and I have 1 to go before tomorrow night.

I find as more and more I am turning to the Lord, He has been so faithful to me! \o/