Here's a classic example. Why do we do this to each other? I hate the overtones of guilt and condemnation, the message that "if you're a good Christian, you'll pass this on."
As if God would operate such a condemning mission! His message is grace, and love. He loves us even when we mess up, and he doesn't require ridiculous things from us, like feeling guilty for carrying cell phones instead of big, heavy bibles, for instance.
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)
And, if that wasn't clear enough, "If God is for us [and he is], who can ever be against us? ... Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love?" Romans 8:31...33-35
My point is, condemning messages, even ones with "godly" overtones, come not from God's loving heart but from Satan's un-heart that wants to tear us down and make us feel like horrible people. His goal is to weigh us down with such heavy, insignificant burdens that we feel like we can't face God because we're not worthy.
But God has given us right standing with himself. He has made us worthy. And when we turn to him for help, he lifts off the weights and can even help us become better people -- from the inside, where it really counts.
And only he is capable of affecting such change in us. He is the changer of hearts. Emails like this one only put weights of guilt on us that can keep us from turning to him for the real transformation.
Read it for yourself, if you like, and think about how it makes you feel. Then let's listen to God's word instead and encourage one another with his love and grace. ♥
"Cell phone vs. Bible
Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat
our cell phone?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several time a day?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?
Oh, and one more thing.
Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being
disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.
Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities? And no dropped calls!
P.S. DO WHAT YOU THINK GOD WOULD WANT YOU TO DO WITH THIS EMAIL
Trust in the Lord and *ASAP (Always Say A Prayer)
Have a blessed and wonderful day!
Knock, Knock I knocked at heaven's door this morning. God asked me...'My child, what can I do for you?' And I said, 'Father, please protect and bless the person reading this message.' God smiled and answered. ..'Request granted'. If you believe, send this to seven people. By doing this, you have succeeded in praying for eight people today. 'Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.'
When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you!
If you are one of the 7% who will stand up for Him, forward this.
93% of people won't forward this"
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Talking Myself Into It
I keep trying to decide what kind of artist I want to be. It's silly, really, since the decision-making process takes into account stupid things, like "What kind of art is most popular, what makes the most money, what is the most famous, and what kind do I most admire?"
I've decided, just a couple minutes ago, that I'm going to have to just get painting and see what kind of artist I already am.
Why be a realist if I prefer more vivid colours?
Why paint things exactly as they are? I might as well just take a picture.
Why try to paint subject matter that other people like, and be stuck with a drudgery of a painting with no passion in it?
Why do I keep talking myself out of painting before I even begin? !!!
No more talking in my head. Time to just get going, get painting, get disciplined enough to do it every day, and see what comes out of it. Time to find out what kind of artist I am. And time to have fun!
I've decided, just a couple minutes ago, that I'm going to have to just get painting and see what kind of artist I already am.
Why be a realist if I prefer more vivid colours?
Why paint things exactly as they are? I might as well just take a picture.
Why try to paint subject matter that other people like, and be stuck with a drudgery of a painting with no passion in it?
Why do I keep talking myself out of painting before I even begin? !!!
No more talking in my head. Time to just get going, get painting, get disciplined enough to do it every day, and see what comes out of it. Time to find out what kind of artist I am. And time to have fun!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Pressing My Buttons
Lately, my life has consisted of various frustrations, ranging in degree from minor to (what seems like) extreme, and some days, all the little frustrations run together into a big, fat blob of wanting-to-crawl-back-into-bed-but-I-can't-because-even-if-I-hadn't-drank-so-much-coffee-the-kids-are-still-awake-anyway frustration. Sigh.
Take for instance, the toilet. The first time I heard my twins' laughter coming from the bathroom, I thought to myself, "Oh, isn't that just the cutest sound! They must be trying to reach their bath toys." I'm sure you've already guessed what I actually found when I walked in: two little radiantly happy boys who had found a constant supply of water for splashing, whose sleeves and grinning faces were soaked and dripping with toilet water.
"Ack!" I cried, running to pick them up and scold them, telling them, "Dirty! Dirty! Yucky! We don't play in the toilet!"
I set them down, despondent, in the living room, and stripped off their wet shirts, wiped their faces and hands, and tried to disinfect them. They gazed, longingly, at the bathroom.
The next day, I had forgotten to put the baby gate up (thinking ridiculously that the previous day's scolding had made an impression), and I once again heard the dreaded sound of giggling coming from the bathroom.
Yep. Just re-read the above for an accurate description of what followed. Again.
The only difference is, the second time I had the presence of mind to scrub the toilet bowl clean, "just in case."
And it's a good thing I did, too. I don't know how the little rascals conspire to drive me so crazy, but they have gotten into the toilet at least one more time since the first two days of insanity. And if they're not splashing in the toilet, they're holding on to my knees and crying while I'm trying to -- finally -- eat my own breakfast.
There just isn't enough coffee in the world, lately.
I've been trying recently to cut back on my coffee consumption, actually. But, since I am prone to seasonal depression, and this is my first winter in a while without my antidepressants (see my other blog for reasons), I decided it would be foolish to give up such a happy drink in the middle of winter. Did you know coffee stimulates adrenaline and dopamine production? Hence the lovely burst of energy and happy euphoria. :)
Add the myriad other small frustrations to the toilet-splashing twins and the caffeine guilt -- like renovations, being housebound, needing an hour just to dress four wiggling boys in snowsuits, and not having any time to paint, and then not having any inspiration when I do have time to paint, not to mention the never-ending drudgery of housework that needs doing again as soon as I've done it -- and I'm feeling a little, shall we say, antsy lately.
I keep looking for the off button for all these frustrations, but so far, the only thing I've found is a reset button. And the problem with a reset button, of course, is that it doesn't turn things off for good! But I suppose it's better than no button at all.
Take for instance, the toilet. The first time I heard my twins' laughter coming from the bathroom, I thought to myself, "Oh, isn't that just the cutest sound! They must be trying to reach their bath toys." I'm sure you've already guessed what I actually found when I walked in: two little radiantly happy boys who had found a constant supply of water for splashing, whose sleeves and grinning faces were soaked and dripping with toilet water.
"Ack!" I cried, running to pick them up and scold them, telling them, "Dirty! Dirty! Yucky! We don't play in the toilet!"
I set them down, despondent, in the living room, and stripped off their wet shirts, wiped their faces and hands, and tried to disinfect them. They gazed, longingly, at the bathroom.
The next day, I had forgotten to put the baby gate up (thinking ridiculously that the previous day's scolding had made an impression), and I once again heard the dreaded sound of giggling coming from the bathroom.
Yep. Just re-read the above for an accurate description of what followed. Again.
The only difference is, the second time I had the presence of mind to scrub the toilet bowl clean, "just in case."
And it's a good thing I did, too. I don't know how the little rascals conspire to drive me so crazy, but they have gotten into the toilet at least one more time since the first two days of insanity. And if they're not splashing in the toilet, they're holding on to my knees and crying while I'm trying to -- finally -- eat my own breakfast.
There just isn't enough coffee in the world, lately.
I've been trying recently to cut back on my coffee consumption, actually. But, since I am prone to seasonal depression, and this is my first winter in a while without my antidepressants (see my other blog for reasons), I decided it would be foolish to give up such a happy drink in the middle of winter. Did you know coffee stimulates adrenaline and dopamine production? Hence the lovely burst of energy and happy euphoria. :)
Add the myriad other small frustrations to the toilet-splashing twins and the caffeine guilt -- like renovations, being housebound, needing an hour just to dress four wiggling boys in snowsuits, and not having any time to paint, and then not having any inspiration when I do have time to paint, not to mention the never-ending drudgery of housework that needs doing again as soon as I've done it -- and I'm feeling a little, shall we say, antsy lately.
I keep looking for the off button for all these frustrations, but so far, the only thing I've found is a reset button. And the problem with a reset button, of course, is that it doesn't turn things off for good! But I suppose it's better than no button at all.
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