Why do you HATE me?

Do you know of someone who dislikes the “Church?” I have heard several people within my lifetime try their hardest to disgrace the Church. When I was younger, I couldn’t understand as to why they felt the way they do.  But as I look into the world, I can see, that you just want to do what ever you feel... no matter how harmful it might be to someone else or yourself for that matter. You don’t like to have to take responsibility for your actions or lack of, and don’t want to see the harm. Now if you look up the word Church you will find where it talks about a building. But if you ask a Christian, you just might get several answers depending on their personal denomination.  I am Pentecostal.

For me, the word Church, has many meanings. Yes, the obvious one is an actual place with a roof and walls where other Christians gather around to worship, fellowship and understanding of God’s word. It is a place where I feel safe from the world and all the problems with it. Where I can relate to others and what they are going through. Where I can find support for the mayhem that maybe around me. But Church is without a doubt, so much more.

It is the place within myself where I can talk to God. Church is within my prayers. I can go within myself, so to speak, and find the peace that God has laid on my heart and soul. Church is within my worship. When I sing a song about Him, I sing to Him. I get a built up strength of God just for me. I can feel the walls of my faith getting stronger and yet having support all at once.

It is a place where my family is. It can be anywhere. If I am with my family, we will show God’s love and understanding for one another within our tiny means. We lift each other up, so that the other doesn’t feel far from God, or causes harm. We understand that not each of us are perfect and we don’t expect the others to be also. We talk to one another. We clear the air. We rely on one another.

When we have people who don’t understand just what they are saying when they say, “I hate Church”, my heart just aches. Church is personal to me. It is where my spirit soars. When you confess out hatred to the Church, you are,whether you mean it this way or not, confessing hatred at me, because I am part of the Church and it is a part of me.  I also heard them then try to twist it by saying, “well I mean “Religion”.  But my faith; what I believe in, is my Religion. I have faith in the Church and there are no two ways about it.  So their statement is still the same.  I know, some people might say that I’m being too sensitive.  That I need not to take things sooo personally. But let me ask them this.  If I were to say I hate anyone who is this or that and your love was this or that, would you not take that personally also.  Of course you would.  People have been doing this kind of thing since people have been around.  But, it seems to be easier for people to attack the One that they don’t want to see.

I believe in God, three in one. I believe in the church that He is building.  I believe in the word of God; the Bible.  I am a grown woman with a grown mind.  No one makes me or harasses me into any of it.  I do this of my own free will. {Which by the way was given to me by God}

With just some of the reasons I have now expressed, let me say that I can and do understand when people get hurt by “the Church.” I too have met with people who aren’t exactly what I would call loving. Or ministers who preach their own agenda in place of God’s will.  I cry for such people.  I don’t understand such people.  I get angry that these people who attack my God. I want to tell them off.  I want to tell them to find another Church.  I want to smack some Holy Spirit into them.   But as a Christian, I can only have one answer for these people of hate.  Prayer.

You read it right, when you don’t like the Church, it is the only place I can go.  Because I know it is safe, it is my worship place, it is where my family is. It is a my place of happiness and joy.  It is where God is.

Ghost of the Church

Where is the Church? I mean really. Where are you people of God?!? Are you sitting on your back sides while others of the world are taking everything over? Where are those who will stand up for their faith? Where are those who will stand up for God? I’ll tell you they’re not here in America. No, they are in ….. Getting their heads cut off because they will not bow down to those who are against God. http://www.military.com/video/operations-and-strategy/battles/syrian-rebels-behead-christians/2525038454001/ Young and old, men and women. They have taken the stand against evil. Those are the ones who are winning souls. American Christians are boo- hooing about the things going on around them instead of standing on the Word. We have churches allowing gays to be married http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/11/politics/btn-same-sex-marriage/ let alone “teaching the word” now says it’s ok to be gay. We have so called men of God sexually abusing those in their church. We have people being harassed for not complying to gays. http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/city-threatens-to-arrest-ministers-who-refuse-to-perform-same-sex-weddings.html Which (the gays) is supposed to be a minority? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/15/health-survey-americans-gay_n_5587696.html We have people pushing for abortions. http://www.numberofabortions.com/ And the list could go on and on. It probably will.
When will the true Christians of this country stand and say enough. I’m not trying to promote hate. I’m not trying to promote anger. I’m trying to promote love back to God. Throughout all of this turmoil He still loves us. We Christians are not supposed to get along with this world. We are supposed to show Christ’s love to our neighbors and to God. We are instead hiding our eyes and ears like ostriches. Sticking our heads in the sand while the world takes over. There will soon be nothing too outrageous for anyone. The standards of people have gone so far down that it will take many generations to climb back to the straight and narrow path. But it only took a couple of generations to get here.

The crime rate has gone up across the country with the introduction of extreme islam, and isis. Whether people like to admit it or not, we in a spiritual war and have been for some time. But the world will tell you it is more important to concentrate on the color of a persons skin http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/us/ferguson-shooting-protests or what we call our children http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/09/gender-inclusive-school-district-says-drop-boys-and-girls-call-kids-purple/ The government isn’t really concerned with your health unless you’re giving them thousands upon thousands of dollars. They’re not concerned with making more jobs. Because since they have taken over the academics of our country the education of our children has gone to pot. http://www.broadeducation.org/about/crisis_stats.html Oh yeah, there another subject. Let’s look at the drugs that are now legal which would have gotten you thrown in jail just a few years ago. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-great-marijuana-experiment-a-tale-of-two-drug-wars-20140103 If, we as a Church, don’t start right now and make up our minds, hearts and souls, to stay with God rather than away from him, all will be lost to evil. I hear people say that this country was founded on Christian beliefs. Where are those beliefs now?

Religion -Views of a 12 Year Old

 

My youngest son and I and his older brother were having a discussion dealing with the movie Noah.  My son then starting going on about how things should be and how they actually are.  He had such strong feeling on the subject matter that I insisted that he write it down. So for your days viewing pleasure, here is what he wrote.  I do hope that you enjoy it and please keep in mind that he just turned 12.

Today the Government is so backwards- The Constitution isn`t being treated like it should, our basic Rights are being infringed, and worst of all- and what I`m here to talk about- is that Freedom of Religion isn`t recognized as a Right. Christians are being discriminated because of our belief in The Trinity. The World doesn`t care that the Chinese dude down the street chooses to believe in Buddhism. They don`t care that that Atheist guy who lives on the street corner decides to believe that there is no afterlife, no God and no savior. And yet when someone decides to believe in Christianity the World treats it like it`s a crime. Every day if someone finds you carrying a Cross on your necklace you get these weird and angry looks. People treat you like you`re a common criminal. Some people even resort to violence.

If you tell your friends in your belief in Christ you can almost bet that one of them will stop being your friend. Others will still stay by your side even though they don`t believe in Christ themselves. Others will embrace you because they are fellow Christians. But most-not all- but most will drop out of your sight, never to be seen again. Some people don`t believe because they think the music is boring. Really, not believing in the only thing that can save your life because of MUSIC? A lot of people think that Christian music is just boring old hymns- but that`s not the case! Not only do we have Christian Pop but we also have Rap, Country, and Hip-hop and believe it or not, there is actually some Christian Classical music! But music isn`t the only reason that people don`t believe. Some don`t because they`d rather embrace Satan by believing in False Gods and Idols, or just by not believing in a God at all!  Others just don`t care, but they should because they are just throwing their lives away with both hands all because they`d rather believe in some guy named Zeus or Buddha neither of which exist because if they did then there would be more truth behind those hollow letter written in that religion`s sacred textbook. And even though Atheists say that they don`t believe in a Religion they really are- You can`t not believe in some form of what happens after death or whether or not there is a god and what his name is. I personally believe in ‘I AM WHO I AM’ aka God. But Atheists say ‘I don`t believe in a Religion because there is no afterlife and there is no god and The Big Bang Theory and The Theory of Evolution is true! We evolved from monkeys and monkeys evolved from birds and birds evolved from dinosaurs and dinosaurs came from the matter that formed from the remnants of the Singularity that formed everything in the known and unknown universe!’ But that is SO NOT TRUE! Believe what you wish but if you know that there is a God in Heaven who made the Earth and the beasts on it in 6 days and rested on the 7^th: God bless you.

Where Does Your Empowerment Lie

Women have, since the beginning of my knowledge, been fighting among each other and men. Between being equal with men and being working moms or not. I could write several books on the ups and downs of women’s rights and the feminist movement. Oh wait, those have already been done. And yet we don’t really see any coming together of women as a whole.

Women claim to want empowerment, meaning: to give power or authority to; authorize, especially by legal or official means. It is unfortunate that women only think about how to get power or above others instead of how to work together for the greater good of God and His people. No matter what sex or race they may be. I tell my children that women are capable of doing everything that a man can do, and sometimes even better, however that doesn’t mean that we (women) have to or should. I have also told my children that there will always be somebody who will be able to do something better than they can. And there are several reasons for this, like desire, drive, education, support etc.

I have known women to turn on others simply because they felt that they didn’t have any power and that the other woman does. It doesn’t matter. Titus 3: 1-3 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. When there is a job to do women are capable of doing it. But instead of admiring the women doing said job, they attack.

God has already empowered women. Women have thrown away the gifts of life, nurturing and love and all for their hunger of power. These women feel the lack of control in their life. Instead of embracing the changes going on around them, they go into the fight or flight mode. Fighting, by putting down everyone around them, because they disagree with them. Flying by claiming to be victims of whatever the problem was. Because of these actions, women are on their own making life even harder on themselves and others.

Placing your energy on your God-given gifts into others instead of yourself will make you one of the most powerful, intelligent, influential persons within your circle of people. Matthew 5: 13 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Our lives are not to be lived out by what we think but by what God has told us. During which time, He never said it would be easy or that we would like it. Only that it brings Glory to Him.

What Are You Considering?

Haggai 1:5-6    Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!  You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages , Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

As we go through everyday lives, how many times do we look to our neighbors, family members, or co-workers and said to yourself, “ I want or need that” (Insert your own item).  We are to consider our own life and not the life of others.  From the time we get up to the time we lay down, we make several choices that we are supposed to consider before making them.  These choices are not supposed to have anything to do with the way other people will look at those decisions.  But the way God looks at those decisions.

 

These are moral decisions.  So when you buy your next meal, clothing item, or do your job, ask yourself; Is this something that follows Jesus?  Would God approve of this?  And if you’re not sure, then look it up.  Do the research yourself.  Don’t rely on others to tell you because this is something you are supposed to consider and not them.  I have found that a lot of people expect that attending church (whether on TV, on- line, or in a building) is sufficient.  But I’m here to tell you it’s not.  You will get so much more understanding for your soul.  The impression of God should be where we desire to have and not the impression of others.  People will do the research and compare companies, makes and models for a new car; We are checking the ingredients in our food and drinks; We look at the labels on our clothes to see what they are made of; But are unwilling to research what God has to say on a subject matter and how to apply it to their lives. Now, some of you might be thinking that it doesn’t matter if you eat a little too much or that you have more shoes in your closet than you really need.   But when you stop to think that the ways of your life right now will determine the way of your life after you die and are face to face with the Lord himself.  Then it makes all the difference.

For Your Learning Enjoyment

I cam across this updated version and hope it enlightens you.

We Just Need To Practice

Hey there everyone,

I hope that everyone had a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.  I most certainly did.  My oldest came home from college for Christmas, my daughter turned 17 (She is making me and the hubby old very fast.)  She also got a job right before her birthday (Which is one week before Christmas).  We all celebrated my three holidays together at home with no big hoop la.  Which was just fine with all of us.

At the beginning of each year you might be finding yourself looking back.  People like to see what if anything they got accomplished and what they didn’t.  They make new goals for the upcoming months.  They try to adopt new, better habits.  One thing I have found is that they don’t set these out on a day-to-day basis.  No they spread them out over an entire year.  Yes, I realize that there are some that may take that long.  But ask yourself when you wake up in the morning, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it the tasks that need to be done? Or perhaps a soreness/pain you may have for sleeping different then you needed.  I could list a whole number of things that ; not only have I said to myself, but have heard others as well.  We are to begin each day a new. With the joy of the Lord.   Not with bitterness or need.  In order to do this all it takes is …… practice.  Practice means that you are trying each and every day with all you mind, body, and soul.  Practice means you won’t get it perfected or even do it some days.  It means you are trying.  That you are actually doing it with a good heart.  Practice mean you have taken you out of it and are doing it for the Lord.

I don’t understand why people are putting so much disgust on themselves at the beginning of each year.  They haven’t lost enough weight, gotten any healthier, saved enough money, given enough money and so on. So what?!? Do the best you can with what you have daily and let God handle the rest.  Before you know it; it will be a new healthier, happier, habit and a wonderful start to your day.  Now for those who might be keeping score, I know that I didn’t write a whole lot last year, but within that time that I did these are the words I used most.

 

Angels, Bible, Child, Children, Christ, Christian, Church, Churches, Control, Faith, Family, Glory, God, Good, Gospel, Grace, Hear, Hearts, Jesus, Kids, Learn, Lessons, Life, Listen, Lord, Love, Luke, Man, Marriage, Matthew, Mercy, Mistakes, MS, Music, ORU, Parents, Pastor, People, Religion, Speak, Spirit, Trouble, Women, Word, Work.

 

I like to leave you with a song that I heard on a CD that my sister had a long time ago.  The song might be an old one but it still holds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wslEJVlnjRI

Following Christ Comes At A Cost

I tell people all the time, if you don’t want to know my answer then don’t ask the question.  Well with all that has come to light with Phil Robertson, one should ask themselves what they are willing to say and or do for the name of Christ.  Every Christian knows (or should know) that following Christ comes at a cost.  Christ himself gave up his life for Gods glory.  People have been known to give up their friends and family after being saved.  Because the people that they have known for many years, the people that they have loved, supported, shared things with, and invested everything in are unwilling to tolerate their new life.  Why?  Because they are part of the world.  The world has no time or will for God.  The world doesn’t want any part of God in any way, shape or form.  They like staying blind.  They like living in sin.  They really like the false control of their lives they think they have.  The world tries desperately to get Christians to turn their faith against God.  Going through everyday life you have them attacking you from what you eat to what you wear.  From what you drive to what kind of job you have.  From the treatment of medicine you get to how you parent.  And if you stand up for your faith and go against what the world wants they call names and say that you’re the one at fault.  As if you’re the one being a bad person.  Because they have their own idea of what a Christian is and if you don’t fall into their check list of tolerance then they mock you.  Trying their best to ruin your reputation with the world itself.  They don’t understand that it is only the reputation you have with God that is important.  I was just in awe when I was on Twitter and Facebook with all the support that people were giving out to Phil.  The thing was though it wasn’t just Christians that were supporting Phil, there were also people outside of the church stating that he had the right to his opinion.  Which I don’t believe he was doing, I think he was stating his faith, what he believes in.  But I do appreciate what they were doing.   Phil quoted scripture and stated his faith.  Which in my opinion, is more than stating his opinion.  He is the true idea of a man.  Not childish groups of people who aren’t getting their way and decided to call names and throw a tantrum.  So if you haven’t yet, ask yourself what you’re willing to say to do in order to keep your faith with God.  Are you willing to give anything up?  The only thing God has ever asked for is your heart.  It is us that attach other things to our hearts.  Is your heart free for only Him?  Or are you squeezing Him out with the other things.

No More Pumpkin Spice!

No More Pumpkin Spice!.

A collection of hand selected articles by Gil Burgos from And He Gave Some

http://bit.ly/19FPOxB