Hey God...Am I Contagious?

Sitting in the Doctor's Office. I am looking at the kids. Some parents knowing their kid is contagious and keeping them from the other kids. And some for 'well' checks and still keeping them from other kids.. And I start thinking ..

Is Christianity contagious? Is my faith contagious? AM I contagious?

Do I/we infect others?

For good?

Or are we more like mosquito repellant?

It makes me curious.. do I act in such a way that when someone sees me that they see something is different about me.

Other than my new hair color.

Other than I am nice.

Am I contagious?

I use to say yes.

I recall days that I spent with my 'sister-in-law' even when I thought she was a total lost cause. And hoping that my parental skills and sound doctrine would rub off. And yet. She now acts worse than she did when I met her.

And then I think.. Or maybe it is God interjections.. "Who said you have to DO anything? Isn't it about me.. And MY spirit. It IS purely about YOUR obedience in situations."

Yes. True. Got it.

But am I contagious? Am I salty? Or bland and weak?

Sigh... Oh btw, he just has a virus. And no infection. Thank you, Jesus. I hate strep. And when 1 gets it.. they ALL get it..

God, Am I like Strep??? ooo.. splotchy and red. irritating and

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"

Is that water too hot?

Putting your faith into actions is not just a new concept.
It is not a new fad to be had.
It is not a good way to meet new singles.
It is not a way to show off.
It is not a way to punish the kids.
Or a way to run from reality.


It is a way to DO what Jesus command us to do.
It is a way to walk out your faith.

If you are doing it right.
You are going to get dirty.
Your feet are gonna hurt.
You are going to be tired.

And at the end of the day.
When you sit in your favorite chair.
And you are looking at the ceiling.
Thinking. "God, I am tired.
Did I do what you wanted me to ?"
"Did I make you happy?"
"Did I sin against you? What could I have done different?"

Jesus is standing there with a towel around his waist.
A bowl at your feet.
Kneels down.
And washes your feet.
"I love you"
"I am proud of you"

"Just wait and see what I have in store for you tomorrow......... "

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last." (gotta love those red letters)

"I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother(sister), have refreshed the hearts of the saints."

Get your feet dirty

I saw a phrase that made me smile.

"Jesus loves your dirty feet"

It made me think about John 13.

"Having loved his own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of his love."

and then he washed their feet.

It also made me think of James 1:27

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

So we are going to get our feet dirty taking care of the business of Christ. And we may get our feet dirty because we walk in a polluted world.

John 13 also says that we are already bathed and clean. We only need to wash our feet. I am going to ponder that for a bit. Do you think he is talking about daily spiritual renewal?

Deliver us

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers,
about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia.
We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure,
so that we despaired even of life.
Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.
But this happened that we might not
rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril,
and he will deliver us. On him we have set our
hope that he will continue to deliver us,
as you help us by your prayers.
Then many will give thanks on our behalf
for the gracious favor granted us in
answer to the prayers of many.

MY Very Present Help

Ok. When I can 'write' out what is up with out weeping.. I will.. BUT until then you will just have to read the grownings of this woman's heart.

I will trust the Lord forever.

I will trust Him at all times.

He has delivered me from all fear.

He has set my feet upon a rock.

You, Lord, have made me glad.

And I'll say of the Lord.

You are my shield.

You are my strength.

You are my portion.

You are my deliverer.

You are my shelter.

You are my strong tower.

You are my very present help in time of need.

I WILL

Even though at every turn we never seem to get even let alone ahead.

Even though things are left for another day b/c of funding limitations.

Even though it is not clear how we will make it through tomorrow.

And

Even though the enemies camp looks closer and closer each day.

I WILL rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God MY Savior.

The sovereign Lord is my strength,he makes my feet like the feet of the deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

I WILL bless the Lord at ALL times, HIS Praise shall be on my lips.

Blessed are you when people insult you,persecute you, and falsly say all kinds of evil against you b/c of me. Rejoice and be glad, great is your reward in heaven.

Two quotes that make you think

"There is more Glory (for God) in resurrection than healing. " -Pastor McClendon

Is there something in your life that you have been praying for healing.. But it just needs to die so God can resurrect it?

"I am proud of you." - God

Do you realize that God is proud of you? What emotion does that stir in you?

i don't know about you.. But these both made ball like a baby. and still just writing them out. .OUCH. Sniff. tear.

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea.

A great high Priest whose Name is Love

Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,

My name is written on His heart.

I know that while in heaven He stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart.

(Isaiah 49:16, Psalm 42:8, Zephaniah 3:17, Hebrews 4:14)

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,

My perfect spotless righteousness,

The great unchangeable I am,

King of glory and of grace,

One in Himself I cannot die.

My soul is purchased by His blood,

My life is hid with Christ on high,

With Christ my Savior and my God!

Jesus Revealed.

Grace and peace to you from him who is,

and who was, and who is to come,

and from the seven spirits before his throne,

and from Jesus Christ,

who is the faithful witness,

the firstborn from the dead,

and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has

freed us from our sins by his blood,

and has made us to be a kingdom and priests

to serve his God and Father—

to him be glory and power for ever and ever!

Amen.

Look, he is coming with the clouds,

and every eye will see him,

even those who pierced him;

and all the peoples of the earth

will mourn because of him.

So shall it be!

Amen.

"I AM the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God,

"who is, and who was , and who is to come, the Almighty"

I love this passage! Revelation 1:4-8

For You died and Your life is hidden with Christ.

YOU are God's chosen.

You are holy and loved, DEARLY.

You have been clothed with righteousness.

AND compassion, kindness, humility,gentleness, and patience.

But most of all love. Because you are a member of the body of Christ and this is what HE is.

You have been binded with Him in perfect unity.

We are here to edify and admonish one another with wisdom. And to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with a thankful heart to God.

You were dead but now alive.

You were once lost but now found.

You were blind, deaf and mute. But now seeing, hearing and speaking the Truth.

Do not let the things of this world trouble and dishearten you.

Be at peace for the Prince of ALL peace is dwelling in you. And will forever more.

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal."

(Colossians 3, Isaiah 26:3-4)

Go back to what you did in the beginning....

'If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that GOD our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.' James 1:26-27



My rantings about Christians will settle. As God keeps answering my prayer/ question about my holy discontent with them.


How about this one.....
2 Corinthians 11:3
But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.


Don't forget your first love. How did you do things when were first redeemed?

I love that word.. Redeemed.

Phillippians 2: 1-11

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with

God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature

of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Pride

They say that emotions are colored.
Green….Envy
Red……Anger
White….Purity
Blue……Sad or Down

What color is Pride? OR is pride a scent? Like fear or joy.

Pride: An over high opinion of one self; haughtiness, arrogance; extreme value of one self.

Romans 12:3 say we should not think of ourselves as better than others. To be sober in our judgement of ourselves. Because our lives are to be living sacrifices…..And a sacrifice does not get to choose how they “GO”. What rights does a sacrifice have but to die?
If we are to be, being , and becoming like Christ, who considered Himself a servant, then why do we hold ourselves at such high regard. I am not saying we should crawl on our bellies like lowly snakes. But when did we start acting like we were better than everyone else? When did our self-addiction and gratification take over our desire to be servants of Christ? Sacrifice turn to Feast?

Yes I know we are priests.. not just priests but ‘high priests’. But where is that balance? He also thinks we are lovely and whirls in delight in us. And he thinks we are beautiful. He knows the hairs on our head and the number of our days. He has our name engraved on his hand and heart. And just like a parent.. there are things He expects HIS children to and not to do.....

I think the 'to's' out number 'not to's.' We just think negative first.

I know to deep for a Saturday morning.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom....

It causes kings to dance and leap in the streets. In their underwear.

It causes people to cry out to God.

It causes the captive to be set free.

It causes rejoicing in prisons. And their chains to be broken. And their doors to open!

It causes deliverance in the broken.

It causes the seas to split and freedom of a people.

It cause the blind to see, lame to walk and the dead to rise.

This is what the Spirit of God can do. And you can read this, worship in the streets, call on His name because you were born in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

AND Yet.

The refuge in the heart of Africa is also free. Because he KNOWS the truth. And it has set him FREE!

You are FREE indeed!

Raise your hand for stoning!

There are times God ‘gives’ me verses. I, thinking I am a great theologian, think I understand the verse and know EXACTLY what it means and what it is for.
But recently this thought has been taken care of.

By, of course, reality kicking in. Real life circumstances and events that show the ACTUAL meaning of what God was trying to get thru my thick skull and spirit.

UGH.

Why can’t we just the get the road map and the street signs saying

“HEY. I want to do this. And I need you to _____ (sit down, shut up and hold on).”

When He says… Is 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (If you get a chance.. Read Isaiah 43:14-21.)

I think what He is saying . Wait. Shut up. Pray and WATCH ME IN ACTION!
Your spirit in you knows so just listen. And stop thinking you have to DO anything!

And yet, I look in the wrong direction. I think.. .Oh! You are going to write it in the clouds and you are actually driving down the road with a huge banner.

But It is all a learning experience.. right ??!!??

B/c He is the Lord. He is Holy. He is Sovereign. And He will do ALL things for His Glory. For His Name to be known in all the earth. I just have to obey and sit back and watch.


And in the mean time. Unfortunately, when it involves others. They seem to act badly.
A lot of times gossip and dissension take over.

SO how do you combat that?

How do you voice the truth without getting stoned??

Will I just be a Stephen?
At least he was call “FULL OF FAITH, the Holy Spirit and WISDOM”.

Stone me!

I don't want to just sit and let the enemy and/or other "Christians" tell 'little lies', ' half truthes', 'their version', or 'what they heard'.

Speak. Your Servant is listening.

Habakkuk's Prayer (3)

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth .

LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran.

Selah

......His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth.
His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden.
Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps. He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed. His ways are eternal. ......

Selah

.........Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

No matter what trial, valley, plataeu or rainbow you may be facing, enjoying or hiding. The God of all creation knew and holds you in the palm of His hand. Not only holds you. YOUR name is written on His Hand, Engraved on His heart. He whirls in delight of you. At the mere thought of you. He wants His Glory to be shown thru you. He wants you to NOT be satisfied with ordinary. Because He made you extraordinary. He loves you extravigantly. And His grace knows no end. Are you satisfied with not knowing? Are you at peace with not sharing? Don't quench the spirit He placed in you. Stop thinking He is not SPEAKING to you. You know what I mean. You have sensed it for some time. Now act. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Holy Discontent!

- Godly, Righteous Anger

- Tired of SELF- ishness, -gain , -addiction, -ambition, -centeredness.

- Eager for God to move and PEOPLE to get out of the way.

- Tired of Mature "Christians" acting like babies who lost their Pacifier.

I think I covered it all.

No super glue Please.

Do you ever feel like a piece of china?
A fragile dish.
And thru the trials and tribulations you get chipped, cracked and broken.
And then one day you just fall apart.
The one thing about China is . When you break
You don’t just break in a couple pieces.
You shatter.
How do you get all those pieces back together again?
Back in the ‘old days’ they would take a broken piece of china or
Vases and coat the inside with wax.
And you could only see the cracks and breaks if you held the piece up to the light.
That is why some places in scripture they talk about
authentic things and in the Greek it means .. without wax.
True. Noble. Right.
Maybe it is God’s plan.
Maybe being so broken, So shattered that only
God can put you back together.
That when we try to put ourselves back together and we get held up to the light..
Our cracks are seen. And we fall apart again and again.
And only in our complete brokenness.
When there is no hope of putting ourselves back together.
That is the time we finally let God do the repair job.
And HIS repair job is perfection.
Taking our ashes and turning them to beauty.
Oh that reminds me of a song.
Forgiveness to a crown.

So when we lay it all down. Admit that we are so broken. That only God can put us back together. Then and only then can we be healed. Truly healed. With out wax.
No crack, no crevasses for anyone to break. Or dirt to get into.
Perfect. Clean. Whole.

I always want to be a piece of china. I don’t ever want to be a cast iron skillet.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”