Awards and Rewards

I've been nominated for an award! I'd like to thank the Academy....

No - seriously...a big thank you to Tammy at Not My Story But God's who thinks my blog is award-worthy. That is so awesome. More important than the award however, is the fact that Tammy thinks that I am helping people stay connected to God. Thank you Tammy!

I think everyone loves positive reinforcement, praise, awards and rewards. We like to know we are appreciated for our efforts. That should not be the reason why we are doing what we're doing, but I do think it is normal to want to be appreciated. In fact, I believe that it is a felt need. And you know God meets all of our needs.

The bible is filled with references to God rewarding us according to what we have done. So as I (figuratively) stand here holding my "Brillante Weblog Award," I can't help but focus on the future when I stand in heaven receiving a Crown of Life.

I thanked Tammy, the giver of the Weblog Award when I received it. Academy Award winners thank the Academy. When I receive the Crown of Life, and the rewards for what I have done on earth in heaven, I will be on my knees thanking God for all he has done for me.

And wondering why He is giving me a reward.

Why isn't He the one receiving one?

2 Timothy 4:8 -- Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Psalm 62:11,12 - - One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.

Matthew 16:27 -- For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

The GIRL in the Plastic Bubble

"The Boy in the Plastic Bubble is arguably one of the most influential and best-remembered made-for-TV movies of the 1970s" says Wikipedia. It starred John Travolta as a boy with an improperly functioning immune system, so that unfiltered air might kill him. So he is forced to live out his life in a "bubble," which was actually more like an astronaut's suit.

Sometimes I feel like I'm the girl in the plastic bubble. I live in my tight woven little world with like minded people. I'm so happy in my bubble. "Everyone" else is a Christian. We are all like minded, "good" people who love God and do our best. It is a wonderful bubble.

I step outside of my bubble into the unfiltered world and this is what I see. A 14 year old boy who feels sexually harassed by a gay 15 yr old boy murders him. A transgendered "man" gives birth to a child. And even in my own local paper the obituary of a 16 month old baby boy who is survived by his "loving mother." On the front page of the same section is her photo as she is charged in his death.

I need protection from that unfiltered world, just as the "boy in the plastic bubble" did. And while he looked like an alien in his bubble suit, I feel like an alien without one. But at the end of movie, the boy (now older) decides to see if his immunity is built up. He steps outside of his house unprotected, no bubble, and rides off with his girlfriend on her horse.

The bible is clear that we don't need a bubble for protection either. What we need is God's armor, "so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground."

So today I am praying for the world, that I might help show God's light in the darkness. And I especially pray that you and I, our families, and our children may be covered by God's armor. Because I think the day of evil has arrived.

Psalm 39:12 -- Hear my prayer, O LORD, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping. For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers were.

Ephesians 6:13-18 - - Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

1 John 5:19 -- We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

Work & Pray

Happy Friday! Before I start my regular posting, I wanted to share a couple of things with you guys.

1. My husband thought yesterday's post was not "so fabulous" but so vain sounding. I tried to explain it was tongue-in-cheek, and can only hope that he didn't get it because he is a man and that you gals all got it. I'm not saying that I am "so fabulous" - just that I'd like Jesus to shine fabulously through me!

2. My daughter was called to carry flags at the new church on Sunday (she volunteered; my introverted, don't do anything in public nearly 9 yr old). So she will be in the 9:30 and 11 services. And I was called to lead prayer in Sunday school. I think God is letting us know we are at the church were we belong. And I just love how he answers our prayers. So this is a praise.


Okay - on to our regularly scheduled post:

"Time spent working for God is not the same as time spent with God." said T. Suzanne Eller at the She Speaks Conference. This quote was something I took and committed to memory. It's true. I can be blogging for God and running around completing my ministry projects (so fabulous -LOL), and be so busy doing stuff "for God" that I'm not spending time with him.

Do you ever fall into this trap? One of the reasons I love leading a bible study is that it keeps me in the word. I haven't made a secret of the fact that I've been living on Easy Street over the summer. I got out of the bible habit. And I truly felt myself drift away from God.

Did I still believe in God? You bet your bippy! I love that guy! But I wasn't spending any time with him. And like any of our other relationships (spouse, kids, friends) when you don't spend time together you can drift apart.

The first thing I started to do is quote "Draw nearer to God and he'll draw nearer to you" to myself about 1 million times. Then I drew nearer. I started reading the bible again, and praying, and making time.

If you are so busy working for God, I urge you to pause - and spend some time with him. He's waiting. And it probably wouldn't hurt to spend some more time with your husband, kids and friends too. And, you know, I feel neglected if you don't leave me comments, so could you spare some free time for that?

But seriously, all work and no PRAY makes you a dull girl. Get prayin'. And then you'll shine for Jesus!

James 4:8 -- Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Psalm 119:10 - - I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.

Proverbs 9:10 -- Respect and obey the LORD! This is the beginning of wisdom. To have understanding, you must know the Holy God. (Contemporary English Version)