Temperature Matters

I love an ice cold diet coke. But lukewarm? Yuck! I'll have a cup of piping hot coffee anytime you offer it. (And I also enjoy iced coffee!) But lukewarm coffee?  No way! Because temperature matters.

That was also the message to the church of Laodicea in the Book of Revelation. Jesus said, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth."

What's your spiritual temperature? Are you hot - on fire for Jesus?  Are you cold - just chilling with the peace that passes human understanding? Or are you lukewarm? The picture here is a scary one, as spit refers to vomit - Jesus is saying "You make me sick!"

The people of Laocidea appear to be complacent in their faith.They are rich and "need nothing."  They were indifferent to their faith. Sadly, this describes many of us today. We don't consider ourselves rich, to be sure. But certainly most all our needs are met. We "need nothing." And we aren't filled with a hot or cold faith. We are lukewarm.

But Jesus didn't end his talk with vomiting the people out of his mouth. No, he offers them great hope. He says, "Therefore whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent."

Even after their lukewarm faith, Jesus still shows them love, as he shows us. Now is the time for us to repent and become zealous for Christ.  I don't want to be lukewarm. I want to be on fire for Jesus. I want to be the flame that burns for him.

Don't become lukewarm. Be zealous and repent.  Because temperature matters.

I correct and discipline everyone I love. 

So be diligent and turn from your indifference. 

Revelation 3:19 (NLT)

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

Life without Facebook

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"  You've likely heard that philosophical thought. But in the past few weeks I've had another one.

"If an event occurs without being posted on Facebook, did it really happen?"  I've been on a 40 day Facebook fast. In those days I've been to the museum, attended 4 field trips, watched my 8 year old in her first talent show, and rushed to the ER to be with my dad, as he experienced chest pains.  I've celebrated my daughter's birthday, sat 8 hours in a hospital waiting room while my dad had surgery, taken on a 2nd client at work, and had lunch with friends. I stayed home 4 days with a sick child,  planned a trip to Disney, experienced the only major snow event of the season, and will celebrate my own birthday (Mar 9), all while on a Facebook fast. Did those events occur without my posting and receiving commentary from my friends?

Yes, they did. The only thing different was the drama level. Yes, I did miss the collaboration on my bad days, but I'm sure my friends weren't sorry to miss my drama. And honestly, I didn't miss theirs.  Because the people I would have shared those events with offline - I did. And the people who needed me, found me.

Facebook is a great place to find relationship when you need it. But often times that pseudo-relationship of Facebook keeps us from deepening our real relationships. And the wasted time interferes with our relationship with God.  I once heard someone ask, "Do you run to the phone before you run to the Throne?" And I think now, we often run to Facebook with our dramas, before we come to God.  How often do we ask for prayer on FB, before we've actually prayed ourselves?

Facebook can fill a lot of time, and even some "empty places."  But Facebook doesn't fulfill. That same time spent with God fills those empty places with God-glue, versus Facebook fluff. God is a permanent filling, that keeps you coming back not because you need another fix, but because the relationship is so rewarding.

If you spend a lot of time on Facebook, I encourage you to try a fast. Some indicators that you need a fast are thinking in status updates or posting a photo of an event while you are still at the event (versus enjoying the event and posting the photo later).  Live your life in real time, and worry about Facebook later.  The drama you avoid may be your own.  And the time you save may be spent with Jesus.

So let your words be few. Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.... Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. 

Fear God instead.  Ecclesiastes 5:2b, 3, 7 (NLT)

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

When Google Doesn't Have the Answer

I"m never forget the time I found my 8 year old daughter Googling something. We'd been at the pool that day with her best friend. As we were leaving a little boy called out to her friend, by name. "How did he know her name?" they asked.  I told them he'd probably heard them talking. But they didn't believe it. They were in awe and wonder that he knew her name.

Still, it was hysterical to find them both sitting at my computer after we got home, googling, "How does a boy at the pool know your name?" Google is good to answer a lot of questions: The address of that new restaurant you want to try. How many pints in a quart? The definition of a word. Even Bible verses! The uses of Google are endless. Yet, like "How does a boy at the pool know your name," some things you just can't Google.

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does God allow suffering? Are there more ways to get to heaven than believing in Jesus? You can Google those questions. But you may not get an accurate answer.  

Google is a great "authority" for finding the answers to some of life's questions. But the Bible is THE authority for finding life's answers. The Bible is where you will find life. You will find love. You will find faith. You will find joy. You will find peace. 

Yes, Google can offer a lot of answers. But if you want to know the Way, the Truth, and the Life, look to the Bible. And there you will find Jesus. And HE really is the answer.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

Recently my church offered a 6 part series called Jesus: The Guy Who Revolutionized Life for Women. 

It is a great series, and I had the honor of guest posting for the 6th installment. To read it, or all of the guest posts, you may find the series here: Jesus: The Guy Who Revolutionized Life for Women Series.

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

Best Parenting Advice

What is your best parenting advice? That was the question asked by Parenting Magazine, at Parenting.com. And it's seems a lot of people had answers.  First Lady Michelle Obama. Actress Tori Spelling. And lots of other folks, including...me. 

You can read the article in it's entirety here: Best Parenting Advice Article.

What is your best parenting advice? I'd love to hear it in the comments section of my blog.

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

7 Un-Scary Ways to Share Your Faith

As Christians, we are supposed to share our faith. Jesus told us that in the "Great Commission." Still, the truth is, it's hard to go up to someone and say, "Hey, do you know Jesus?" It's scary. We don't want to be rejected.  

So here are 7 Un-Scary Ways to Share Your Faith.

1. At Church. Really? Doesn't everyone there already know Jesus? While most people at your church know of Jesus, they don't all know Jesus. Not only that, sometimes those of us who know Jesus are the very ones who could use some inspiration and encouragement. So share your faith at church, without fear.

2. With Your Attitude. I was in a stressful place - the hospital waiting room - yet the desk clerk told me, "You are the happiest person I have ever seen here." I responded, "Life is too short to be miserable," then after a moment I added, "especially when you have the joy of the Lord." She grabbed my hand, squeezed it, and responded, "I knew it!"  To paraphrase comedian Ken Davis, if you have the joy of the Lord...tell your face.

3. In Writing. Want to share your faith story, but too scared to do it verbally? Write it! Share it in your local paper's faith section, your church newsletter, or even start your own blog. (That's how I got started). It's less scary to share your story in a venue where you're unlikely to experience face-to-face rejection. 

4. In Response. A friend shares with you a hard time they're going through. Now is the perfect time not only to tell them how sorry you are, but to offer to pray for them. Very few people in crisis are going to turn down your offer of prayer. Then do it. Right there. Out loud. The power of prayer can be quite moving and make a big difference in some one's life.

5. With a Pin. Once a client asked me, "Where do you go to church?" I was shocked by his question initially, as it was so outside the cultural norm. Then I realized he saw my fish pin (the symbol of Christianity), and it opened the door to share my church and my faith. I recently saw someone wearing an "I Pray" pin. I was able to point to it and say, "Me too!"

6. By Your Music. I listen to contemporary Christian music in the car, at home, and even when I worked outside the home. It is a great non-threatening way to share your faith when someone asks you about what artist, song or station you're listening.

7. By Your Influence. After I became a stay-home mom, a previous co-worker contacted me. His son was facing a dangerous operation and he emailed me saying he knew I was someone "who believed in the power of prayer." I was shocked. We'd never really had a faith conversation in the 5 years we worked together. Yet, 12 years later, he remembered me as someone to come to for prayer. Never underestimate the power of your influence.

There is a big emphasis put on Jesus words, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." 

But sharing your faith doesn't have to be scary. You don't have to shout it from the rooftops. God is often found in the gentle whisper.

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-12

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

When God Calls You to Obey

Five years ago this month, God called me to leave the church I was attending. I was concerned about liberal denominational views that the church at large was having, but "my" local church didn't agree with those views. "My church" was conservative, and it was where all my friends were. Yet God called me to leave. And I obeyed.

It wasn't easy. The first Sunday as I worshipped at a new church, a church where I didn't know anyone, and the songs weren't familiar, I shed a few tears. And the next Sunday. And possibly even the Sunday after that. I missed my pastor. I missed my church. I missed my friends. But I obeyed.

What I didn't know, but God did, was that while I only heard what God was calling me away from, I didn't know what he was calling me to.  He called me to new friends. He called me to a church that would help me build my speaking ministry. He called me to church where my husband would experience revival and be led to earn his masters in theology. He called me to a church where my marriage would grow and flourish. He called me to a church that would fill my daughter with the Holy Spirit, and give her a vibrant love for Jesus. 

The reason I blog about this today, is because now five years later, he has called the pastors and many of the congregation of my former church to leave the denomination. And they may be scared. And they may even be shedding a tear or two. Because when God calls us away from something we love, something familiar, something comfortable, it can be hard. Because we only see what we'll be missing.

But if we could see what God is leading us to, we wouldn't walk away from the former, but run. I love "my" new church. But more importantly than that, I love that my God who began a good work in me is seeing it through to completion. Because that is who He is, and what He does. I obeyed, and I was blessed more richly than I could have imagined.  And I know my that he is going to do the same for my friends who are taking those same scary steps of obedience today.

What is God calling you to do today? Take that first step of obedience. Don't look at what you're walking away from. Look toward the blessings that God is calling you to.

I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 1:3-6

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com