Friends

(My ADHD Me, Truth 4 the Journey, Chatty Kelly and Sue J)

On Monday, my dear friend Sue J had a brunch in my honor. (This was to celebrate my status as a "published" author because of my article finally coming out in the November issue of the Proverbs 31 Woman magazine...nearly one year after I submitted it!)

Bloggy friends Truth for the Journey and My ADHD Me were also there. Patterson 5 was on the guest list, but was home with a sick little one. Two non-bloggie friends (Stacy & Gwen) were there with us as well. We wish YOU could have been there too.

I am a social gal and thrive on friendships and fellowship. God created us in his image, and I see that I am like him in this regard. God created Adam. He saw that it was not good for Adam to be alone (Genesis 2:18). So then came Eve. Throughout the bible we see the importance of relationships.

David's best friend was Jonathan. The bible shares of their close friendship in 1 Samuel 18 - 20. Jonathan loved David "as himself." (Love your neighbor as yourself.)

Even Jesus who was perfect desired fellowship with his disciples. He didn't go through his ministry alone, but had close friends. Simon was one of his closest friends, whom Jesus called "the rock I will build my church on." (Matthew 16:17-19) John was another good friend. John called himself "the disciple Jesus loved." (in John 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7 and 21:20. I picture John wearing this shirt.)

But even in a relationship with Jesus, there were troubles. Many times Jesus' disciples didn't understand what he was saying. In John 6, they say "this is hard teaching. Who can accept it?" Yet, they admit there was no where else to go, Jesus had the words of eternal life. Other times, they let Jesus down...sleeping when he asked them to pray for him before his crucifixion, and of course Simon denying Jesus three times.(Matthew 26)

I know I've let my friends down at times, yet they are still still my friends. They've stood beside me in bad times and in good. I am so thankful to have them to help me celebrate the good times this week.

So today my encouragement for you is to make a friend, be a friend, and have fun with a friend! I had fun with mine! Since you bloggy friends couldn't be there, I leave you with this quote from 3 John 1:14, "I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name."

Proverbs 17:17 -- A friend loves at all times.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 -- Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

How to Fit in at Church

BONUS BLOG: This was too funny not to pass on....

Therefore....

I'm studying the text of Romans 12:1,2 in response to Edie's Random Question, over at Rich Gifts. We are supposed to read the text, and write which part speaks to your heart. You can view other answers over at Edie's blog. Here is mine. First let's look at the text.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

The funny thing is, when writing about the text, Edie skips over the text "Therefore, I urge you, brothers." My pastor once told me whenever you see the word THEREFORE, you need to stop and ask "What is it THERE FOR?" To do that, you must read what comes before.

Romans 11 tells of God's mercy. God originally came for Israel. He did not reject his people, rather they rejected him. So now gentiles were offered grace, "grafted in" Paul says. We were not part of the originally plant (or plan). But because of the rejection by the Jewish people, gentiles were included. My study bible further explains that God's merciful plan to include the gentiles in his great salvation plan should humble them, not fill them with arrogance. Israel's hardening to Jesus is partial, not total; and temporary, not permanent.

In 11:22 it tells of the kindness and sternness of God. My study bible says "Any adequate doctrine of God must include these two elements. When we ignore his kindness, God seems a ruthless tyrant; when we ignore his sternness, he seems a doting father." This seems like the perfect example of God, kind yet stern; loving yet just.

"THEREFORE" - in view of God's mercy ...God has been merciful to us gentiles by grafting us in, where we don't belong, so much more so we should be changed because of it. "Transformed by the renewing of our minds."

So, have you been transformed? Or do you take this merciful gift God gave, (a gift meant for Israel, but given to us gentiles because of mercy,) for granted? I admit, I do. I take for granted that Jesus died - a horrible death - for ME. For YOU. We so readily accept the grace that we forget the price. So today I urge you to focus on God's mercy.

We have been allowed where we don't belong. We have "all access back stage passes" so that we can go where others can't. We can be with God in heaven. We can have eternal life. We aren't groupies, we are invited guests. Because of the mercy of the host...the Heavenly Host.

Dear God, thank you for your great mercy. Forgive me for so callously accepting the gift of eternal life. Let my life be transformed by you, so that I may be able to know your will and apply it in my life. In Jesus name, amen.

I Heart Bob Coy

On Wednesday I blogged about my favorite radio pastor, Bob Coy. I should have also posted a disclaimer. See Bob is a sinner, saved by grace. His stories are often of racy topics of his life in Las Vegas. He worked in the casinos, and also sold and used drugs. In one of his sermons he shares how after he first became a Christian he quit using drugs, but still sold. He thought this was okay, because he was tithing on the income. I love this story! He truly was drinking spiritual milk. He was a new believer, following God and tithing...on his drug money! He had not yet experienced the spiritual "solid food," but God met Bob right where he was, and now he is a pastor.

See, I too am a sinner saved by grace. My blog focuses on the saved by grace part, but doesn't mention the sinner part too often. Like Bob Coy, I have a history. I never lived in Vegas or sold drugs, yet my background isn't just filled with stumbles, but with falls. Being raised in a home by an alcoholic, prescription drug addict mom didn't offer a lot of direction, and I made mistakes and had poor judgement.

Unlike Bob Coy, however, I am not ready to share my testimonies of failure with you. While Jesus has separated my sins as far as the East from the West from me, I still fear rejection because of them. I remember many years ago in a bible study group I was leading, I shared something (I don't even remember which "testimony" it was!) But afterwards one of the women said to me how surprised she was with what I shared. She said I was "so young and seemed to have it all together," leading a bible study group, walking the walk and talking the talk, that it was surprising to hear that I had feet of clay like everyone else.

I don't remember whether she sounded relieved or disappointed by my "feet of clay," but I do remember that it didn't feel good to be on the receiving end of the comment. I don't want to be judged by my past but by my present. Yet, even Jesus in his own hometown was judged by those who knew him before (even perfect then)..."Isn't he the carpenter's son?" They were incredulous that Joseph's son, who they'd watch grow up in the carpentry shop, now claimed to be the messiah. They knew him "back then." I wonder what those who knew me in my late teens and early 20's would say. "Who does she think she is? Isn't she the one who...?"

So I admire Bob Coy. He is willing to share his past, so that sinners like me know that they too can be saved by grace. And maybe one day I'll be able to share my testimonies. Until then, I know that I have a heavenly father who accepts me, past and all...even when I can't offer myself that same grace.

1 Corinthians 3:1, 2 -- Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it.

Matthew 13:53-57 -- When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor."

Romans 5:8 -- But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Quiet Time? When?

I've been reading alot about quiet time in blogs around the net lately. Seems its hard to squeeze it in, with all our busy social calendars. Not to mention the beckoning blogs to be written and read, families to feed, work to do, you know...life. So today I'm going to provide some tips that have helped me have quiet time.

It is especially hard for mothers of young children, (who are up at night with feedings or non-sleeping little ones) to try and get up early to spend some quiet time with God. In this exhausting season of life, we even nap when the little ones nap! So how can you sneak in quiet time. I read children's devotions to my preschooler. She loves the one-on-one time we spend reading. Don't think you could learn anything from a children's devotional book? Today's lesson was on Philippians 2:14, "Do everything without complaining or arguing." Surely none of you has a problem with that one? (I do!) So while the examples they use in the book may not be relevant to me, but my daughter, I can still challenge myself with the verses and apply them to my life.

Maybe you're busy in the car. Whether you are a busy executive heading to meetings, or the car pool mom, the radio is a great source of quiet time. When taking my oldest daughter to school every day, I always listened to an awesome pastor, Bob Coy. I never failed to be challenged and learn something. He is no longer in the time slot of my car pool drive, much to my disappointment, but I can still find his radio show here.

I'm sure there are loads on Internet pastors out there, for those of you who spend lots of time hanging out at the PC. If listening is your thing, you can hit Bob Coy or another site. Reading more your thing? I receive the P31 daily devotion in my email inbox every day. While checking my email, I squeeze in devotion time by reading their daily devotion. Even some of the blogs I read challenge me and teach me biblical lessons. Quiet time? Yes it is.

Want more bible intake without someone else's commentary? How about the bible on CD? I have it, and can take my 2 mile walk while listening to scripture come alive with animated voices. It is energizing to hear and picture the scriptures come to life while I walk. This is also a wonderful time to pray without interruption! Combining walking & quiet time gives me a chance to exercise my body & spirit.

Finally, I'm about to tell you my NEW SECRET WEAPON. Yes, this is going to revolutionize my quiet time. I just know it. Remember you heard it here first. THE TIME CHANGE! Yes, next weekend (Nov. 2) daylight savings time will end and we will revert to standard time. This means we'll FALL BACK gaining an hour. Well, usually I still wake up with my body clock saying "yes, I know the clock says it's 6, but feels like 7 to me." I plan on using my body clock to start having quiet time in the morning. It won't be a stretch to wake up at the same time as I have been, only now it will be one hour earlier. I'll let you know how it goes.

Do you have any quiet time tips?

Mark 1:35 -- Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Luke 5:16 -- But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed

Luke 9:28 -- About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.

One Nation Under God?

Do you think that we are still one nation, under God? This is the Random Question posted by Edie on Friday. There are lots of way to answer this question.

The first answer is yes. God is the ruler of all things. The bible says all authority is from God. So whether it's Obama or McCain, God is still the ultimate ruler, thereby we are a nation under God. We are a world under God. The heavens and the earth remain under God, and his control.

However, we do not LIVE like we are a nation under God. Based on the free will that God gave us, (the free will that allowed Adam & Eve to eat the fruit that God specifically told them not to), we choose to live as we are a nation under ME. (and by ME, I don't mean myself, I mean every man for himself, the "ME" first attitude).

ME says "ME FIRST." Jesus says "the first shall be last."
ME says "I'll cut you off at the knees." Jesus says "I am the vine, you are the branches" and graphs himself to us to make us stronger.
ME says "I'm not happy, I need prozac" Jesus says "the joy of the Lord is your strength"
ME says "Get over it!" Jesus says "blessed are those who mourn."
ME says "let the best man win!" Jesus says "Blessed are the peacemakers."
ME says "everyone else is doing it." Jesus says "do not let anyone lead you astray."*
(*by Jesus, I mean God's word- the bible, not specifically the words of Jesus)

We have ceased to be God serving, and live to be self serving. Don't think God hasn't noticed.

When the Israelites stopped serving God and put other things before God (the definition of idolatry), God allowed them to go into captivity for 70 years. We, too, may be entering a time of "captivity" to allow time to get our priorities in order.

When we put God first, we will truly be one nation under God. Until then, its just more lip service, more spin, and politics as usual.

****
Edie asks that we close our post with a prayer.
This prayer is an adaptation of Daniel 9:4-11, 17-19, with changes made by me to reflect our current time. (But I had to make very few.)

"O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and open his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and rebelled, we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened....
Lord you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame...we and our leaders are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him, we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us. All the United States has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.
Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the country.... We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay because your people bear your Name."

Winner Announced

Edie's has selected the winner of the Blog Make Over at her Design Blog. We picked our favorite poems and from them randomly selected a winner, who is Barb, with this entry:

"My blog is needy and I am greedy
It’s true and I’ll tell you why
I want the fluff .... YES ! all the stuff
That you said could be mine

A better header with awesome art
A blogskin that looks just ‘so
’Tabs and buttons and sidebar graphics
And pretty columns in a row

A place of my own, to share my thoughts
Where friends can come and visit
And share what God’s doing in their lives, too
Now, that’s not too much to ask, is it?"

Congratulations Barb! Thanks for everyone who played. And remember, if you didn't win, Edie will be happy to create a custom made blog for you for a small fee. Check her out!