Saturday, September 29, 2012

Take a moment and think about that quote, I mean really ponder what it’s saying.  Do you believe it?  Does change arise from chaos, no matter what the chaos is?  When I think about the cross, how chaotic that scene must have been, the people standing around either cheering, crying or in shear disbelief of what they were witnessing, in that moment, was it pure chaos?   In that moment, did those who walked with Christ really believe he was who he said he was?  In that moment were they trusting what he had told them and expecting him to create change for their world?
Our world today is in much chaos, even closer to home our country is feeling very chaotic.  With the election quickly approaching and the uncertainty of what may happen no matter who gets elected, change is about to come, does it mean it will be great?  Well I suppose it depends on the perspective in which you view what’s going on around us today.  In a world where the news shows someone killing themselves live on TV for the world to see, to other people killing our people with no sense of remorse or even care as if they weren’t human, we have become so desensitized to the value of human life, not understanding or even caring about the eternity that they go to once they leave this world. We could get caught up in the, “Oh no, what’s going to happen to us as Christians” as we slowly lose our freedoms or we can embrace the fact that “GREAT CHANGE COMES FROM CHAOS”.  Just like back in the day of Christ they could not imagine what that change would be, they didn’t have God’s Word to rely on, His truths to hold close to their heart and the scripture that says, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5
God never intended for us to look at the world around us and worry about what is going on, that doesn’t mean we bury our head in the sand.  It’s ok to be informed and we should be, without being informed we can make some unwise decisions.  However, being informed and being anxious over the future of this world are two different things when you’re a Christian.   Scripture tells us time and again, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 
As a Christian we have something to look forward too, we know that out of all this chaos there is something wonderful coming.  “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:42. 
So I want to end with this, as I know I can’t remove anxiety or worry from myself or anyone else  Christ can, but understanding how the story ends and knowing that it will all be worth it no matter what may come can help me accept the statement with chaos comes great change and that’s our Lord Jesus Christ!
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.  Revelations 21:1-7

God Bless and May the Lord give you peace and comfort through times of uncertainty and change!!

Monday, September 3, 2012

No Love

I recently heard on a radio broadcast that Facebook is causing more and more people to feel depressed.  The thought that everyone post only those good things about their lives make others compare themselves and then question why their life isn't that good.  Let's face it how many people have you taken a picture of and they said, "If that's not a good picture don't post it on Facebook!"  I know I've said it myself, is it because we don't want people to see the bad side of our lives, we post those wonderful family vacation pictures but never tell of the arguments all the way down the road heading on that vacation.  We post about getting engaged or getting married so everyone can know, or so we can feel better than those people who aren't in a relationship or at that level in their relationship.  Whatever the reason people are only seeing a glimpse into the real us and that glimpse is only what we want them to see.
I'll be the first to admit that I try to post uplifting encouraging messages or faith based messages, not because I'm always happy or life is grand, trust me there are times I'd really like to say what I'm thinking but in life and in "Facebook Reality" I try to guard my tongue from hurting others intentionally or unintentionally (I'm not always successful at it and I admit it.)
There are things that I don't love about Facebook and it's world and we all know it's become a world of it's own and those things I'd rather give no love to at all are; that it's making it easy for people to be unfaithful and causing divorces, jealousy, discord, hate speech, arguments, immodest images (that just happen to show up because someone I'm friends with commented on or "liked" a picture of someones that their friends with), political debates (that never get resolved), and the freedom for anyone to say what they want without thinking of the way it makes them look or the consequences of others seeing it and the list could go on and on.
So is the issue really with others and what they put out there or is it within us.  The Bible is says in 2 Corinthians 10:12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.  -- Comparing ourselves is not wise, we have the life we have and if we're trusting in the Lord we have to trust that he knows what He's doing.  So you may not get to travel the world or have a big house or maybe it's not His plan for you to get married.  When we put our sights on what He wants for us and stop comparing ourselves with the rest of the world we can learn to be content in whatever state we're in.
In conclusion, I'm not a hater of Facebook obviously, I'm on it all the time and I post my blog to it), it has been used to connect me with people from my past that I've built great new relationships with, I am able to stay connected with those I've met around the world and I've even made new friends through Facebook connections.  However, we need to keep it all in perspective, are we using our Facebook "powers" for good or for evil.  Are we encouraging to others or discouraging.  Are we thoughtful of others feelings of those reading our pages or do we not care.  It's your page and you can do with it what you wish, but remember words and images scream loudly about who we are and how others perceive us to be.......How do you want others to see you? 

Happy Labor Day and Many Blessings!!