This Is Kristin

~”Only Jesus could turn such a self proclaimed enemy of the gospel into one of the greatest lovers of the gospel who ever lived. If He could change Saul and mark eternity with his life, God can change us.
Let’s continue to offer Him a teachable heart…”

Paul used the words “grace,” and “joy,” more than any other in the bible. He also went through some of the most difficult and dire circumstances. That is a strange paradox. It seems even against human nature. I don’t think we are naturally joyful when dealing with difficulties, nor do I think we are naturally gracious when dealing with people. It’s beautiful to see, what Christ can do in a life who is completely transformed. He went from being Saul the persecutor of Christians, to Paul the Christian missionary, who offered people hope and eternity.

“Having searched the life of Saul, how can we ever doubt that Christ can save? Is any too wicked? Any too murderous? Grace never draws a line with a willing soul. His arm is never too short to save.”

(Quotes are from Beth Moore, “To Live is Christ” bible study)

~At the church I am attending, we are doing a new series called, “Authentic Christianity,” and today’s sermon was especially good, I felt.
The pastor was talking about how, to the Pharisees, every big and little thing was something to argue about, dividing fellowship and that they felt they knew the answers to all those things. He used this quote by Augustine, “In essentials, unity; in non essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” He explained how the “essentials, ” of our Christian faith, that we can all have unity on is the love of Christ and salvation, that everything under that to argue about divides us. He explained how important it is to continue to be teachable, and continually examine the state of your heart, using biblical knowledge to set yourself free, which will help others, instead of using biblical knowledge to condemn others.
He said, “If you want to see what a Pharisee looks like, look in the mirror, because there’s a little Pharisee in all of us.”

“I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” ~John 17:23

~”Here is a thought question. How many people are basing their opinion of God on how they see you act in time of stress or trouble?”

This question has been lingering in my head ever since I read it. Scientifically, they talk about the fight or flight response. Where you make the choice when faced with stress, to fight, and deal with it, or run from it. I am learning, that there is more to it, when you are a child of God.

In the bible, Jonah and Paul were both called by God. “Paul was compelled by his calling to Rome. Jonah was repelled by his calling to Nineveh.”

Jonah fled, and Paul obeyed. Both were put on ships, and both endured storms. Both were affecting the others around them.

Jonah’s presence on the ship, caused all the others on the ship to endure a storm, and while Jonah slept, the others were desperately trying to survive.

Paul’s presence on the ship admist the storm, was calm. He offered the people courage and bread, and because of his mere presence, all 276 people that were on board with him were under the protection of God.
Ultimately, both Jonah and Paul survived those storms, but what went on during the storm was dramatically different. “An attitude of obedience makes a difference to the servant and to those close by. Servants of God can dramatically affect the lives of others positively or negatively.”

(all quotes taken from “To Live is Christ” bible study by Beth Moore.) The scriptures that I am talking about in this are.

Jonah 1:1-17

Acts 27

Thoughts?

~ I was feeling pretty awful the other day, and praying to God that I needed to be comforted. I got out of my car, and two neighborhood children ran up to me and hugged me tightly. I felt like I was being hugged by God himself.

~It’s so awesome to see how children respond to the nudging of God with no hesitation.~

Many people have said that we can learn a lot from children, and I whole heartedly agree. In this situation, they had no reason to hug me, they just had a sudden urge to randomly run up and hug me. I didn’t need to tell them that I was sad, and they didn’t even need to see me crying, they just responded to a sudden desire to run and hug.

As I grow older, I don’t often run and hug people for no reason, but if I think about it, I’ve wanted to at times. Maybe that desire to be affectionate within me, is coming from God, to comfort a person who is hurting inside, that I may never know what is going on.

To go along with Kat’s daily challenges, I am going to add one of my own today for my blog readers: pray that God would use you to comfort someone’s unknown need today, and when He urges you, randomly hug them. They may feel as though they were hugged by God.

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” ~Matthew 6:14-15

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” ~ Luke 6:37

“”If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” ~Luke 17:3-4

“bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”~ Colossians 3:13

The Greek word for Forgiveness is aphiemi, and some of it’s definitions are, “to let go, let alone, let be. to disregaurd. to give up, to keep no longer. to leave one by not taking him as companion.”

That last definition stood out to me, because it seems that if you choose not to forgive, then that sin that was committed against you, hangs onto you like a “companion” in your every day life. I think that often times people feel that forgiving means that they are still able to bring up the past sins and use them as weapons. I don’t see that as the definition of forgiveness. “to keep no longer,” does not say to me, “until I am mad, and then I can bring up your past sins.”

If we see people through the eyes of their past, then we are not looking at them the way that God does. We are not looking at them in grace. Allow each day to be new for you, and for them. Forgive each other. Move on, and live your life.

“If you, God, kept record on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that’s why you’re worshiped.” Psalm 130:3-4 (message)

“Godly influence can carry a much heavier weight than ungodly influence.”
(To Live is Christ bible study by Beth Moore)

For me, that statement shifts my focus from being afraid of the bad influences in the world on my children, and puts my energy and perspective on being a good and Godly influence for them. Which is where my energy is better spent anyways.

When you start thinking about situations, maybe even in your own life, you may start to realize that the good really did out last the bad. I know a couple, who the boyfriend started out as a drug dealer, and they got pregnant. Her church surrounded them with grace and love during that season, and through tears at one service the boyfriend accepted Christ and is now a huge voice for Jesus. He still had a life long of “ungodly influence,” but those few months of “Godly influence,” and the love of God changed his life, and their children’s lives forever.

It’s encouraging to know that the good and love we impart into our children’s lives, and everyone else in our lives for that matter, will out last the bad. As long as we are being sincere in our faith, and showing the love of God, we need not worry as much about the bad out there, or at least know that the good we do will outlast the bad.

“The higher goal of spiritual living is not to amass a wealth of information, but to face sacred moments… It is not a thing that lends significance to a moment; it is a Moment that lends significance to things.” ~Abraham Heschel

What would you do more of/ less of, if you only had one month left to live? Would moments be more sacred to you then? Would you sense God around you, because of the your stillness? Would you listen to your kids more intently, and enjoy the questions that they ask over and over again? Would you soak in the faces around you, and enjoy the touch of people you love that much more?

I know I would. I’d put less a value on sleep, and more value on holding my baby. I’d play more. Everything would seem special, everything would be a moment I’d remember. Why? Because I’d be intentional in the way I was living, because I’d want to enjoy the last days of my life, and mostly I’d want to enjoy the people in my life. I’d give those talking to me my full attention because I wouldn’t want to miss an ounce of what they were saying. I’d be so involved in each moment that I wouldn’t be thinking about the next, or the next day, I wouldn’t want to, I’d want to soak it in. I’d hug more. I’d laugh more. I’d tell those in my life that I love them that much more. I’d remember to return those phone calls. I’d make time to go to lunch. I’d spend time talking with my husband. I’d hold my sons tighter, and longer. I’d let the time at the dinner table linger. I’d do those things my kids wanted to do, and I wouldn’t watch the clock. I’d want those minutes to seem like hours, and I’d want each of those minutes to be packed with memories, with good good moments. I’d be, be here, in the moment.

What would you do?

John 13:34-35 “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

How will un-believers, new believers, etc. want to return to a church/ community?
“when they see the love you have for each other.”

Community is so important.

Yes another conversation about church, another question about it. It just seems that there are sooo many flaws in churches. I know we need to go, I know what the bible says about it, about worshiping together, and coming together, I recognize the importance, and I feel that is where my frustration lies.
I did not grow up going to church. I went a few times on holidays with my grandparents, but I never experienced church, and church family until I married my husband. I know it exists. I know that a group of imperfect people can meet together as the body of Christ, and be the body of Christ. I know that they treat each other as family, and still do to us living far away from them. I know the pastor lived out what he preached, and was a great husband, dad, son, and friend. He was easy to respect and to learn from. I know it’s possible, but why is it so hard to find again?
We have gone to a few different churches since moving away from our home church, and have not found that closeness, nor realness.
The first church we went to was huge, and I made friends there through the mothers bible study I was doing. We were there for a year, and they took away the mothers study, and limited child care so most of us stopped going to that, then most moved to different churches. We never met the pastor personally, but did think he taught well. Church was entertaining, and the kids had plenty to do, but it felt lacking. Many Sundays I sat completely alone.
The second church, was a church plant. That fell apart quickly as the true character of the pastor was revealed. Couple by couple people are leaving that church, and I don’t believe it will last long unless some major humbling happens, and priorities get shifted.
All that to say, I am scared of church now. I am leery that there isn’t a place for the people that don’t easily look and act the part of a nice “churchy” person. I don’t feel like you can be very real in most churches, and I think that is because people don’t take the aspect of church family seriously. Sometimes people have things going on in their lives that require comfort, encouragement, praise, congratulations from other believers, and most don’t seem to want to hear that on Sunday mornings. They want the response to “How are you?” to be “Fine, thank you.” so they can move onto the sermon, and get out of there. The problem is, is that if you aren’t sharing aspects of your life with those that are close to you, then you don’t grow in relationship with them, and you aren’t recieving what God intended for you to recieve. You can’t be comforted, encouraged, congratulated by God if you aren’t allowing anyone into that portion of your life, and you can’t be the hands and feet of God if you have no idea what is going on in others lives.
That is my rant…..

What are your church experiences? (some encouragement please…)

“During the 50 days of the Easter season culminating on Pentecost, Ignatius of Loyola encourages disciples to pray daily for the charisma of “intense gladness.” Clearly he does not mean a giddy cocktail party gaiety or a brave attempt to smile through the tears, but a deep seated joy in the ressurection triumph of Jesus Christ…
If this prayer is heard, I shall have found a source of Joy that is unassailable, for whatever happens, the Lord is always risen. Contingencies cannot suffocate this deep joy. Whether the day is stormy or fair, whether I am sick or healthy, whether I feel like a dirt ball or a butterfly, whatever comes cannot alter the fact that the Lord is risen.”
~Brennan Manning