Ok, I'm kind of old. I've seen and heard a lot of things during the course of my lifetime but this one really does take the cake. LOL!
Have you ever heard of something called POLYAMORY? Huh? Well, I hadn't either but I was watching TV the other day and they were talking about it. Of course, I sat up and took notice.
Ok, here it is from the Urban Dictionary: The practice, state or ability of having more than one sexual loving relationship at the same time, with the full knowledge and consent of all partners involved.
This is the definition used by California polyamorist Morning Glory Zell, who coined the term in the early 1980's. Polyamory differs from adultery because all the partners know about each others' lovers, so there is not secrecy or betrayal.
Ok, what?? First of all, I knew someone who was in this lifestyle & I just thought of them as swingers or to put it mildly, people of loose morals and scruples. Cough, cough, slut. Shhh. You know what I mean. I've always believed that marriage was between one man and one woman as the Bible says. What do you mean it's not adultery if your partner knows about the other ones?? Why bother to get married if you want to have multiple sex partners?
Believe it or not, these are mostly women that do this. In one of the stories I saw two men lived with her and she had a child with one of them. Am I the only one that thinks this is really weird? Anyway, I thought this might be a great way to open up a discussion about this.
Because we didn't know what this type of lifestyle was termed, we would get very confused because we would see this person, who was married, in public, cuddling, hugging and kissing other men. Sometimes they would go on excursions with us, with full knowledge of the husband. I was stunned.
According to this television show I watched, I think it was called "Strange Sex" but I'm not sure, these people think it's totally natural to have multiple partners and it's not about the sex, they actually love & are committed to these relationships. That just makes me tired.
Here's another definition:
Polyamorous Means "Many Loves". It means having multiple commited relationships with people you are mutally in love with, and everyone wants it to be that way.
This is not to be confused with swinging or multiple relationships, where you are sleeping with the other people or they are friends with bennies, whom you love. That is called non-monogamy, and to say it is polyamory is a lie.
"I told Brad I'm in love with him, and my husband Rick is very happy for us."
"That's cheating!"
"No, we're polyamorous. You can only cheat on rules that exist. We don't have an agreement to be exclusive. But an example of me cheating would be to not tell Rick that I'm in love, because the rule of honesty is right up there with the rule that the primary relationship comes first"
"I could never do that. I'm too jealous"
"Then don't."
"Are you sleeping with both these guys?"
"Now that I'm in love with both of them, yes. But you don't have to be having sex to be polyamorous, because what it means is that you are mutually in love with more than one person at a time. Most people do sleep with those they love, but sex is not what makes you poly"
I'm really cracking up here. What do you think? Let me know. I think it's hysterical!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Counterfeit Christians or The Art of Forgiveness
I've always been inordinately good at forgiving people. I'm not really sure why. I like to think that it's because I was saved at the age of 4 or 5 in VBS and even though we never went to church when I was growing up except at Easter and really didn't know the Bible at all, I had the Holy Spirit in my heart to instruct me and guide me. It's really amazing considering the warrior redneck family that I grew up in. My Mom could hold grudges like nobody's business and stop talking to people and never budge...ever. Never mind the ability she had to give the cold shoulder! I still shudder when I think about it. Actually, if there was Olympic event in that category, she would no doubt get the gold. And talk about a temper!! Whew! I've seen that woman beat up grown men and she used a pool cue on more than one occasion on guys that got out of line in her tavern. She once threw a television at my stepfather. Add in the fact that I grew up in a neighborhood where people's idea of working out their differences was to meet outside after school. I stuck out like a sore thumb. There was so much drama and violence going on in my own home that I wanted to go to school to get a break. Don't get me wrong, I had a temper. Still do, but most of time it was directed at inanimate objects until I discovered if I broke something I would not have it any longer. Very counter productive. But it's rare that I turn it on a person. I have to really be pushed. But I do have to admit that when it comes to my children or loved ones. Whew! If someone messes with one of them I definitely come unglued and it's not a pretty sight. You know that whole "seeing red" thing? Yep, it's true. Like a bull! Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. LOL!
Anyway, getting back to the subject of forgiveness. I don't know why it has always come easily to me but it has. Now don't get me wrong, forgiveness doesn't mean that we're going to necessarily embrace this person & be BFFs but, depending on the circumstances, it can mean that I can let go of the resentment, put it out of my mind and get on with my life. Not to mention what a wonderful witness it is.
So if we go about our daily lives proclaiming throughout the world that we are Christians but refuse to forgive, that is a serious sin, according to Jesus.
Here are some of the verses in the Bible that speaks about it:
Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (NIV)
Matthew 6:14-16
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. (NIV)
Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. (NIV)
Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV)
My Pastor says that whenever Jesus emphasized something this many times He was very serious. This was not a suggestions but a command. I once asked someone who claimed to be a Christian to forgive me. I didn't ask that person to admit to their part in the whole thing. I can only do what I'm told to do. After I did that this person told me, "I don't think I can forgive you right now".
Can you believe that? I have never told anyone that in my entire life. When my brother-in-law shot my sister to death, I forgave him. It doesn't mean I wrote to him in prison or even checked on him but it did free me to live my life without obsessing about him.
So the question bears asking, can you be a "real" Christian and not at least attempt to forgive others at all? Is it just another way to inflict more pain and continue a problem that I was trying to put an end to? That's what I think.
Lewis B. Smedes wrote in his book, Forgive and Forget, "When you release the wrongdoer from the wrong, you cut a malignant tumor out of your inner life. You set a prisoner free, but you discover that the real prisoner was yourself."
We will know the work of forgiveness is complete when we experience the freedom that comes as a result. We are the ones who suffer most when we choose not to forgive. When we do forgive, the Lord sets our hearts free from the anger, bitterness, resentment and hurt that previously imprisoned us. Learning how to forgive is one of the most unnatural duties in the Christian life.
It goes against our human nature. Forgiving is a supernatural act that Jesus Christ was capable of, but when we are hurt by someone, we want to hold a grudge. We want justice. Sadly, we don't trust God with that. There is a secret to successfully living the Christian life, however, and that same secret applies when we're struggling with how to forgive. it go when we have been unjustly hurt?
The answer lies in understanding the Trinity's role in forgiveness. Christ's role was to die for our sins. God the Father's role was to accept Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf and forgive us. Today, the Holy Spirit's role is to enable us to do those things in the Christian life we cannot do on our own, namely forgive others because God has forgiven us.
While I was writing this today, I did a lot of research on this and it was really fascinating. If you get a chance go online and check it out. By writing this and sharing it, it's helping me to deal with unforgiveness in my life. I don't want to be imprisoned in that place forever.
Let me know if you agree or share with me the ways you've found to deal with these things in your lives!
Love you guys!
Anyway, getting back to the subject of forgiveness. I don't know why it has always come easily to me but it has. Now don't get me wrong, forgiveness doesn't mean that we're going to necessarily embrace this person & be BFFs but, depending on the circumstances, it can mean that I can let go of the resentment, put it out of my mind and get on with my life. Not to mention what a wonderful witness it is.
So if we go about our daily lives proclaiming throughout the world that we are Christians but refuse to forgive, that is a serious sin, according to Jesus.
Here are some of the verses in the Bible that speaks about it:
Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (NIV)
Matthew 6:14-16
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. (NIV)
Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. (NIV)
Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV)
My Pastor says that whenever Jesus emphasized something this many times He was very serious. This was not a suggestions but a command. I once asked someone who claimed to be a Christian to forgive me. I didn't ask that person to admit to their part in the whole thing. I can only do what I'm told to do. After I did that this person told me, "I don't think I can forgive you right now".
Can you believe that? I have never told anyone that in my entire life. When my brother-in-law shot my sister to death, I forgave him. It doesn't mean I wrote to him in prison or even checked on him but it did free me to live my life without obsessing about him.
So the question bears asking, can you be a "real" Christian and not at least attempt to forgive others at all? Is it just another way to inflict more pain and continue a problem that I was trying to put an end to? That's what I think.
Lewis B. Smedes wrote in his book, Forgive and Forget, "When you release the wrongdoer from the wrong, you cut a malignant tumor out of your inner life. You set a prisoner free, but you discover that the real prisoner was yourself."
We will know the work of forgiveness is complete when we experience the freedom that comes as a result. We are the ones who suffer most when we choose not to forgive. When we do forgive, the Lord sets our hearts free from the anger, bitterness, resentment and hurt that previously imprisoned us. Learning how to forgive is one of the most unnatural duties in the Christian life.
It goes against our human nature. Forgiving is a supernatural act that Jesus Christ was capable of, but when we are hurt by someone, we want to hold a grudge. We want justice. Sadly, we don't trust God with that. There is a secret to successfully living the Christian life, however, and that same secret applies when we're struggling with how to forgive. it go when we have been unjustly hurt?
The answer lies in understanding the Trinity's role in forgiveness. Christ's role was to die for our sins. God the Father's role was to accept Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf and forgive us. Today, the Holy Spirit's role is to enable us to do those things in the Christian life we cannot do on our own, namely forgive others because God has forgiven us.
While I was writing this today, I did a lot of research on this and it was really fascinating. If you get a chance go online and check it out. By writing this and sharing it, it's helping me to deal with unforgiveness in my life. I don't want to be imprisoned in that place forever.
Let me know if you agree or share with me the ways you've found to deal with these things in your lives!
Love you guys!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Virtue Is It's Own Reward or No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Every day I get a daily devotion from Charles Swindoll & they are awesome. This morning I was reading one of them and something he said really struck home. He said that we Americans like things to be logical and fair. We not only like that, we operate our lives on that basis. It's a big deal to us. Meaning this: if I do what is right, good will come to me, and if I do what is wrong, bad things will happen to me. Right brings rewards and wrong brings consequences. That's a very logical and fair axiom of life, but there's only one problem with it. It isn't always true. Life doesn't always work out that way. We HATE being ripped off. Consequences belong to wrong actions. When they attach themselves to right actions, we struggle with resentment and anger. Boy, oh boy, that hit the nail right on the head for me, Mr. Swindoll! You got me where I live! So now I come to the crux of my story today.....
Some of you reading this will not believe this but I have really never had any big aspirations in my life besides being a wife and mother. That's the God's honest truth. I know, right? - not a popular thing to say but it's the truth. I look at people who spend their entire lives, or at least a large portion of it, training to do one thing and one thing only & I have to admire that, but it's entirely foreign-to me. I'm always interested in learning new things. A jack-of-all trades & master of none. The only thing that I have ever loved to spend a lot of time on was singing and even that was not for a career but to please God. Now having said that I am going to take you back down memory lane to 1984, I was living as a single mother with two little boys and working in a Rock & Roll club. (shhh, don't tell anybody. I remember praying to God and asking for him to send me the right person to be a father to my boys because I wasn't exactly moving in the right circles to meet the right kind of man but my options were limited. Isn't it incredible that God puts us in situations where we have no choice but to depend on Him for help? I just love that. Anyway, long story even longer (I won't bore you with the details unless you insist) I met Charles. It was an instant connection and we never looked back. Now when we met, he had custody of his two little boys also. They were 3 & 5 years old. Sweet little guys. Charles had gotten custody because he is an awesome father & their mother thought they should be with him because she wanted to focus on her career, (and someone else cough, cough) I think she instantly regretted that decision but by that time it was already too late because I knew the moment that I met him what a catch he was. The only way that I could meet a man like him was for God to fix us up and I was not going to let him go. Mama didn't raise no dummies. We clicked immediately. There is such a thing as love at first sight. Also, God touched my heart. I say two precious little boys that needed a mother and I was only too happy to step in and fill that roll. It seemed like a win-win situation to me.
From the beginning I worked very hard to blend our families. Was it easy? Heck no! Back then there was no internet or anything to help with that but I believed in us and I knew we could do it. There were challenges, jealousies, etc. my son wouldn't let them call me mom. I never demanded that they did that anyway. They had a mother and I didn't want to push issues that weren't important. What someone is called is not important, the relationship is. I tried to understand how their mother could leave them. It was hard but I told myself that she really did the selfless thing by letting their father have them, knowing they would get better care. But as time went on, it was obvious that instead of being grateful to me for trying to raise her children and take good care of them, she was doing everything she could to undermine me. I even tried to understand that. Even if she was already remarried, she viewed me as the person standing in the way of getting her family back. I get that! But that really wasn't my fault. I'm not going to go into all the ugly details right now, but let's just say that there were many years of struggle, pain & hardship. Doing without, stretching our budget, etc. Being a mother is hard enough but being a stepmother is incredibly difficult. I had all the responsibility and she took all the credit and turned everything against me every chance she got. I remember crying in Charles' arms and he would tell me that one day when the boys grew up, they would see the truth and that was the life raft that I clung to. Needless to say, I'm not sure exactly what went wrong but it didn't work out that way. I cannot even tell you the pain that I went through when I realized that she had "won". That's how I thought of it at the time. They were closer to her then they were me. She had "bought' them, Blah, blah, blah. Yadda, yadda, yadda. The self pity was terrible. I honestly didn't know what went wrong. I thought I had done everything right. Like I said in the first paragraph, I always believed that I would be rewarded for my actions, my sacrifices, etc. and she would have to face her consequences. Ha! What a joke. I was devastated. Then I became angry because I thought it was so unfair, and I tried to get even with her. Big mistake. That just made things worse . Remember that old joke, you can build a hundred buildings and not be called a builder but (bleep) one goat and your a goat (bleeper). You get my drift? It just gave her ammunition to use against me. She was able to turn so many people against me, they believed everything that she said about me and I know I shouldn't care what they thought but it's hard not to care about your reputation. The Bible says a good name is something to be valued. Mine was in the toilet. Well, to wrap this up, let me just say I ended up going into therapy to deal with my emotions and try to make sense of everything. it was a big help. My therapist showed me that I wasn't crazy, that I was going through a grieving process and that all I was trying to do and had done was because I was trying to make sense out of what went wrong, and not understanding why things didn't turn out the way I had believed it would. She actually said that I wasn't the one who needed to be in therapy, the other people were. Whew! What a relief!
Now I have arrived at the point I'm trying to make. During the course of all this,I think I might have gone through a period of being PO'd at God. Why did He put me in this position? Why didn't He do something about it? Why did He allow all this to happen?
Well, the truth is, I needed to take responsibility for some bad choices that I made. If I could go back and do some things differently I would. But that's a topic for another day. Also, Like I wrote in a previous blog, He has recently brought some things to light that have opened some people's eyes and I'm so happy about that. My whole problem was that I expected my fairy tale ending, just like in the movies. But you know what? God never promised me that. Charles Stanley always says, "Trust God and leave all the consequences to him." That's what I'm learning to do. The story isn't over yet & God can still make something beautiful come out of this entire stinky mess,and I trust Him to do that.Romans 8: 28 & 29. You know, I still love those boys like they're my own because they are! Born of my heart. I love you guys and thank you for letting me share my heart and bare my soul to you. Please feel free to share anything with me. I will pray for you! I'm attaching some pictures. Please let me know what you think, ok?
Some of you reading this will not believe this but I have really never had any big aspirations in my life besides being a wife and mother. That's the God's honest truth. I know, right? - not a popular thing to say but it's the truth. I look at people who spend their entire lives, or at least a large portion of it, training to do one thing and one thing only & I have to admire that, but it's entirely foreign-to me. I'm always interested in learning new things. A jack-of-all trades & master of none. The only thing that I have ever loved to spend a lot of time on was singing and even that was not for a career but to please God. Now having said that I am going to take you back down memory lane to 1984, I was living as a single mother with two little boys and working in a Rock & Roll club. (shhh, don't tell anybody. I remember praying to God and asking for him to send me the right person to be a father to my boys because I wasn't exactly moving in the right circles to meet the right kind of man but my options were limited. Isn't it incredible that God puts us in situations where we have no choice but to depend on Him for help? I just love that. Anyway, long story even longer (I won't bore you with the details unless you insist) I met Charles. It was an instant connection and we never looked back. Now when we met, he had custody of his two little boys also. They were 3 & 5 years old. Sweet little guys. Charles had gotten custody because he is an awesome father & their mother thought they should be with him because she wanted to focus on her career, (and someone else cough, cough) I think she instantly regretted that decision but by that time it was already too late because I knew the moment that I met him what a catch he was. The only way that I could meet a man like him was for God to fix us up and I was not going to let him go. Mama didn't raise no dummies. We clicked immediately. There is such a thing as love at first sight. Also, God touched my heart. I say two precious little boys that needed a mother and I was only too happy to step in and fill that roll. It seemed like a win-win situation to me.
From the beginning I worked very hard to blend our families. Was it easy? Heck no! Back then there was no internet or anything to help with that but I believed in us and I knew we could do it. There were challenges, jealousies, etc. my son wouldn't let them call me mom. I never demanded that they did that anyway. They had a mother and I didn't want to push issues that weren't important. What someone is called is not important, the relationship is. I tried to understand how their mother could leave them. It was hard but I told myself that she really did the selfless thing by letting their father have them, knowing they would get better care. But as time went on, it was obvious that instead of being grateful to me for trying to raise her children and take good care of them, she was doing everything she could to undermine me. I even tried to understand that. Even if she was already remarried, she viewed me as the person standing in the way of getting her family back. I get that! But that really wasn't my fault. I'm not going to go into all the ugly details right now, but let's just say that there were many years of struggle, pain & hardship. Doing without, stretching our budget, etc. Being a mother is hard enough but being a stepmother is incredibly difficult. I had all the responsibility and she took all the credit and turned everything against me every chance she got. I remember crying in Charles' arms and he would tell me that one day when the boys grew up, they would see the truth and that was the life raft that I clung to. Needless to say, I'm not sure exactly what went wrong but it didn't work out that way. I cannot even tell you the pain that I went through when I realized that she had "won". That's how I thought of it at the time. They were closer to her then they were me. She had "bought' them, Blah, blah, blah. Yadda, yadda, yadda. The self pity was terrible. I honestly didn't know what went wrong. I thought I had done everything right. Like I said in the first paragraph, I always believed that I would be rewarded for my actions, my sacrifices, etc. and she would have to face her consequences. Ha! What a joke. I was devastated. Then I became angry because I thought it was so unfair, and I tried to get even with her. Big mistake. That just made things worse . Remember that old joke, you can build a hundred buildings and not be called a builder but (bleep) one goat and your a goat (bleeper). You get my drift? It just gave her ammunition to use against me. She was able to turn so many people against me, they believed everything that she said about me and I know I shouldn't care what they thought but it's hard not to care about your reputation. The Bible says a good name is something to be valued. Mine was in the toilet. Well, to wrap this up, let me just say I ended up going into therapy to deal with my emotions and try to make sense of everything. it was a big help. My therapist showed me that I wasn't crazy, that I was going through a grieving process and that all I was trying to do and had done was because I was trying to make sense out of what went wrong, and not understanding why things didn't turn out the way I had believed it would. She actually said that I wasn't the one who needed to be in therapy, the other people were. Whew! What a relief!
Now I have arrived at the point I'm trying to make. During the course of all this,I think I might have gone through a period of being PO'd at God. Why did He put me in this position? Why didn't He do something about it? Why did He allow all this to happen?
Well, the truth is, I needed to take responsibility for some bad choices that I made. If I could go back and do some things differently I would. But that's a topic for another day. Also, Like I wrote in a previous blog, He has recently brought some things to light that have opened some people's eyes and I'm so happy about that. My whole problem was that I expected my fairy tale ending, just like in the movies. But you know what? God never promised me that. Charles Stanley always says, "Trust God and leave all the consequences to him." That's what I'm learning to do. The story isn't over yet & God can still make something beautiful come out of this entire stinky mess,and I trust Him to do that.Romans 8: 28 & 29. You know, I still love those boys like they're my own because they are! Born of my heart. I love you guys and thank you for letting me share my heart and bare my soul to you. Please feel free to share anything with me. I will pray for you! I'm attaching some pictures. Please let me know what you think, ok?
Sunday, July 15, 2012
God Showed Up!
Wow, is all that I can say. It doesn't happen every Sunday but this was one of those Sundays when God took me to the woodshed. Amazing! A little painful maybe but be aware; when you ask The Lord to change your heart & your life and to cleanse you, He's going to do it in a mighty way. I love it. I love feeling Him move in my life. It's the most incredilbe feeling ever! We sang a song this morning that was so convicting to me. I have to share the lyrics with you and see if they don't speak to your hearts as well. The song is called "Jesus, Friends of Sinners" by Casting Crowns. I know I have heard the song before but today God used it to wake me up. So read these lyrics and see if they don't touch you and then I'm going to try and attach the song as well. I've never done that on here but I want to.
Jesus Friend of sinners we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to
swing
Jesus friend of sinners the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided
Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours
Yeah,yeah,yeah
Jesus friend of sinners the one who's writing in the sand
Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of thieves
Let the memory of Your mercy bring your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we
judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and love like
You did
Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours
You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me a grateful leper at Your feet
'Cause You are good, You are good And Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks Yours
And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah(You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet.
What this all boils down to today for me is Grace & Forgiveness.
1 John 2:6 says "Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did." And in Matt 5:44 Jesus said, :...love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
This is a fundamental lesson I learned a very long time and I used to be very good at it but I guess life and this sinful world has a a way of wearing us down over time but He is faithful & just to forgive us and cleanse of of all unrighteousness and he will create in us a new heart. I need a new heart, this is one realy hurting. I want to leave those old hurts in the past. I want newness in Him.
I really hope I didn't offend anyone here. I realize not everyone believes the same way that I do but I just wanted to share a little bit of my Spiritual journey with you and maybe it will help you with yours.
I have a couple of favorite things. One is a saying, Jesus loves you and I'm trying. If anyone tells me they can love just like Him, I wouldn't believe them. We're human. But we have to keep trying. The other is a bumper sticker that says, "I'm not perfect, just forgiven." Nuff said.
Jesus Friend of sinners we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to
swing
Jesus friend of sinners the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided
Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours
Yeah,yeah,yeah
Jesus friend of sinners the one who's writing in the sand
Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of thieves
Let the memory of Your mercy bring your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we
judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and love like
You did
Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours
You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me a grateful leper at Your feet
'Cause You are good, You are good And Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks Yours
And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah(You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet.
What this all boils down to today for me is Grace & Forgiveness.
1 John 2:6 says "Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did." And in Matt 5:44 Jesus said, :...love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
This is a fundamental lesson I learned a very long time and I used to be very good at it but I guess life and this sinful world has a a way of wearing us down over time but He is faithful & just to forgive us and cleanse of of all unrighteousness and he will create in us a new heart. I need a new heart, this is one realy hurting. I want to leave those old hurts in the past. I want newness in Him.
I really hope I didn't offend anyone here. I realize not everyone believes the same way that I do but I just wanted to share a little bit of my Spiritual journey with you and maybe it will help you with yours.
I have a couple of favorite things. One is a saying, Jesus loves you and I'm trying. If anyone tells me they can love just like Him, I wouldn't believe them. We're human. But we have to keep trying. The other is a bumper sticker that says, "I'm not perfect, just forgiven." Nuff said.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Homicidal Maniac
Hi, Ya'll!
How the heck are you? I hope everyone is having an absolutely splendid Friday. I feel like this has been one of the longest days of my life! I don't know why but I have not been sleeping very well the last couple of nights. I hate that. At least if I did something I shouldn't have, I would have a reason for the sleeplessness but, unfortunately it's just one of those things. If I didn't have to work it would be one thing, but it is really difficult to be chipper and nice to people on the phone when you're not feeling it. Downright impossible. I'll probably get some low scores on my QA's but oh well. Everyone has an off day on occasion.
Anywho, I was sitting here thinking about a cute little status that I found yesterday and posted on Facebook that actually tickled me quite a bit. It said WARNING: To avoid suffocation, keep my hands away from your neck. That pretty much sums it up for me today. I guess the Good Lord decided to give me a thorn in my side who I always think of when I see something like that. It would probably delight these people to no end to think they drive me crazy sometimes but they'd never admit it. As a matter of fact, they try to do everything in there power to convince people that I'm the crazy one. *maniacal laugh* Whatever. If I'd have know 28 years ago that I would be having these problem I would have handled it quite differently right at the get-go. Charles has a saying "If I'd have killed her when I wanted to, I'd be out by now". Yeah, you get the picture. I sometimes daydream about how perfect my life would have been. But then the Lord speaks to me, much to my chagrin, and tell me that life isn't supposed to be perfect here on earth. That steel sharpens steel. And that His Grace is sufficient for me. He reminds me of all the blessings that I have. A wonderful husband, children & grandchildren, great health. Especially now that I've lost this weight. My extended family, sisters, brothes, neices, nephews, etc. I've decided that those people are not worth another minute of my time. I have a lot of living left to do and I want to get away from all the negative ugliness and embrace love and laughter, praise & joy to the utmost.
Now before you go thinking I've turned into St. Theresa or something, don't forget that I still grew up in Cicero so there are still times when I pray that the Lord would just let me get a few good punches in. *Sigh* He says leave that up to Him, He packs a much bigger wallop! I have to agree.
If you guys have any advice to give me on ways to get over this easier or want to get even for me (JK) please share them with me. I really value your input. When we share these things, we all learn and grow.
I love ya'll bunches!
How the heck are you? I hope everyone is having an absolutely splendid Friday. I feel like this has been one of the longest days of my life! I don't know why but I have not been sleeping very well the last couple of nights. I hate that. At least if I did something I shouldn't have, I would have a reason for the sleeplessness but, unfortunately it's just one of those things. If I didn't have to work it would be one thing, but it is really difficult to be chipper and nice to people on the phone when you're not feeling it. Downright impossible. I'll probably get some low scores on my QA's but oh well. Everyone has an off day on occasion.
Anywho, I was sitting here thinking about a cute little status that I found yesterday and posted on Facebook that actually tickled me quite a bit. It said WARNING: To avoid suffocation, keep my hands away from your neck. That pretty much sums it up for me today. I guess the Good Lord decided to give me a thorn in my side who I always think of when I see something like that. It would probably delight these people to no end to think they drive me crazy sometimes but they'd never admit it. As a matter of fact, they try to do everything in there power to convince people that I'm the crazy one. *maniacal laugh* Whatever. If I'd have know 28 years ago that I would be having these problem I would have handled it quite differently right at the get-go. Charles has a saying "If I'd have killed her when I wanted to, I'd be out by now". Yeah, you get the picture. I sometimes daydream about how perfect my life would have been. But then the Lord speaks to me, much to my chagrin, and tell me that life isn't supposed to be perfect here on earth. That steel sharpens steel. And that His Grace is sufficient for me. He reminds me of all the blessings that I have. A wonderful husband, children & grandchildren, great health. Especially now that I've lost this weight. My extended family, sisters, brothes, neices, nephews, etc. I've decided that those people are not worth another minute of my time. I have a lot of living left to do and I want to get away from all the negative ugliness and embrace love and laughter, praise & joy to the utmost.
Now before you go thinking I've turned into St. Theresa or something, don't forget that I still grew up in Cicero so there are still times when I pray that the Lord would just let me get a few good punches in. *Sigh* He says leave that up to Him, He packs a much bigger wallop! I have to agree.
If you guys have any advice to give me on ways to get over this easier or want to get even for me (JK) please share them with me. I really value your input. When we share these things, we all learn and grow.
I love ya'll bunches!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Welcome to my new blog.
This is a brand new experience for me so please bear with me until I get the hang of this. I have started this blog as a suggestion from my sister, Teresa. Previously I had kind of steered away from putting anything in writing that could be used against me. Know what I mean? Anyway, I decided to give this the old college try, so if you have any suggestions, quips, or anything whatsoever that you would like to contribute to it, please let me know and I will take it into consideration.
For the most part I want to keep this lighthearted and fun. But be forewarned, I probably will use it as a sounding board sometimes when I need to vent about something. This is my life and I'm not going to sugar coat it. I honestly don't want to offend anyone but if you don't like it, I suggest you just don't read it. It's just that simple. But I will also read your comments and let you know whether or not I agree with you. This is just the beginning, so hang on to your big girl panties!
This is a brand new experience for me so please bear with me until I get the hang of this. I have started this blog as a suggestion from my sister, Teresa. Previously I had kind of steered away from putting anything in writing that could be used against me. Know what I mean? Anyway, I decided to give this the old college try, so if you have any suggestions, quips, or anything whatsoever that you would like to contribute to it, please let me know and I will take it into consideration.
For the most part I want to keep this lighthearted and fun. But be forewarned, I probably will use it as a sounding board sometimes when I need to vent about something. This is my life and I'm not going to sugar coat it. I honestly don't want to offend anyone but if you don't like it, I suggest you just don't read it. It's just that simple. But I will also read your comments and let you know whether or not I agree with you. This is just the beginning, so hang on to your big girl panties!
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