4/22/2016 3 Comments BullseyeMy newsfeed has been flooded with all sorts of posts concerning the Target corporation support of transgender bathroom usage. I initially decided to write a similar post with my thoughts, but simply put, I tend to have way too much to say for a status update. So naturally, like my life, I take to blogging. I'm probably (like most things) going to get lots of hate mail or comments from both sides, telling me I'm a hypocrite, or a hard-right- anti-Jesus person. But I've never written for the comments and feedback. I always write to state my perspective, and maybe, just maybe, give new perspective to people who are interested. So here it goes! I think the whole "I'm a Christian and can't use Target's toilets or shop there anymore" is pretty dumb. I think it's really dumb. Again. It's just my opinion. There's not a bible verse that says whether Christ followers should or shouldn't use a bathroom based on their personal preference of who is or isn't allowed in the bathroom. I can mildly understand this perspective. There are natural concerns, including but not limited to, small children being in danger of the opposite sex and or sexual predators lurking in the bathroom prying on naive or unsuspecting people. I get that. I hear the concern from moms, or dads, or students, or victims who don't like the decision. I get it. Really. I have small kids. I have those same initial knee-jerk reactions to news like this. Thoughts and fears about how my girls could be subject to a lifestyle we don't believe is righteous. How my son may see something at a young age that I wouldn't ever choose to voluntarily expose him to because it's not God-honoring. But that has to be our hard line. Our standard. As Christians. Righteousness. Not personal preferences or opinions. But real, hard, and God-defined truth. It's not for us to shame the people who choose this lifestyle. (Yes- I believe it's a choice. And cue the hate mail!) It is not for me and my kids or anyone who identify as someone who loves Jesus, to judge or ridicule anyone who is unsaved- including those who have believed a lie that they can't identify with their gender, for whatever reason. It's my job to show them the ministry of reconciliation to Christ, because Christ showed the same to me in order that I might know His Father. And maybe just maybe, the place that one transgender person is reconciled to Christ, is in the Target bathroom. Selah. Point number 2, is fear. I understand the concern as a parent. For safety. For the security of young kids. But let's be honest- most transgender people, dress well as the opposite gender. You can't tell me they wouldn't be using the bathrooms already. The new "embrace" of said issue, simply says a person doesn't have to "prove with a birth certificate" their gender orientation. When was the last time you proved your gender with your birth certificate? Because honestly- if you're like me and most people I know- your birth certificate is buried in a file drawer somewhere in your house, and you dig it out while huffing and puffing when you have to renew your license at the DMV or something similar. But that's besides the point. The point is, as a believer, my job is to not be afraid. People...don't catch the fear virus. The one that plagues the world unanimously concerning disease, famine, politics, transgender people using the bathroom. Here's an idea: CATCH THE JESUS VIRUS!! If a sex predator wanted to use the opposite bathroom, they probably and have in fact used the opposite bathrooms before- we've seen stories of men lurking in the stalls of the women's toilets before. We've seen women who stalk men at the urinals. It's been in the news. It's not unheard of. So why would we panic now? Why all of a sudden are Christians fearful and outraged? If anything, the Christians should be marching around saying "I won't be afraid!" And "I won't be threatened!" Why? Because "Greater is He who is in you than He that's in the world". And because the "Name of the Lord is a strong and mighty tower- the righteous run to it and are safe". Psalms tells us that we "dwell in safety". I could go on and on and on because the Word, while not clear about what to do with "transgender people in a bathroom at Target", is very very VERY clear about NOT BEING AFRAID. I'm not suggesting we throw out our use of wisdom. I probably won't send my 6 year old into a bathroom alone. But I probably wouldn't have done that before, either. The new "embrace" by Target doesn't change my parenting style of using this wisdom. In fact it should just make us more aware of how to parent in these socially progressive times, where transgender issues are more blatantly observable than decades past. If there's one thing we can do, it's not be afraid. God forbid something happens to someone. It wouldn't be the first time. And sadly, it won't be the last time either. But I can assure you, it breaks God's heart. And it's not cause for mass panic of the bride of Christ. It's time for boldness and faith to accompany us- in every area or venue- including the toilet. Lastly, for now, because I could rant all day long about this, is the idea that people will never shop at Target again. That people will "surrender their red card" or "forget a favorite past time" for the sake of righteousness. Give me a freaking break people. I mean- if you're going to do it, go all out. By all means. But then you'll probably have to shop at hobby lobby, chick-fil-a and your backyard alone. Because when all is said and done, there's a kajillion businesses who support, or profit from, or contribute to, or are in favor of (whether by deliberate stance, or being passive and therefore supporting by default) lifestyles or issues that to the world, that seem acceptable. Things that aren't righteous. But why shouldn't they? I've said it before and I'll say it again: sinners sin! It's the world. They aren't living for holiness. They don't have a clue what they're doing. In fact, as a believer there are days I do the same filthy crummy things. We all do. But the point is, why is Target being reprimanded for embracing a secular behavior, when they're a secular business corporation that's never once identified themselves as a Christian establishment? That's absurd. And shame on us, as the church, for bashing non-believers for behavior that's perfectly acceptable in their own eyes. Shame on us for not praying more for said establishments, before such a decision was made. Before this whole thing came about. Because everyone may hit their knees at this point, but to be honest, fire prevention isn't exactly necessary in the middle of the raging fire. Fire prevention begins before a fire ever starts. And as a nation and a people, globally, the fire is much too hot to start worrying about placement of extinguishers or sounding alarms. (Sorry- that was a super long metaphor or word image- but you get the point.) I'm not suggesting we can't pray or shouldn't pray, but if you haven't already been praying, you can't turn to prayer as the end-all solution now and be angry with the current condition of our culture. The problem, when we as Christians, start shaming the world, whether it's Target or transgender people, or whatever, is that we are throwing the same darts the enemy uses to lie and steal and cheat people with. But we are throwing them not at issues of culture or sin or unrighteousness. We are throwing the arrows - the very arrows of dissention and strife and evil lies of the enemy- into the face of the lost. And those lost people, transgender and all, are children of God. Lost and dying and hurting and living a life apart from Him- yes. But still His heart's desire. And He wants and waits for their reconciliation just the same as He longed for yours. Bottom line- and the take away: I love you. Whoever you are. The Christian who is embracing the transgender community. Or the Christian who is bashing them and picketing and rioting for what you see as a cause of Christ. Or the transgender person deciding which bathroom to use. I still love you. Whether I agree with your decisions or not. Or the sex predator who is lurking on innocent kids. I'm so sorry no one has taught you what real Love looks like- and therefore you've settled for a cheap and incredibly filthy counterfeit called lust or self-gratification in a vile way. There is redemption. There is a way out. And it's through the cross you can be set free. Don't be afraid. Catch the Jesus virus. Don't be judgmental- sinners sin. Don't be such a knee-jerker. Crap has been going on for much longer than this. And it will until Jesus returns. So pray. Pray hard. That he comes quickly. Come Lord Jesus, come.
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4/18/2016 0 Comments Not Outdated, Only ForgottenToday was the straw which broke the camel's back. I was frustrated. I was annoyed. I was beyond irritated with an elderly woman in our community. It has nothing to do with her age, as anyone with the same disregard for other people would have conjured up the same harsh feelings in me. So this is my plea to parents old and new and upcoming alike: please please PLEASE teach your children about respect. It's not outdated. It's not a historic concept. It's not an antique word or concept that will one day be irrelevant. And it is certainly not something that can be "inferred" through the years of parenting. We must be deliberate. We must be intentional. We must. As parents the world is screaming at our kids with messages of sex and violence, magic and terror. In fact the "have it your way" slogan is being engrained into the minds of kids, young and old alike, and I'm not even referring to Burger King. I'm not even going to relive the experience this morning because I should probably keep my blood pressure at a healthy level. My midwife and unborn son will thank me. But what I will say, is that I expected more. Maybe I shouldn't have the bar set so high. But of all people groups, or demographics, I assumed the elderly bracket of adults would understand respect as a part of life. However, I've also learned well that assumption is the lowest form of knowledge and leads me astray more often than not. In the last few months I've seen ridiculous examples, time and time again, where elderly persons are just blatantly disrespectful to others. People of the same age, to younger, and very young others. And it's not ok. You can't cut people in line. You can't shove others out of their turn. You can't make up your own set of rules and expect people to follow them. You can't pretend others don't exist. It's not respectful. And it's certainly not becoming. Ever. Which is again, why, I'm imploring parents to teach their kids about respect. I fear a generation in which all regard for others is lost. And it's not a far off reality either. So how can we do this? Because to simply say "respect others" is not enough. Sit them down. Tell them that respect is important. Tell them what respect means. If you don't know, google it. Or take this "respect for dummies" definition as a starter: thinking and caring about how others feel before doing or saying something". Show them respect. Model it. Give them scenarios at the lunch table and ask how respect would be used. Ask them what disrespect looks like and how not to model it. Show them what the Bible says about respect. Fill their moral "libraries" with respectful resources so that when they leave your sight they can "check out" those resources and use them when it matters most. We want them to fix the problems in the world or to be the solution to the crummy things we see, but we are too busy shuttling them to the next activity, or social get-together, or instagraming their faces to give them the tools necessary to actually do it. To the lady who was completely disrespectful today, to my kids and I, I forgive you. Honestly- you probably didn't even know what you were doing. At least I hope not. And to my children who witnessed this behavior, I pray you can forgive her too. And also see the ugliness that is thinking of self over others, and embrace the idea that Jesus modeled so very well that is respect. Even when He didn't agree or have the same ideology as another, He wasn't rude. He wasn't disrespectful. He preferred others over Himself. He preferred me. And you. And I pray we can love the same way. Respect. It's not an outdated principle. It's a virtuous way of living. And it's rewarding and worth it. And it's simply the right thing to do. 2/2/2016 1 Comment Reset for RealToday I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. It's the same side I roll out of every morning. But today, it was accompanied by whining children's cries for "apple juice", "chocolate milk", "she keeps bothering me", and "I'm wet". I staggered to the kitchen as I stripped one child of their moist pajamas, and simultaneously stirred chocolate milk. I promise you, any given day looks like a well practiced cirque de sole act. Except it's not. Any stay at home mom with four very small children will tell you she's mostly winging it- and if she doesn't, she's lying and needs to repent. After serving breakfast, the laundry that was a manageable pile with an end in sight, grew like the grinch's heart in size in just a matter of a few moments. Teaghan switched her tutu for the 6th time, and Wesley had wet his pants. Three of four had changed multiple times already and it wasn't even 9:30! Today was going to be great, the laundry was telling me so. Most days as a homeschooling mom, it's exciting to watch your kid learn and grow in academic skill. Today I wanted to crawl in a hole and pretend I didn't know how to add myself. Instead, I gave myself a silent 5th pep-talk, and gathered the things for the morning. Instead of starting a new concept, I thought we would just review since my mind wasn't even properly functioning at this point, and I hadn't yet poured a first cup of coffee. The worksheet had problems numbered 1-6, even though it lied because there after 1 was an a, b, c, d problem. (I always hated that in school and somehow the worksheet brought up all those resentful feelings from years ago when I was learning arithmetic too.) "Ok, all you're doing today is making 10! Isn't that easy! You can use your fingers, or the abacus, or marbles or whatever. This first one says _+6=10. If I have 6 fingers, how many more do I need to make 10?" For some reason, today of all days, McKenna said 2. And she kept guessing every other number in the entire astronomical universe-except for 4. She was almost in tears. At that point, I already was. A long and exasperating morning was becoming longer and more taxing than an audit by the IRS. I told her to take a break - because clearly I- I mean she - needed one. I went to the kitchen, leaving basic arithmetic behind me like a bad dream. I love to cook. It's soothing. And decided to start dinner since it would be one thing I could accomplish all morning without a hiccup. It was something I could do alone. Which is a big deal. For me. On a morning like this. I took the roast from the fridge- I was already winning because I remembered to take it out of the freezer the day before. Grabbed the Dutch Oven from the drawer, and CRASH! A lid for a giant spaghetti lot was hanging onto the Dutch oven lid, and apparently playing hide-and-go-seek with me- today of all days. It fell and hit the tile and glass went flying. Not in large pieces like a dinner plate or cup. Shards and splintering pieces. It was my day, my attitude, my joy in a picture, personified, and scattered all over my kitchen floor. I could feel glass settling in my toes, in my comfy pajama pants, in my soul. Paco started sweeping. He probably knew if I had to do it right then, I would have sat in it to sulk instead. I got in the shower and cried. The water would hide my tears, from whoever would see me there. Even though I was alone. I turned around to get out and dry off, and thought I'd emotionally "reset" somehow in the running water. And there was Adalynn. Fully clothed. And fully drenched. She had, unbeknownst to me during my pitty party, joined me in the shower. I wish I could say the day got better. But I'm sitting here, during "nap" time, and all four children are talking. All four are awake. And all four will need something in another sentence or two. The point is, this day, is like any other day. It's full of terrible things and awful moments. As a mom, there's never an "easy" day. What is easy is His yoke. His burden. His load. Which He trades for mine, willingly at any moment- if only I'm willing to let mine go. I think as moms we think we have to carry it all. And sometimes, our families depend on us doing so. But in the moments when we forget who is carrying us, we become withered, and drained, and exasperated. I've wasted the afternoon on me. I didn't do dishes. I didn't clean up lunch. I didn't even start on that laundry. But I sat, and got ahold of the One who holds my heart, and it's made all the difference. It doesn't mean I won't be frustrated in half an hour, or that I won't want to cry when McKenna tries her schoolwork again. It just means I can keep going, for just a moment longer, for today. He's given me everything. EVERY stinking thing for life and for godliness. And I can't ignore His giving and expect to give Him all of me too. I either get Him, and lose myself, or I have all of me and none of Him. Be encouraged, that today, He wants you. He wants all of you. The messy, frustrated, disheveled and angry you. The one who is weeping and yelling and shattered like glass into a million pieces- and He wants to trade you His best - just because He loves you. Kudos to all the moms who are making it happen today. Whatever "it" is, let Him be a part. The shower won't fix it. The right words from your husband or kids won't fix it. A glass of wine at the end of the day won't fix it either. Only Jesus can reset the mess and make it worth it all. 12/17/2015 0 Comments Every Good & Perfect GiftIt's nearly Christmas and that means everyone is getting everyone else gifts. Today, I got one of the gifts I am most thankful for, and probably one I'll cherish most for 2015. My mom had a dream just a few weeks after finding out our last daughter had Anencephaly, that the baby was healed. In the dream, she couldn't help but notice, the full head of dark black hair on the baby. If you know our kids, and the mix of genetic traits they possess, you know that none of them have come remotely close to being black-haired or anything but bald at birth. I remember thinking how far-fetched the dream seemed, with black and full hair as the baby's head covering. But I clung to Hope that day, and for weeks after, praying that if any part of the dream came true, it would be that she was healed and a head full and beautiful- no matter the color of hair. Fast foreword to the day I delivered Esther. I remember my body literally being exhausted, and whether a subconscious fear overtook me, or a maternal "holding on", my body quit contracting. There on the delivery bed, nurses did all they could to try and allow me the room and time to deliver my baby on my own. I was tired. Wiped, actually. And fearful of what the next moments would hold as she left my body, and would have to survive on her own- if at all. And as I felt every ounce of strength leave, my midwife told me to keep pushing, to keep going. "She has tons of black hair, Bri! Keep going, I can see it!" She said. I started to sob, and felt God replenish my strength in that moment. Whether perfectly whole or not- all the unknowns didn't matter. He had revealed a secret to us months before, that would give me the strength to push through those last few grueling moments of delivery. No, Esther did not receive "earthly" healing. But she was made complete shortly after her birth as she made her grand entrance into glory! And one day, I'll get to see her beautiful, full, black haired head- complete and new as it was in the dream. Last night, was another one of the grueling types of days. I laid on my bed, with tears flowing down my cheeks, thinking that in less than 12 hours, I'd be staring another doctor in the eyes, having to re-live the tragedy of death through explanation. It also meant going through all the old and familiar routines of obstetric care, that once before seemed pointless. But now, having experienced what I have, they hold hope and or defeat in each exam, test, and scan. Panic set in as the clock continued to tick towards midnight. My awesome husband, praying for me to have peace like only grieving parents can know. It's funny how the enemy drains strength from you. As I wrote in my book, he is cunningly good at stealing hope and perspective from anyone- by sawing the bottom off of the eternal perspective "bucket" in life. And all over again, I found my bucket being hacked into. Today, as I explained my deepest fears and concerns to strangers who call themselves midwives, some of the same strength-draining feelings filled me. The moment they went to find the heartbeat, I panicked, as it took longer than a second to "find". Then, like a rushing wind, and with the sound of a tiny baby's heart beating in the background, God did it all over again. He filled me with unexplainable strength. I wept on the table of the exam room. The doctor probably thought I was crazy. And if you know me well, you know that is crazy. I'm not sentimental. I'm not super emotional. But I was extremely emotional in that moment. Partly, yes, because I got to be assured of the baby that's growing inside of me. But more so, because God is good. Because He always gives gifts to His kids. And is super perfect in how he delivers strength and when he delivers it. I could feel the familiar embrace of a God who comforts His people, as I laid there, and I was weeping over His goodness poured out on me- in of all places- a doctor's office. The midwife couldn't understand. So I didn't bother even beginning to tell her. But I wanted to tell all of you who have faithfully prayed for and supported us over the journey of loss and love this past year. God is good. And I'm looking foreword to more than Christmas- but an entire year in 2016 of miraculous gifts from Above! Happiest Christmas to you and yours! 💕 The Curzio's (all 7 of us!) To listen to the good & perfect gift: http://youtu.be/lxGqoebtx0U 12/13/2015 0 Comments None of My BusinessThis morning at church, worship was awesome. I love serving with the team I'm a part of. Offering was encouraging- doubling the amount of giving from last year, we've paid a significant portion of our building off in order to further kingdom ministry in our community. I gathered my things from the back and headed to a seat. I sat with my mom, since Paco was home sick with Adalynn who also has a sniffle-bug. I put my purse down, settled myself, and prepared to listen to a great first part of a 3-part series on the Kingdom coming to earth. Except that I couldn't. I couldn't hear a single thing. Not because my heart was filled with stressors from the week prior. Not because I was fiddling with my phone or bible or any of my many other things in my bottomless Mary-Poppins-style bag. I couldn't pay attention because of the parenting happening all around me. I say parenting, because the 2-4 year olds had no idea what was happening or how to correct it. But the parents sat there, smiling, as their kids threw Gerber Puffs into the air, slammed books on the floor, kicked the chairs in front of them, tore out every tithe envelope and welcome card in the seat-back-pockets within a 60inch diameter of their little persons, and one of the kids kept blurting out words like "look", "dad", and "watch". Now before you go and crucify me for being "religious" and "condemning children" let me set some background information into focus: These were not visitors. Not first, second, third time people looking for acceptance or a place to call home. By all means, if someone is visiting, it's not for me to determine their alertness to the message, but simply to welcome them with open arms- noisy children and all. The kids were not sick. I've had a child sit with me through service because they weren't suitable for kids church, for the sake of sparing every other family present from plague-like mucous and mushy poop. These were not little tiny nursing babes. I can understand waiting to put your 2-minute old baby into kids church straight away. But I assure you, these children were all closer to 3 years than 3 weeks old. I'm fine with exceptions. I'm fine with the occasional child who sits with a parent because they aren't feeling well. I'm fine with the visiting family who isn't familiar with the service or the ministries offered. I'm fine with the exception - not the rule- that kids can join the adults in the big service. Jesus Himself rebuked His disciples for not allowing the kids to come to Him. For goodness sake, we should be bringing the children to Jesus and all that He is. But to be honest, the problem isn't with the kids. Kids are loud. And they have short attention spans. And they like to play and wiggle and talk and share. And that's exactly what kids church is for. Now I know there are churches with terrible, horrible, no good and very boring kids church services. But I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that our church isn't one of them. I spent an entire Saturday just 2 weeks ago, helping to further equip the teachers of our kids ministry, to serve kids. Not just big kids. But every aged kid. From birth to 6th grade. Teaching them to worship with, pray over, and disciple children. They've been given the tools. They have gifts and desires to serve. They volunteer their time and show up early and stay late to give kids the time of their lives while delivering the gospel. And they're not being used. Allow those people to use their gift. God gave them the gift. And He wants to use them to bless you, your kid, and others- by serving the body with those gifts. What if the worship team sang and played- and the whole time everyone decided to blast their iPods instead during worship. What a waste? Exactly. It's the same thing. Use those volunteers. God wants to. But it requires you to put your kid in the class. These teachers have not only been equipped with practical and spiritual tools- they've been background checked, carefully selected and prayed over to safely care for your kids. The toys get disinfected after each service (or as needed!) to keep the regular germs at bay. And....check this out....the nifty little sticker you get upon check-in, ensures that if something was wrong, if your kid gets hurt, or just can't handle being without you- they will put your special little number up on the screens in service for you to come rescue the little dude. Don't panic! People have figured this out! You can do it! The problem isn't with the kids. I can't stress that enough. The problem lies in our current day parenting "style". It's one that allows a child to dictate the family. How many times have you heard someone say "we just can't because little Susie is just not able to sit still that long." Or "Johnny doesn't like it, so we don't make him do that". That's nice. Your kid probably doesn't like bedtime either. But you make them do that. They probably don't come out of the womb jumping up and down for broccoli. But you train them to like it. You teach them to have a pallet for healthy foods. Because it's the best for them. Moms now, assume that every decision is based on the wants of the child. No wonder our schools, our elections, and the whole gamete of things in life are such a mess. We've entitled kids from birth to do whatever they want. And if they don't get it- their "human rights" are being stepped on. I believe kids have rights. Just like you or me. But they end where another person's rights begin. We've allowed kids to choose their bedtimes. Their toys. Their friends. Their boyfriends and girlfriends. Their school. Their clothes. Their snacks and games and movies and schedules for so long that they panic if someone tries to change it. How about we learn to parent like parents. Choose your kids bedtime: why? To give yourself some time alone with your spouse before you fall asleep. Choose your kids snacks: why? Because they will choose junk. Choose your kids toys: why? Because their 2 and 3 and 5 year old minds can't determine what's really of value or not yet. And you GET the opportunity to INTENTIONALLY influence those choices. So do it. And take advantage of them. Choose your kids friends: why? Because they turn out like them. They associate like behaviors and interests as their friends. Choose wisely. So you're not looking like a fool later when your kid is involved in something stupid. Choose their boyfriend or girlfriend. If they don't have the same values and beliefs- it's a waste of time. And eventually wasting your kids heart to pieces. They're worth more. It's time we acted like it. Choose your kids movies and books and music and screen time: why? Because it will flood their eye and ear gates. And it will shape who they are and who they become. We were given the responsibility- but rather the privilege of CHOOSING - so choose WISELY. This includes the choice of whether or not they go to their appropriately aged class on a Sunday morning: why? Because of a few reasons. First- because in the Bible, we are told to prefer others over ourselves. And having a kid who is obnoxiously loud in a service where people are trying to listen and actively engage, is rude and selfish. You yourself cannot pay attention to what's happening as you tend to your rudely expressive child. (In fact, 3 parents walked out of service midway, because their kids were distracting). Secondly, because they need church as much as you. Make it a big deal. Make it part of their routine. Make it a priority. Don't let them choose. They won't. They aren't wise. They're children. Get them to the environment where Jesus is made available in the way they can most easily understand it. If I took an average 8th grader, and put him into an advanced engineering course at a top level college and asked him to participate- he would be much less able to absorb and fully understand the material as opposed to an average 8th grade math course. The same applies here. Put your kid in their appropriate service so they get the most out of their church experience. And lastly, to a 3 year old, big church is boring. Points to all the parents who bore their kids right out of church before their 10th birthdays. And then wonder why their kids strayed from the church. The prodigal son returned to his fathers house because he remembered how GOOD it was there. Not because it was the most boring and dreadful place he'd ever experienced as a child. Set your kids up to love God's house by putting them in the correct and age appropriate environments. Trust me. I am a parent myself. I've had the days of trying to quiet a child in service. But there's a point where you parent, instead of the child, and escort them to their class. My favorite- on a soap box here- are the parents who say "oh he doesn't like class, He has separation anxiety, and he cries. So we are going to wait until he's 3 and he will probably do better then." Wrong. Let me tell you what's going to happen. He will be a 3 year old who cried to get his way then too. First, the kids church workers are not going to tolerate your kid screaming his or her head off for an entire hour. They're going to call you after 5 minutes to remove your ridiculously unconsolable child. If you're worried about your child not being able to handle his or her self for 5 minutes, You need parenting lessons. And not the kind where they teach you to be a better parent. You need to go back to being a child, and allow a parent to help you understand that life isn't always about what you want. Second, your kid won't ever become adjusted or "get to know" the workers back there, if you never take him or her back there. Third, separation anxiety isn't a child issue. It's a parent issue. Because when your kid is having a good time, they will forget you for a moment- you'll become chopped liver. Do yourself the favor: put your kid in class. You'll get to actually hear the message and hopefully become more like Jesus in the process. You'll get a one hour break to sip hot coffee and listen to an awesome Word - and at our church particularly- the worship will be baller. You'll get to be moved to tears, or jump for joy- or both- because you'll be open and listening for what God has for you- instead of the demands of little Johnny. Do your kid a favor: put them in a fun environment. A place where other kids can interact and teach them sharing and caring and maybe some motor skills. A place where loud is encouraged and fun isn't optional. A place where people are gifted to serve, longing to help, and desire to relieve parents like you and I from one hour of chaos and stress and maybe a poopy diaper. Do the rest of us a favor: and allow us to hear the message. I put my kids in their classes to be able to listen and enjoy the service. And today- I couldn't. Because there were 5 other kids stressing me out the same. Honestly- there's a wiggle room (a small space with chairs and a few toys for moms and babies to go and hear the service and see it) while kids transition from being with mom to being in a class. And for heaven's sake, the giant lobby with tables and couches and coffee and restrooms projects the service and audio for anyone to watch and listen. Take your kids out there at the very least- that is if you still insist on keeping them from fun and yourself from the life changing Word. But the rest of us will thank you. The rest of us, can enjoy the service with minimal distraction. And hopefully, become more like Jesus in turn, so we can love our kids better at home, after church. 11/30/2015 1 Comment The Prettiest Little GirlTeaghan is the only baby I ever wanted. That sounds terrible. I know. But let me explain. Having had nearly 6 children now, both Paco and I have found ourselves "surprised" with 5 of the 6 pregnancies. Five separate times we've cried when taking a pregnancy test, or been anxious over how we would handle the journey ahead. Not so with Teaghan. Many people assume we are idiots when it comes to "making babies". The first time around, I could possibly agree, saying we definitely consented without any type of "plan" in place. But every other time, we've made attempts at not getting pregnant. And every time, our attempts have failed. In our favor, I might add. Because every single time we find ourselves overjoyed with a new baby....eventually. And sometimes the eventually comes much later than other times. But with Teaghan, things were different. We both agreed. We both longed for another one. We both prayed and hoped and tried everything we knew, to have her. And up until her arrival, she was easy. We got pregnant the first time we thought about it. We had a super easy pregnancy with her- (of all the kids, though still nauseated, I never actually threw up with her!) Her delivery was a walk in the park. It's true- just ask my friend Megan who swears I ordered pizza through the whole thing. (Ok maybe not that easy, but less than 3 hours, hardly painful, and no interventions at all in a HOSPITAL which is a very VERY big deal.) Since then, she's proven to be the most difficult. She's the most passionate and self-aware 5 year old I've ever met. She sounds like a 16 year old when getting dressed: "These pants feel weird, do they look weird because I feel weird and like everyone will see how weird they are!?!" I laugh and cringe all at the same time. She loves to brush her hair. She loves to wear jewelry. She loves to put on lotion and shoes and lipgloss and to polish her nails. She is a diva. She will sing you a solo and you had BETTER applaud or she will make you give a standing ovation and ask for more. She loves her Bible and the color purple. She loves to worship. She sings new songs out of somewhere dug down deep that I can't see or comprehend- but it's a skill I'm so very thankful she has learned. Most adults can't sing from their soul, and this girl could teach me a thing or two any day of the week. She will pray for you- and make you weep when you hear her sweet spirit beckoning the Spirit to move. Gah. I'm crying now as I write this thinking of her prayers the last few nights over me: "God would you heal my mom so she's now sick anymore. Would you make our new baby strong so we can bring it home with us this time. God we are thankful for everything you give us. Help us be grateful for everything we have..." My heart melts when she lays hands on her brother or sister to pray for them. And my heart breaks when she punches them in the next breath because she's full of angry fury. She's a real-life sour patch kid, and she will woo you with her pretty green eyes set in deep olive skin, and steal your lunch money all in the same swift motion. She is beautiful. Something about her draws compliments from across aisle-ways and counters everywhere. She is incredibly polite, and will pull manners from inside of invisible sleeves. She is also quite blunt. If she waves hello, and you don't say hello back, even a complete stranger, she will call you out in public, and comment on how "rude" you're being to her. She is 5 today. And she will never again be 4. I had to let that sink in for a minute. Happiest of birthday wishes to my sweet Teaghan girl, Teaghan Aracelli, whose eyes shine like diamonds, and whose hugs make the world go away. I love you to the moon and back, with purple sparkles and unicorns for days, girlfriend! 11/1/2015 2 Comments Fighting Like a GirlTears are rolling down my face. It the first time this week I've worn makeup too, which means my mascara is running all down the sides of my cheeks like black tire marks driven in anger. I don't feel good. Strike that. I feel terrible. My stomach hasn't felt "Settled" for about three weeks now. And I'm certain this isn't nearly the end of this thing someone cleverly named "morning sickness". But today, specifically my stomach is in knots. I spent the early hours of today puking, and typically I would've called the entire day quits after such an occurrence. Today, I continued to fight and press through. As I lie on my bed, my stomach still turning, I'm making mental lists of the things I need Paco to do before morning in order to help me manage the other kids. Run to publix for lunch meat. Stock diapers and wipes at the edge of the couch. Fill cups and bottles for easy access. The list goes on and makes my head hurt like my stomach now. It's too much responsibility. It's too hard. And obviously too much to think about right now. I need every ounce of energy I have left to keep my insides in, and not out by way of my throat. But none the less, I still continue to fight, to press through. I'm not a fighter. In fact, if you know me well, you know that I don't even work out. It's exhausting. And quite frankly, I think I'm allergic. (The sweating, red face, increased heart rate were all obvious signs.) But there is One living inside of me who continues to fight. Continues to press through. He pressed through in the moments when my flesh was weakest and engaged in Crimson sin. He fought to bring me salvation. He pressed through in the disastrous financial crisis we've faced through our marriage and with our home. He fought for us and made a way for the miraculous. He pressed through when death was crouched at my door, and later wrapped in my arms, when my daughter took her last breath. He fought to give me hope and security amidst the most uncertain time of my life. And He has proven Himself this way over, and over, and over again. Which makes me certain that He has not stopped fighting even now. Now as I'm nauseated and limp with fatigue, He is fighting for my strength. He is pressing through and bringing me the strength from on high, that comes in the form of rest under His mighty wings. As I anxiously await our first doctor appointment, He is fighting for a good report, though my fears are as deep as water over my head. He pressed through with His voice sure as the Sun rising, and commands health and healing and peace in the safety of His name. And I can feel the fight being put back inside of me. Don't count me out. Because I'm just getting warmed up. And when the enemy tries to overcome and defeat me by whispering all that has been, I'll swing hard and fast with the truth of my Savior, to remind Him of His ultimate destiny. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." -Ephesians 6:10-20 10/6/2015 0 Comments Money Money MoneyIn honor of Infant Loss Awareness month, I have a special discounted price on digital copies of my new book "Traded For Jaded". Which talks some about our story of infant loss, and how to find hope and overcome. But I wanted to talk a little bit about book pricing, in light of the "sale", because if you're like me, when you see prices of anything, but especially a book from a rookie author like myself, you're skeptical at the price tag. If I was in your shoes, I'd be a little hesitant to pay $39 for a hardback book, about a dead baby. So let's talk for a moment, and come to terms with a few facts. Not because I have to disclose the information, but because I want to. Because I believe honesty and integrity is the best policy, and because I want to give you every reason to get your hands on this book! Not because I want you to "read what I wrote". But because I want you to have victory over difficulty, and give you the things I've learned along the way as tools to help! So first- why does the book cost almost $40? Why do you need to make $40 on each copy? Ok- first, you need to understand that there are two ways to publish a book. The first way, is through a publishing company. This company charges an initial fee, they edit and help craft your book, and then print and promote for you to some degree (depending on the package/price you paid them initially), and then you sell books in order to recoup the monies invested at the start. This is a great way to go, because it's fool-proof. It's guaranteed to be error proof, and every details is thoroughly checked and completed by book-publishing professionals who've down the process 1,000's of times before. However- it's costly up front. And if you're like me- you don't have wads of cash floating around for publishing a book. The other way to go, which is the route I chose, is much less expensive initially. You are required to do the work, do the checking, do the details- without help from professionals. If you mess up, it's too bad, and you just try try try again. Many long nights, tireless volunteer hours from brilliant friends, and grueling proof-reads were required to self-publish my book. (Thank you to the brilliant geniuses who helped proof everything! You know who you are!) So after all of that (and I've still found a few errors as the book has been printed) you also have to pay for printing. Through a company, printing is done in-house, in large quantities, and the price drops dramatically. (Think buying diapers individually at a 7-11 or at Costco by the crate- the price fluctuates enormously!) When self publishing, you pay a printer. There are obviously discounts for bulk orders, but the price drop isn't really seen or felt (by your wallet) unless ordering 100+ copies. I personally, do not want 100 copies of my book. Nor do I think you do. Not only do I pay individual printing costs, I pay individual shipping costs. A a cut to the printer is taken. A cut to the shipper is taken. A cut goes to the IRS. etc. you can see where all the dollars accumulate. So let's break this down. Cold, hard, real numbers from my book: To print a hardback copy, costs- $17.68. I pay the printer a fee, as well as the website who carries my book (LuLu) - which is also the middle man company who finds the printers willing to print low volume orders, and puts together the book from a word document to an actual book. The printing/LuLu distribution fee is 30% of my total revenue. So if the book is sold by me for $39, minus nearly $18 for printing, $21 left, take away 30%, is $14.70. Then I pay to ship it. It gets either shipped to me- or to you- at a ground flat rate of $5.99 per book. (And if you want expedited shipping, the cost increases, without additional pay to me!). So now we are down to $8.71. That is my cut, which is deposited into my bank via PayPal. But I still have fees to pay out of that price. I still have to pay Uncle Sam at the end of the year- which PayPal creates a "total revenue earned" form, and I pay out of my bank to cover that (since taxes are not automatically withheld). And a portion also has to go to marketing, printing error fixes, and future book events- like an event I'm speaking at this month where I'd like to give away a copy of the book or two. So you can see, I basically earn about $5 when it comes down to it, per hardback copy. That price changes based on the type of book- since paperback copies cost a bit less to print, as well as zero shipping or printing costs for a digital copy. ( which is why digital copies go on sale so frequently!!) So how can I afford sales and discounts? The middle man/printer company (LuLu) sends me emails about once a week, with promotional coupons. I can purchase copies, through my username, at these discounted rates. I try and pass them on to everyone else, when it works out and o don't owe more after sales. For example- if they offer me, free shipping on $100 or more- (a savings of about $18 for a large box of books) it isn't really beneficial to anyone- because I would be getting free shipping to my house- for the bulk order- but would have to pay the shipping on my own at the post office, to send each customer their copy individually. (Again- at the post office- by weight- one book costs about $4 to sell- $100 in books is about $6 books at my "wholesale" price, through my account, and 6x4=$24. Not worth it.) So now that you can see, I'm not just trying to "Rake in buckets of cash", I hope you'll be willing to purchase a copy, or gift a copy- because the book is waaaaaaaay more than just a story about a dead baby. It's about giving up what we feel like, for God's best. It's about trading our own way for His way. And that applies to us ALL! The best part is, it's got the gospel all over the place. If you have a friend on the fence about salvation. Or you know someone who needs Jesus- get them a copy. It's as clear as day, and simply put. And hours of prayer and writing have gone into this project to make Jesus Famous! Not me. So buy a copy today- and today only- digital copies are $10! Better hurry! 9/30/2015 0 Comments Q-Tips and the GospelA friend of mine, who is new to faith, texted me this morning. She found an article with some thoughts from the Pope. She wanted to know my thoughts on the matter. Because it's such a hot topic right now, I wanted to post my reply both publically, and also anonymously- to help anyone who is unsure of what the Pope said, and how it aligns with the Word. You'll get the Q-Tip reference in a bit. For the article and original source of what the Pope said, read here: http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3320757 So without further writing, my reply: "First, I want to say that I'm so proud of you for just wanting to know more, and digging deeper in your faith. The last year or so, has been a joy to watch you grow in Jesus and I can't tell you how excited I am for all that God is using you for, and transforming you into. Before I say anything, I want to encourage you to never take what I say as truth. Not me. Not pastor. Not even the Pope. We should always take what we hear, and go check it out for ourselves in the Bible, and make sure it lines up with what scripture says. Always. Not because we should live our lives distrusting and skeptical - but because the best way to recognize counterfeit truth is to be fully aware of genuine truth. When bankers are trained to find counterfeit money, they aren't given a bunch a pictures of fake bills to study. They study the real thing. Over and over and over again, and by doing so, they're able to easily see the discrepancies of the counterfeits. The same is true with the Bible. The more we study it, because it's the genuine truth, the more easily we will recognize counterfeits. Some fake truths are much more recognizable- like Monopoly money- and easily spotted. Then there are others which are difficult to discern a difference because almost everything lines up. But by studying the exact and real genuine truth of the Bible, we can see when one or two small bits are off just a little, and therefore just enough to no longer be truth. The other reason we need to evaluate everything through the word, is because we want to read the Bible for transformation and not just for information. Many people make the mistake of getting lots of knowledge from the Bible. But then it becomes a list of rules, a check list of obligations, and a source like Google, with no power to equip them. When we read for transformation- we are open and allow God to change what we think is best, for what He says is best. We allow Him to shape us, like a piece of clay in the hands of a skilled potter, with His word as the instruction for crafting, and looking like Him as the end result. It is true that we are made in the image of Christ- God made us in His likeness. The Bible mentions this in the story of creation. Genesis 1:26 says, "Let Us make man in Our image, and according to Our likeness", as human-kind is created in the garden. (In case you're wondering, the plural references in the verse above like "us" and "our" are proof of the trinity- God in three persons- Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Just to be clear! And that doesn't mean I think you're stupid- it just means I don't want to confuse you or leave any open-ended rabbit trails!) When sin entered the world, and every day since then, we've been distanced further and further from the original image of God. That's why we live shorter than 600 years like people in early Bible stories. It's why we see people dying of diseases and horrible stories of famine and torture. Because mankind has become increasingly distanced from that original image - which is like God. We will be returned to our original purpose- back to that perfect image - when Christ returns for us as believers! (Insert super excited emotion here!) As Christ followers, though, we are able to be shaped closer to God's image in this fallen and terrible world by transforming ourselves with the power of the word. Romans 12:2 tells us "do not be conformed to the ways of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God". If we want to be like God, if we want to be more like Him and do what He wants- His perfect will for us- we have to not become like the world, and transform our thinking and therefore our behavior and heart condition by washing ourselves with the word. So take every bit of what I say, and go look it up. Go find it in your bible- (if you don't have one- you let me know and I'll get you one!) Mark your bible up! Digital copies are super convenient. But there's something about being able to mark and write in a hard copy of a bible, that imprints the truth onto your soul. I often can recall a verse or a truth I've learned, and don't know the exact reference of where to find it. But in my bible- I know the markings and pen writings are on the lower half of the left side of the pages, around 2/3 of the way through. So dig out the truths for yourself. And be transformed as you do! God will reveal Himself to you- and 99% of the time- it's through His word! I promise, if you ask Him to show up- and then you open His word searching for transformational truth- He will rock your face off- and it will sustain you and keep you for every day! (Gah- can you tell I just love the word!?!? I hope so!) Alright- so now that I've "set the stage"- let's bring some truth to what the pope said. (Insert crazy face here!) Since you have the article to reference, and have read it in its entirety I'm not going to "line by line" prove him wrong. But I'll rather summarize what he said-and then meticulously point out what the Bible says about it. Basically- the pope said- that as long as people are good, they're redeemed. As long as people do the right things, they will meet Jesus. Even atheists who don't believe in God, can do good, and will meet Him, and are saved. Alright. First I want to say, that everyone- good people, saved people, atheists, murderers, rapists, mentally disabled, poor, rich, popular, shy....whatever and whoever- ALL people can be redeemed by God. The bible says in John 3:16 that "God so loved the world that He gave His son so that NONE would perish." He doesn't want anyone to experience hell. He never wanted for people to be separated from Him. His desire is to restore ALL men(and women!) to Himself. All. There are no exceptions. So, yes- ALL people can be saved. Next, I want to cover the idea that all will meet Jesus. Yes. The pope is right that we will all meet Jesus. We will all see Him and be in His presence at the end of life as we know it - for judgment. The Bible says that "We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess to God.' So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God". (Romans 14:10-12) So yes, both the unbelieving and believing will see God, and will ultimately confess that He is Lord, and will bow to Him on that day. However, we will be judged and therefore accountable for our time on the earth, and what we did while living on it. As for remaining in the presence of God, and abiding with Him for eternity - or being then separated and thrown into hell for eternity- is selective. There are 2 different judgments that take place at the return of Christ. I'm not going to get into great detail now about them- but basically- there's one to separate the believers and unbelievers. And there's another to judge what we as believers have done with our lives. There's a separating line of those who believe and have made Jesus Lord. And one where we are accountable for what we did while on the earth. In Revelation 20:11-15 talks about the White Throne Judgment. This is the one where believers and unbelievers are separated. It starts in verse 11 with: "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away" (this is God seated on His throne- and John is having this vision of what is happening, and writes The book of Revelation as a prophecy for people to understand what's coming.) John continues- "and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God." (Here we see that no matter who you are- you will be judged. No matter how awesome you were on earth or how pathetic your life seemed. And also- if you die or live when Christ returns- you will still face this judgement. The dead will rise and be judged just the same.) "And books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. (Death and Hades are names used through the Bible in reference to the devil. He is thrown into the lake of fire- or hell - at this point, and then the passage continues...) "and anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." We see that people who were not found in this book- names on a list essentially- were not allowed to remain with God. They're thrown into hell, a continually burning place of fire, for eternity with the devil. In Ephesians 4:30, we know that the Holy Spirit (who is God) is the one who "seals us" until this time, or writes our name in that book, at the time of salvation. Or when we ask Jesus to come into our life, to be Lord, and confess His death, burial, and resurrection power. So the people who do not believe and confess that Jesus is Lord, that God raised Him from the dead, will not be saved. Romans 10:9 tells us if we believe and confess- that Jesus is Lord, and God raised Him from the dead- we are saved. Not just those who even believe. The devil himself believes. He knows God is real. He believes He has power. But he does not confess His lordship. Which is why there will be people who "believed" and never confessed or lived as Jesus is Lord- and will not have their names written in that book of life. Next, I want to address the idea that all people can be good. I know I could stop here- because I've answered the question that "not everyone will make it into Heaven- even if you're good". But the idea that people can be "good" is a fallacy. No one is good. Because we all are fallen and human and ridiculously awful people. And the sooner we understand this, and realize how unworthy and un-good we really are, the more desperately we need a Savior, and long for Jesus to make a way for us. Romans 3:23 says that "ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". None of us is good enough. And none of us can ever be. Certainly we can do "good things". But then we are merely a religious people who "act" in a certain way to find merit, and to get into heaven. It doesn't matter how much good behavior we possess if our heart condition is filthy and rotten. Romans 8:8 says that "those who are in the flesh cannot please God". Nothing our physical bodies can do, will ever be enough to satisfy God. Ephesians 2:8 says that "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, it is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God." We are only ever saved because of the grace of God. Nothing we can ever do, or not do, merits us a pass into eternal salvation with God. We are filthy sinners, born into sin, and without God we are nothing. We are then redeemed by the blood of Jesus, as He died on the cross, through the gift of salvation. And we now are allowed access into the kingdom of heaven- not because we've done something to earn it. But because we've accepted the blood of Jesus for our salvation- and that allows us access to God and Heaven. Like a gift at Christmas, can be given- it's up to the recipient to receive and open and use the gift. God gives the gift of salvation to ALL. but some reject it. Some only ever open it. And there are then those who receive, open, and use the power within for life abundantly. So then screw it- right? I don't have to do anything. I can just believe and confess that Jesus is Lord- and be good to go. No good deeds needed. Because I am saved by grace. Wrong. "Faith without works is dead" according to James 2:20. In fact, if you read all of James 2, it talks about "believing and not being saved, but needing grace and action to receive salvation". James 1:22 says we need to be "doers of the word, and not just hearers only". Matthew 5:16 tells us "let your light shine before men so that they see your good deeds and praise your farther in heaven". The world will see that we love Jesus by our good deeds. And they will come to knowledge of Jesus when we do good. Not to mention, the other judgement I talked about earlier, where our lives are judged by what we have done and not done with our time on earth. I found a great explanation of the two judgements online, and because it's lengthy, I'm just going to copy/past it here: "There are two separate judgments. Believers are judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10-12). Every believer will give an account of himself, and the Lord will judge the decisions he made—including those concerning issues of conscience. This judgment does not determine salvation, which is by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), but rather is the time when believers must give an account of their lives in service to Christ. Our position in Christ is the “foundation” spoken of in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. That which we build upon the foundation can be the “gold, silver, and precious stones” of good works in Christ’s name, obedience and fruitfulness—dedicated spiritual service to glorify God and build the church. Or what we build on the foundation may be the “wood, hay and stubble” of worthless, frivolous, shallow activity with no spiritual value. The Judgment Seat of Christ will reveal this. So you can see, that while yes- the pope is right that we can all do good, and we should all do good- it doesn't determine our salvation. And though it doesn't determine our salvation, it also does not mean we won't be accountable for what we do with our time as believers. This also helps to explain the circumstances surrounding various salvations: If I said that a man who has murdered and raped children his whole life, is on death row and accepts Jesus....certainly- if he genuinely has a heart change, he can be redeemed and saved from hell and spend eternity with Jesus. But he will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ for the things he did on the earth- as opposed to a person who accepted Jesus and lived and spent countless years serving God and people with good deeds. The good deeds don't save the person. Jesus Christ saves them. But their good deeds don't go unnoticed. And the poor choices of another are certainly not overlooked. And when Jesus does come back, we are told in revelation of a new heaven and new earth, where sin is no more, death is no more, (since its been thrown into hell) and we rule and reign with Christ. We will be returned to His image- perfect and spotless with a new body and a new mind- and according to our time on this earth and what we do with it- we will be given authority in the new earth. So someone who has been extremely faithful through their life, will be given a superior leadership position in the new heaven- as opposed to someone who spent their time wasted and doing nothing- still in the new heaven, yes- but lower on the chain of command, so to speak. Certainly humility comes into play here- so don't think it will be a "delegation of power" as we currently know it. Because evil and wrong motives will be gone at that point. But our stewardship in this life, determines our reward in the next. There's also a picture described of heaven, where the believers worship at the feet of Jesus. And they "lay their crowns before Him". We receive rewards and crowns for the things we do on earth, that are of eternal value. What a shame, to have made it to heaven, and find ourselves empty handed when worshipping our savior. I want to be full of gifts to lay at His feet - to worship Him with all I have and say " all I have and have attained in this life belongs to you- because I'm nothing without You anyways!" (You can read of the worshipping and throwing of crowns at Jesus' feet in a Revelation 4:9-11, and the receiving of eternal rewards and crowns in James 1:12, Revelation 2:10; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Philippians 3:12-14, and Hebrews 12:1-3.) I know it's a lot of information. But it's also good information that will set you free! That sounds like a cliché church phrase- but if you think about it, and believe that it's not what I do that saves me- you're free from a list of rules that seems binding and legalistic. And because I'm free in Christ, I have the choice to choose good. Not because I have to- but because I want to. Because when I do good, others see Christ in me. Others will follow. And because I will inherit a reward and a position later, when Jesus comes back for His church. I will have an offering to give to the One who saved me by grace. And I will be able to rule and reign with Him in the end. That's exciting. That's liberating. And that, my friend, is the gospel. It's what saves people and makes them free. It's the message Jesus came to bring and deliver. And it's the message and hope we hold onto. I believe the pope is probably a good man. I don't know what his life is like behind closed doors. Who knows? Only God. And even our own selves- the bible says in proverbs that our hearts are wicked and No one can know them. I myself, cant even see how wicked my heart is. There are things I don't even know about myself that are evil. But God- who is holy and pure- sent His perfect son Jesus to save me and redeem me- and you!- and we get to spend eternity with Him! The pope may love Jesus. He may even believe and confess Jesus as lord. And I know it's hard to understand how someone who is affiliated with "church" or "God" could say something that's not what the bible says. And to that, I would say- 1)Catholics use a different bible. So maybe there's something in his Bible that's a little different. But it's not the truth. (I'm not well enough versed in Catholicism to know exactly what those things are! Nor do I want to poke and blow through catholic theology to tear others apart). But More than that, i know the bible also talks about in the last days (or the time close to Jesus' return) when leaders in the faith, and great teachers, teach and preach a false gospel. When they preach about things that "tickle ears". You know the feeling you get when your ear is itching and you use a Q-tip to scratch it? It feels soooooo good!!! That's what that's talking about. People will begin to teach things that sound so good. They will appeal to lots of people. They will feel good. And be inclusive of a large group of people because it doesn't require change of heart or submission to God. It allows for self to continue in its ways, without changing according the the word. That's what this is an example of. The pope's words appeal to a large audience. And feel good and seem good. People who do and don't believe will be ok when they do good. They will be saved no matter what. They don't have to change their lifestyle. And the people with loved ones and family and friends who don't believe in Jesus, will still be in heaven at the end. It feels good and seems good to a broad audience of people. Like you said yourself, people accept such a teaching because it means there's hope for them without a change of heart. But the bible says the way to heaven is narrow. And the way to destruction is broad and wide. People are going to miss it, because they want what's easy, and pleasing to their ears and lifestyle. (You can read about that in 2 Timothy 4:1-5). And I believe we are in those last days. Pastor is about to do a series about the time we live in. So make sure you're there! But the bible says that we can tell it's going to rain by the way the sky looks, and the same way- we will know when Jesus is close to returning by a series of events. And those events are taking place. The signs are right. And the "thundering and lightening" so to speak- are sounding out. Which is why it's so important that we be in the word- reading it, and studying it- to know the truth. And to be able to recognize when something is off. Because the pope is a leader that people expect to deliver truth. But no matter who gives the message- if it doesn't align with scripture COMPLETELY - it's not God. If you have further questions, I'd love to answer them or help you find the answers- because I don't know all of them! I'm still learning and being transformed. We will all be until we get to heaven. So anyone who says they've "arrived" is full of crap. Haha! I hope this helps- and I hope it isn't just blowing down and tearing up someone's perspective and theology. But rather exposing truth and in turn, pointing to Jesus." Love you all! Have a wonderful Wednesday! 8/18/2015 1 Comment My Gentle GiantI'm sitting in the parking lot, waiting on this dude to get out of work in a few minutes. I figured I could take a moment to reflect and respond to his awesomeness for a minute. He's thirty-one this year. Which means soon he will be closer to 50 than 20. This guy, whose heart is bigger than his house, is all mine. All 6 feet and 1 inch of him. His dark hair, meticulously groomed each day defines a bronzed face of olive skin. His shoulders stacked with definition. I can't tell you how long I had prayed for him before meeting him. Or how often I pray for him now. But I assure you- it's a lot. He carries the groceries in for me- usually in one trip. He empties the garbage cans faithfully so I don't have to. He cleans all the vomit in our house- whenever it shows up- because he's just that amazing. He painstakingly chooses socks to match his bow ties, which are becoming a "trademark" of sorts to his attire. But more than his physical attributes or the tasks he lovingly completes for me, he is steady and sure. He represents the love God has for me in an intimate and personal way. I've seen and heard him reading His Bible and praying God's promises over the kids and I. I've watched him help disciple young people over the last few years and change their lives to be more like Jesus. I've seen this man put up with my worst attitudes and beat days with grace and patients. And today, is a celebration of him. A celebration of his honest character and his firm integrity under pressure. Thank you, Paco, for loving us- for loving me- the way that you do. Thank you for putting God first in order to love us fully and completely. Thank you for taking time each day to appreciate and care for us, as only you can do. Thank you for providing and working long hours to give financially to this team so I can stay home and live my dreams. Thank you for seeing the best in me, and pushing me towards it every day. Thank you for the kisses every day and night. Thank you for the hugs when I'm crying or stressed. Thank you for washing the big pots so I don't have to. I love you so. And I wish you nothing but the best this next year! Happiest birthday wishes to you! |
AuthorBri is the mom to four little people, the wife to a gentle giant, and a lover of Jesus. She's figuring out the best ways to parent by trial and error, and sharing her struggles, successes, and stories with you! Archives
June 2018
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