When the Retreat's Over...

       My best friend, Becki and I went to a women retreat last weekend.  We go every year and start planning on going the next year the weekend after we get back.  HAHAHA!  It’s a weekend with no kids, and no husbands, just two old friends spending the weekend together and getting their love cup filled God.

       The theme of the weekend was Jesus Loves Me.  I went into this weekend with a specific issue, a specific sin, I wanted to deal with.  It’s a sin I’ve had since I was 13.  I’ve tried to give it up many before, but haven’t succeeded.  I know it may always be “a thorn in my side”, and this may very well be something that I have to fight for rest of my life

       It was a great weekend, as it always it!  I took me to  the mountain top.  The only bad thing about going to the mountain top is eventually you have to go back down to the valley.  People actually warn you that after a retreat, to be careful, because that’s when Satan is most likely to try and attack you.  It’s easy to sing “Jesus Loves Me” on the mountain top, it’s a little harder to sing it in the valley.

       For me, my “valley test” hit me as soon as I got home!  I got home at the same time as Bryan and the kids got home from church.  We hopped in the van and off we go for a nice family lunch. It wasn’t until I get accused of yelling in the restaurant. (I have two volumes; mumbling or yelling).  I tried not to overreact, but of course those who know me best could tell.  Later, Bobbye Sue and I went to Wal-Mart and she asked me why I was in such a bad mood.  (BTW, why are you always the last to know when you’re in a bad mood). 

       Later, I was on Face Book, I saw Becki wrote a post that was unlike her.  So I texted her and long story short her husband told her to just go on back to the women’s retreat, (to which she sad; gladly!).

       Anyway, it’s been a tough week.  I’ve really tried to live out what I learned at the retreat.  I’m learning that I may not always make everyone happy and I need to worry a little bit less of what others think and be more concerned about what God’s commanding me to do.

       I love retreats. In fact, I’m going on one in a few weeks with the sweet ladies of my church.  I can’t wait.  I know God will continue to work on me and that the Devil will continue to try to persecute me.  But I pray and know without a doubt that God will give me what I need to persevere.     

Be Still

We are a busy people.  Most of us seem to be living our life in the fast lane.  Sometimes we get so caught up with things that we don’t stop and take time for God.  This is not a new problem though.  That’s why Psalms 46:10 tells us to “Be still and know that I am God.”

Talking to your friend, Jesus

What if you could talk with your best friend anytime; anywhere.  Many songs talk about how Jesus is our friend.  Prayer is our direct line to Jesus.  We don’t have to worry about Him being too busy or breaking our confidence.  Be sure to talk to your friend Jesus today.

Forgive and Forget

People often say; “I’ll forgive, but I’ll never forget.”  Can people truly forgive someone if they are constantly remembering how they wrong them?  Jeremiah 31:34 says “He forgets our sins and remembers them no more.”  If Jesus can do it, why can’t we?”

The Gift of Love

Love is truly a gift from; In fact the bible says that God is love.  However, sometimes it is really hard to love people; especially those closest to us.  It may be time to step back and see that person as Jesus sees them.

Texting For Jesus

“Text me.”  How many times a day do we hear or say that do we hear or say that?   We text each other about everything: where we’re going, about what’s happening at work, We can order food by text,  we can even get test results by doctors by text.  But how are we growing as a Christian by texts?  Yes, we can receive   bible verse by text.  Holly Grove even sends prayer request via text.  But how else can we use text messaging to reach the lost?  We can send someone a text of encouragement.  We can invite them to church. We can share our testimony with them.  There are so many ways we can use technology to spread the gospel?  So, how are you text the good news today?

SIN AS DIRTY GLASSES

      I can’t see.  Now, I’m now blind; things just aren’t as big as they as they used to be.  I hear this is very common.  My theory is that world is being over takin by leprechauns and their sole purpose is to trick us and to make us think that we’re getting old.  Yes, this is most definitely be a trick of the leprechauns!

      With that being said,  a couple of times a year I like to go to the Dollar Tree and stock up on reading glasses.  I spread them throughout the house so whenever I need my glasses, there’s always a pair in reach.

      The thing about glasses is they get dirty quickly, though we may not notice it.  My kids will periodically pick up my glasses and the response is always the same: “Mama, these are filthy.  How can you see out of them?” (And then they’ll actually clean them for me!)

      The truth is, my dirty glasses don’t bother me.  I don’t realize they’re dirty.  (However, I did stop as I was writing this and cleaned my glasses!) I allow myself to adapt, and my eyes have to strain more to see through the dirtiness, but I don’t realize this.

      Sin is a lot like a pair of dirty glasses.  It may start out as just a smudge:  I can tell this little white lie or I can dabble in this behavior and it’s no big deal. You do it more and more.  It may seem like no big deal; maybe no one get hurts our even knows, but God knows. 

      The more we sin, the harder it becomes to see that we are sinning.  The longer we allow our sin to go on, the more natural it becomes.  If I go back to my drinking days and hanging out in bars, it probably won’t too long before that becomes the norm in my life.  I’ll start to justify why I’m doing it and I’ll even believe that it’s OK. 

      That’s because my ability to see that I’m sinning had hinder me just as my ability to see becomes hindered when my glasses become dirty.  I probably won’t be able to see my sin until it’s pointed out to me, just like I can’t tell my glasses are dirty until one of    my kids points it out to me. 

      To get the most out of my glasses and to reclaim my vision; I have to clean them (or have them clean by my kids). Likewise, I need to clean my heart of sin.  It’s not always as easy as spraying Windex on a paper towel and wiping down my glasses.  To cleanse my heart of sin, I have to turn back God and allow Him to forgive and change me.  I have to be willing to give up that sin which has become second nature to me.  I cannot live in sin and see clearly what God has in store for me.    I have to be willing to let Christ’s blood cleanse me white as snow.