Where is The Church?

After reading something recently written by a lover of God and good friend of ours, I got to thinking about "The Church" and it's location.  It's not a building.  Or a place.  It's the body of Christ.  So, it's mobile.  So it doesn't have one specific location.  Ok, so where is it located?  Where can the church be found?  Hmm.... well, I thought, where was Christ?  With the sick, the broken and the lost.  All right, so then that's where the church should be.  And since WE are the church, that's where we should be. All right... the church is Christ's body.  Well, the body has many different parts. As believers, we are those parts and we make up this body.  And these parts have different functions.  Then I got to thinking how we are also referred to as the 'army of God'.  Now, I don't know very much about the Army, or any branch of the military for that matter, but for some reason I began to think about it in these terms and it made sense to me.  So, what are some of these functions and how might they resemble an army???  Well, some are made to be out there on the front lines in the heat of the battle... in fierce, hand to hand combat with the enemy.  Now, not ALL are made to function in this capacity, but, all are still part of the same body, or army :)  Then there are the medics... those who's job it is to tend to the sick and injured WITHIN the body.  There are the high ranking officials whom, I imagine, are the ones who devise strategies, give orders and oversee the operations.  How about the mechanics who make sure all the equipment is in good working condition and then those who operate that equipment?  I'm sure there are many more 'functions' that I have no knowledge about or am forgetting, but what I'm seeing here is that not everyone in the army is a medic, or a mechanic or a man on the front lines.  But together, they make up the army.  So, likewise, I don't think every believer will be out on the front lines of the battle, but in some way or another, they will be helping those there... whether it be by giving orders, making sure equipment is working properly or tending to those who have become sick or injured.  And ALL are working together, helping one another, to bring freedom and truth and overcome the enemy!

Let Us Stop And Consider... The Fake

I read something a while back that caused me to stop and take a good, hard look at myself.   Disappointment.  It stinks!  People often disappoint us.  When I've been there, let's just say I don't react well!  I get really mad at the person who did the disappointing.  Especially if they don't apologize up to my standards (ewe!), or God-forbid they should not even see what they did as being wrong or hurtful!  The idea of forgiving them is NOT what I want to do!  So, how should we respond when this happens to us?  ...Forgive.  Yeah, I know... we don't want to.  But we need to remember that people are weak.  In many ways.  And we, too, have disappointed others.  But, man, that is hard to do!!  In fact, without God's help, I would say it's downright impossible.  The sad truth is, we don't always DO what we want to do or what we know we should... it is our human nature :(  (Romans 7:14-25)  And this often results in us hurting someone.  The weaknesses in us sometimes run very deep.  And only God can heal us, in his way and in his timing.  But, it is hard to remember this when someone has just hurt us.  I am guilty of having hurt and disappointed others... in many times and many ways.  One of my weaknesses, and it's really ugly, is not always being completely honest and authentic with people because I SO want to be liked by everyone.  I battle a profound fear of getting into a disagreement or having a confrontation with people, and so sadly, I try very hard to avoid having that happen! :( 

Been hearing people say, a lot lately, how much they hate those who are fake.  So, of course, this really bothers me!  But, let's face it.  Nobody likes a fake.  We all want people to be honest and sincere with us, and understandably so.  This is a particularly 'repulsive' character flaw to most of us.  But, what if we stop and consider that people who are fake may be painfully aware they are - and truly hate it - but hard as they try, still find themselves struggling to change?  That maybe because of their upbringing, or life's circumstances, and/or the lies the devil has been feeding them their whole lives, it's like they've become 'programmed' that way?  Isn't that true of us all?  Aren't we all programmed in some ill manner?  After all, doesn't the Bible say we need to 'renew our minds'?  Or worse yet, what if we are falsely accusing someone of being fake, when they're actually being sincere?  After all, only God knows our hearts.  

Bottom line... none of us is perfect :)  We all exhibit some kind of character flaw, or flaws.  If not insincerity, then pride.  If not pride, then lust.  If not lust, then greed.  You get the idea.  Yes, we are ALL flawed, weak and sinful in some way or another.  Yet God pours out his mercy on us continually, even though we've done nothing to deserve it.  He accepts us just the way we are, and he doesn't just 'accept' us, he LOVES us!  So much so, that he did something only he could possibly do... gave up his only son, Jesus, to DEATH, so that we could have a personal, intimate, loving relationship with Him.  And so that HE could have one with US!  Our sin might look very different from the next person's, but it's really all the same to God.  And the awesome thing is, if we've accepted Jesus' gift of salvation, and have that personal relationship with him, he is no longer counting our sins against us!  He is keeping NO RECORD of our wrongs!!  So then, shouldn't we, like God, do the same with one another?  Even with those who are insincere, or fake?  We have been forgiven for ALL our sins. God is FULL of mercy toward us.  So it is only right that we be the same with each other.  But that's hard!  No, again I say it's impossible without God.  So, how can we forgive and be merciful with someone when their sin really hurts us, really STINKS?  GOD.  LOVE.  GOD'S LOVE.  As it grows in us, we become more and more like Him, able to do "all things through Christ who strengthens us".

Not Your Average Candy Wrapper

For the past several days, I've been sick with what many of those around me have been dealing with as well :(  ...severe allergy symptoms, which turned into a full blown cold, sore throat and sinus congestion.  I have been feeling quite down - emotionally, physically and spiritually.  But, thanks to God and the faithful prayers of friends, I am on the mend, once again :)

I am so surprised by the ways in which God speaks to us, besides the Bible, His written word.  I almost brushed this off as just being too silly or not 'spiritual enough'.  But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it was, in fact, God.  I don't think He is limited or confined by 'silly' or what we see as trivial things.  After all, if he could use a donkey and a burning bush to speak through, then surely He can use a candy wrapper can't He?....

I was lying in bed feeling miserable the afternoon before yesterday, trying to sleep since I had not had hardly any the night before.  Trapped in what felt like a pit of sickness and depression, and feeling pretty much hopeless, I unwrapped yet another sore throat lozenge, trying to ease some of the discomfort of my scratchy throat.  It was from a new package that I had asked Pete to pick up for me (since I had gone through the old one already!).  I requested that he get me a specific kind (Halls Defense), not knowing what a part that would play in God's plan later.  So... as I took the wrapper off to put yet another one in my mouth, something on it caught my eye.  At first, I was just going to ignore it and throw it in the garbage, but something (now, I can say Some One) caused me to look at it.  I held it up, put on my glasses and read the following little phrases... "get through it", "flex your "can do" muscle", "tough is your middle name", and the one that probably 'spoke' to me the most... "get back in there, champ".  This was quite significant, because I was just feeling like I had already "quit the fight" you might say.  I have been sensing the devil trying very hard lately to make me just throw in the towel... give up this fight of faith.  But, when I read "get BACK in there, champ", it gave me such hope again!  I thought about a boxing match and how it can appear that the champ is all through - done with the fight, defeated.  But then, at the last minute, he GETS BACK IN and ends up winning the match!  I was able to look at myself that way... that I may FEEL like I've been defeated, have "had it", am "done in" and the devil has won, but the match is not over yet!  And the good news is I can GET BACK IN!  Because of God's amazing grace, I may get beat up pretty badly, but I will still end up winning! 
 
Now, more than likely the manufacturer was just using a good marketing ploy when they printed these words on these wrappers, but I believe God found a really good use for them for me.  As silly as it seems, I actually began feeling better from that point on.  The interesting thing is that when someone has tried to encourage me in this way before... perhaps telling me that "I can do it", or to "get back in there"... I wouldn't believe it and sometimes I would have gotten mad... feeling misunderstood or sorry for myself!  But, this time it was different.  I actually started to believe it!  Yep, there's no doubt that God used a candy (all right, it was a throat lozenge :) wrapper to encourage me and help me begin to believe the best about myself.  Amazing.

Does God Have A Diet Plan?

So... I just spent (or should I say wasted?) about 45 minutes watching a video on the internet, which I thought was just going to be helpful information, but was advertising for yet ANOTHER plan, program, system, approach - whatever you want to call it - for losing weight and burning fat.  (Something Pete and I are really wanting to work on this year).

I recently came across one of these "plans" on the internet about a week and half ago.  It was "speaking my language" if you will : )  It fell perfectly in line with how I have been told we are supposed to eat... lots of vegetables, fruit, lean meat, nuts/seeds, healthy fats and healthy grains, but was a little different in recommending we avoid, or limit, at least for a period of time, wheat (even whole grain wheat) and dairy (except for raw or organic).  Well, the avoiding wheat and dairy was a fairly new concept for me.  The reasoning behind it made a lot of sense though... the wheat contains gluten, and among other things I guess it can inhibit or slow down fat loss and cause food allergies.  And the dairy is supposedly not really healthy for us because the homogenization and pasteurization changes the structure and strips it of essential nutrients.  Ok, so, last Monday, Pete and I embarked on this plan.  We've done pretty well, except for a couple of occasions when we have been with our friends and have eaten things that haven't been a part of our "plan".  But we are feeling much better already and are even noticing a slight difference in our appearance.  But, back to this video I was watching...  

This guy basically said to do 2 things... 1)  Cut out sugar and limit high carb foods in order to prevent insulin spikes (which I understand can cause our bodies to hold on to our fat).  And 2)  Start thinking differently, retraining our brains neurotransmitters, so that we can begin acting differently, break addictions and avoid cravings.  Ok, I need that!  But, of course, he would tell me (or should I say "sell me") how to go about doing that.  It was then, that I believe I heard that still, small voice of the Holy Spirit say, "Why don't you just turn this off now?  You don't need to spend money paying this man to tell you these things.  I have already told you in my Word... "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ".  I will help you with this."

Well, I decided to shut it off.  I got up and had a little talk with God about it all.  I gave Him charge of my "diet".  So, what now?  Well, I'm not sure.  I'm just going to trust that He will show me - day by day.  It's a process.  A "live and learn" thing.  Will we stay on this diet plan we've been doing?  Probably.  But if He should tell me to do something different, I'm going to listen and trust that He knows best.  Cause He does : )  I believe what He's wanting me to see here is that I need to look TO HIM... follow HIS PLAN.  Not just for my diet, but for my life!  

Although the plans these people have come up with may be healthy and scientifically sound... they are not perfect.  And there are so many out there!  One expert says do this, and it makes perfect sense.  Then another says... no, do this, and that makes perfect "sense".  And on and on.  Well, who's right?  Who has everything figured out?  No one, except God!  I think I'll let Him be my guide!

I Have Followers?!

I have five "followers"... how exciting!  I admit that it does feel good to know there are people who are actually interested in me : )  Tonight, I thought I would take the liberty of adding Pete as one of those "followers" - he did want me to though, really : )  But, when I attempted to do so, I ended up posting my own profile picture and adding MYSELF as a follower of my own blog!  My reaction?  I almost started panicking!  Oh, no... what have I done?!  People are going to think I'm in love with myself!  Haha!  There I was... worrying about "what people will think of me" again.  Eventually, I was able to remove myself and get Pete added.  Of course, if I would have just let Pete do it in his own timing, none of this would have happened!  Hum... wonder what God would like me to see from this little incident? 

Getting Started

Well, I'm finally posting my first blog entry... 5 months after I began creating it!  Better late than never tho :D  And, I suppose January is a good time to begin, being a new year and all.

This feels kind of awkward and even, difficult.  I think it's because I tend to look at everything with that "right or wrong" perspective instead of just to explore and have fun.  Maybe this will be something to help me with that : )

Ah... Monday morning.  Not my favorite day of the week.  After enjoying Pete home from work for two days, it's always a little difficult to be all by myself again.  This Monday is a little harder than most, in that we just got back home last night from a wonderful visit with Nichole, Adam, Austin and Grace.  It will get better though!

With Susan and John living in Jefferson City now, and Nichole and Adam in their new home in Pontiac, things felt really different.  The weekend before last, we stayed with Susan and celebrated Christmas and her birthday.  It is such a blessing to be able to have such quality time with our kids when we are together for a visit.  It isn't as often as we'd like, but it is good and we are thankful to God for it, and for their generous hospitality : )  We got the chance to meet a couple of Brighton's new friends, Tyler and Logan (I believe it was), while we were there.  They came over and played with Brighton for a while.  He was excited to show them the new highway I helped him build out of duct tape on the concrete floor in their storeroom.  We made it especially for his new Optimus Prime!  We even made a tunnel, an overpass and a garage for it out of cardboard boxes!  Brighton thought it was pretty cool : )  Unfortunately, we didn't remember to take any pictures : (  On Saturday, New Year's Eve, we took Susan, John and Brighton out to eat.  We were going to go to Red Lobster, but the lines were way too long, so we went to a Hibachi grill instead.  The lines there ended up being long too, but the experience was well worth the wait!  Brighton just loved it!!  He was cheering the chef on the whole time... it was so cute.  At one point, the chef dropped the egg he was supposed to catch in his hat, but Brighton said something to me like...  "that's ok, he's still doing really good, ha Grandma?!"  : )  Soooo sweet!  Then, on our way out, Brighton asked if he could give the man his own $5 bill from his pocket as a tip!  It was adorable.

We got on the road at 8:15 am last Wednesday, stopped off at Susan's to pick up my blowdryer (that I forgot to pack when we left), and still arrived at Nichole's house by about 5:30 that evening.  Of all the places Susan and John could have ended up living in, they are pretty much right on our route to IL  That is such a blessing and we're very thankful about that!

Our time with the Akre family was wonderful.  Their new home is beautiful and very comfortable, and gives them so much more room.  As is Susan and John's : )  Austin is getting so tall and has thinned out, making him seem more like a 12-year old rather than a 9-year old!  We got him a tent for his bed for Christmas, but it was made out of what felt like plastic, which would have been very uncomfortable.  So, we took him shopping for something different, and he got an Air Hog helicopter instead.  He loved playing with that!  And he was really good at it too!!  He is such a fun (and funny boy)!  And a great big brother!!  Grace is amazing.  Haha!!  She is so smart and beautiful.  She loved the toys we got her : )  And she loved showing us her little people farm!  Her favorites were the puppy and kitty that came with it.  She was talking up a storm!  Puppy... kitty... baby... and her all time favorite... "yeah"!  At one point, Grandpa said to her, "I see you", and she said right back to him, "I see you too!"  We all heard it, plain as day!  Well, to our ears anyway : )  It was great!!

Nichole, and Susan too for that matter, is quite the cook!  And baker... oh my!!!  The first night there she made chicken parmesan with homemade french bread!  It was soooo good!!  She really spoiled us!  Adam took the rest of the week off from work to be home while we were there too, which was very nice : )  And unusual... how many son-in-laws would do that!  : )

Nichole was kind enough to invite the family to come over on Saturday afternoon for chili and cornbread.  LaRae, Sharee, Cynthia, Kim and Scooter all came.  We had a good time.  It was nice to be able to hang out with them for a while and laugh our butts off at some of the funny Photoshop pictures Nichole has taken!  The day before, we drove in to Morris and visited with Mom, Heidi and Stacie.  The weather was just beautiful (sunny and around 60 degrees)!  We were able to sit outside on Mom's front porch and enjoy it.  She was doing well.  It was so good to see her.  Stacie and Adam take good care of her.  She seems content and happy these days and I'm very thankful for that.

On our way home, we stopped by Kathie and John's restaurant and had lunch.  I think Kathie was very glad we did that : )  It was nice!  And delicious!!  We both had "John's famous hot beef" with homemade mashed potatoes... yum!!  And then she sent us home with an order of "Kathie's famous chicken strips".  They were so good!!  Homemade crispy batter... yum!!  Made a good snack later, even cold!

Well, I can't imagine anyone else wanting to read this blog but me, but they are welcome : )  I feel like I've just rambled on and on without a specific theme or point!  But, I simply don't have the writing skills of some I know (my precious friend Lisa for one)!   Well, Pete will be home for lunch soon and I have run out of energy now, so I am going to quit :D