Psst...if you can hear me God....

I went for my 3rd follow up appointment with my mid-wife today. First...after rushing there from the pediatrician's office, I had to WALK up 3 flights of stairs due to a fire drill. Really? I work for a 738 bed facility and I've never been told to stay off the elevators in a drill. Did I say I had to carry Ashlynn up them?  Lucky for them, I take the stairs at work all the time :)
As I digress...anyways, I have to go every 1-2  weeks to have my beta hcg level drawn. For those men out there, it's the hormone that causes women to go insane and emotional when growing a baby.  It was 82 last time, so this should be my last check.  Well, unless God wants to grant me a wish and have that level super high this time! So my good prayer warrior friends, be praying for God to bless with another chance...always in His will and timing.

AND! For those looking to grow, strengthen, improve or just bless their marriage: check out Beautiful Womanhood.  There is a 21 day fast coming up!

Fan or Follower

Define The Relationship
As written by Kyle Idleman "This is the official talk that takes place at some point in a romantic relationship to determine the level of commitment.  You want to see where things stand and find out if what you have is real."

I read through not a fan by Kyle in about 7 hours.  I spent the last 3 chapters tearfully sobbing as I was over and over convicted on so many levels.  He reaches the innermost part of your soul in making you look into the mirror of your Christianity.  He took me deeper in Matthew 7:21-23 NIV

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven,

but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name,

and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will

tell them plainly, 'I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers!'

All of a sudden  I was brought to the realization that this included Christians!!  Notice Jesus said "MANY will say" .Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our savior, have been baptized, attend church every Sunday, tithe, study scripture, etc...  But if we are not doing "the will of my Father who is in heaven"  then are we really  living FOR Jesus? Are we really a follower?

Now return to the opening quote.  Is not our relationship with Christ a romantic one? By far the most romantic of all times!!  We should be passionately pursuing him daily, hourly.  We should be willing to walk away from everything and everyone  to follow him.  Consider all the men that Christ asked to follow him and they wanted to do something else before they did (Matt 8:18-22).  He turned them away.  The disciples that were under Jesus were men who left "at once" (matt 4:20), "immediately" (matt 4:22)  This, my friends, is how we should follow him.

Many church's today are more concerned with filling pews and increasing tithes than they are about changing lives and reaching the needy.  They speak of welcoming the sinners for whom Christ came for (matt 9:13b), but fail to tell you how difficult, selfless, tiresome and painful it can be to carry that cross everyday.  So folks go home after an uplifting service to their big fancy homes or meet others of thier kind for a lavious lunch not truly understanding what it means to sacrifice.  We all do this.  I'm not above it either.

I can't thank Kyle enough for writing this book.  For speaking out on a topic of Christianity that has been brushed under the rug for so long.  I can't imagine a true Christian reading this, being challenged by it and then putting it down and moving on with life status quo.  It stirs a fire within you to be better, to carry your cross daily, to live out a life doing what Christ did for us.  God sacrificed his only son so that we can share in the heavenly riches and be one in his family. Imagine if each family chose to live in a home of modest existence,one that med their needs not their greeds, and matched their titheing to their mortgage.  Imagine how many lives could be changed. 

Matt 10:38-39 speaks to how we should start each day and end each night: ...and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

So I challenge you to carry your cross daily, repent daily and then give your yoke to Jesus daily. When he stirs within you the desire to go out and do something, DO IT! Remember, God prepares us and then calls us.  Eph 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." 

Daily Reminders

"Sometimes the greatest miracle of all is the one that happens in your own heart, the change that takes place in you and then suprises you as it filters into the seams and fabric of your whole life.  The effects of a changed person on her surroundings can be staggering."~The Resolution for Women cards
I received these cards as a gift from my dear friend Traci.  She is a wonderful spiritual mentor and has the caring spirit we should all strive for.  Each morning I shuffle my cards thoroughly, close my eyes and pick one from the middle of the pack to be my primary focus each day.  This one I have pulled out for 4 days in a row!  I read it each time, taking in what the Lord is telling me and asking of me.  He is reminding me of how far I have come in these last 2 years, to look closely at those close to me and realize that despite any turmoil and without question, I am making a difference.  Not only to others but within myself as well. I am proud of who I am today. I pray that with the Holy Spirit I will continue to grow, sewing seeds of faith to everyone I come in contact with.  Let my actions continue to speak for me, strengthen me as I lead my family.