Why I Believe--There are a Million Reasons

People wonder why I believe in God.

When I can pray, "God, this thing that is only an issue to me but is hurting my heart is bothering me. Can you please address it?" and less than 24 hours later it is settled, not because I addressed it, but because of the craziest roads that got it there, and it happens CONSISTENTLY, no one can convince me some cosmic mind or wandering energy or "coincidence" is responsible. Things that like convince me what is responsible is a God who loves me, hears my words, knows my heart, and responds to me with the fullness of Himself.

Someone asked me, "Have you ever seen God?" I have not seen His face, but I have seen His hand work on my behalf in a million ways.

Yes. I am convinced with the very core of who I am God is real, and I am He loves me with all He is.

Because You Need to Know

I don't often post to other people's blogs or post other people's work here, but this article...nothing I say can compare. This is heart deep to the core, and you need to read it.

You need to read this because someone you know will need you to know this. There is no "at least". There is no spiritualizing it and making it more noble or less tragic. There is just loss--horrible, heart wrenching loss. And you need to know.

From

The Lewis Note

Friday, February 21, 2014

Why miscarriage matters when you're pro-life

Back in my former life, I was a proofreader.

We were a fabulous group of gals. But, I'm not going to lie -- we were pretty nitpicky. And NOT the most popular in the office. In fact, we had not just one book, but multiple books by which we would mentally check each word, each phrase, each sentence.

We had rules about whether a dash should be the size of a capital "N" or a capital "M" (and yes, we did measure). We ensured the proper use of "insured," then assured all the writers that, yes, everyone gets those words mixed up. And of course, we must never forget to correct the spacing on an ellipsis. (#.#.#.#). Very important, that one.

But we had one rule that trumped all rules:

Consistency was king.

You see, on most issues, you could get away with breaking a rule or two -- as long as you were consistent.

And now, after both quitting my job and going through 3 first-trimester losses in a row (primarily surrounded by pro-lifers), I really wish I could say the same thing about life. And about pregnancy loss.

I must make a disclaimer (to all my friends and family reading this) -- You did the best you could. And for the most part, I felt loved and I knew that so many of you grieved with me.

To be perfectly honest, before my losses, I didn't quite understand that the way we pro-lifers treat miscarriage is important.

And yet after we lost Olivia, it didn't take long for me to realize that in this Christian microcosm of ours, somehow an aborted baby had so much more to offer the world than a miscarried one.

 

To read more....

 

 

All rights and text belong to Rachel Lewis, author of The Lewis Notes. All credit is hers.

Finding Peace in th Promise

Today I started writing Gypsy Ponderings again, and I'm pondering Joseph and the pain of living the present when the promise looks a million miles away.

Sometimes the promise looks impossible because of our circumstances. Sometimes it looks impossible because really, something that good for me? And sometimes it looks impossible because I can't possibly be brave enough to live it.

Today I am struggling to be brave, and I'm failing. So, I'm stopping. And instead of being brave, I'm being still.

Want to join me? Come on.

When People Hate Being Loved

I've been reading about this person and that person coming out as gay and how courageous they are for standing up for their beliefs. And I'm wondering.

If I come out as a Christian who stands for the Bible, traditional marriage, forgiveness for sin, living a godly life, and heaven not being for anyone who doesn't play by the rules to get there, does that make me courageous or a hater? Because here is the thing, I don't hate anyone.

I don't think those people coming out as gay hate me because I'm not. So why should people assume I hate them because I come out as a Christian? Because I don't agree with them? There are a lot of people I don't agree with, but I don't hate them. I just don't agree with them. There is a difference.

I don't hate people if they are gay, heterosexual adulterer, or a virgin; drunk or sober; drug addict or clean; victim of believing the lie of abortion or had 18 babies and counting; church goer or not. I don't hate them. However, I do believe with all that is in me that the only joy in this life comes from a relationship with God the Father and Creator through His Son Jesus, and the only door for that is confession of sins as defined by the book written via inspiration by God, the acceptance of forgiveness for those sins through the blood of Christ, and living out the salvation one claims to have. Because of that belief, if someone is living outside the guidelines presented by the Bible, I will call the actions wrong.

I tell my son when 7x8 does not equal 64. I could leave it like that so he could feel good about himself, but he would be wrong, and it would impact his life. Telling him the right answer may not make me popular with him, but if he listens, it helps him in life.

If know the truth of what God expects and the glory of what He offers and do not speak that truth, then I am really saying, "I know this is messing up your present life and will keep you from entering heaven for eternity and in fact, will send you to hell, but I don't care. I'm too afraid of making you angry or hurting your ego to do what is best for you." I don't tell people the truth out of hate. I tell people the truth because I know a better way.

I don't tell my son he is wrong because I think he is stupid or broken. I tell him because he doesn't know. It's not a judgment against him. It's just where he is. When I share the truth of Christ, it isn't in judgment of someone not following Him. I don't think they are stupid or bad. I think they don't know.

So what makes me a hater exactly? The fact that I think there are consequences to one's actions? The fact that I have the courage to stand against the lie that God is good and God is love  and He just wants people happy and would never send anyone to hell?

Well, God is good and He is love, which is why He sent Christ to die on a cross for the forgiveness of sins and redemption of lives. You can find that over and over. It is all over the New Testament. What I've never found, though, is a live any way you want for free card. It simply isn't in there.

Again, not hating. Just speaking the truth according to the Word of God.

Now, if you don't like that Truth, that is your choice. If you don't want to live by it, that is also your choice. I still love you, but I won't lie to you and tell you it's okay. Love wants the best for you. Hate doesn't care what happens to you. If I told you it's okay when it's not, THAT would be hatred, and even if you hate me, I love you too much for that.

Matthew 7:12 on the Road

Hey, y'all, on the way home last night, the kids and I came upon a wreck. No emergency vehicles yet, so I stopped to see how everyone was. When EMTs arrived, I handed off the patient but was asked to stay in case I was needed, so I sat and watched.

I want you to know what I watched.

I watched several men take amazing care of 5 people involved in the wreck while they figured out what happened and addressed the issue of an un-collared pitbull who was sweet but very attached to his mommy they were taking away. These people always amaze me. I wish everyone of you could ride a shift with them. You might see them differently. You might see them less as immortal heroes and more as real people with huge hearts, which brings me to what else I saw.

I saw these mortals doing all this work while idiot drivers drove by way too fast. (For the pastors, yes, I repented of those thoughts I had for those drivers and the desire to take a baseball bat to the front of their vehicles as they drove by. Okay. I'll have to repent again). I also saw idiot drivers who nearly caused more wrecks by driving too fast, not paying attention to the car in front of them, and screeching brakes to stop before causing another wreck.

Folks, those men and women belong to someone. They are husbands/wives, dads/moms, sons/daughters, best friends, and the bright place in someone's life. Try on a whopping dose of Matthew 7:12 and ask how you would want that person treated if that were your "someone". You would want them treated as treasures to be valued and watched after. You would want people to be careful and thoughtful. SO BE THAT! Not all of this world is about you, where you're going, or what you have to do. Sometimes this world is about you doing the right thing in respect to someone else. Our responders are someone worthy of your value. Please kindly treat them with the value they deserve.

And if no one else thanks you, I do.

Yesterday Was Ugly, so Do Something New

Ephesians 4
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self,

 which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

You know that old self that yelled at the kids yesterday, picked a fight with the beloved, was rude to the cashier who had no control over the fact they don't have your favorite chocolate, and tossed some select sign language at that driver who needs to learn the point of a blinker.

Yeah. That self.

Take it off.

Toss it in the trash.

That isn't who you are anymore. You just forgot for the day, but today, you remember without fear.

You are like God in true righteousness...doing the right thing, saying the right thing, responding the right way, only holding the right things important...and holiness...forgiving yourself, humbling yourself to ask forgiveness from others...and being humbled enough that they can easily forgive you because they shouldn't HAVE to forgive you, they should see your true repentance and be compelled to forgive you.

Put on that new self that takes up the easy yoke that isn't weighted with pride or ego or self-loathing, but with love, kindness, and mercy...even for yourself.

Beating yourself up for yesterday won't undo it, but it might lead you to repeat it, so let it go.

Put on the new you with new hope for a new outcome in this new day. It's a gift. Unwrap it for all its worth.

This Momma on her Knees

Meltdown day.

And both precious children in my home got to see it in all of its inglorious wretchedness.

If I could get anything really REALLY right, it would be being a mom.

All the things I think I am getting right everywhere else become nothing when I get this so wrong.

Oh, Holy God, forgiveness and grace for me..

....and for our children, be the voice that speaks louder than mine..

....and give them hearts to forgive me and embrace you.