Life is Good
As I was driving around our school parking lot to park this morning, I saw a sticker that said Life Is Good, which is not exactly what I was feeling at that moment. I know most of you have seen these stickers, t-shirts, and other articles with this phrase. I was quickly reminded that yes, Life is good. The life that I am talking about comes from a Father that is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. (Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8) He is the One where my hope comes from; the One who is bigger than any one man and all men.
Thoughts on Pro Choice in all areas of life
I think we give ourselves a lot more authority than we were ever intended to have. People have taken extreme selfishness, superiority, and evil and called it pro-choice. I don't just mean abortion either, but in many areas of life. As a Christian, God tells me in His word that I am not my own, I was bought with a pretty expensive price. He also tells me that my body is a temple. (Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) (13Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:13-14) I am a new creation who is set apart from the world. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Please tell me where in the Bible you find that what feels good for me is truth. It doesn't. Truth is not something that is relative from person to person. If that were the case, we would all be born with our own Word from God with our name printed on the front. To have the attitude of live and let live, is basically saying, live and let die. God commands us to go and tell others about Him. (Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Matthew 28:19.)
I have absolutely NO right to choose whether or not my unborn child will live or die. God did not give me that right, regardless of what circumstances are present. There is no excuse. You may disagree, but where does your standard come from. Is it one that you created as right or wrong? Do you really believe that you are so intelligent that your standard that you created is all truth? I am not being sarcastic or rude in any way. I just want us all to stop and think about why we believe what we believe.
Don't give me the argument that if I believe in the death penalty then I should believe in abortion. First of all, you tell me what crime this unborn baby has committed. NONE! Just because we don't like certain consequences, does not mean we can eliminate them. Don't give me the argument, "What if a girl is raped and gets pregnant?" That child still did not commit the crime. At this very moment, I could give you the names of three families that would gladly take that child to raise in a loving home. Don't give me the argument, "What if there is something wrong with the child such as birth defects?" Trust me, God tells us He knows that child already. In fact, He knit that child while he/she was in the womb. Who are we to decide what yarn is worth living and what isn't?
Having the ability to do something and the right to do something are two totally different things. Jesus had the ability to call angels to save Him from the cross. He had the ability to strike dead the ones that hated Him. He even had the ability to control His entire life on earth but He didn't. Just because we have the ability to do something, does not give us the right to do it. Spiritual discipline is what this world needs more of.
I know non-Christians will not find this applicable, but I hope this influences the Christians out there that unsure where they stand on certain issues. God loves us all so much, and He is so much bigger than us all. We need to humble ourselves before God recognizing who He is and who we are.
Free Will vs. God is in Control
I have heard so many times that God is in control, so don't worry about anything. I disagree. I know God has the ability to control this world, but He doesn't. He has blessed us with free will and free choice and many of what we are experiencing today are the consequences of the poor choices we as a nation and individually that we have made in the past and are continuing to make. I know that nothing happens with out Him permitting it, but God allows us to reap what we sow. I am so grateful that I do know that my God will supply all my needs and take care of His children regardless of how hard things may be, but I am not immune to the hardships. I hope that makes sense.
Where do we go from here?
To our knees! Rather than spend all this time griping, complaining, and worrying about where this nation is heading, we should spend that energy praying for our leaders and nation. I hope to spend more time in prayer than in negativity.
Jesus was faced with very unfair rulers in His lifetime on earth, and I never once read where he griped and complained about them. Instead, he led a life of example, love, and teaching. He disagreed with them, but not the way I have been hearing disagreements this week. We need to follow His example. It can only be followed if we know what the Word says.
Redirected Passion
It is amazing the amount of passion that is provoked during times of election. It can be seen from elementary classrooms up to nursing homes. What a world this would be if we Christians burned with that same passion about our Lord. We haven't been able to stop talking about our candidate of choice, but when have I tried to persuade all I knew to come to know Christ. When have I been so deeply affected by sin like I have been at the tolerance of evil? I hope we will direct all this passion, emotion, and drive towards "candidate" that promises eternal life.
As I was driving around our school parking lot to park this morning, I saw a sticker that said Life Is Good, which is not exactly what I was feeling at that moment. I know most of you have seen these stickers, t-shirts, and other articles with this phrase. I was quickly reminded that yes, Life is good. The life that I am talking about comes from a Father that is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. (Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8) He is the One where my hope comes from; the One who is bigger than any one man and all men.
Thoughts on Pro Choice in all areas of life
I think we give ourselves a lot more authority than we were ever intended to have. People have taken extreme selfishness, superiority, and evil and called it pro-choice. I don't just mean abortion either, but in many areas of life. As a Christian, God tells me in His word that I am not my own, I was bought with a pretty expensive price. He also tells me that my body is a temple. (Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) (13Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:13-14) I am a new creation who is set apart from the world. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Please tell me where in the Bible you find that what feels good for me is truth. It doesn't. Truth is not something that is relative from person to person. If that were the case, we would all be born with our own Word from God with our name printed on the front. To have the attitude of live and let live, is basically saying, live and let die. God commands us to go and tell others about Him. (Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Matthew 28:19.)
I have absolutely NO right to choose whether or not my unborn child will live or die. God did not give me that right, regardless of what circumstances are present. There is no excuse. You may disagree, but where does your standard come from. Is it one that you created as right or wrong? Do you really believe that you are so intelligent that your standard that you created is all truth? I am not being sarcastic or rude in any way. I just want us all to stop and think about why we believe what we believe.
Don't give me the argument that if I believe in the death penalty then I should believe in abortion. First of all, you tell me what crime this unborn baby has committed. NONE! Just because we don't like certain consequences, does not mean we can eliminate them. Don't give me the argument, "What if a girl is raped and gets pregnant?" That child still did not commit the crime. At this very moment, I could give you the names of three families that would gladly take that child to raise in a loving home. Don't give me the argument, "What if there is something wrong with the child such as birth defects?" Trust me, God tells us He knows that child already. In fact, He knit that child while he/she was in the womb. Who are we to decide what yarn is worth living and what isn't?
Having the ability to do something and the right to do something are two totally different things. Jesus had the ability to call angels to save Him from the cross. He had the ability to strike dead the ones that hated Him. He even had the ability to control His entire life on earth but He didn't. Just because we have the ability to do something, does not give us the right to do it. Spiritual discipline is what this world needs more of.
I know non-Christians will not find this applicable, but I hope this influences the Christians out there that unsure where they stand on certain issues. God loves us all so much, and He is so much bigger than us all. We need to humble ourselves before God recognizing who He is and who we are.
Free Will vs. God is in Control
I have heard so many times that God is in control, so don't worry about anything. I disagree. I know God has the ability to control this world, but He doesn't. He has blessed us with free will and free choice and many of what we are experiencing today are the consequences of the poor choices we as a nation and individually that we have made in the past and are continuing to make. I know that nothing happens with out Him permitting it, but God allows us to reap what we sow. I am so grateful that I do know that my God will supply all my needs and take care of His children regardless of how hard things may be, but I am not immune to the hardships. I hope that makes sense.
Where do we go from here?
To our knees! Rather than spend all this time griping, complaining, and worrying about where this nation is heading, we should spend that energy praying for our leaders and nation. I hope to spend more time in prayer than in negativity.
Jesus was faced with very unfair rulers in His lifetime on earth, and I never once read where he griped and complained about them. Instead, he led a life of example, love, and teaching. He disagreed with them, but not the way I have been hearing disagreements this week. We need to follow His example. It can only be followed if we know what the Word says.
Redirected Passion
It is amazing the amount of passion that is provoked during times of election. It can be seen from elementary classrooms up to nursing homes. What a world this would be if we Christians burned with that same passion about our Lord. We haven't been able to stop talking about our candidate of choice, but when have I tried to persuade all I knew to come to know Christ. When have I been so deeply affected by sin like I have been at the tolerance of evil? I hope we will direct all this passion, emotion, and drive towards "candidate" that promises eternal life.
6 comments:
Very well said. I needed that!
THANK YOU!
You are able to say so beautifully what I wish I could effectively communicate myself!! I too, am heartsick with the direction in which our country has turned but what a hope we have in HIM no matter what circumstances we may find ourselves in. Great post!
Thanks Celeste for your words. You are such an encouraging and wonderful friend. I love you for your openness. I can't wait until tomorrow. We are going to have a blast!
What a wonderful and timely post. You are a great communicator of God's truth, and we all need to hear.
Love you,
Donna
I agree with all your commentators! Very well said in times when we all need encouragement!
CELESTE!!! OUR BABIES ARE MOVING TO NURSERY C!!!! WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE???
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