Merry Christmas, everyone! May you know the peace that only Jesus brings, this Christmas and always!

A Call for Mental Health Help

In light of the tragedy on Friday, I have to agree with what so many are saying...

We need to take mental health issues seriously.
We need to provide better care for those who face mental health problems.
We need to know that mental health problems are real, and they are serious.
We need to reform how our government cares for those with mental health problems.

My heart goes out to all those affected by the shooting, especially the families of the victims, and the family of the shooter.

No hate, no judgement Abortion Part 1

I wrote a post, similar to this, on homosexuality... but I find it hard to compare the two sins. I find it hard to compare any sin to the sin of abortion, other than murder - which, you will find, I believe is one and the same. I believe that killing anyone is sin. I believe that abortion is killing someone.

But...

Is it my job to judge those who have an abortion since I know it is wrong?

Is it my job to judge anyone who does anything wrong?

Is it my job to hate those who have an abortion since I know it is wrong?

Is it my job to hate anyone who does anything wrong?

Remember...

Just as the Bible clearly condemns killing, it also condemns judging.

Just as the Bible calls for us to protect the unborn, it also calls me to love.

So...

Somehow I need to find a balance. I need to believe the Bible when it says that abortion is wrong, but I can't hate those who have them. I have to realize that sin is wrong, but I need to remember that God will take care of the judging.

**Our country should be protected the unborn, which I believe is their job, and isn't the same as me judging someone as an individual.

Giving to those who have it all...

Isn't it funny how there are always all these advertisements out there, especially at Christmas time...

"The perfect gift for the person who has it all!"

Isn't it funny that we feel like we must give a gift to those who don't need anything, when there are so many out there who just need their next meal?

This Christmas, why not consider a gift to charity, for those who have it all? I know I will be doing that for at least one family member.

America isn't the World

Something we must always remember, especially in the midst of all the bad things going on in our country lately... 

America isn't the world. 

There is more to the world than just our one country. 

We need to open our eyes to those around us, not just our one country. 

What goes on in our country isn't necessarily a sign of what is going on in the world.

At another point I may right what this has to do with everything else, ha.

No hate, no judgment - Homosexuality Part One

*Disclaimer: this is a touchy subject, and I know that many will disagree with what I have to say.

I believe that there is right and wrong, not much of relativist thinker here. I believe that homosexuality is wrong. (Wow, did I just claim that in a country and culture that will now call me judgmental, or maybe even convict me of a hate crime?) I believe that the Bible specifically tells us that it is wrong for two people of the same gender to be together, to have sex.

But...

Is it my job to judge those who live this lifestyle that I know is wrong?

Is it my job to judge anyone who does anything wrong?

Is it my job to hate those who live this lifestyle that I know is wrong?

Is it my job to hate anyone who does anything wrong?

Remember...

Just as the Bible clearly condemns homosexuality, it also condemns judging.

Just as the Bible calls for relationships to be between a man and a woman, it also calls me to love.

So...

Somehow I need to find a balance. I need to believe the Bible when it says that homosexuality is wrong, but I can't hate those who practice it. I have to realize that sin is wrong, but I need to remember that God will take care of the judging.

Also, I find it interesting that so many Christians pick this sin as their main "fight", when there are so many sins out there, there are so many people living sinful lives.

Praying all the way...

My sister and I have been writing together for the past several weeks. We've written a few novels and are currently working on another. 

One thing we have just started to do, in the past few days, is to pray before we start writing, and to take time to pray again, as we go...

If we pray, God will guide our writing...

If God is guiding our writing, it will turn out according to his plans...

If it turns out according to his plans, whether the books get published or not will be his will...

So we pray. And pray. And pray again.

Being Effective and Productive in Faith

<sup>I want my life to count for something. I want to get to Heaven and have my God say "well done". I am seeking my way to being someone who makes my Heavenly "Daddy" proud.

On my way, some convicting, instructional verses that I found in 2 Peter 1:</sup>

⁵ For this very reason, 

make every effort to add to your faith, goodness;

 and to goodness, knowledge; 

⁶ and to knowledge, self-control;

 and to self-control, perseverance; 

and to perseverance, godliness; 

⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection;

 and to mutual affection, love. 

⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, 

they will keep you from being ineffective

 and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,

forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

I feel I have faith... but sometimes I know that I don't have as much as I should... now, to work on goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love.

Riches Make Earth Easy

In Matthew 19:23, Jesus shares how it is hard for a rich person to get to Heaven.

I have always wondered about that verse...

How much money do I have to earn to be considered rich?

Does that mean that rich people can't get into Heaven?

Does it mean that those who are rich must become poor?

I am not a theologian, and I am sure many will disagree with my interpretation of this message, but my mind has recently comprehended what this verse may mean for the first time. 

I was meditating on this verse (something that I have just started to do, rather than just hurrying through a passage, but that is another subject for another time) and I came to understand it. 

Think, for a moment, how your life here on earth is affected by how much money you have, by how much food and clothing you have... 

I have to say that my life is pretty easy. Most of the time, I love my life.

Wouldn't we be longing for Heaven a lot more, if we were starving... If we had to work from sun up to sun down just to have the bare necessities, like some have to...

So, I can see how riches do make it harder for us to get to Heaven. What I am to do about that, I am not sure yet. Should I give up all I have, or just change my mindset?

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Becoming a child of the day...

I was reading through 1 Thessalonians 5 awhile back, and I was hit by... the whole chapter. 

You are all children of the light and children of the day.

Reads verse 5.

It sounds so hopeful, so alive. 

I am on a journey to be that person. 

To be a child of the day.

To live out the rest of that chapter.

To live out God's word, and God's love.

To be everything that I was created to be.