Tell Them What They Can Do

    Have you ever been asked if you are a religious person? I have. It's a hard question to answer. I think that's because most people think of Christianity as a religion; and, in the eyes of the world, it is. But Christianity is different from any other religion. It is different because we don't just have religion we have relationship.

   Religion means rules and don'ts. It means you have guidelines for what you can and cannot do. And, yes, Christianity has parts of that. Like we should follow the ten commandments which tell us things like don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't lie, etc. But Christianity is mainly about the relationship between you and God.

   God sent Jesus to die on the cross so that he could be with us. When we sin, we become unholy, and God cannot be with anyone unholy. Jesus' blood makes us holy. When we choose to accept him as savior, he becomes the sacrifice needed to make us holy. Now we can have direct access to God. We can pray to him, and he hears us. He also can communicate with us, if we listen. 

   This whole principle reminds me of how in my education courses in college we were taught to have rules that told the children what they could do instead of what they can't. For example, rather than having the rule "don't run" have the rule that you should "walk." Most of us don't like to be told what we shouldn't do. We'd rather be told what we can do. And that's what relationship does. Christianity tells us we can go to God. We should show love to others. We should spread the gospel. Christianity is a relationship more than a religion and I'm so thankful for that.

   So, do you have a relationship with God? What are you thankful for about Christianity?

Don't Itch

   One day I was minding my own business driving to soccer practice. It was a sunny day, and I was feeling good and excited to practice that day. Suddenly I had an itch on my leg. Since I was driving, I did not look down and just itched it. When I itched it, it felt good and alleviated the need to scratch, for a bit. 

   I continued to drive and then felt itchy again in the same place. Thus, I scratched again. When I finally reached my destination, I looked down. To my dismay and annoyance, I had been scratching a mosquito bite. The bit had gotten quite big because I was scratching it.

When I was at practice, I would feel the itch again. However, this time I would avoid itching it. If it was really itchy, I would end up slapping it. Eventually, after a few days, the bite mark went away. 

   More than likely, if you live in an area where mosquitoes are, you have had a similar experience. But you may be wondering why I am telling this story. Well, after that experience I got to thinking about how mosquito bites are similar to the Christian walk.

   Sin is like a mosquito bite. Once you sin once it is quite easy to sin again. It is like an itch. The sin is under your skin like a mosquito bite. You know it is there and you know you should not sin. Yet, the temptation is there and if you sin again the temptation goes away, for a little. But if you do sin again it gets easier and easier to do. You may not see the impact of that sin immediately on your life. Eventually the impact is clear though because of the consequences you are facing.

   James 1:14 says: "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire." We are sinful beings who are tempted in different ways. As Christians we are called to be holy and follow Christ. That does not mean it is easy to do so. Sinning is much easier most of the time, Satan makes it that way. That does not mean that reason is an excuse for us. 

   Hebrews 2:18 says: "For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." When we are tempted, we are not alone. Jesus is with us. When temptation comes, instead of giving in, we can call on Jesus. He will help us through our temptations. In this metaphor, I guess you can say that Jesus is hydrocortisone cream. He helps alleviate the itch to sin. 

   Now, one last thing I want to say about this topic: if you have put hydrocortisone cream on a bite you know it only alleviates the itch for a bit. Then you need to put more on to help with the need to scratch. It is the same with temptation to sin. We cannot just call on Jesus once to ask for help with the temptation to sin. We must be in constant communication with him each day. We must get to know him. That is how we can flee temptation when it comes.

   So, are you being tempted right now? What can you do to avoid the itch of that temptation? Are you spending time with Christ each day?

 

Demon: When You Don't Have a Choice

   If you saw this title, and image, what would you think of the book? We are told not to judge a book by its cover yet we seem to do it all the time. Let me tell you a little bit about this book and lessons I have learned from it.
   The whole story is about a demon who tells his story to an editor. This editor really wants to be a writer but none of his books did well. In the end this editor realizes how much we take for granted. We can have a relationship with God! Can demons have a relationship with God? No, they are trapped in a place without God.
   Humans have a choice. We can choose whether we will walk with God or not. Meanwhile demons chose once and they are now stuck with their choice. Some of us may say: "Well I'm a good person, I don't need God."
   Ha, this book throws that idea out the window. If we choose to do this life on our own then we will be judged by our actions. If we even had one sin, either by commission or omission, then we cannot be with God.  He cannot be with anything that is not pure or unholy. We would end up being like the demons that chose to follow Lucifer.
   God is gracious toward us. We get chance after chance to choose his way. We get chance after chance to choose to follow him. Meanwhile demons don't. How can we be so ungrateful or prideful to think that we can get to heaven on our own when the demons don't get a second chance? If we choose to do this on our own we will go to Hell just like the demons.
   I encourage you to check out this book. It gives you a new perspective on God, demons, and people from the Bible.
   So, have you chosen to walk through this life with God? If you haven't, will you choose to walk with him today? 

   Romans 3:10 and Proverbs 3:5-6
   Image found here.  

They Are Circling

     One time I was riding with my family. We drove past a church and above the church I saw 10 vultures circling around it. It was a bit of a disturbing sight. I've seen vultures before. However, normally I see only one or two attacking roadkill. I do not typically see them circling their prey, let alone circling a church!

   This sight got me thinking about all the things I do not typically, or cannot, see. Like, what if those vultures were demons? We cannot see demons. We do not see angels. We do not know the spiritual warfare that goes on each day. However, we do know those wars are going on. 

   1 Peter 5:8 says: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." The devil is real. He is waiting, and watching, for someone to attack. He doesn't want you to learn about God. He doesn't want you to have a relationship with God. He wants you to be separated from God. Satan doesn't want you to do work to further the kingdom.

   What can we do about this? Are we to worry? Are we to stop living our lives? No! We are to follow the words of James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." We need to submit to God. We are to be in relationship with him each day by praying and reading the Bible. 

   See, Satan cannot stand to know that we belong to God. He hates that we have a relationship like we do with the Lord. He tries to break that relationship in many ways. Satan has a toolbox to break believers. The key is for us to know how to combat him. We need to know the Word of God. We need to use that word against the devil when he comes against us. We need to lean into God.

   So, how is your relationship with God? Are you submitting yourself to God?

The Love Triangle

   Once upon a time there was a young princess. She was told by all those that she knew that she was beautiful and she was loved by all the people in the land. Her father told her “you must remember who you are no matter what happens to you during your life.” For some time the girl did remember who she was but then she began to grow up.

   The girl grew away from her father. She started to dress in unflattering ways like the popular girls in the kingdom. She began to disobey her parents. The princess took her eyes off of her Father.

One night she found herself in an alley. Her dress was tattered, she was sick, and there was no one there to help her. All of her friends had abandoned her. The princess realized that she had forgotten who she was. She ran home. Then she burst into the throne room where her parents waited, sick with worry. The princess hugged her parents and told them she was sorry.

   She began to read her Bible more. The princess had a hunger for learning about her Father like no other in the kingdom. She had put her eyes back on the father. The princess also began to pray that her relationship with her Father would grow. And, that her future prince would keep his eyes on the father.

   In another kingdom there was a prince. He had thrown many parties, invited many women, and had wine there. He was not making good decisions. The prince loved the life of a bachelor. Until, one day, his parents decided to cut him off. For the good of their son and the kingdom they kicked him out of the castle.

   The prince could not understand why his parents would disown him. He asked his friends to help him. But, his friends wanted nothing to do with him. He joined a band of miscreants and began to lie, cheat, and steal. This went on for 2 years until one day he too woke up in an alley all alone. The prince felt a tug on his heart that day. He realized that he had forgotten who he was.

   The prince went home and begged for his parents’ forgiveness. His parents did forgive him. And, the prince began to read his Bible. His relationship with the Father began to grow. His eyes were back on the Father.

   The Father began to move the princess and the prince together. One day, while at a royal ball, the prince and the princess met. Both of them had gone through a lot, and they had been waiting a long time to meet each other. They began courting. And, one day the prince asked the princess to marry him. The princess agreed and they lived happily ever after.

   Obviously, this is a fictitious story. But, the message behind it rings true. In order for a relationship to work it cannot be just a relationship between husband and wife. It must be a love triangle made up of husband, wife, and Jesus.

   In this story the princess and the prince were not anywhere close to meeting one another until they fixed their eyes on the Father. Before, one can meet their significant other he/she must have a relationship with God. Think about it: when you were in middle school or high school what were you like? If you would have met your spouse then, would you have gotten together? More than likely you would not have gotten together because you still needed to grow.

   The point of this story is to say that, if you are still waiting to meet your spouse you need to keep your eyes fixed on God. If you are not growing in him then God will not move you toward your spouse. And, if your spouse’s eyes are not fixed on God then you still will not meet. Thus, you must also pray that your spouse will fix his/her eyes on God.

   If you are married or with someone, you do not get out of this either. You need to continue to grow in God. It is just that now you can grow with each other. You should be holding one another accountable and should still have your love triangle with Jesus.

   So, do you have your eyes fixed on the Father? If you do not, what are you going to do in order to fix your eyes on the Father again?

   Hebrews 12:2, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Colossians 3:14

Jesus' Bubble

   As a teacher, you would expect that I would get hugs from students; because students are very touchy feely. It's true, I do get hugs from students. However, my love language is not physical touch. In fact, if someone is standing too close to me I feel like I need to move.
   See, I have what I call a large bubble. If someone stands too close in that bubble I get on edge. Some people have small bubbles. They enjoy standing really close to others. They like hugs and handshakes. I don't get it, but if you have a small bubble maybe you do.
   No matter how big or small your bubble is I'm sure there is someone who had a smaller one. Maybe you know him? His name is Jesus. Think about it: how many times was Jesus surrounded by a crowd? How many times did he touch someone to heal them? How many times did random people touch him in order to be healed?
   I remember in college we watched a clip from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. In the clip Jesus is overwhelmed with all the requests of the people. The people surround him and basically Jesus says "it's too much." Does this sound like Jesus to you? Because, it doesn't to me. Jesus can handle all of our needs and prayers. We may not understand that, because of our finite minds, but it's true.
   Now, that doesn't mean that Jesus gives us everything we ask for. He's a good father. If you had children and they asked for candy for supper every night, would you give it to them? No, God knows what we need.
   We can choose to give it all to him. He can handle your problems. We don't  have to carry our burdens. Your chains of burdens can be gone. Jesus is a big boy, with a tiny bubble. He will take your burden so you can be closer to him.
   So, do you believe God will take your burden? Have you chosen to give your burdens to him so you can be closer to him? What can you do to remind someone who is struggling with burdens that they can give it to Jesus today?

   Matthew 11:28-30 and Psalm 55:22

   Image from here. 

Freedom Bought By War: Independence Day

   Many, many years ago America declared independence from Great Britain. That didn't mean that we were automatically free. We had to fight for it. We had to go to war. We fought for many years and we prevailed because we didn't give up. That's why we are a free country today. But, there is another battle many are still fighting today for freedom. I'm not talking about physical freedom, although there are people who still are not physically free. I'm talking about spiritual freedom.
   Many years before America was ever even thought about, there was another battle that happened. This was the most important battle ever in the history of Man. The battle was won, but the war isn't over (even though we know the ending). Jesus died on the cross to save us from sin. Jesus won the battle we couldn't ever win. Jesus fought the devil and won. He won all of our souls back. Now, we still need to choose him, but we are free to choose Jesus.
   I said the war isn't over because it's not. We know the ending (check out Revelation 19-22). Jesus wins. That doesn't mean that the Devil has given up. He still fights us every day. He tries to make us slide back into sin. He doesn't want us to follow Jesus. He wants us to stay in captivity of sin. He doesn't want us to be free.
   Jesus gives us freedom. He takes away our sin. If we accept/invite him into our hearts, if we believe that he came to save us from our sins, if we confess that we are sinners he frees us from sin.
   So, have you given your burdens to Jesus? Have you chosen to follow Jesus? What can you do to grow in God today?

   1 John 1:9, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 6:23

   Image from here. 

Do You Feel Like You Don't Belong?

   I had a friend who was a really hard worker. She worked hard to help others. She worked hard to get better in her hobbies. She worked hard to follow her career path. And, she worked hard to show the love of God to others.
   She got a job where she encouraged her co-workers, cared about those she served, and worked hard to improve every day. Now, this friend was fairly quiet and did not speak up much in group settings. Because of this, she was fired.
   I couldn't understand why she was fired but she told me the reason she was fired was because she didn't fit in with the culture of the workplace. Just because she didn't talk much in group settings she was fired! Now, you have to understand this friend worked behind the scenes. She did not flaunt her success, she gave people gifts without telling them it was from her, and did many things to make sure the workplace ran smoothly without telling anyone she did it. That's what I call character! But, because she did that her bosses didn't think she did much to work with her team.
   This reminded me of a story where there were a lot of misfits: The Greatest Showman. In the movie Barnum, the main character, gets an idea to have a show of people who are usually outcasts. He wants to bring them together and show them they belong. It worked, he created the circus. Now, some people still called the circus people names and were mean to them. But, it didn't matter to the circus people because they now had a home. They had confidence in themselves. They had a place they belonged.
   What struck me in the movie is that the circus accepted anyone. They had a tall man, a fat man, dog boy, a small man, a bearded lady, and so much more. It didn't matter what these people looked like, where they came from, or what they did in the past. They were accepted into the family just because they were who they were.
   This is exactly how God's family is. Everyone in their life has felt like they don't belong at some point. Maybe you don't have many friends at school because you choose not to involve yourself in questionable activities. Maybe you don't fit in at work because you refuse to hurt others to get promotions. Maybe you don't belong in your family or your country because you believe in Jesus and they don't.
   We are all hurt by this world. We all feel like we mess up or we are inadequate. But, God loves us no matter what we do, where we come from, what we look like, etc. We belong to him. He created us and loves us. That's what we need to remember when we feel like we don't belong. It's what we need to remember when we work hard and still get fired. It's what we need to remember when we look different from others and are rejected. It's what we need to remember when our faith is tested in the fire.
   So, have you ever felt like you don't belong? What can you hold onto when you feel like you don't belong? How can you help someone realize they belong today (at work, school, or the family of  God)?

   Psalm 100:3, Isaiah 43:1, 1 John 3:1

   Image from here.

Silence...

   Once when I was in college I went to a class. I sat down and waited for class to begin. The professor came in, put his books down, stood behind the desk, and looked at us. The class quieted down and looked at the professor after about a minute of talking. The professor just looked at us and smiled. After a while people began to look around. Some people started to giggle. Others kept looking at the clock. The professor kept smiling at us and was still quiet. 
   I just sat there thinking what is our professor up to? Then I figured it out but I didn't want to ruin the surprise for anyone else. Just like I don't want to ruin the surprise for you, yet. 
   Another time I was at work at Jimmy John's. One of the managers had a tendency to call group meetings, especially when she was stressed. She called us over one day when another manager, named Betty, was also working. We all went over and the manager said, "team meeting." Then she was quiet. All of us were quiet as well, all of us except Betty. Betty said, "what's going on? Why isn't anyone talking?" Betty continued to talk and giggle.

   Why did the class and Betty giggle? It is because they thought something was odd: silence. Why is it that we do not like silence? Is it because we like to talk? Is it because we live in a loud world? I do not know but I know there are people who need noise no matter what. Yet, in the Bible we are told we should have silence and solitude. Matthew 6:6 says "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." 
   Why will we be rewarded if we go into our rooms and shut the door? First off we are to humble ourselves instead of trying to make ourselves look good in front of others. Second, we are having a conversation with God. You may be saying, "I don't hear God when I pray." Well how do you pray? 
   Prayer is a conversation. That means that 2 people must be involved at least. Most of the time when we pray we do all of the talking. If you were out with a friend and your friend did all of the talking and did not give you a chance to talk, would you try to even say something to that person? God wants to talk with us. I'm not saying that you will audibly hear God. You may have a thought that comes from him, a friend may relay a message to you from him, or you may see something that comes from him. God does speak... but sometimes we are not listening. That's why we need to have silence and solitude. We must spend time with God just like we would any other friend. 
   So, does silence scare you? Do you ever have quiet time with God? If you don't, what can you do to spend more time with him?

   Matthew 6:6, Luke 6:12

   Image found here. 

Who has Kissed Your Hand?

   One day I was at school teaching. I brought my kids up to the car pick up area. My kids sit right behind the preschool kids and I get to interact with the preschool children. I sat with my kids and the preschool kids turned around. They started to tell me about their day how they played outside, why they were wearing what they were wearing, and what color they got on to show how they behaved that day.

   Suddenly one child looked at me and asked me for my hand. Now, if you have ever worked with children you know that even though most of the time they act innocent they can be sneaky. I refused to give him my hand for a while until most of the other children said that it was a good thing.

   Slowly I gave him my hand. He took my hand and kissed the palm of my hand. Then he said, “there, now whenever you are alone you will not feel lonely. You can take your hand and put my kiss on your face and know that I am with you.” My mouth dropped and then I laughed because I knew that he was alluding to the book called The Kissing Hand. Because I laughed, other children proceeded to kiss my hand as well until parents came to pick them up.

   The funny thing about that story is it is true, we are never alone. But we are not ever alone because we have kisses from those close to us, though it is nice to know we have people who care. We are not alone because Jesus is with us.

   Whenever we feel alone, Jesus is there. When we feel we cannot take another blow, Jesus is there. When we feel like giving up, Jesus is there. Sometimes we forget that Jesus is always with us. But, that’s the great thing about our God: he cares enough about all of us to be there for us. He wants to have a relationship with us. We just need to lean on him and trust him. It also does not hurt to remember that when we feel really alone, Jesus has already given us a kiss in our hands. All we have to do is put our hand to our cheek and remember what he did for us.

   So, do you remember that you are never alone? Do you have a relationship with God? What can you do to make your relationship with God stronger?

   Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10, Romans 8:38-39

The Adventure of Being Single

   What do all of these lovely ladies have in common? "I want adventure in the great wide somewhere I want it more than I can tell" (Belle). "Some day my prince will come" (Snow White). "I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream" (Aurora). "I can't wait to meet everyone! [gasp] What if I meet... the one?" (Anna). If you haven't gotten it by now I'll clue you in: they all want to find their prince. Once they find their prince they live happily ever after (even if they are not married [Anna]).

   The funny thing is girls all over the world look up to these ladies. We all want adventure, want to find our prince, and want to live happily ever after. I mean, we have been fed that our whole lives in movies, books, and even from friends and family members. But, is that really how we should feel?
   In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul talks about marriage and singlehood. We've all heard the verses before. Paul states in verse 8: "Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do." Why would Paul tell us to stay single? Didn't God create us with a desire for the opposite sex?
   Paul goes on to say "...An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world-how she can please her husband" (34).  Think about the married couples you know. Do they have a lot of time to help others? Not really, they do not have time for it. I'm not saying it is wrong. Like Paul, I am saying that married people have other concerns. They have to care for their spouse, children, and think of other needs for their family.
   Single people only have to care for themselves. This frees them up to think about others and what God would want them to do. I know that I have more time to help out at the school I work at, at church, and help friends because I do not have any commitments. 

   But, that doesn't mean it is not difficult to not think about marriage. As stated before it is difficult in today's society to not think about marriage. We are constantly bombarded with people and movies saying "why are you still single?" Those of us who are single have to ask ourselves is it worth it?
   Is it worth feeling lonely at times? Is it worth the possibility of not having a family? Is it worth maybe having no one to come home to? I am 23 and I have never been on a date. I will tell you firsthand it is not easy feeling like something is wrong with you because you've never had a boyfriend. But, that is just the Devil lying to you.
   It is worth it. I cannot tell you how many opportunities I have had because I am single. I have been able to go on mission’s trips, play soccer on some amazing teams, meet with friends who are hurting and help them, help out more at church, coach many different teams in soccer, and so much more. I would not have had time to do all of those things if I had a boyfriend.
   I guess rather than looking at the world we should take a lesson from Paul, and more importantly God. We are to follow God's word. He did create us to be relational beings but not all are called to have that kind of Eros relationship. Rather than dwelling on it, we should be thankful for this time we have; because it could just be a passing season (Ecclesiastes 3). Ultimately we should not forget to have our own adventure during our seasons of singleness.
   So, will you choose to be thankful for the season you are in? Will you obey God's word and stop listening to the world? Will you choose to help others as much as you can?
   1 Corinthians 7, Ecclesiastes 3, Hebrews 13:16, Philippians 2:4

   This blog is part of the "Savoring Single" blog tour! Author Shelley Black has written a new book called "Savoring Single." Here are the links to her website and Amazon.

Official Website: www.savoringsingle.com

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Savoring-Single-Shelley-Black/dp/1973610590/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513614663&sr=8-1&keywords=savoring+single

Hosted by Livy Lynn Blog Tours! Are you a Christian author? Let me plan your next blog tour!

 https://www.livylynnblog.com/for-authors-marketing/

Becoming Numb to It

   There was another robbery on Main Street. Someone was killed in another car crash. ISIS attacked another big city. And, on and on it goes. Do you ever feel like you are beginning to become numb to everything going on in the world? I know I have felt that way. It is like everywhere I turn some horrible thing happened. More and more sin is occurring and the American culture is going down the toilet.

   Christians are also starting to slip. It only takes a few times for us to do the same sin over and over again before it becomes a habit. That sin may not even be a blatant one. It may be a sin of omission where we look the other way and don’t do what we know we should do.

   Another issue with becoming numb to things is we become numb to the Bible and people who are preaching the Bible. If you are like me you have been in the church for many years. You have heard the same Bible stories over and over again that you know them by heart. You may even think you don’t have much more to learn from the Bible. If you have reached that point I am sorry to say you will probably be knocked off your feet soon enough. (Because, if you are not growing and learning more about God then you cease to be of help to your fellow man. On top of that, you are admitting that God isn’t God. If we knew everything about him then we wouldn’t need to worship him).

   One other point I want to make in this is the fact that it is more difficult for the entertainment industry to entertain people. Why is this? It is because we become numb to certain things. We want new and more exciting things. But, there is a danger to wanting this. First we can see where the entertainment industry is today. There are sex scenes, violent acts, and many more gruesome things on television. And then we wonder why there is so much violence in the world; and why it is so difficult to teach children in general.

   How can we stop the numbness? We need to have childlike faith. Every time I reread a book of the Bible, or any book, I find something new. Children are curious and want to learn, if they have a curiosity for learning fostered in them. We need to try and learn new things about God in order to grow closer to him. And, when it comes to the world, we need to put ourselves in others shoes. Many times we don’t really care about something unless it affects us. But, if we think about how we would feel if that was our family member who died; or, if we just lost our home. How different do you think the world would be?

   Above all else, we must lean on God during these difficult times. I don’t know exactly what will happen tomorrow, or next year. But, I do know that if I lean on God everything will be alright.

   So, have you become numb to sin in your life or the world? What are you going to do in order to counteract the numbness? Have you lost your childlike curiosity? Are you going to lean on God no matter what may happen tomorrow?

   1 John 3:6-10, Matthew 18:3, Proverbs 3:5-6

A Letter to My Current and Future Friends

   I’m going to start this out by saying that I’m human. I’m going to mess up and let you down. I will try not to, but I will. I just hope that you will forgive me when I do. As I will try to forgive you when you mess up and let me down.

   I want you to know that I will care about you and do all I can for you. But, I need to think of myself as well. I cannot be a starving baker where I get to the point that I burn out. I need to take care of myself before I can take care of others.

   I also need you to understand that I will not do anything that will jeopardize my relationship with God for you. God comes first in my life. If you cannot handle that, or understand that, ask me about my relationship with him; and I promise to answer whatever questions you may have to the best of my ability. But, just because you ask questions that may be difficult for me to answer does not mean that you will dissuade me from my relationship with God. I love Christ because he first loved me, even when I was in darkness. I may not understand everything about him; but I will keep seeking him. And, seeking the answers to the questions I have about him. I also want you to know that I am glad I don’t know everything about him. Because, if I did he would not be God; and I would not want to worship him.

   I also want you to know that I have flaws. I’m annoying at times, I have a temper from time to time, I have a roller coaster of emotions, I can be really crazy at times, I also can be really impatient, I’m very critical of myself, I sometimes have a low self-esteem, I don’t smile much, and I seem like a pessimist on the outside.

   But, I’m also kind, loyal, intelligent, wise, an introvert, honest, and good at giving advice. I try to get to know my friends for who they are; and love them in the way they need to be loved. I try to understand who people are, their beliefs, and where they come from. Everything I do, I do for a reason. I try to give one hundred percent in all I say and do. And, though people think I’m a pessimist I try to be optimistic. This is not to toot my own horn, or to highlight my strengths. I’m just pointing out what others have told me my strengths are. And, trying to say there are reasons why I am the way I am today. If you stick around long enough you may find out what those reasons are.

   If you cannot accept me for who I am then you may as well leave right now. But, I will tell you that I cannot promise that I will not still think of you from time to time. I also cannot promise that I will not pray for you when I think of you.

   I want to tell you that if you do leave it may break my heart for a little; but, eventually, I will forgive you. I will not hold anything against you because it takes two people to have a relationship. And, it takes two people, or more, to have an argument.

   But, I make this promise to you: if you do leave and you ever find yourself in trouble, or in need, feel free to contact me. I cannot promise that I will be able to do what you ask of me, or that I will be there right away. But, I do promise that I will do what I can for you, even if it is only to pray for you.

   Friendships are not easy at times; but these are my promises to you. I pray that I will keep these promises. But, I apologize in advanced if I fail you. Above all I will respect you, and I hope that you will do the same for me.

   I know that God opens and closes doors. And, he just so happened to open up a door so that I would meet you. I’m so excited to get to know you; and go on the journey of life with you. I hope that through this experience both you and I grow.

   Your friend,

      Kaitlyn Scheuing

   Have you had any difficult friendships? I know I have, that’s why I wrote this letter. Is there anything you could do to mend those friendships? Do you have anything you need to apologize for when it comes to relationships? Are you willing to be selfless enough to help others no matter the cost?

   Matthew 22:36-40, John 15:13, Proverbs 27:17, 1 Peter 4:8-10

I'm Christian, But I'm Not Christian

   I am a Christian; but, I am not a Christian in the way the world thinks of Christians. 

   I’ve heard some people say that religion is a weakness; because people rely on something else for hope. Many people think that there is no hope left in the world; but that’s a blog for another time. Other people say that religion is just a way that people can control other people. We hear it all the time that religion is this and religion is that.

   And, to top it all off, we hear specifically about the Christian religion and Christians. Christians are Bible thumpers. Christians are hypocrites. It goes on and on. What is a Christian to do in this time that religion is so frowned upon? Believe it or not, I have the answer. We should not be Christian.

   Okay, so at this point you are probably either thinking I’m delusional or I’m a heretic but stay with me on this. People don’t like Christianity because it is a religion; and, because Christians don’t follow what they believe. And, it is true that some Christians have a holier than thou attitude. And that’s why I’m saying we need to get rid of the religion and focus on the relationship.

   The definition of religion, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods.” Religion requires humans to do all the work. Humans think they need a god when, in reality, it is the god that needs the human in order to exist and be worshiped.

   The definition of relationship, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “the way in which two or more people or things are connected.” Relationship is totally different from religion. God doesn’t need us to do anything for him. He accepts us for who we are, warts and all. He wants us to love him and be faithful to him, but he doesn’t need it. Now, if a person has accepted Christ into her heart she should want to love God and be faithful to him. In order to do that she needs to follow God and his commandments.

   Every Christian is blessed with one major gift; and that is that they can have a relationship with God, the creator of the earth. God, who cared so much about you that he was willing to send his only Son to die so that his relationship with you could be restored. God reached down to us and wants to have a relationship with us. Can that be said for the gods of other religions? I don’t think so.

   Now, I’m not saying that when people ask you what your religion is you don’t say Christianity. What I’m saying is that we should say “yeah, I’m a Christian; but technically Christianity is a relationship not a religion.” Who knows, that may just spark that person’s interest; and then they may want to hear about the gospel.

   Sure we are to love God and put our faith in him; but we don’t need to strap ourselves to the gospel and slow it down. We need to spread the gospel. And, also admit that we fail at times; but, God never fails. We cannot preach a glorified version of the Christian life because then we are lying; and we are being hypocrites. We need to be honest with others about what our relationship with God is like. It sure ain’t all peaches and roses but, in the end, we know it’s all worth it.

   So, have you been practicing religion or relationship? If you are practicing religion I encourage you to look in the Bible again. Christianity is not all about going to church once a week, maybe reading your Bible here and there, or praying before meals. All that is good to do, but only if you have a relationship with God. If you don’t, you are as bad as the priests back in Jesus’ day.

   I also encourage you to examine your relationship with God. Are you going through the motions and doing only what you think is required of you? God wants to help us grow in him. And, the only way we can do that is by spending time with him and in his word.

   James 1:26-27, Colossians 2:8, John 1:10-13, Revelation 3:20