I am a very complicated woman. I have never completely fit into anyone's idea of "normal" or "acceptable". There is no box for me... no political or religious perspective that covers the entirety of who I am. I can argue any side of any perspective, and I genuinely do respect everyone's right to have a different opinion than mine. There are aspects of the Democratic platform that I could embrace (few, but some) and there are attitudes within the Republican platform that I disagree with. I can even agree with some libertarian ideals (the less extreme versions). I could never be a socialist or a communist, but I can have an intelligent conversation with them without being angry or offensive.

Truth be told, I believe anyone who believes in God, should want to care for the earth and live responsibly on it. This doesn't make me a "tree hugger", but I do love trees and their awesome ability to make breathable air. I want my food to be as natural and chemical free as possible and I hate that Americans waste so much, of everything. I value human life over animals, and jobs that employ and feed Americans over regulations and taxes that put people out of work. I believe our Constitution is enough the way it was written and has no need for misguided judges changing the words or adding to it. I believe in law and order and respect of authority while I acknowledge that not everyone wearing a badge or holding a governmental position is worthy of such responsibility. I think its ridiculous that addicts spend their lives in and out of prison while child molesters and rapists get trivial sentences.

I believe in free enterprise and capitalism while I hate that people store up wealth rather than use it to make the world a better place.

I believe in God, the Bible, and the love of Jesus Christ, soooo much that I meet everyone right where they're at without judgement or condemnation. I love drug addicts and felons, and even gay people.... basically all the "untouchable" people that religious hypocrites are too good for. I even love the religious hypocrites that believe somehow God has now made them the police and regulators of humanity. (Just for the record, policing and regulations are about maintaining and controlling, not change)

In a perfect world, for me, we wouldn't need politicians and government intervention, because we would all respect everyone's right to be who they are and live at peace with one another. We would be so busy working the land and growing and preserving our own food, and raising our own animals for meat and leather and fur (you know, what God intended them for) that we wouldn't have time to care about other people's business. We would be living in healthy community that understands the need for team work and helping those in need. We would understand that the church is called to care for the poor, the widows, and the orphans, because the government really sucks at it.

In short, I am a conservative, liberal, gun owning, animal lover/killer, Christian, pro-military, passivist, modern, old fashioned, home maker, business woman, who believes love and compassion changes the world, but if you break into my house in the middle of the night, I'll shoot you dead and pray for your soul and your family while I stand over your bleeding out body waiting for the police to come and bag you up.

Like I said.... I'm complicated.

Forgive to Heal

If you forgive people their wrongdoing,

your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.

Matthew 6:14

                Many people I talk to say the same things when it comes to forgiving those who have hurt them… I am just not ready…. I just can’t let it go…. I can’t just forget about it… How can I just let him off the hook like that?

            Perhaps the most important thing to understand about forgiveness is that it has very little to do with the offender. Since our God is so committed to us as individuals, He deals with us individually. Our Lord wants us to know that our personal freedom is at stake in our unforgiveness. God will deal with the offenders and we are to deal with our own feelings of offense. Offense can lead to unforgiveness and unforgiveness will lead to bitterness that will separate us from God and His grace. It will control and consume us.   

There is no need for an apology in order to forgive, because forgiveness is not about the other person. There is no need for a sudden loss of memory, because we do not have to forget the incident in order to forgive. There is no need for a “feeling” of readiness in order to forgive, because forgiveness is a choice not a feeling. Forgiveness is not saying what someone did was OK, or letting them off the hook… God deals with individuals and will deal with them on His terms. He just wants us to be free from the bondage of bitterness in relation to that event or incident.

Forgiveness is an act of obedience, a choice to be free… plain and simple. We can choose to be angry and hold a grudge, become bitter and separated from God, or we can choose to forgive. We have experienced forgiveness even though we did not deserve it, and we are expected to do the same. We cannot wait to “heal” first and then forgive because forgiveness is the beginning of healing.  

Challenge: Ask God to reveal to you any unforgiveness in your heart and choose to forgive. Decide that your healing will begin today.

There is always a way out

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up to it.

(1 Corinthians 10:13)

            We can learn a lot about ourselves in times of crisis.  Loss, betrayal, loneliness, or just the daily grind of a stressful job can bring out the best or the worst in us.

          How awesome is it that just when we thought it was getting to be too much; when we were about to be overwhelmed…the almighty God of the universe stepped in and announced, “Remember, you are not going through anything that others before you have not gone through! But you are not alone! Look around. Think about it. Your flesh may be weak but my spirit is strong in you!! You can choose to do the right thing. You can think before you speak. You can see the way I have provided for you…if you look for it!”

Blessings to you this week as you seek to find your way out J

The Human Church

          What is the "Church"???
When you hear this question, what do you think of...a building, a steeple, a denomination? Unfortunately the word "Church" has negative meaning to many people. My hope is that people come to realize that the Church is just...people. Every person who believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior is "the Church". People make mistakes and so unfortunately, the church will make mistakes.
          We are human beings as well as spiritual beings who live in a physical body, with a soul (mind, will, and emotions). Each one of us has our own personal baggage to overcome and our journey to being more "Christ-like" is plagued by our own afflictions. It is our job to figure out the difference between who God wants us to be, and who the enemy wants us to be.
          Why do I think the way I do? Why do I feel the way I do? Why do I react the way I do? God created us with gifts and abilities and personality traits needed to accomplish our mission here on earth. The enemy (Satan) has also been at work causing pain and wounds in us that change how we see ourselves and the world around us. The great deceiver melds his lies into our perceptions of ourselves and others so to derail the work of God in us! It is very difficult for the love of Jesus to shine through our pain. More often the pain over shadows the light in us. Hurting people tend to hurt people so if the Church (as a whole) exists to change the world for the better, then the church (people of God) must be healed before we can heal a broken world!
          Stop saying "we are only human" as an excuse for our bad behavior and realize that we are human beings who are to be filled with the Spirit. The same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead lives in us! That means, through Jesus we have the power to overcome, not only the pain and bondage in our own lives but also to overcome the power of the enemy in this dark world! How are we supposed to undo the plans and schemes of the enemy in the world around us if we cannot overcome his plans and schemes in our own lives?
         Pray and ask God to reveal the lies of the enemy in your life and then pay attention to what happens. Our feelings are generated by our thoughts and beliefs. We have a thought, then a feeling, then an action, and a result. Take captive every thought. Renew your mind daily. If the results you are getting are un-Christ-like, change your thinking. Examine the origins of those thoughts and replace them with truth. Choose to surrender to the will of God in everything. Choose to forgive. Choose to walk in freedom and victory. The victories won in our own lives give us authority in the lives of others with the same struggles. We are the human church, but we were created for supernatural works!

Emotional Pain Interferes with Communication

     My husband and I do couples mentoring. We have endured, battled, and pushed through various trials and problems in our 23 years of marriage, but the one thing that has been a recurring issue is communication. All the couples we have worked with have suffered from communication problems as well. Somewhere between the thoughts in our heads, words rolling off our tongues, and entering our partners ears...something goes horribly wrong. Have you ever heard or uttered the words, "No no, that's not how I meant that!" or "What exactly did you mean by that!"...Sometimes the unspoken words are just as damaging. Some just shut down and refuse to communicate.
     It is my belief that Satan intends to confuse and disrupt our communication. We need to be ever mindful that emotional wounds are entry points for Satan to come into our lives and gain a foothold. If left to fester, that foothold soon becomes a stronghold. Emotional pain and offenses breed feelings of rejection, loneliness, anger, and bitterness. Some wounds cause individuals to feel dirty, ashamed, and unworthy. These experiences can change how we see ourselves and the people around us. The words we hear are sifted through our personal filters, based on our life experiences and perceptions. This can cause words to mean different things to different people. It can also cause us to be hyper-sensitive, causing disproportionate reactions. Hurting people hurt people. When we feel threatened or hurt (whether real or perceived) we go on the defensive. We must learn to evaluate our own feelings and emotions, in order to understand why we feel what we feel and do what we do. Our thoughts and beliefs generate our feelings, and our actions then follow. In order for our feelings to change, we need to change our thinking. When we understand our own thought process it is easier to understand others. Forgiveness is the beginning of healing. Empathy is being able to put ourselves in our partner's shoes (feel what they feel), and love conquers all.
     The first step is for both partners to seek healing and forgiveness for his or her own emotional wounds. The second step is to recognize that the enemy is not your spouse, but the powers and principalities of this dark world seeking to tear you apart and destroy your marriage. Join forces and partner in battle against the enemy, not each other. Then practice healthy and productive communication techniques. Talk about how words and actions make you feel; do not attack each other's character. Listen and repeat what you hear to ensure you have heard correctly. Stay focused; do not skip from one issue to another or bring up old issues. Take a break if tempers flare; anger blocks communication, and most importantly....Pray. Pray as individuals; pray together. Ask friends to support you in prayer. Pray for unconditional love, and understanding for each other, and pray against the plans and schemes of the enemy trying to destroy your relationship and communication. Marriage and families are under attack; it's time we fight back...we just need to focus on the real enemy!