Never Talk About Religion And Politics

One of the things my mother in -law likes to say is: Never talk about religion and politics because someone is bound to get mad.... A very true statement.. Those are two subjects that people just get real heated about.. I really don't understand why.... okay maybe I do....lol. But as many of you know, I have very strong opinions about my faith... very strong... and thankfully many of my friends and readers of this blog agree with my beliefs.. I have had a few people comment their opposing views... a few atheists have commented...thinking I was crazy to believe in God...and that's okay and recently a Jehovah's Witness made his beliefs known and again - I welcome the comments. The only thing I ask is to comment respectfully whether our beliefs are on the same page or not. I appreciate the respect I have been given.. thank you.

A while back, I joined a women's group on Face book. It's a group of women who are Conservative Christian Republicans.. I read a few of the descriptions and I liked what I read so I joined to make new friends and connections.... after all, that is what Face book is suppose to be all about, is it not? Right away two very interesting women invited me to be their friends on FB and I accepted.. I have very much enjoyed reading their updates about their faith, family, and their political beliefs.... About a month ago, an older gentleman requested my friendship on FB - I checked and he was "friends" with one of the ladies I have grown to admire... so I thought he must be a nice man.... oh boy was I wrong....

This man (who is the complete opposite of a gentleman) claimed to be a political writer... he claimed to be a conservative Christian man.. a husband... a grandfather to many.... This man posted the most hateful and racist things I have ever seen.... He would post a picture of President Obama in a purple pimp suit and just say the worst kind of comments..... I deleted this man... this father... this grandfather... there is NO WAY I could be friends with him.... What is sad to me is that some people get so caught up in proving others to be wrong... that they themselves turn out to be the wrong ones... the inappropriate ones.... and they have gone too far.

I pray that people can come together with opposing views and respect one another. I pray that in all that we do and say that we bring glory to God... That is what are main objective should be... glorifying God... not tearing down our President... not tearing down others' beliefs...not ripping apart others' faith..... We need to respect and love one another regardless of our opposing or agreeing beliefs.... because if we don't there is no way we can gain peace...

Christians Are Not Perfect

Recently I was in a discussion with someone I care about.. She is not a Christian and is very quick to pass judgement on Christians... saying things like "Most Christians are mean and disrespectful" or "Yeah right, He was born of a Virgin".... and the one that made my own jaw hit the ground was when she said, "Jesus was a guy - he had to have had sex.. who cares if he wasn't married" The weird thing about these comments is that she meant them... believes them....

In our recent conversation - she was in attack mode... We were talking about how she believed that my youngest daughter was disrespectful to her grandmother when she visited for a week a little while back.... She goes on to say.. "Yeah, your daughter won most Jesus like (it was really most Christ like - but any hoo) and she's disrespectful.... that's why I don't trust Christians".... granted my kid is eleven and she was homesick... I don't wear blinders to my kids' faults.. but in my daughter's defense there were many factors... mostly a grandmother who had her list of things to do... and two kids who had no interest to do the things on the list.... For example - taking a tour of a dump site - not on their top ten.... I understand that grandmother wanted to do something interesting and I also understand that she only had their best interests at heart... but grandmother did get a little immature in her comments and actions... no one is perfect.... but we love and we should love well.. Both sides grandparents and children should have shown respect and love..... and forgiveness...

When I was being attacked because of my Christianity and my kids.... - I did not defend myself.. I did not defend my kids... I just listened - because I knew whatever I might say would only hit closed ears.... and a closed heart..... when I hung up the phone - I thought of a good analogy that I want to share with her one day.

This is what I will say, "You know how you are the parent to two young children.. Your two girls are not obedient... they don't listen to you... they throw temper tantrums.. but they love you because you are their mother.. When your girls get older they will become more obedient - you hope, and your relationship will be better... When your girls become adults your relationship can be be wonderful if you were a loving parent who raised your girls with values, love, understanding.... and obedience... This is much like the relationship between a Christian and God.... If we are not obedient to God's word then yes, we can give Christians a bad name... But if a person reads the Bible and follows The Word - you will see what a Christian, a follower of Christ is really like... but because not all Christians are obedient and ALL Christians are human with worldly wants.... we are far from perfect..... You should expect love from a Christian but not be surprised when you don't get it.... just like a child.. one minute your daughter is on your lap giving love and the next minute she's pinching her sister.... we are ALL children of God with our imperfections.. Oh and one more thing...... Anyone can say they are a Christian... many people do..... but they have no idea what being a Christian really is....."

John 15.12 This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you.

Stop Being "Me" Motivated!

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.

We live in a world that is "self" motivated. Everything to do with making ourselves feel good...I was a young teen during the "me" generation... I remember all the self help books about making yourself feel good...empower yourself....make yourself number #1.. "I feel good... You feel good.. I'm okay.. you're okay... I I I.. It's all about me me me me... God tells us to put others first... to lift up our brothers... so my question is how can we put others first in a "me/I" world?

If we are going to be completely honest... the opposite of "me motivated aka selfishness" is love... How can we love others when we are too busy worrying about ourselves? Unfortunately, selfishness is ingrained in all of us - we can see it in the way children act... Almost every sinful action is motivated by a selfish act. Lying, stealing, adultery, and abuse...

We are hypocrites when we point our finger at someone else's selfishness but won't admit our own selfish moments... Why do we have such low standards for ourselves but high ones for everyone else? The answer is we are selfish.... it's human nature... it is our burden to carry... but when we turn it around and honor God - what an awesome feeling we get.... When we put our interests, desires, and priorities behind others - we are blessed.. truly blessed.. God blesses those who follow His law... His standards...

Loving others and acting on behalf of others leads to inner joy. It really does! When you prioritize others - the result is something that cannot be duplicated by selfish acts... It's a feeling of joy, happiness, fulfillment, and calmness that God gives to those who truly demonstrate real unselfish love..

I am so happy to be a child of God! I am so happy to have the opportunity to please Him... to live for Him... to be blessed by Him...

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than ourselves

Loving Our Elders....Today

One of the most important things I believe is to show elderly people that you love them and that they matter. . I don't mean go out a buy a gift... gifts have never meant much to me but rather spend time with them... letting them know that they are something special.....
I remember when Dusty's Great Aunt Doris and Uncle Ray were alive we would always drop by their home on the way to or from the mountains... They would be very excited... They would show us their beautiful orange trees and make sure we picked enough oranges to make a few batches of orange juice when we got home... Doris would play on her organ and we would sing along to songs like 'Take me out to the ballgame' and "She'll be coming around the mountain'... I loved it... Dusty loved it... my kids loved it... and Uncle Ray and Aunt Doris loved it... it was a special time for all of us.. Now that they have gone - we miss them... Whenever we are on our way home from the mountains, we always look at the turnoff for their home and we get sad....

I was recently at a convalescent home on business and it broke my heart to see so many lonely people... All I had to do was smile at one lady and I was introduced to her life... Introduced to a full lifetime of incredible memories... memories of war, marriage, children, grandchildren and death.... Emma had lived a full life and today she is in a convalescent home and unable to care for herself..... with very little family interaction.... She is lonely.... I enjoyed our visit so much that I asked her if I could visit her again..... you know what her response was?...... "When?" Just one word that brought joy and sadness.... I'll be seeing her next week.

We need to honor and love our elders.... We need to find time to spend with them..... Time on Earth moves very quickly and before you know it - they maybe gone... and all we will have left are our memories... Let's make them good ones...