Rigidity

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Jesus was the ultimate non-conformist.  When I read His recorded words there are times when I can actually hear the gasps from the crowd, the disagreeing grunts from the Sadducees and Pharisees.

*"There are people who do not want us to be free. They don't want us to be free before God, accepted just as we are by His grace.  They don't want us to be free to express our faith originally and creatively in the world."

*"They themselves refuse to live arduously and openly in faith, but huddle together with a few others and try to get a sense of approval by insisting that all look alike, talk alike and act alike, thus validating one another's worth.  They try to enlarge their numbers only on the condition that new members act and talk and behave the way they do."

Does this at all sound familiar?  I've attended many churches, and met many individuals who are so rigid as to tell me their ways are the right ways.  I believe that God gave us the Holy Spirit so we don't fall into the traps of conformism.

Tell me, honestly, do you see Jesus in your day-to-day interaction with others?  Are you judgmental and rigid to those who are of a different religion?  Or, are you embracing them as believers of the one true God, and brothers and sisters in Christ?

I want to encourage you to stop looking at the rigid trappings of your religion, and practice your faith as Jesus did.  LOVE one another as He loves you!

*Eugene Peterson, Traveling Light 

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Downward Spiral

I spent the last evening running away with my husband.  We stayed in a hotel and ate out.  It was perfectly lovely!

I read the chapter in Charles Swindoll's Quest for Character yesterday of the same title as this post.  It was amazing how many things led my mind to the theme of the chapter.  I couldn't get it out of my mind.  Swindoll speaks of erosion and how it happens to our individual hearts.  It became part of everything I saw and heard.  By evening, I had to read the chapter to my husband and get his feelings on it.

He shared that, as a middle school principal, he had just been in a science classroom the previous week in which they were discussing ways to halt erosion and even reverse it.

We agreed that we had a goal for the new year--stop the spiraling, or better yet, figure out how to create an upward spiral in ourselves and thus in our home.

Swindoll shares, and I agree, that the erosion of our hearts, just like the erosion that takes place in our world happens imperceptibly.  In this lies the difficulty of overcoming it.

In my mind, it isn't impossible to conquer this.  It's a matter of taking precautions and yes, sometimes overdoing it.  It's also a matter of adding things into your life and into your heart that are good and uplifting.  This process doesn't just happen.  We all, yes, all because we are all victims to it in this world, need to be active in defeating the factors that erode our hearts.

I don't know if there's one magic key.  I believe that for everyone, that erosion-reverser is different because we are all unique individuals.

With the new year in sight and the celebration of our Savior's birth tomorrow, this upward-spiral is easy to conceive.  For me, it will be increased fervor in my prayers.  More dedication to going to the temple.  Increase in working to understand what I read as I study the scriptures.  More than anything, it will be to serve others and reach outward.

As we discussed these things, my mind was drawn to this.  Although the speaker is of my faith, I believe this message is for everyone.

May we all, at this time of year, and throughout 2012 and our lives, "look inward," "reach outward" and "look heavenward;" thus, halting the silent erosion of our hearts and eventually, creating an upward spiral in our lives.

Merry Christmas and may your 2012 be all you dream it can be!



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Running Scared

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"There is nothing to fear but fear itself."

In the midst of trouble and trials fear has a funny way of blocking out all reason.  We tend to let it consume us until there is nothing to see but the fear, or what we are afraid of.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  2 Timothy 1:7

I am a little late with my post today because my family has been bombarding me with phone calls and love.  It is a trying time for me with lots of worries, and fear of the unknown.

Fear has tried to take seed in my heart, but with the constant support of family and friends, my faith in God's almighty power, and filling my mind with God's Word fear will not sprout and grow.

Do not let your quest for character be interrupted.  Charles Swindoll ends this weeks chapter in The Quest for Character with this:

"What comes from the Lord because it is impossible for humans to manufacture it?  Wisdom.  What comes from humans because it is impossible for the Lord to experience it? Worry.  And what is it that brings wisdom and dispels worry?  Worship.  Let nothing detract from your time of personal worship today.  Let nothing frighten you...  nothing from yesterday's past, today's present, or tomorrow's future.  Nothing."

Brilliant advice don't you think?

 

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Feast and Famine

These words jumped off the page at me...

"A few heroic 'snipers.'"

Swindoll brings to us the reality of a spiritual famine in the land.  He gives the example of many spiritually strong leaders of days long gone and says, "That once-strong army of valiant and vigorous soldiers seems strangely reduced to mere squads here and there...a few heroic 'snipers'" (p. 78).

So, I ask of you, in regard to the words above, are you one of them?  The only way to change the spiritual famine is to feast upon the word of God and then don't be afraid to share what you know.  

If you're searching for a spiritual giant to lead you, the only sure way to find one is to be the giant  yourself.

If you would like to participate grab a button and share how God is leading you to be A Woman of Noble Character.  This link is open all week, and to all denominations of the Christian faith.

Handle today

For weeks I've been struggling with a schedule and plans for daily tasks.  I have a check list of to-dos for each day of the week, and I've prayed over my lists asking for God's help.  How hard can it be to wake up each morning and tackle one thing at a time?  But, every night I've been disappointed and frustrated with my lack of discipline.

"The secret lies in how we handle today, not yesterday or tomorrow.  Today... that special block of time holding the key that locks out yesterday's nightmares and unlocks tomorrows dreams."  The Quest for Character , Charles Swindoll

Living each moment is a practice in preparing our hearts for God and a building of character.  It's not what you don't get done, or what you wish to get done that matters.  It isn't even about what you've accomplished but how you handled each moment in life.

Last week I read a blogging friends post that at first I found disheartening, but after much contemplation I thought it was very representative of our frustrations with living a Godly life.  Although I respect her insights and appreciate her honesty, there is one point that needs to be made.  The Word of God is not a list of to-dos, or a checklist of requirements to be marked off as completed.  It is a guide for daily living.

We need the stability of His guidance foremost in our lives because God has given each one of us free will.  It is free will, or human nature as some call it, that keeps most of us from living each moment of today in freedom.  There is a constant battle to do the right thing, but it's not always clear what's right and what's wrong.  God knew we would make mistakes, but He didn't leave us without hope.

"What is today?  A day the Lord has made.  A twenty-four hour segment of time never lived before and never to be repeated.  You may never live to see another day like this one.  You may never be closer to a decision you need to make, a step you need to take, a sin you need to forsake, a choice you need to determine.  So - do so today."  The Quest for Character , Charles Swindoll

We learn from yesterday, look forward to tomorrow, but God only desires that we live today, this moment... then the next... it takes practice.

If you would like to participate grab a button and share how God is leading you to be A Woman of Noble Character.  This link is open all week, and to all denominations of the Christian faith.