Forgiveness

A few evenings ago Mr. FullCup and I were chatting about confession. I had read 1 John 1:9 (If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness) and I popped the question “Do you think it means just to God or does that mean to others as well?”

We talked about it and how no one confesses their sin to another person anymore. I honestly can’t say if people still confess their sin to God or not. But I certainly hope so.

I told Mr. FullCup that I hoped it just meant to confess to God and not others because I don’t want to confess to anyone with flesh on. Not because I am afraid they won’t like me, or will think less of me.

I don’t want to because I don’t want to be the only one confessing sin. I don’t want to tell someone, “Man! I’m so guilt-ridden over stealing that pack of Juciy Fruit last week at Target.” (I didn’t!) Or, “I am really struggling with thoughts I should have.” Or gossip. Or anger. Or bitterness. Or….Or….Or…. .

I want there to be some sort of reciprocal confession. Not that we are trying to prove how much worse we are than the other person, but just know they have faults too. I know we all know intellectually that everyone sins, we all fail. But if no one is talking about it, if no one is being real, it is all too easy to feel, which leads to thinking, which leads to believing, that we are the only one.

This led to a discussion about forgiveness and how our asking God for forgiveness after we confess is not mentioned. We aren’t told, “If you confess your sins and ask for forgiveness, He is faithful and just and will forgive your sins….”.  He is faithful to forgive without our asking.  We don’t have to ask for His repeated forgiveness.

This led to my thinking this morning. Asking for forgiveness is not mentioned in Scripture. We are told to forgive. We aren’t told to ask forgiveness from God or from others. We are told to confess and forgive.

I’m still pondering and studying the whole issue and I might someday come and share some truths I’ve learned, or confess that I was way off base. But for now, I’ll let you ponder on it too. (and be sure to let me know if you have any great (or not-so great) thoughts.)

Jars

Over the past weekend I attended a simulcast. Beth Moore, author of women’s Bible studies (published by Lifeway.com) and phenomenal speaker was the speaker. I have been privileged to go through several of her Bible studies (that also have dvd lessons), as well as hearing her in person twice (once on my birthday nonetheless) and this was my third simulcast.

Her passage was 2 Kings 4, which records the story of the widow who is about to have her children taken away into slavery because of debt. It is thought that the widow’s husband was the prophet Obadiah who hid the 100 prophets in a cave and fed them.  It is thought she had benefited greatly from her husband’s position as a prophet and was in debt because they had fed the 100 men for many, many days.

Elisha, as you might remember, asked her what he could do for her. Now I don’t know about you, but it seems rather obvious to me. She wants him to help her pay her debt so her children are not taken in slavery. His next question is, “What do you have in your house?” Again, to me it is more than a little obvious, she has nothing. If she had anything she  would not be in her current predicament.  She tells him she has nothing except a little oil in a jar.  He tells her to go to her neighbors and ask for jars. I love that he says, “Don’t ask for just a few.” She is to get many, many jars.

The very next story in 2 Kings 4 is of the Shunammite woman. She is wealthy and builds a room for Elisha on the roof of her house. Elisha is so grateful he has Gehazi (his servant) call her and ask what they can do for her to show their gratitude. The woman replies, “I live among my own people” which on first glance seems an odd answer, until you realize what she is really saying is she needs nothing.  Elisha doesn’t believe her and so he asks Gehazi what they can do. He mentions the woman has no children, and Elisha sends him to get the woman again and tells her in a year she will hold a son. Instead of excitement and happiness, she reacts almost angrily at Elisha saying in essence, “Don’t lie to me! Don’t toy with me!”

Beth labeled the two women “Girl A” and “Girl Z”. She said we all find ourselves in one or the other. Girl A need almost everything and Girl Z needs almost nothing. (Or so she thinks) One thing Beth said that struck me, as I almost piously thought I was Girl A, that Girl Z had needs, she just wasn’t letting anyone know. She was too afraid to ask for what she needed because if you don’t ask you won’t be disappointed.

On Sunday morning I had the thought, and I think it came from God, of putting out my own jars. Of asking my friends and neighbors for jars.  You see I have needs. You have needs. And maybe just maybe, if I’m real enough about my needs. You’ll be real enough about your needs and we can mutually meet each others needs.

Some needs are, of course, physical. Maybe we need money. Maybe we need $19.26 to pay for ballet shoes. Maybe our needs are emotional. Maybe we just need to feel appreciated, important, necessary.  Maybe our needs are spiritual. Maybe we need a spiritual breakthrough. Maybe we need out of our proverbial spiritual desert. Maybe we need a fresh breath of God on our lives. Maybe we just need encouragement to do what He is asking us to do.

I took a picture of two jars I found in my home and posted on facebook my need for jars, I even mentioned that I needed more than a few. I  have had some wonderful people respond with offers of jars.

I started wanting to do this as a visual reminder for me of Who meets my needs.

Yesterday though I began to wonder if God had bigger things in mind for my jars.  The thought occurred to me, the woman had a little oil in one jar.  She didn’t have an empty jar to star with, there was a little oil.

That seemed to be very important. It led me to think and ponder if my jar should have something in it. And what it should be?

I save all my change/coins, I could put a little of those in. I crochet, I could put a little yarn in.

Right now my jars are still empty because I have no idea what to put in my jar. I believe the thought and pondering was God, and for now at least He isn’t saying what little thing I should put in my jar. But you can be assured I’m going to ponder and wrestle this out until I have an answer.

Before I close this for the night, what is in your jar?

(If you’re interested in reading other women’s thoughts on the simulcast here are a couple of links. http://powerofamoment.com/2012/09/16/beth-moores-simulcast/ and http://torishaw.blogspot.com/2012/09/not-too-few.html )

Simply

Joseph Stowell was the seventh president of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL. He is the current pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel in Illinois. And he is the author of several books, one of which is Simply Jesus.

Simply Jesus is quite simply the best book on walking the walk with Jesus.  It is a short volume (just 62 pages) that speaks loudly. It talks about how we experience Jesus. How we might know about Him, have some knowledge of His existence, His character but when the rubber hits the road we’re really clueless. We greatly crave a closer walk but find ourselves missing the boat.

We look at spiritual greats, Billy Grahm, Beth Moore, and others, and think they have the relationship with Jesus that we crave but because they are special God has poured out a double portion of His Spirit on them and we can never attain their level of spirituality, never gain the close walk with Jesus they have. It is reserved for those more spiritual than we are.

This book completely debunks that theory.  The close of chapter one reads, “Do you wonder if this is for you? Wonder no longer! He is at the door of your heart, wanting to come in for some serious fellowship.”

Another quote (and let me tell you, there are many excellent quotes in this short book!):

Stepping into a deepening experience with Jesus is something more than keeping short account with sin in our lives. It’s beyond that. It is about getting far enough beyond self that we can see Him more clearly and desire Him more completely. (page 14)

Another:

No matter how charming, witty, or profound we may be, we were not created to enthrall ourselves with ourselves for long periods of time. (page 17)

So true!! And honestly, if copyright laws allowed I could go on and on with the great quotes but then why would you have any reason to read the book yourself?

This book should be read by every Christian at the very least once a year and probably closer to 4 times a year or maybe 12.

So buy this book already and read it. Be inspired. Be Hungry knowing God will meet you and He’s bringing the feast that will fill your soul.

(I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of review.)

Random

• I should not have access to any sharp objects. 
• I woke up with a nasty headache this morning, so I made a cup of really, REALLY strong coffee. Now my innards are jumping like a Mexican jumping bean, and my headache is still going strong.
• I have to have protein in the morning for breakfast or I get nasty later. And by nasty I mean…I’m horrid.
• Which is why I’m currently making hashbrown potatoes.
• To go with my egg.
• I get really tired of eggs.
• I cut my finger grating my potato this morning. It’s still bleeding. Hence the first bulletin point.
• Last night I ran 2 miles.
• In 20 minutes.
• I inhaled one bug. And swallowed one other one.
• I can’t run with music. It kills me.
• It’s easier to run when there is no traffic.
• I’m not overly fond of eating.
• Some people live to eat and well, I eat to live.
• I wonder what I should make for supper. Any ideas?
• I somehow managed to get two copies of the same book for review.
• I can’t remember books I’ve requested for review already.
• I used to think my favorite season was winter.
• Then I thought it was summer.
• Now I realize I don’t have a favorite. I like the changing season. In the winter, I love the start of spring. In Spring I love the start of summer. In summer I love the start of autumn. In autumn I love the start of winter.
• It’s a good thing I don’t live in Florida. Not much seasonal change there.
• I have no desire to go to Hawaii.
• I’d like to visit Florida.
• In December. Because I want a tan for Christmas.
• I burned a couple of weeks ago.
• So I started using a Tan in a bottle.
• Then my sunburned peeled.
• And I look like I have a pigment problem.
• You would be frightened to know my mind really works this way.
• And to put sentences together that make sense in a regular blog post is difficult.
• I have ADOS…Attention Defic..OHHHHH SHINY!!!!!
• I dearly love homemade hasbrowns.
• Maybe for supper we’ll just have breakfast.
• I’ll try and not grate my fingers though.
• I’m sure my family will appreciate that.
• I don’t like cold potatoes.
• Unless it’s potato salad.
• I also don’t like cold eggs.
• In the hospital after both girls were born, I was served cold eggs for breakfast.
• The first time was understandable…
• No one was expecting me to be there.
• So I was just added.
• But the second time…there was no excuse.
• My hashbrowns are warm.
• But by the time I get to my egg it will be cold.
• Because I eat one thing at a time.
• I’m odd like that.
• It’s cold here today.
• 64 in my house.
• Yes, I have the windows open.
• Yesterday it didn’t get out of the 60s.
• Today is supposed to be mid-80s…I think.
• I’m dying to take our window a/c units out.
• But blast it all, I’m not strong enough to do it on my own.
• I love my man like crazy.
• I’m sure I drive him crazy.
• And not always in a good way.
• Some people think I talk too much.
• Others think I don’t talk at all.
• I think that is strange.
• I embarrass my children when I walk up to a stranger and start talking.
• I did that in Chili’s. I thought I knew the guy and
• well I didn’t.
• My family was praying for an Achen like deliverance.
• (If you want to know what I mean, read the first few chapters of the book of Joshua.)
• I have a bit more than a little bit of wanderlust.
• I love to travel.
• I’d love to live in Europe somewhere.
• I think I currently live in the greatest nation on earth.
• I hate talking on the phone.
• Honestly. KILL me Now if I have to talk on the phone.
• I (almost) never call someone just to chat.
• People think I’m rude when I call.
• I call for a reason and really see (almost) no reason to stay on and chat.
• They want me to chat.
• I stink, and I mean I REALLY stink at small talk.
• My mind goes blank
• Completely.
• I’m sick to death of allergies.
• I would say I’m sicker to death of a constantly runny nose…but that might be a little gross and a whole lot of disturbing.
• Oh what? I said it. Oh well then you decide if it’s gross and/or disturbing.
• I crave sunshine.
• I need to vacuum and sweep my floors.
• Then I need to mop.
• I also need a shower.
• My innards are still jumping.
• My God is HUGE!
• I love Him.
• I fall so many times
• And I fail Him.
• Yet, He remains faithful
• Why is beyond me.
• But I’m so thankful He does.

 

 

Psalm 23

I think Psalm 23 was probably the first chapter I memorized. And the funny thing is I memorized it in King James, memorized it also in NIV and quite possibly in NASB. So when I recite it now, I mix up all the versions and come up with my own paraphrase. I’m sure it’s biblical.

I’ve heard countless sermons on this short chapter but I don’t think I’ve ever read a book about it. I know there are many out there and I’ve heard very good things about the books. I just haven’t read any.

I’ve recently been inundated with life, things and my own horrible sinfulness. I’ve found myself facing what appeared to be insurmountable obstacles. And like most people I’ve questioned whether or not I thought God was enough. I questioned whether or not I thought God was enough to meet my needs. I’ve wondered if He was God enough to notice.

So when I was given the chance to read God is More than Enough by Dr. Tony Evans, I almost skipped over it. Yes, you read that right. When confronted with the chance to see if God was enough, I didn’t want to know the answer was yes.  Because I already knew it in my mind, but my heart questioned. I kept finding myself drawn to read the book.

So I downloaded it to my Nook and took the plunge. When I started the short little book (only 50 pages on my Nook) I had no idea it was on Psalm 23.  I read the book for my devotional time. It was a great addition!

The book was good and I enjoyed it. But Dr. Evans wrote like a preacher. I could hear him preaching a sermon while reading the book. Does that make sense to you?

It was a little distracting for me. Also, this is my personal preference but I would have appreciated his use of the pronoun “we” as opposed to his use of the pronoun “you”. It’s a small thing but I like knowing that none of us has a handle on all of the Christian life.

I loved that the book was easy to read and full of great information. I can’t say there was anything I didn’t know already but sometimes we all just need a reminder of what we know and just aren’t doing.

If you’re looking for a little supplement to your devotional time, this would be a great book to add to your library.

I received a free copy of God is More than Enough by Dr. Tony Evans for the purpose of review from the publishers. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Wordless Wednesday

 

 

 

 

 

 http://youtu.be/eV41-c8CbfA

Jesus loves…

I’ve been reading and commenting  on facebook about the whole Chick-Fil-A (CFA) Appreciation Day this morning. I’ve been greatly saddened and angered by those well-meaning people who think it is all a big no-no.

I’ve voiced my opinion on facebook and I had every intention of spewing more of it here, just in case someone was asleep when I said it the first time.  I was going to say just how wrong everyone else was about the issue, while touting my rightness.

Then I realized I was no better than anyone else. I was choosing to use my platform as a means of telling everyone who dared to disagree with me how intolerant they were.

And maybe they are. But when I think about it, how am I being any different? If I come here to bash others, even other Christians, those precious souls who claim to love and follow my Jesus, am I being like Jesus to them? Am I loving them like He loved?

I’m not at all saying we shouldn’t, or that we can’t, point out to people where they might be wrong, or where they are wrong. We have to. We are commanded in Scripture to do that. But when our attitude is less than what it has to be, we are not commanded to zip our lips.

My thoughts might be valid and might at some point in time, need expressed but today is not the day.  And it won’t be the day until I can with a clear, conscience say it without any malice.

It is quite possibly one of my deepest desires to not be pharisaical. I don’t want to hold someone to a standard I’m not willing to hold myself to, I don’t want to hold others to a list of do’s and don’ts. I don’t want to make Jesus out of reach for those who don’t agree with me.  I want those in the church and outside of the church to know that while I won’t overlook, tolerate or condone sin, I will check myself before spouting my rightness and your wrongness with an attitude that is anything but right.

Look Ma, No POO!

I have searched and searched for my post from January explaining the ins and outs of my going “‘poo free” only to come up empty. Surely I didn’t just dream that I blogged about it. I know I did; I am so confident of that very fact that I remember some comments about it. But maybe that was on facebook…that thought just right now, this very minute occurred to me.

Anyway, here I am willing to extol my great wisdom on being free of ‘poo. This will be a very short blog post.

I am somewhat “crunchy”. No, I don’t mean I’m bony and would crunch if you ate me like an over-cooked french fry.  I mean “crunchy” as in this definition from Urban dictionary,

Adjective. Used to describe persons who have adjusted or altered their lifestyle for environmental reasons. Crunchy persons tend to be politically strongly left-leaning and may be additionally but not exclusively categorized as vegetarians, vegans, eco-tarians, conservationists, environmentalists, neo-hippies, tree huggers, nature enthusiasts, etc.

No, I’m not a vegetarian, vegan, tree hugger, etc. I’m just tired of ingesting chemicals. I’m tired of eating chemical-laden food, chemically altered food and I’m equally tired of chemicals in everything. I’m tired of not having any idea what is what the products I use. I’m tired of not being able to pronounce the ingredients in commonly used items. Such as shampoo and conditioner.

I’ve also just been on an all-around health kick. I’ve (almost) completely cut out white flour and sugar. I do on occasion splurge but those are few and very far between.  I choose healthy or healthier menu items at home and when we dine out. Because it’s smart.

Now I’m not claiming to be a genius, but when I look at the epidemic of obesity in our nation, and knowing that my town is leading the state in the rate of obesity, or in other words, in my state, my town has the highest ratio of obese people. It just makes sense. I, myself, a few years ago was on the borderline of obesity and overweight for my height. Yes, it’s true. Not many people know that. I’ve worked hard and I’ve had to be ruthless about what I put in my body. Things I have loved have been cut out. I used to love a a mocha. Now when I feel like splurging a little, I find I no longer love or even like mochas. No great loss there.

So what does all this have to do with going ‘poo free? Commercially manufactured shampoo and conditioner is full of chemicals….chemicals that are harmful to our bodies. (Or at the very least have the potential to be.)

Shampoo is really, a fairly new item. Marketed to us as a necessity of life. If you don’t use shampoo and use it every day, you’re less than what you could be and probably should be.

Shampoo actually strips your hair of everything good and necessary.  Your scalp has oils in it that your hair needs. Shampoo strips all of them. Which is why your hair is so nasty if you don’t use conditioner. Conditioner puts some man-made, chemical-laden oils back in so you can at the very least get a comb through your locks.

I have started using a mixture with a 1:1 ratio of baking soda, yes, the baking soda you use to bake with, and water. One Tablespoon of baking soda to one cup of water. I use warm water, mix the baking soda until it dissolves and then I pour it into a pump bottle and keep it in the shower.

You might need more or less baking soda for your hair. Experiment a little and see what ratio works best for you.  Just make sure you rinse it well. You definitely don’t want white flecks in your hair.

For conditioner I use the same ratio, only I use apple cider vinegar and water. (still 1 tablespoon to one cup) I have heard white vinegar also works well and might in fact, work better. But I haven’t tried that yet myself.

I do not rinse the “conditioner” out. You can, I don’t. No, my hair does not smell like a salad at best and vinegar at worst. It smells remarkably like…get this…hair. Yes! My hair smells like hair. Not like some perfumed conditioner I spent a lot of money on. It smells like hair. And manageable? You bet!

Besides the way my hair looks and feels, I love the money saving factor. I shop at Sams and once a month I buy 13 pounds of Arm and Hammer Baking soda. Yes, 13 pounds! I spend between $6 and $7. All of it is used and not just for hair. Maybe I’ll blog in the future about other ways I use baking soda. When I was purchasing shampoo I was spending $12-$15 a month on shampoo and conditioner. Whoa! Talk about a significant savings.

Now, using baking soda and apple cider vinegar in place of shampoo will not do anything to combat the obesity rate in America. If only it were true. But it will help your scalp and hair look and feel nicer, be easier on your pocketbook in a global recession and will rid you of a lot of unnecessary chemicals.

Now, doesn’t that make it worth looking into? I thought so!

 

(Doesn’t it figure, I just found the blog post. You can find it here.)

Free of ‘Poo

You might remember in January I gave up on ‘poo. No, not that ‘poo…shampoo. I have kept with my no ‘poo do. The picture, on the left, was just taken moments ago. As you can quite plainly see, my hair has not vacated my head, nor has it done anything weird like turn green and purple. It is the softest, healthiest hair I can ever remember having.

I did just learn a new trick though. See I thought you rinsed everything out of your hair (except “leave in conditioner”) so I had been doing that. But I read yesterday I don’t have to rinse the vinegar out. So yesterday and this morning I’ve left it in and oh. my. freaking. word! My hair is soooo soft and tangles are a thing of the past.

I know you’re thinking my hair smells like a salad at best, and at worst vinegar.  It doesn’t! It smells like hair.

I was telling my children yesterday to leave it in. When my youngest pipes up, “I usually add them.” Now you might remember we use baking soda for shampoo. I had to ask her to explain, “I put the baking soda water on, rub it around on my head. Then I add the vinegar water, rub that in and rinse the whole thing at once.”

I’m sure my eyeballs popped out of my head. I quickly told her not to do that anymore because quite frankly it’s not a good idea.

This one here, this one be good!

I feel a bit like Bob Roll here. “Ohhhh I have the perfect route!!”  Only in my case it’s not a route, it’s a book.

I have long been a reader of all things Terri Blackstock. She is one of those writers I have to read when I see she has a new book out.  Except I just found out the book I thought was new, isn’t. It’s a repackaged book. Well it’s still new to me.

Paul Holbrooke is a billionaire many times over. His son, Jack, is a pilot and has asked to be left out of Paul’s will and instead to donate the estate and Jack’s inheritance to Christian charities.  Jack’s wife dies weeks after giving birth to their twin daughters, Lizzie and Kara. When the twins are three, Jack remarries Amanda. Within six months Paul, his wife (who I believe is unnamed) are being flown by Jack to a wedding. Only they never arrive. Their plane crashes killing all of them.

Paul’s will leaves everything to Jack and since Jack does not die until hours after his parents, he inherits it. He leaves everything to Amanda and has asked that she take care of his children. Of course she agrees.

Only the day of the funeral, Eloise and Deke, Jack’s first wife’s parents, show up expecting to take the girls home with them as their closest living blood relative. Amanda battles it out, the adoption has been put in motion but had not yet been completed. Ultimately she loses the girls who spend the next fifteen years living as poverty stricken, abused children when they are heiresses to a vast fortune.

The spiritual implications in this book are staggering. I couldn’t help but think over and over, “Man! I live just like they do! I have a vast inheritance and I’m choosing to live the lie.”

This book was for me a fresh smack between my eyes with a 2×4. The book smacks of God‘s forgiveness, grace, mercy and great love for all of us. Even when we refuse to believe Him, even when we say we want nothing to do with Him. Even when we willfully choose our own path. He is there when we come to our senses and come back to Him. He showers us with more goodness, more of Himself and everything that is ours by right.

Honestly, dear readers, you MUST read this book. It’s Covenant Child by Terri Blackstock. It is a novel but it will change your life. I guarantee you that.

(I received a free copy of this book from Book Sneeze for the purpose of review.)