How can we describe "faith"? It's a very difficult thing to define. Yet it is the thing that separates us from unbelievers.There are a lot of people in this world who would happily believe there was a God if we could only prove it. To us creation itself is the proof. How could we be here with the seasons working in perfect order, babies being born, the moon and stars and sun all set in place perfectly if someone hadn't started it all. Christians believe that someone is watching over his work. So then atheists will say to us why does God allow sin then? Why does he allow earthquakes and tsunamis? What about child abuse and murder and rape and terrorism?
I guess I wonder those things too but in the end I will always come back to this. God didn't make this world imperfect. He made it perfect in every way. Man fell into sin and after that the heartache and sorrow came. And since in Adam we all fell we all deserve eternal damnation. So instead of saying "Why is God so mean?" we ought to say, "Why is God so kind that he allows anyone any blessing at all, and that he gave his Son to save some unrepentant sinners because he loved them before the foundation of the world?"
Justice would be eternal damnation for all. Justice would be not a moments peace or bliss or blessing in life. Yet we are blessed with many good things. I think the problem with those who choose to believe there is not God is this: They cannot accept that they are at heart evil. That any good they do or receive is from the hand of God. It's easier to believe we can 'make' our own happiness. Believing I am at heart evil is a very freeing thing. Accepting that means that I can stop trying to make it on my own, I need God at every turn, knowing that God will and must help me is a relief! What a weight to carry to think your happiness in life is up to you!
It makes me terribly sad to know how many people out there are floundering, thinking that they can do it on their own if they just think positively enough. It especially makes me sad when I live in the complete joy and happiness of knowing that Jesus died for my sins and I'm pure before the Lord. Jesus' sacrifice is free for all to receive. There is happiness in this life though it's marred by sin and incomplete, there are blessings to enjoy. But the real joy the deep joy I can experience even in my darkest hour, that is a joy that everyone on this earth can posses. If they let go of the desire to believe human beings have some bit of good in them and rely only on their Saviour. That's faith. It's the only thing that can bring true contentment to the soul.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Sin: A Part of Who I Am.
This week I've been thinking a bit about labels. As a mother of three boys I recognize completely different personality traits in each of them and I notice they each have different struggles. I notice that their sin is a part of who they are. Just as our likes, dislikes, gifts, looks and fingerprints make us individuals so do our personal struggles with sin. It's the thing that makes us all the same and the thing that makes us different.
It's very hard for me to imagine who I would be without sin. Would I still talk so much? Is that a wrong part of me, or would I just not say some (lots) of the things I say. I know I wouldn't have a temper like I do, and I wouldn't worry the way I do and I wouldn't be self righteous like I can sometimes be. But would I still be Amy? Am I so sinful that who I am is mostly bad and no one would recognize what's left if that wasn't part of me anymore? It seems all very philosophical but this blog was meant to reveal the struggles of Christians and to be an exploration of self.
All this leads me to think about my kids and other kids, my oldest son is very busy, I wouldn't say he has ADD but even if he did it would take a lot for me to allow a label like that. Here's what I think. Do people who have a sibling with special needs as having "down's syndrome" or "autism" etc? Or do they just think of them as Joe or Betty or whoever they are. I can tell you from discussing this with friends who do have family members with handicaps that they almost never think of them in terms of their disorder. Where does the disorder begin and the person end or vise versa? That disorder is PART of them.
This is also true for those who have depression or bipolar disorder or who have been abused as a child. Those things become part of who a person is. The problem with a label is I think that defines them by the disorder. If you really start to search then everything could be a "symptom".
Having suffered from some mild depression myself I can tell you that the experience of it has shaped me. Sin in my life has shaped me. Losing my dad and miscarrying babies has shaped me. The only reason I had to suffer those experiences was because of the fall into sin.
Labelling disorders in children and adults can be useful, and sometimes is necessary, but I just want to be careful that we allow our children to be who they are and not find a specific reason for every bad thing they do. There is a reason! Sin! The Devil! If it has a fancy name it doesn't make it less ugly. Why is my son busy and talkative and sometimes mischeivious? Because he is a person, conceived and born in sin, but made in the image of his Father in heaven. He will struggle with his depraved nature his whole life but he will aslo enjoy the gifts he's been granted and some of his traits will be both a blessing and a curse.
We have to find a happy medium with all of this. Years ago we locked people up and kicked difficult kids out of school. Now we seem to label and medicate everyone accordingly. There isn't any quick fix for sin in the world is there? It's a life long battle and God has promised the cross we bear won't be too heavy, and if it is, He'll be there to carry it for us.
Sin is a part of who I am, but just like George Bush (see previous post) Godwilling, I will not allow it to define who I am. I'd welcome any prayers to help me out with that! :-)
1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
It's very hard for me to imagine who I would be without sin. Would I still talk so much? Is that a wrong part of me, or would I just not say some (lots) of the things I say. I know I wouldn't have a temper like I do, and I wouldn't worry the way I do and I wouldn't be self righteous like I can sometimes be. But would I still be Amy? Am I so sinful that who I am is mostly bad and no one would recognize what's left if that wasn't part of me anymore? It seems all very philosophical but this blog was meant to reveal the struggles of Christians and to be an exploration of self.
All this leads me to think about my kids and other kids, my oldest son is very busy, I wouldn't say he has ADD but even if he did it would take a lot for me to allow a label like that. Here's what I think. Do people who have a sibling with special needs as having "down's syndrome" or "autism" etc? Or do they just think of them as Joe or Betty or whoever they are. I can tell you from discussing this with friends who do have family members with handicaps that they almost never think of them in terms of their disorder. Where does the disorder begin and the person end or vise versa? That disorder is PART of them.
This is also true for those who have depression or bipolar disorder or who have been abused as a child. Those things become part of who a person is. The problem with a label is I think that defines them by the disorder. If you really start to search then everything could be a "symptom".
Having suffered from some mild depression myself I can tell you that the experience of it has shaped me. Sin in my life has shaped me. Losing my dad and miscarrying babies has shaped me. The only reason I had to suffer those experiences was because of the fall into sin.
Labelling disorders in children and adults can be useful, and sometimes is necessary, but I just want to be careful that we allow our children to be who they are and not find a specific reason for every bad thing they do. There is a reason! Sin! The Devil! If it has a fancy name it doesn't make it less ugly. Why is my son busy and talkative and sometimes mischeivious? Because he is a person, conceived and born in sin, but made in the image of his Father in heaven. He will struggle with his depraved nature his whole life but he will aslo enjoy the gifts he's been granted and some of his traits will be both a blessing and a curse.
We have to find a happy medium with all of this. Years ago we locked people up and kicked difficult kids out of school. Now we seem to label and medicate everyone accordingly. There isn't any quick fix for sin in the world is there? It's a life long battle and God has promised the cross we bear won't be too heavy, and if it is, He'll be there to carry it for us.
Sin is a part of who I am, but just like George Bush (see previous post) Godwilling, I will not allow it to define who I am. I'd welcome any prayers to help me out with that! :-)
1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
George W. Bush and Oprah
This week I saw George W Bush plugging his new autobiographical book on Oprah. Normally Oprah rather annoys me but I actually heard he was going to be on and purposely watched it because I always sorta liked him. I was really impressed at how he handled himself. Mostly she was really polite to him but she didn't really 'get' him I don't think.
George handled himself really well. He said he did his best, he didn't care what people said, he was flawed but he loved his country and tried to do right by her. He said he tried to treat people the way he wants to be treated and that's why he doesn't go criticizing the current Pres. He said; "Believe me his job is hard enough he doesn't need me criticizing him." He said he had no desire to be back in the limelight and wrote the book so people would know why he made the decisions he did.
Then he said something that shocked her. He said all the criticism he received and the jokes made at his expense didn't hurt at all compared to when it was done to his father. She just couldn't believe this. Then there was a mini interview with George senior and his wife who both also said it was harder to see their son trashed than taking it themselves.
I always said, I'd rather HAVE the baby than be in Ryan's shoes watching someone I love suffer through tremendous pain. (Just don't ask me during hard labour, I might be ready to tag out then...)
It was very significant to me that Oprah didn't get this. Obviously there is no one in the world she loves more than herself! She's an billionaire, she's famous, she's called a wonderful giving kind person all over the world and yet she doesn't know what it's like to want to suffer instead of watching someone you love suffer! Odd.
He also told her that while politics were a part of his life they did not define his life. Again Oprah said "Really!" That leads me to believe that she defines herself by what she does. I felt like I was learning more about Oprah than George!
Not that all that really surprises me. Oprah is very new age. She thinks you can make your own future and think positive and do good so you have good vibes. She doesn't really believe that at heart we're all the same, sinners.
I feel sorry for her. With all her millions she can't buy the knowledge that's been gifted to many Christians. The knowledge that without God's will our will is totally depraved. We can't and may as well not try to do it alone. The knowledge that without the faith and the work of the Spirit good works are empty.
This is a good reminder for me too. Recently my mom said to me "When you do something good do you know why it feels so good? Because then you know that God is working in you." Wise words from a wise lady! That means we shouldn't take pride in our works but in our God who powerfully works them in us by His Spirit! Isn't PRIDE one of the seven deadly sins....?
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
George handled himself really well. He said he did his best, he didn't care what people said, he was flawed but he loved his country and tried to do right by her. He said he tried to treat people the way he wants to be treated and that's why he doesn't go criticizing the current Pres. He said; "Believe me his job is hard enough he doesn't need me criticizing him." He said he had no desire to be back in the limelight and wrote the book so people would know why he made the decisions he did.
Then he said something that shocked her. He said all the criticism he received and the jokes made at his expense didn't hurt at all compared to when it was done to his father. She just couldn't believe this. Then there was a mini interview with George senior and his wife who both also said it was harder to see their son trashed than taking it themselves.
I always said, I'd rather HAVE the baby than be in Ryan's shoes watching someone I love suffer through tremendous pain. (Just don't ask me during hard labour, I might be ready to tag out then...)
It was very significant to me that Oprah didn't get this. Obviously there is no one in the world she loves more than herself! She's an billionaire, she's famous, she's called a wonderful giving kind person all over the world and yet she doesn't know what it's like to want to suffer instead of watching someone you love suffer! Odd.
He also told her that while politics were a part of his life they did not define his life. Again Oprah said "Really!" That leads me to believe that she defines herself by what she does. I felt like I was learning more about Oprah than George!
Not that all that really surprises me. Oprah is very new age. She thinks you can make your own future and think positive and do good so you have good vibes. She doesn't really believe that at heart we're all the same, sinners.
I feel sorry for her. With all her millions she can't buy the knowledge that's been gifted to many Christians. The knowledge that without God's will our will is totally depraved. We can't and may as well not try to do it alone. The knowledge that without the faith and the work of the Spirit good works are empty.
This is a good reminder for me too. Recently my mom said to me "When you do something good do you know why it feels so good? Because then you know that God is working in you." Wise words from a wise lady! That means we shouldn't take pride in our works but in our God who powerfully works them in us by His Spirit! Isn't PRIDE one of the seven deadly sins....?
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
For What It's Worth
Recently I watched half an episode of "Till Debt Do Us Part" with Gail Vaz-Oxlade who goes into homes of couples who are near financial ruin and gives them the tools and advice to get out of debt and stay out. I took a look at her website this week which I'll post here, lots of really good articles on there! I read something in her introduction of herself that intrigued me:
I’m all about change, and I believe that we can have anything we want in life…anything. It’s all a matter of what’s important to us and how hard we’re prepared to bust our butts. I also believe that a well-balanced life is one of the keys to happiness, and so I strive to achieve a sense of balance.
OK, this is probably a very humanistic paragraph, but with that said I think she's a very level headed lady. Christians can apply this strategy to their lives too. Obviously if you want in life is a pet elephant in your backyard that's probably not going to happen. I think what she means is if you adjust what your view of a satisfying, fulfilling life is you can enjoy the blessings in your life and quit whining and complaining about what you don't have. If you adjust your view of what you think you deserve as opposed to what you've earned then you can be content with what you have. You can set goals and work hard to achieve them. Doesn't God also call us to do that?
This makes me think of the women who've said to me "That's nice you can stay home we're not able to do that, we can't get by without my income." (Here we go... this is one of my pet peeves...)
It is not a question of what they are able to do. It's a question of what they are WILLING to do. Many families would consider what Ryan and I (and many of our friends) are living on to be totally inadequate. But it's totally how you look at it. I would never say the choice we made is the choice everyone should make. But I don't want to hear people make excuses.
If they wanted more than anything to stay home with their kid(s), nothing would have stopped them. So if they've made a different choice than us they ought not pretend it was out of necessity! They could say they loved their job and felt they could have both, they could say they wanted to give their family a certain quality of life and therefore chose to work, they could say they always felt they should contribute monetarily to the family income, they could say they love their career and staying home full time would have made them nuts. But pretending the only reason they don't do as I do is because it was impossible for them belittles me and the career (yes CAREER) choice that I have made. (end rant)
Once I became a mother what I wanted most out of life was to give my kids the best of me for their first five years. I've gotten what I wanted. Sure along the way I had to give up some other things I would have liked too but I picked what was most important to me and now I don't get to whine.
Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God. Ecclesiastes 5:19
http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/
I’m all about change, and I believe that we can have anything we want in life…anything. It’s all a matter of what’s important to us and how hard we’re prepared to bust our butts. I also believe that a well-balanced life is one of the keys to happiness, and so I strive to achieve a sense of balance.
OK, this is probably a very humanistic paragraph, but with that said I think she's a very level headed lady. Christians can apply this strategy to their lives too. Obviously if you want in life is a pet elephant in your backyard that's probably not going to happen. I think what she means is if you adjust what your view of a satisfying, fulfilling life is you can enjoy the blessings in your life and quit whining and complaining about what you don't have. If you adjust your view of what you think you deserve as opposed to what you've earned then you can be content with what you have. You can set goals and work hard to achieve them. Doesn't God also call us to do that?
This makes me think of the women who've said to me "That's nice you can stay home we're not able to do that, we can't get by without my income." (Here we go... this is one of my pet peeves...)
It is not a question of what they are able to do. It's a question of what they are WILLING to do. Many families would consider what Ryan and I (and many of our friends) are living on to be totally inadequate. But it's totally how you look at it. I would never say the choice we made is the choice everyone should make. But I don't want to hear people make excuses.
If they wanted more than anything to stay home with their kid(s), nothing would have stopped them. So if they've made a different choice than us they ought not pretend it was out of necessity! They could say they loved their job and felt they could have both, they could say they wanted to give their family a certain quality of life and therefore chose to work, they could say they always felt they should contribute monetarily to the family income, they could say they love their career and staying home full time would have made them nuts. But pretending the only reason they don't do as I do is because it was impossible for them belittles me and the career (yes CAREER) choice that I have made. (end rant)
Once I became a mother what I wanted most out of life was to give my kids the best of me for their first five years. I've gotten what I wanted. Sure along the way I had to give up some other things I would have liked too but I picked what was most important to me and now I don't get to whine.
Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God. Ecclesiastes 5:19
http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/
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