sincere thoughts
I HATE RELIGION. Don't get me wrong. What the world views as religion and what I view as religion might be different. We all call things by multiple names now that we all can define things as we see them in this culture. Relevant truth, right? Ugh....
Last night someone labeled me as "religious". It made me want to vomit. However, to someone who doesn't know how Jesus defines that word, this probably made perfect sense to them... "Kate talks about God, therefore she is religious." So I guess the counterpart would be never considering God at all makes someone non-religious...?? Trying to wrap my head around the logic here. You see, I view religion as a set of ways/rules made up by man to connect with God through ritual... What I believe is that God came to seek me, and He did so through Jesus. My job? Receive what Jesus is offering. Himself. His Sacrifice. Freedom. And out of me receiving Him, a relationship is formed between the God of Heaven and myself... It's out of this, that I live. I believe in God. I believe He created earth, and all people and things that dwell here. I believe there was a garden and original people, yes Adam and Eve. I believe God wants to dwell on earth with us. I believe sin separated us from God. Man did something God told him not to do...this was/is called sin. God still wanted to have a relationship with His creation. According to Heaven's Laws (yes, Heaven is a Kingdom, with laws of its own), a blood offering had to be made to restore relationship between God and man. I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe He is the Son of God. I believe God desires a relationship with His creation so much so He sent His one and only Son to reconcile His creation to Himself. He gave His Son as the perfect offering to all mankind so we could reconnect to God. Why so drastic? I don't know. That's God's ways, and His ways are higher than mine. But what Jesus did was make a way to the Father without us having to pay for our sin. Jesus took all our sin upon Himself, and opened up a way to the Father. I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit when He resurrected after his death on the cross and burial for three days. I believe the Holy Spirit is the third 'person' of the Holy Trinity and helps us. I believe He reveals truth to us. I believe He comforts us. I believe He leads us. I believe He counsels us. I believe the Bible. I believe it when it says how this world will end and Jesus will come again. I believe He will defeat Satan, and Jesus will reign here on earth for 1,000 years in peace. I believe the enemy will ultimately be destroyed and God will come and live in the earth with His children...as originally planned. Radical? Absolutely. Make me an outcast? To some. How do I know it's real? Because I've experienced God the Father, Jesus His Son, and Holy Spirit firsthand. No one can beat down my personal testimony because they cannot change it or make me believe it didn't happen. What I have experienced in my life is personal. My story. And I would never stand for something that I didn't believe in... It takes someone who is willing to die to reputation to follow Jesus Christ. Everyone wants to "fit in," including me. But what is MOST important to me is pleasing my Father because I LOVE Him... He is the One who desires me. The One who pursues me in relationship with Him. He has proven Himself faithful and loving over and over and over. We are called to love others, as the Father has loved us. And I do. However, my focus/attention/life's purpose is on the Father, not people. Guess that means I'm "religious" to others. Well, good news? I don't accept labels from people anymore. I used to... I used to believe what people said about me...good and bad. The problem with that is when praise turns to hate, it can really mess someone up. Or if praise turns to a greater amount of praise, it can really mess someone up. We aren't meant to be torn down or built up in people's eyes. We are meant to be shaped by the One who created us. God labels us. Because He is a perfect Father, we can believe what HE says...all the time. He calls us His Beloved. He calls us Chosen. He calls us Redeemed. He call us Forgiven. He calls us Treasured. He calls us Blessed. He calls us Delivered. He calls us Free. He calls us Lovely. He calls us Worth it. He calls us Righteous. He calls us Mighty. He calls us Warriors. I would take God's label over man's label any day of the week... How I live requires faith. Ya, it might be "out there" to some, but the way the world lives (without God) is "out there" to me. Having faith requires a lot of rejection from this world, but that is nothing compared to what is waiting for me in eternity. I choose to live for a greater purpose, one beyond myself; one that fears God (in respect), and one that honors Him (by loving others). So, religious is what you call me? I just call myself LOVED BY GOD...and so are you. I am just aware of it and you're not...(yet). "God so loved the world, that He gave His One and Only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
0 Comments
With yet another school shooting, I am reminded how dark this world is and where the world is headed before Jesus comes to rule and reign (according to Revelation). Now is the time for the Body of Jesus to draw ever closer to the Father’s heart. To get to a place where we KNOW His voice and His presence, so that when the evil one comes we will not be swayed…
We all get caught up in “life” as we know it here on earth. But the reality is if we profess to be Christians (i.e., Christ-followers), then our true citizenship is in Heaven, not earth. Sure, we’re not going to be transported to Heaven directly after we become a Christian (because the Lord needs us to be the hands and feet of Christ here until He comes again) but our citizenship is of Heaven, nonetheless. We do not need to forfeit being human (having families, getting involved with the things here on earth, be it sports, groups, parties, etc.), but I would like to remind myself and everyone that what really matters is our relationship with God, and out of that, receiving the call of God on each of our lives to be a spirit-filled witness. I am reminded of the story of Mary and Martha. The Lord commended Mary for sitting at His feet. Listening; absorbing; seeking to know Him; just adoring Him. Let me encourage you that God longs for you to sit at His feet, with no other agenda than to seek Him and absorb what He desires to speak to you. We were given the greatest gift; the gift of REAL LIFE. But so many of us attempt to LIVE with very little one-on-one connection to the LIFE-SOURCE Himself. The church setting is fine, but it is not going to feed you. Going directly to the Father will feed you; really feed you. So, let me challenge you today. Seek the Life-Giver in the midst of this day; this week; this month. Connect to the One who will give you rivers of living water; the One who will re-energize and re-charge you. The One who will breathe LIFE into you every time you connect with Him. The One who will heal wounds, physical, emotional and spiritual. The One who LOVES you. The One who died for you to have everlasting life. Start by getting alone and say, “God I’m here to meet with you; come and meet with me.” Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 |
blogA place to share my insights and thoughts about life. Archives
August 2018
Categories |