Just Put on Your SONday Best!

Boy oh boy, if there has ever been proof, I've seen it now.

You know we, meaning Christians have heard talk after talk and sermon after sermon telling us that "they" are watching. Well we know they are, they all are. Our walk is measured and our talk is weighed.

During this season, His season, let us live in a manner worthy of the calling and the Gospel of Christ. And as my precious Uncle John says, "That None Should Perish!"

We really look no different than the world, truly. Obviously we are all human but as Christians this world is not our home. Our stats, our sins are equivalent yet worse because they are stumbling blocks to Christ in the lives of others. Oh how precious it is to know my destiny but more so to know my Savior. I long to spend time with Him even if I have let Him down. I know that His rebuke is for my well being and to help me live in the manner I request. A life that pleases Him.

It blessed my  soul to read where Sandra Bullock says that she now knows there are Christians who have an authentic faith. WOW. So many have not shown the authenticity of Christ to her. I am speechless! Perhaps that what many should be including me (often), speechless. lol

Evangelism does not have to be as hard as we make it out to be. Just live and love like Christ and the rest will manifest outwardly to others.

It is so important that the "world" gets out of the Church, out of the Body. My previous Sunday School teacher likened it to the scuba diver. He is "in" the ocean but not "of" the ocean. Then I reflected on scriptures which call us to this without a doubt. In order to make it more fun allow me to apply some good old fashioned grammatical rules to our Scriptures.

If I believe in Christ then I am a new creation. Right? 2 Cor. 5:17)

If I am a new creation, my old self is gone. Right? (Ro. 6:6)

If my old self is gone then I am now created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph. 4:24)

If I live a righteous life in the holiness of God in Christ then I will clean the inside of the cup before the outside. (Matt. 23:25)

With those "if then" statements said I can only agree that others like Sandra Bullock are listening and watching therefore my actions must represent my beliefs. Now, "if" I am like that "then" the Holy Spirit can work with me.

Read this article and rejoice with me that finally Christ was represented well and it has been noticed. There are two types of judgmental people....Those who wait and watch for the Christian to fail and those who claim to be righteous while faulting the blind for not seeing. (Thank you Dr. Johnny Hunt for that quote.) How many of us not only misrepresent our beliefs with our actions but also fault the blind for not being able to see? The Holy Spirit is the only giver of "that" type of sight, not me, not us. Be an example worth following so that you can boast in Christ and not in your deeds.

Just put on your SONday best!

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=792418&sms_ss=facebook

LOS ANGELES - Actress Sandra Bullock says meeting Leigh Anne Tuohy, who she portrays in The Blind Side, showed her there really are some Christians who "walk the walk."



The film, which opened the week before Thanksgiving, presents the true story of the Tuohys -- a well-off white family in Tennessee -- who welcome a homeless black youth into their home and then adopt him as their son. That young man, Michael Oher, became an All-American selection for Ole Miss and a first-round draft pick. He now plays for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens.

Bullock says thanks to the Tuohys, who attend Grace Evangelical Church in Memphis, she now has "faith in those who say they represent a faith." Getting to know Leigh Anne Tuohy, says the actress, showed her that religious faith can be authentic. "She was so open and honest and forthright," Bullock shares, "and I said, wow, I finally met someone who practices but doesn't preach."

Tuohy isn't like some hypocritical church-goers she's known, adds Bullock. "The beauty of Leigh Anne was one of my biggest questions was how people use their faith and their religion as a banner," she says. "And then they don't do the right thing, but they go 'I'm a good Christian and I go to church and this is the way you should live your life.'"

Bullock admits she was wary of Christians before she met the Tuohys. "Whereas...before I was like, do not give me a lecture on how to live my life when I know I'm a pretty decent human being," says the actress. "I might not go to church everyday, but I know I do the right thing or try to. You're going to church and you're still sleeping around on your wife...how are you better than I am? So I finally met people who walk the walk."

Leigh Anne Tuohy says she hopes The Blind Side inspires more people to help others. "You don't have to go out and bring a child into your home -- that's not what's required," says Tuohy. "But you can do something -- everybody is capable of doing something. So whatever your something is, do it well. Make a difference."

Oher's mom says she enforces a behavior code when she watches her adopted son play for the Baltimore Ravens. "I had to have a little 'come to Jesus' talk with my section at [the] Ravens' stadium," she says. "I had to explain to everyone that, okay, we're going to have a change of attitude. There is a two-drink limit, there is no cussing in this [section]. You don't know who you're sitting next to -- I'm a player's mom."

The Blind Side has earned more than $100 million dollars at the box office so far.
Read 'The Blind Side' should trouble as well as inspire
(Commentary by Star Parker)

WOW! See they could have tried to impress Sandra with how wonderful and good they are but instead the Holy Spirit was allowed to make HIS impression. Oh, I know we will not live perfect lives but please Lord enable us to live surrendered lives in our SONday best! (everyday)

Chel

Faith: The Cure for a Skeptical Heart

Can’t get something for nothing…What do ‘they’ want?...If it is too good to be true then it probably is…


Pop culture will tell us to look out for ourselves and be watchful so we will not be taken advantage of, but faith tells us to have faith in Jesus and He has the rest of it covered. Hmm, this thought has crossed my mind a time or two. I saw skepticism in action this weekend and it breaks my heart. So many people have been taken advantage of all around us and so many more are hurting. They were very skeptical over our motive in being there.


Our church launched an outreach ministry and our first thing was to reach out to the new apartment complex directly across the street. Not that they are so desperate they need our help but that the church had lost focus of what the church is called to do. The local church has lost sight of the word local. Well, we have lost sight of many words.

Don't get me wrong, our church is involved in many ways within the community, when I speak of what is lost by churches today it is generally speaking. Many churches are on the right track and many are still looking for the grooves to get on the track and stay there. What I feel is that the heart of the church itself is more into hands off service and very little hands on...building relationships and reaching others for Christ by simply being available...

Now, I know it is mostly pride that fuels skeptical heart but still to see people not take the help they may truly need because they are afraid of what it may cost them (because nothing is ever really free right?). Our church had free food and some personal items to offer as well as school supplies for the kiddos. We could all use a little help right now with this economy. The event was success. And I praise the Lord that He allowed us to do this and supplied all our needs - boy is HE able! I just feel this weight on my heart and it is heavy today because of the people who simply sat on their balconies wondering what on earth we were all doing. (Little do they know it has nothing to do with earth!)


I watched them as they watched us. I prayed silently that the Spirit would compel them to come and meet us, we are not what they think we are. I saw members show up that I have never seen help at an event. Truly the Spirit of the Father was there! I watched as a mother and her son joined our fellowship today; they live there across the street! I have watched as the LORD has planted a couple in the apartments who are called to HIS purpose and name's sake. He has placed them in the middle of a community. God is moving without us and inspite of us. Ok, so where can I join in with what God is doing?


We, as the church, are part of that community even if we live 20 miles always. It does concern us and should for each one who sat on their balcony and waited to see what we wanted. There are people everywhere who have been hurt by others, by churches, by neighbors, and these once innocent and welcoming words are now a source of fear and fueling their skepticism.



What is skepticism after all? It is a developed mechanism in order to protect oneself from possible harm. Another word for skepticism is uncertainty (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skepticism).



Well I don’t know about you but it sounds to me that faith is the cure according to Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” WOW!


They only thing that we, as believers, can do is create an avenue where faith can be as contagious as skepticism has been. Do the things for others we wish would be done for us especially when it isn't. Destroy skepticism by being something other than they expected in order to confirm their fears. Be Jesus to them!


If you are interested I have another blog as well that I am going to start placing some poetry and other types of stuff. http://www.racheleposey.blogspot.com/.

Kicking Unbelief to the CURB!!!

Totally Tubular Thursday is a blur and Friday is nearly a distant memory. My next two weeks are going to be completely busy but I had to stop and admit some things.

This last week in Believing God kicked my unbelief to the curb....woo hoo! Go GOD Go!

I never realized that I failed to believe that He would reward me. To be honest I would never have called it unbelief until I hit day 2.

I know that I seek HIM and I truly do find HIM, but I had never stood on the promise of His rewards! Wow! Where was I? NOT on vacation I will tell you that much.

Do you ever feel trapped in the land of "It is what it is"? Boy, I have so been there. I have moved from angry to depressed to it is what is. And quite frankly, eh hem, I don't like the definition of is. lol Seriously, the "is" is not working for me and the unbelief had to go!

So allow me this......

Thank you my dearest Lord Jesus for Saving me and keeping me for yourself. Thank you for putting enough of you in me that I would long for more and more! Thank you for giving me some of your light that I may see the dark spots and hand them over to you. Thank you for giving me salt that some of the stings of life would be healed quickly. Thank you for being a baby to help me remember you know what fraility is. Thank you for obeying your own parents to remind me of your authority. Thank you for raising Lazurus and not just simply healing him so that the Father would be glorified your existence noted!

Thank you for dying the criminals death so that this worn out bag of flesh and sin could be free and join you in eternity.

Thank you for rising again and promising to return as the most handsome Groom anyone has ever seen and making me part of your Bride and wanting me.

Thank you for freeing me from unbelief so I can believe you will empart power and reward me for earnestly seeking YOU.

Thank you Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ~ I love you!!!

From your very simple unworthy abiding branch ~ Chel