Lent

So today is the first day of Lent. I am participating in the traditions of Lent not because I am Catholic, but because I feel the need to rid my life of a few things to provide myself with more time that I can focus on myself and the Lord. During this season of Lent I will be giving up Starbucks and Facebook!

Well, giving up Facebook will be more a momentary thing. I have been blessed to lead such an amazing group of women in Bible study. Last night we talked about discipline, and that conversation quickly turned into a conversation about Facebook and how much we use it. It gets in the way of doing homework, spending time with the Lord, and it even changes the way we relate to others. We decided, as a group, to make a Bible study challenge and not get on until we meet next week. So far today, I'm going strong. I haven't had the urge to check it! That's crazy awesome because on a normal day I check it about 10 times. True facts. It's absolutely ridiculous! I have become so consumed by Facebook and staying connected to others. Don't get me wrong. Staying connected to other people is what I love, however, when I check it so many times a day and don't communicate with anyone or look at the same things multiple times it gets a little ridiculous. Self-control and discipline are huge participants in this. Without self-control, I check Facebook or get one too many Starbuck's drinks a week, and it turns into chaos. I'm not saying either are bad things, but like "they" (whoever they are) say, all things in moderation. There's a verse in Proverbs that I think totally makes this clear for me.

"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." Proverbs 25:28

So by me lacking self-control, I'm like a city who has been broken down. That screams chaos to me! Without self-control, I do whatever I want, whenever I want. I have no boundaries, or nothing of importance to guide my day. Sounds fun? Think again. With self-control we can manage our days, find some structure, and make the most of our time. We can find glory in the things that we wait for. It's kind of like a meal. If you eat dinner you wait to have dessert last. You eat the nasty things you don't like first because you want to get it over with. But you know at the end of your meal you get some delicious dessert. You control yourself and eat the good for you things first because when you eat your dessert last you will enjoy it ten times more. That's the idea at least. Self-control effects our entire lives. It's kind of crazy actually.

I've been thinking a lot lately and today especially, while I wasn't on Facebook, about discipline and self-control in my life. Incorporating those more into my life is something I'm going to add to my life during Lent. I hope it sticks. I think there can be a happy balance with Lent. You can give things up to give yourself more time in your day, or to become healthier. But I also think adding things to your life makes it even better.

The whole point of Lent is to rid yourself or add something to your life so that you can have a closer relationship with the Lord. It's not about diets or plans of your own but to add to your relationship with Christ. I hope you get to experience that and remember the point of Lent.

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

Attitude of Gratitude

Every week I get emails from "Christ Notes" which sends me daily Bible verses and Weekly Wisdom. Today's couldn't have been more on point! It talked about having an attitude of gratitude.... which is something I definitely didn't have today.

We've been getting crazy amounts of snow lately, and frankly I'm over it. I want it to be spring so bad my soul aches. I want to get outside and feel the heat of the sun. No coats necessary! I also had an exam today that I as hoping would be canceled because of the snow. But alas, I still had my exam. To my surprise is went really well which was much to my relief.

It was hard to be grateful and joyous today for some reason. The snow made things a bit difficult today which made my a bit grumpy. When I got my Weekly Wisdom it brought me back down to reality and made me realize I was not having a grateful heart. The Bible talks about being grateful all over the place. God loves a grateful and thankful heart and life.

Ephesians 5:20 says, "always giving thanks to God the Father for everything...". I was not doing that today. Even in the midst of bad days, doing things I don't like, or things I am uncomfortable with, I still need to give thanks to God for everything. That's a humbling truth. Even in the midst of bad things, hard things, and things I don't like, I need to thank God for that. How crazy is that?

With all this said, I thank God for the crazy amounts of snow, my exam, and my grumpy heart. I thank God that he has the power to change my attitude like he did today. God is so good and I hope you experience that in your life too.

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe" Hebrews 12:28

Free Will

God is so great!

Recently, the Lord has given me an opportunity to really understand what it is that I believe and try to relay that message. It is definitely a challenging thing... but it has been so great!

Lately I've been trying to understand free will and how that functions in our lives. It started with Adam & Eve. In the garden of Eden God gave Adam & Eve a choice. He said here is this perfect land and it's all yours! In this perfect land, you and I can have a perfect relationship. However, there's this tree that you shouldn't eat from. It will cause sadness, shame, and you will die. Kind of intense! He gave Adam & Eve the choice to either follow Him and trust in His goodness, or disobey Him and eat from the forbidden tree. He didn't force them to do anything, but gave them freedom in knowing Him. Sounds perfect, right?

Well because Adam & Eve are human, just like you and me, they disobeyed. They ate from the forbidden tree. By God giving them that choice to either obey or disobey is definitely free will. He didn't force them to believe in Him or necessarily obey Him. He said I love and I give you this land. We can have this perfect relationship. Here it is. It is a free gift from me to you. He never forced them into that relationship but offered it to them. They chose to disobey.

The story ends in sin, but I think the point of it is awesome! God has always given us a choice. He wants what is best for us and loves us unconditionally.... whether we truly believe that or not. He wants us to live in a perfect relationship with Him... but we have to choose to be a part of that. God loves us enough to give us the freedom to make decisions and chose to love Him. If He forced us...I don't think it would be that loving of a relationship.

1 John 4:19 " We love because he first loved us".

God is a loving God and wants what is best for us. He is what is best for us. I hope that you believe that is true. Walking with the Lord is a daily choice. I hope it is an easy choice for you.

Love God... he loves you back!