That's JUST how I am

I don't know if you know this about me, but I am not skilled at keeping a home. It is something I have struggled with since I was a child- you could say I am just a messy person. 

Do you, like me, find yourself saying that a lot? I am just a night owl, I am just sarcastic, I am just a goof, etc. What is with this take me as I am, attitude? It seems as if this sense of self prevails far and wide, but I am discovering this is worldly thinking. 

So the world tells me I can easily continue on in this mindset of "take me as I am". Sorry Mr. Warner, you may be blessed by a clean home, but you're just going to have to get used to clutter. Just take me as I am. God loves me for me, so you should too... be happy with what you've got- wonderful me. 

Hmm. That somehow seems wrong to me. As a follower of Christ I need to find some concrete evidence to back up this frame of mind, and I just can't do it. Didn't He say, "Not my will, but thine be done"? Didn't He model that the Father's agenda was more precious than His own. Didn't He wrap Himself up in a towel and wash the feet of His disciples? If my Savior can lay aside His wants, His "I just want to live", then can't I do the same within my heart?

Sometimes I forget the cost of getting on a real cross because I am too busy crying and whining about my own. Jesus taught me to lay down my life for my friends, and I am beginning to see that laying down my life is taking the time to retrain myself for the love of my life. I can choose to accept the discipline and training of the Lord in being a housekeeper, I can ask Him to change me, rather than defend myself. 

I may be just a messy person, but I serve a great God who is willing to change me if I request His help. I would rather lose myself to abide more fully in Christ, then stay as I am and miss out on blessing my best friend.

An Easy Way Out?

"He said to them, 'Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.'" Matthew 19:8

Have you noticed that we live in a world that screams for divorce? One out of two couples get a divorce at some time. I am sure you have thought of it before- it would just be so easy, I would be happier, I could finally have freedom, my problems would disappear...

Those are the lies that the Enemy tells us, he preys on us until our hearts harden to our spouse and we give in to that "easy" way. Can you also apply that to your relationship with Christ? Sometimes it's just easier not to obey, or you just want to be able to watch that show, or listen to that band. There is no middle ground, scripture does not say there's an in-between. You are either participating in God's Kingdom or the kingdom of darkness.

How are you living out your marriage? How about your relationship with Christ? He wants us with Him and He wants us with our spouse. Both require work, it doesn't just happen. But the best part is that you CAN do it. All you need to do is set aside your pride and declare you need the help of Christ. He is glorified in your weakness. Allow Him to provide you with self-control, patience, love, and endurance.

Don't be full of pride, searching for the easy way out, be willing to humble yourself and ask God for help.

Defiled

"Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man... But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." Matthew 15:11, 18-19

Last night, my husband was reading some stories about heaven and the account he read included rollercoasters and movies. Our whole marriage he has struggled with my enjoyment of both, and I have always believed that there was something about them that reminded me of God. So, I know it is odd, but this has been a six and a half year argument, and last night my sweet husband tried to say sorry!

How nice right? Well guess what I assumed? The worst. I accused him of being sarcastic and not meaning it. Here he was, apologizing for years of putting me down, and I thought he was still doing it. What does my accusation say about my heart?

Jesus says that the words that come out of our mouths come from our hearts and defile us, I believe they also cause harm to those around us. I have now created an atmosphere for my husband to feel unsafe to humble himself and say sorry.

The words that came out of my mouth are also so normal. It seems that it comes so naturally to see the worst, rather than to see the best. What if I chose to expect good things from those I love? From even strangers? I need to begin to rid myself of criticism. How does this begin?

Titus 1:15 says, "To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled."

I need to ask to be made pure. I cannot do this on my own. I must take ownership of my weakness and allow Christ to show off His strength within me.