Can We Really Live As Christ?

The answer "NO," only Christ in us can. A book called Classic Christianity has inspired this blog. I am on the last chapter about grace. A short read (my kind of book), but filled with so much meat (or veggies if you prefer ;).
Anyway...here's my story...
So we purchased a Suburban. Found it on Craigslist in CA. Everything checked out, and to make a long story short, we got a screamin' deal and are very blessed! HOWEVER (isn't that always the case? Oh no, not a however!) Though it was immaculate (is that with an i or an e?) anyway...the colors we wanted, loaded, leather interior, DVD, moon roof...loaded, and I do mean loaded there was something beneath the exterior that we loved (even the new car smell existed).
We took a trip to visit Eric at work the other day and as it sat in the sun for a couple hours something rose from beneath the surface. I had gone to get the stroller from the back and thought something didn't smell right. I lifted the mat and oh man did that ever stink. Mason and I about gagged. Though it smelled like brand new everywhere else, hiding just below a large rubber mat was the smell of a wet stinky dog and his potty (literally...pee). Now I begin to feel a wee bit agitated. This is not right, they said it was like new....etc. etc. There is a point here to my story...continue...
I came home and spent 3 hours scrubbing, vacuuming (oh yes we discovered tons of dog hair everywhere too), and disinfecting to rid our new vehicle of this foul odor. In the process I found it was just in there too deep. I could probably spray something that smelled pretty and could cover it for a while, but how long would that last? Even the smell in the large mat wasn't coming out. It was a mess and we felt a little jipped.
Well, it's kind of like us. Yep, from the outside we may look beautiful, might even have this fragrance about us that is lovey, but just beneath the surface there is a real stink. Now comes the problem with that statement...if Christ is in us, how come we stink so much? Or do we?
What I have discovered is this...we as Christians know the truth, we accept the truth (Jesus dying for our sins), but we fail to allow Him to live life through us. It's putting faith into practice I suppose. If we are filled with Him, if He is in us, shouldn't we just ooze Christ all over the place? Well you'd think anyway. Here's the problem, though we have that power, somehow we forget to plug into it (so to speak). If we beleive what His Word says, then we should be able to step back and allow Christ Who is in us to do what we can not. Love, forgive, swallow pride, speak truth and grace, share, step up etc....
The enemy has convinced us of something serious, that we just can't go on. That we are that stink below the surface and we have been discovered. Here's the truth though...just as I scrubbed and cleaned and sprayed and vacuumed for hours, that stink was only going to come right back out when exposed to heat. Sort of like us when we're exposed to a little heat huh? All the cleaning in the world would maybe help, but would never totally eliminate the deeper problem. Not until we actually take the vehicle in and have it recarpeted...all the old out and all the new put back in, can we actually know for certain that the smell is completely out. Now compare that to us. We can look good, smell good, sound good (you get the gist) but until we actually allow Christ to come in and yank out the bad stuff and fill it with Him, we will always have that smell...not the good one either.
The thing is as a Christian, we have had our carpet replaced (so to speak) but for some reason we don't all believe it, so we go on living as though we are not changed. It would be like me complaining of the dog smell in the Burb (we call him Bartoli, AKA Sam...another story) anyway...after we had the old carpet taken out and the new put in. How silly would that be? Not enjoying the new carpet smell even though I actually had it put in. The old stuff long gone, but I just don't believe it, or feel it, or whatever, so I wallow in the past.
Here's something to ponder, how do you think Christ feels when He hears us saying "We just can't go on" or "I can't do it anymore" or "I'm just a failure"? He has to be brokenhearted. You see really the truth is that He is in us...hear that again...HE IS IN US. We are ONLY THE VESSEL. It's not the paper cup that makes a great grape juice. It's the thing that fills that matters...not what it's in. The Suburban could be fully loaded with everything imaginable to mankind, but if a dog peed all over it and it reaked of smoke etc. when you opened the doors nobody would want it. That was us before Christ, but now because He lives in us, we are the gorgeous, loaded Suburban that smells brand new....because it is! We are new. It is NOT us, seriously...it IS NOT US. Can you grasp a hold of that?
Ok, I still haven't figured it all out...will work on that for eternity, but this book has helped me to begin to realize that if God is in me, and all I have to do is abide, then life truly is that easy to live. It's all about just being the plastic cup and allowing Him to fill and use us.
So I begin this new journey of learning to take up that promise in His Word that we HAVE LIFE in HIM! We really do, a life that is fulfilling, so much we've missed because we don't allow Him to live that promise out in and through us. I would love to know your thoughts.
If anyone wants to order a book with us (Classic Christianity), we are ordering a bunch in bulk at a cheaper price to do a Bible study. Interested in a book? Let us know.

God bless...T

God Gettin' Into the Neighborhood!

Jesus Christ did not come just to get men out of hell and into heaven; He came to get Himself out of heaven and into men. (Classic Christianity-Bob George)

This inspires me to write the experience I had today. After spending much of my last two days cleaning up puke, doing laundry in such large loads it felt like we just got home from vacation, and trying to keep up with the housework, I wasn't too sure if I wanted Eric to take all the kids and the two neighbor boys to church last night. I just wanted a break and time for myself, not chasing after a baby, and cleaning up after my sick 3 year old...but...I new this was important. It just was.

After the family came home from church they shared with me how the one little boy (Marty) raised his hands in worship, and fell to his knees in prayer. I was amazed! Now here's the cool thing...today the two boys are outside playing with my kids. They are writing worship songs. Marty told my kids that last night he felt like something was making his hands light and that he just had to raise them in worship, and that he also felt like he needed to kneel and pray, like a weight was being lifted. He said he wants to go to church with us whenever we go, and he will hide in our trunk if he has to just to get there.

Here's the beauty of this story...if that isn't beauty enough. Two years ago we were to move into a new home. God didn't allow it, no matter how hard we tried to make it happen. Though we were very sad, we began to pray more and more that His will would be done, that He would clearly show us where He wants and needs us to be for His glory. Today, more then ever before I see so very clearly one reason why God kept us planted right here, for this time, for this purpose. I am so very thankful and have been in tears praising my God for His faithfulness.

Please pray for these little boys (Marty & Andrew). Marty is the one who had the God experience last night, but Andrew is just as excited and is a great kid. They are still on the porch writing worship songs. I hope we can get some music put to them and maybe even share them with the worship team in Jr. High. Maybe, just maybe God will use them to write words that will bring praise to our Father's ears.

Commit Your Way to the Lord, Trust In Him and He Will Do This. Psalm 37:5

The literal meaning of this verse is : "Roll your way onto Jehovah and trust upon Him, and He works." This brings to our attention the immediacy of God's action once we commit, or "roll," burdens of any kind from our hands into His. Whether our burden is a sorrow, difficluty, physical need, or concern over the salvation of a loved one, "He works." (Streams in the Desert)

Friends...we need not fear every moment in our lives, because as we give our lives over to Him, we know that He is working out His will in our lives. Who better to trust our lives with than our Heavenly Father?

There are times we feel our world is falling apart and wonder where God is??? He is at work my friend. At work in each one of us. Whatever He feels we need to get to where He has us going, we will experience. Once we truly believe everything that is happening to us is Father filtered, we will begin to accept and understand that there is a purpose in our lives. God wants to use us, and the preparing (pruning) process is not fun, but it's His way of saying, "You are worth it, You're a keeper!"

Have a blessed day...T

I Will Do It Today!

Chimin' words huh? I feel like I've said that so many times. I have so many great plans and POOF, the day slips away and my great ideas, and tender gestures will have to wait until tomorrow. I am then reminded however that we may not have tomorrow, as I remember my Mom. I also think about how life can, in an instant, be taken from you. I read about Steven Curtis Chapmans 5 year old baby hit by their older son in his SUV. Heartbreaking!
Life is too short, so this will be too, because:
Today I am going to go get the rabbit some food!
Today I am going to make a list for dinners for my week.
Today I will actually have dinner prepared for my family.
Today I will get some schoolwork done with the kids.
Today I will tell my kids and husband how very much I treasure them.
Today I will remember all the blessings my Heavenly Father has given me.
Today I will lift up a friend in prayer.
Today I will do as the Lord leads...even when I feel like I've failed at "today" I know if my day was given to Him, that day isn't a failure or loss, it is exactly the day He had planned for me.

Good luck on your day, and may it be blessed...T

Worth it for a Webkinz...

Ok, so it's a Sunday mornin' and my kids hear that you get a free Webkinz if you spend $10 at Girly Girlz. Of course, as you know, nothing is ever free...let me explain.
So the day seems normal enough. I really don't feel like hopping in the van to go buy a Webkinz. I mean who really needs one more stinkin' beanie to clutter up the house I've been trying to DE-clutter forever anyway? BUT...the loving mother in me says...ya know...I really want to do something with the kids, and it will bless them so let's go!
On our way they are so excited! We even got to buzz through the intersection at UH and 83rd and watch someone get flashed at the light...sure glad it wasn't me! I was already long past the crosswalk...FEW...
Anyway...we get to Girly Girlz (of course Mason is NOT liking the fact that everything in there is pink and froo froo...just get the Kinz and get out.) It's also Webkinz week (or something of the sort) and you get to spin the Wheel of Wow...ooo free pizza, and a pink pencil for Mason (even after he tried to respin a 100 times) and oh, let's guess EXACTLY how many jelly beans in that jar (nobody will EVER get this one), can't forget Plinco, I feel like I just got hit up by Bob Barker! Just get 'em and go already. Few...it was cute and all, even got some great ideas for a Mommy daughter tea party. Gotta plan that one, must hit up Becky. Anyway...my oldest was the only one who made a purchase because they planned to come back later (of course).
So we're off. Get home and kids are straight to the computer for hours of playing with the new Webkinz. They watch as my oldest names hers and sets up...whatever it is you set up. I just feel good that I did something kind for my kids today. I'm such a good Mom.
Fast forward to today...May 7th, they all now have several furry friends, and spend WAY TOO MUCH time on the computer playing their Webkinz games. Oh good grief...at least they aren't out roaming the streets I suppose. Gotta purchase that chair, oh need to sell that lamp, oh they have a game coming on in 5 min., MOM, I need your computer. Whatever, I'm getting sick of these little beanies already...they are taking over my life!!!
Anyway...where was I? Oh ya, May 7th, Eric rolls in and tells me how he thinks he got his picture taken at the same light we saw someone had gotten there's taken a couple weeks back, which reminded me to tell him that I saw the flash go off and was so glad I didn't get busted. He also said he was long past the pretty red line they have neatly painted for you.
Then he headed downstairs and later came back with the mail. He threw it at me, shocked as ever, there I was driving my van through a red light. WHAT?!!! I was in the middle of that intersection when that was taken, what in tarnation are they thinking? Did they photoshop that picture? I'm gonna sue! How ironic that the day I told him the story the stupid thing came in the mail...how's that for crazy?
So now what? I'm a nursing Mom. I can't do school. Oh wait...cool, there's an option to take my class online. Now that is sweet...someone was really thinking...must have been a woman. So I make all my copies, email my info. and sign up. Now I wait, in the mean time I talk to my BFF who shares the bad news with me. You can't take traffic school online for a red light ticket. You have to go to Traffic Survival School...I'm thinking I will need Survival School when I'm done with all of this. I mean are you kidding me? $200 to go to school, and for what? Oh ya, no points and cheaper insurance. Ok, now my even bigger dilema...yep, I'm still nursing my baby. Oh crud. That just stinks. So what now, Eric brings him up on every break? This is crazy. No break for the Mom who hasn't had a ticket or even been pulled over since high school. You would think I committed some hanus(sp?) crime or something...well...I'm about to. Just kidding...
So now comes the clincher...remember the beginning of my story? Yep, nothing is EVER free! This trip to the Webkinz party cost me $200...now that's a screamin' deal eh'.
Click on "busted" picture to right to see enlarged. Can you stand it?
VIEW PHOTO HERE

Ever Feel Like a Babbbblin' Fool?

I had to pick up our chinese dinner at Shangri La. Let me just say, you can't get much more authentic then this place. Oriental people do the cooking and for the most part take your order and your moo la. When I walked in to pick up my order I was curious, so I asked, "What kind of meat was in the Garlic Chicken?" The little oriental woman looked at me and said "dok meat." I'm sure if you could have seen my eyeballs you would have thought I just got the living daylights squeezed right out of me as I replied, "DOG MEAT?" I'm sure that little lady did her best to hold back her laughter as she responded again (this time drawing out her answer) "DOOOOK meat." Again, with a puzzled look, ready to cancel my order I asked, "DOG meat?" Then it hit me..."Oh, dark meat..." I couldn't turn around and high tail it out of there fast enough. I felt like such a heal. I'm sinking, I'm sinking (see video clip).
Would love to hear some of your best blunders in babbling!

A Challenge to RISE ABOVE!

My hubby and I were talking today about how the enemy must know his time here is short lived. It seems wherever we look a marriage is falling apart, a church is splitting, someone is dying, or has cancer or some other disease, finances are terrible, jobs are being lost, and in the midst of all of this, the enemy seems to dive in and work even harder!
CHALLENGE...we must encourage one another on a daily basis. In our marriage, we MUST find someone to remind us that we LOVE our spouse, and our marriage IS important to GOD. We must help those in dire straight where it comes to finances, helping them find work or making them a meal. PRAY for those around us in need and step out in faith when we feel God has put someone or some family on our hearts and we don't know why.
The enemy wants nothing more then to discourage believers and bring them down. If Christ's return is right around the corner the last thing the enemy wants is a bunch of strong Christians covered in the Armor of God beating the pavements and saving souls!
So my cry today is for power...power through Christ. We all have strength, even if we feel we don't. We need a daily reminder that HE is our refuge, HE is our strength, HE is our hope, future, sure strong tower and more....let's hold on and plow forward with more zeal than ever in sharing the Gospel to those who are dying.
If you feel the need leave your prayer requests on my blog! I would love to lift you up in prayer!

God has already won!!!