I'm sure your church has been doing a series on the tough economic times, ours started one this past week. We had a great sermon, which has not left me yet. I was quite convicted by it.
Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."
While the whole sermon convicted me, this verse has been with me the most. As some of you know I have always had a unhealthy relationship with money. But I have felt that I have gotten better through the years. And especially in the last two years or more, since I have turned more to my faith in God instead of money.
But I have to admit that I have felt there is an "in between" somewhere the two masters. My conviction comes from the realization that there is no "in between"-and that I'm still not where I should be in this area.
So what do you think? Are you comfortable in an "in between" seat (that isn't really there)? What do you have your faith in through the fear of these hard economic times? Is it a savings that makes you feel comfy? Is your faith in your retirement? Your job? We've seen enough to know that those things can be taken away at any moment. It's scary, I know.
Getting out of that "in between non existent" seat would mean that your faith is in God completely, even when all those things are taken away that you have faith in. (There is nothing wrong in having a savings or retirement, God wants us to be smart with our money, it's just where those things line up compared to God.)
Have you ever told God that He can have the things you hold onto? They are His anyway. I have done that a couple times when I felt myself getting too fearful over losing my home. I just didn't want my fears and worries to get in the way of my looking to God. I'm not saying it's wrong for me to want to keep my home, after all it was a blessing from God. But I don't want a hold onto it that is not Godly.
So I'm admitting that I am still sitting on a chair that doesn't exist, but God is showing me some things and I'm standing up, looking around for a "real" chair; one closer to Him.
Suggested reading - 1 Timothy 6
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
The Average Jane Journal #46 - Happy Birthday!!
Well, Average Jane is one year old this month. I can't believe it has been a year since I timidly started this journey. Now I love it!! Thanks for walking this road with me, what a journey to share with such awesome friends and my Heavenly Father.
Love you all,
Jane (ronda)
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Average Jane Journal #45 - Via Dolorosa
Happy Easter to you all, I wish you a blessed Easter weekend. Or as my Sunday School teacher used to say-Happy First Fruits!!! (miss ya Cecil)
I just wanted to share a video with you of a song that is about when Christ died for us. As so many videos do these days, the backdrop is from the movie "Passion". I often wonder if Mel Gibson had any idea just how much that movie would be used, even in a small way such as you tube. How awesome is that!!!!
Anway, the song is "Via Dolorosa"-made famous by Sandi Patti. But it was made famous to me by Ron Whittle (my dad). I remember he used to sing this in church when I was younger. The song makes me think of my Heavenly father and my earthly father, what a combined blessing!! I wonder if my dad is singing it this weekend?
Enjoy the video, I have included the lyrics. If you do not have a church home, please check out www.lifechurch.tv for thier online Easter services-starting Sat night and again on Sunday morning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBI1FwqNVrs
or type in Via Dolorosa Music Video - The Passion - X.ado at youtube.com.
"Via Dolorosa"
Down the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem that day
The soldiers tried to clear the narrow street
But the crowd pressed in to see
The Man condemned to die on Calvary
He was bleeding from a beating, there were stripes upon His back
And He wore a crown of thorns upon His head
And He bore with every step
The scorn of those who cried out for His death
Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering
Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King,
But He chose to walk that road out of
His love for you and me.
Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.
Por la Via Dolorosa, triste dia en Jerusalem
Los saldados le abrian paso a Jesus
Mas la gente se acercaba
Para ver al que llevaba aquella cruz
Por la Via Dolorosa, que es la via del dolor
Como oveja vino Cristo, Rey, Senor
Y fue El quien quiso ir por su amor por ti y por mi
Por la Via Dolorosa al Calvario y a morir
The blood that would cleanse the souls of all men
Made its way through the heart of Jerusalem.
Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering
Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King
But He chose to walk that road out of His love for you and me
Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Average Jane Journal #44 - Easter Sermon
I saw this Easter sermon in a book I'm reading. I thought it was good how the pastor used the word "debt" instead of "sin" in his sermon. I'm already a Believer and have accepted all that Jesus did for me, but it was a reminder of the awesome gift of forgiveness we have in His arms.
Wouldn't it be great if someone came to you and said, "I'll pay off all your debts. No matter whether they're foolish debts, notes you took out for less-than-savory reasons, accounts that have been in arrears for years-I'll pay them off. You'll be debt free."
And what if this person said to you, "I want you to be so grateful that you don't go out and incur more debts." We'd all agree to that, wouldn't we?
Now imagine that same person saying, "However, if you do get into more debts-and you will, simply because you're human and won't be able to resist the lure of ninety days with no interest-I will take care of that debt too."
You'd expect for there to be strings attached, wouldn't you? There are no strings.
"But I do have expectations," your generous benefactor would say. "I expect you to do things for others with the extra money you will now have. I want you to be generous."
Now imagine this fabulous person instructing you to tell people who it was who got you out of debt and saved your life. "Tell everyone you meet," this person would say, "and that I will do it for them also."
There probably isn't a person here who wouldn't agree to all of that, if our debts could be wiped clean-and not only the ones we already have, but the ones we'll incur in the future, even though we swear we never will.
Wouldn't it be fabulous? Isn't it fabulous? Substitute the words seperation from God-also called sin-for the word debt. Replace the benefactor's voice with that of our Lord, Jesus Christ. See what happens.
That is what the Cross is all about. The death we grieve this Season, there on that cross, was the final payment on all your debts-your sins. The shame and the guilt-GONE. Now hear-and hear me well-because this is the Easter message. In His eyes, no matter what you have done-at the foot of the cross, it it as if it never happened. NEVER.
Wouldn't it be great if someone came to you and said, "I'll pay off all your debts. No matter whether they're foolish debts, notes you took out for less-than-savory reasons, accounts that have been in arrears for years-I'll pay them off. You'll be debt free."
And what if this person said to you, "I want you to be so grateful that you don't go out and incur more debts." We'd all agree to that, wouldn't we?
Now imagine that same person saying, "However, if you do get into more debts-and you will, simply because you're human and won't be able to resist the lure of ninety days with no interest-I will take care of that debt too."
You'd expect for there to be strings attached, wouldn't you? There are no strings.
"But I do have expectations," your generous benefactor would say. "I expect you to do things for others with the extra money you will now have. I want you to be generous."
Now imagine this fabulous person instructing you to tell people who it was who got you out of debt and saved your life. "Tell everyone you meet," this person would say, "and that I will do it for them also."
There probably isn't a person here who wouldn't agree to all of that, if our debts could be wiped clean-and not only the ones we already have, but the ones we'll incur in the future, even though we swear we never will.
Wouldn't it be fabulous? Isn't it fabulous? Substitute the words seperation from God-also called sin-for the word debt. Replace the benefactor's voice with that of our Lord, Jesus Christ. See what happens.
That is what the Cross is all about. The death we grieve this Season, there on that cross, was the final payment on all your debts-your sins. The shame and the guilt-GONE. Now hear-and hear me well-because this is the Easter message. In His eyes, no matter what you have done-at the foot of the cross, it it as if it never happened. NEVER.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Average Jane Journal #43 - Irony
As I have said before when I read in the Old Testament and how God warned the Israelites what would happen to their nation if they turn from him, it always makes me thing of our country.
I have to be honest and say that when I pray about our country, I feel a bit "defeated"; that all the wrongs are just too big. But that's wrong-where is my Super Size God faith?
The morning that I was having these thoughts, I was given three words:
Truth
Justice
Freedom
Wouldn't you say that all people in this country want those things? The irony is those three things are found through Jesus, some of the best descriptions of Him. No true form of those can be found anywhere else.
Just wanted to remind you to pray for our country. I support religious freedom in this country, but does everyone? Most of the time it seems ok for religious freedom, just so it isn't a faith in Jesus Christ.
I have to be honest and say that when I pray about our country, I feel a bit "defeated"; that all the wrongs are just too big. But that's wrong-where is my Super Size God faith?
The morning that I was having these thoughts, I was given three words:
Truth
Justice
Freedom
Wouldn't you say that all people in this country want those things? The irony is those three things are found through Jesus, some of the best descriptions of Him. No true form of those can be found anywhere else.
Just wanted to remind you to pray for our country. I support religious freedom in this country, but does everyone? Most of the time it seems ok for religious freedom, just so it isn't a faith in Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Average Jane Journal #42 - How Big Is Your God?
HOW BIG IS YOUR GOD?
Small size God - I believe God can.
Do you ever believe God can do something for someone else, but you have doubt that God will do something for you? (been there, done that, still do it)
Medium Size God - I Believe God will.
You believe God can and that He will, but when He doesn't, what does that do to your faith? Does your heart harden and you start slipping away from God?
Super Size God - Even if He doesn't, I BELIEVE.
Daniel 3:17-18
"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
This is the True God, a deep faith. Have you ever prayed for something that you truly felt God was going to answer in a certain way, and you had faith and clung to it? But it didn't turn out that way? What about a prayer that you KNOW would be in God's will(because of his nature and heart) and you just don't understand why God isn't answering it like you feel would be the right way? What about a deep desire that you have been waiting on for so long? What is taking so long?
This is the area where true faith is grown. This is where we can find that deep, "no matter what" faith and love for our great God; just like He loves us "no matter what". God's ways and will are higher than our own. Some mysteries God will not reveal to us, we just need to keep on hanging onto Him with our faith-even if we're holding on with just fingertips at the time. This world is not perfect, and I'm not going to say I understand why good people have to go through bad things sometimes. I only know that God loves us and He promises to never leave us, no matter what.
If you have let pain/ disappointment harden your heart toward God-I encourage you to give all that to Him and begin a journey back to your super size God; the God of the Bible, the great I Am. Remember God's Word, do you still believe in His Word, his love letter to you? GOD IS LOVE.
Small size God - I believe God can.
Do you ever believe God can do something for someone else, but you have doubt that God will do something for you? (been there, done that, still do it)
Medium Size God - I Believe God will.
You believe God can and that He will, but when He doesn't, what does that do to your faith? Does your heart harden and you start slipping away from God?
Super Size God - Even if He doesn't, I BELIEVE.
Daniel 3:17-18
"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
This is the True God, a deep faith. Have you ever prayed for something that you truly felt God was going to answer in a certain way, and you had faith and clung to it? But it didn't turn out that way? What about a prayer that you KNOW would be in God's will(because of his nature and heart) and you just don't understand why God isn't answering it like you feel would be the right way? What about a deep desire that you have been waiting on for so long? What is taking so long?
This is the area where true faith is grown. This is where we can find that deep, "no matter what" faith and love for our great God; just like He loves us "no matter what". God's ways and will are higher than our own. Some mysteries God will not reveal to us, we just need to keep on hanging onto Him with our faith-even if we're holding on with just fingertips at the time. This world is not perfect, and I'm not going to say I understand why good people have to go through bad things sometimes. I only know that God loves us and He promises to never leave us, no matter what.
If you have let pain/ disappointment harden your heart toward God-I encourage you to give all that to Him and begin a journey back to your super size God; the God of the Bible, the great I Am. Remember God's Word, do you still believe in His Word, his love letter to you? GOD IS LOVE.
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