False View of Strength

I was listening to a song today by Lady Antebellum called Long Gone. I've heard it many times and, knowing I probably wouldn't agree with the lyrics, never really paid attention to what it was saying. As I found myself singing along, I stopped in mid sentence...."Wait, this isn't right!"

Here are the words to the first two verses and chorus:

"It's so like you just to show up at my door 

and act like nothing's happened.

You think I'll sweep up my heart off the floor 

and give it to you like so many times before

You're talking to a stranger, I'm not that girl anymore.

That girl is long gone

boy you missed the boat, it just sailed away

long gone, she's not drowning in her yesterdays 

betcha never thought I'd be that strong

well, this girl is long gone

Don't waste your breath with, 'baby, baby please'

'cause I am so not listening

Don't bother getting down upon your knees and trying to beg me

I'm tired of how you twist the truth

You're not talking to the same girl who used to forgive you

That girl is long gone

boy you missed the boat, it just sailed away

long gone, she's not drowning in her yesterdays 

betcha never thought I'd be that strong

well, this girl is long gone."

Really??? Obviously this song is about a guy and a girl, married or not isn't clear, but they've had a fight (also obvious it's not the first time). Is it strange for people to argue or have disagreements? Of course not. But in the song, the girl says that forgiving, trusting, and loving each other, as scriptures teaches us to do, is a weakness. That dumping him, refusing to listen, and not even trying to set things right, is being strong. How messed up is THAT!!! What a distorted view of strength. Strength is not walking way from difficult relationships. Strength is not hardening your heart against those who have hurt you. Strength isn't refusing to talk to people who have offended you. Strength is forgiving, loving, understanding, picking up the pieces and trying again. It is no wonder so many relationships in this culture fail (well, this is only one reason, there are a lot of others).

This reminded me of the movie Fireproof. If you haven't seen it, you should! It is wonderful. It follows the marriage of a couple who have been married for a few years and are in constant conflict. Neither of them are believers and are at the point of divorce, but through some godly influences in their lives, they come to see God's sacrifice, their sin and His Righteousness. I won't tell you the ending in case you haven't see it, but you can probably guess what happens. =) 

Jam Cookies

A couple weeks ago I found an excellent, flaky, butter pie crust recipe. It is delicious and works great for both savory dishes like quiches as well as sweets like pie. It also freezes really well. I found this yummy looking cookie recipe so I decided to try them. I had three very helpful, "professional" testers who gave good reviews. 

Fight the Good Fight

A good friend of mine posted this poem on her blog and I thought it was well worth passing on. 

"Fight the good fight with all thy might;

Christ is thy Strength, and Christ thy Right:

Lay hold on life, and it shall be

Thy joy and crown eternally.

Run the straight race, through God's good grace,

Lift up thine eyes and seek His face;

Life with its way before us lies

Christ is the Path and Christ the Prize

Cast care aside, lean on thy Guide;

His boundless mercy will provide;

Trust, and thy trusting soul shall prove

Christ is its Life and Christ its Love

Faint not nor fear, His arms are near;

He changeth not, and thou art dear;

Only believe, and thou shalt see

That Christ is all in all to thee."

~John S. B. Monsell, 1863

I cannot start neglecting my blog already, I just can't. The last two weeks have been quite busy. As I said in my last blog post, I mentioned our family trip to San Antonio. We had a wonderful time! The weather was quite beautiful; the activities, enjoyable; and the time with family, priceless and wonderful. We went to Seaworld and Fiesta Texas, spent a day in Austin and Fredericksburg, went to the Alamo and the riverwalk, met a wonderful family at church and had dinner with them, and got reacquainted with some old friends. Curtis and Caity returned to Idaho at the end of the week and the rest of the family returned home via Carlsbad Caverns.

This last week has been very busy trying to get back into the swing of things. Although the previous week was the NSA spring break, it was not my break, so I've been very busy catching up on and continuing reading and lectures, finally getting graduation announcements put together, making a dress for graduation/spring, and lot of baking and cooking, and a definite highlight of the week is that I've gotten to have two long chats with my best friend and sister. =)

I'm signin' out for now, but hopefully you'll hear more soon. =)

Because it Makes Me Smile

 Woke up this morning to see the bright gold of the sun just before it peaked over the mountains. Ahh, the best way to start the day! Before I had time to pull on a sweatshirt and get something on my feet, the vibrant color had vanished, replaced by the beaming glow of the sun behind dark clouds. The sky was filled with clouds, the ground dusted with fresh fallen snow, and the chilling sound of the wind blowing outside, reminded me that it's still winter, but ironically, today was the day I needed to start pulling out summer clothes. Yes, I know it's still March, but in some places, such as Texas, it actually feels like spring, because is spring. Well, what does it matter that it's spring in Texas??? It matters because early Friday, we'll be driving down to San Antonio where we'll meet up with Curtis and Caity, who are flying in from Idaho, for spring break! That's right folks, spring break in Texas. What could be better than that??? I'll tell you what. Spring break in Texas with the whole family!!!! That's what. =D Yes, someone is very much slightly excited! 

As I was working on school yesterday, I looked out my window to see the beautiful effect of the sun beginning to set and casting a really cool lighting on the opposite mountains. Oh and yes, this is the view from my window. It's amazing!

No Longer Slaves of Sin

We don't think of ourselves as slaves or servants very of often do we? I know I don't! We like to think that we are in control of our lives and though we are Christians, it seems we often think we can do whatever we choose. It is so easy to allow things to become too important and lose focus of what really matters. As Christians, our purpose on earth is to bring glory to God and to enjoy Him. We are servants of the Lord, called to do His will. Romans 6 talks quite a bit about being alive in Christ as opposed to slaves of sin. Starting in verse 5 it says,

"for if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin."

Because of the sacrifice of the Spotless Lamb, we are freed from the burden of sin. We are given new life in Christ that we may walk with Him, not in fear of death. When the Lamb was slain and it's blood poured out, we were purchased from the clutches of sin. We are no longer salves to the master of sin, but servants to the Master of life. Being a slave means constant conforming of the will to that of the owner. Every moment of a slave's life is spent in doing what pleases the master. I think we sometimes lose sight of our role as servants of the Most High. We say we are His children, claiming the benefits and freedom we are given in Christ, and yet preferring to ignore the fact that we are indebted to our Liberator. Our lives are not our own.

First Cor. 4:1 says, "let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." Everyone is a servant to something. We either have been called to serve God, or we serve self, and in doing so serve Satan. Mathew 6:24 tells us, "no one can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Because of God's love for us, we were bought at a price, we received His undeserved grace. Romans 6 goes on to say in verse 16,

"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."

Who are we serving? Are we living for our own pleasure? Living to satisfy self and our fleshly desires, or are we daily striving to conform our will to be the same as that of our Master? Have we been captivated by the worldly hedonism, or are we living a life that says "not as I will, but as You will"? Do we surrender everything to His command? If we are freed from the bondage of sin and death, why do we chose to continue to live in it, reverting to our old ways, returning as "a dog to his own vomit" (Prov 26:11)?

Who do our actions show that we are serving?

All I Have is Christ

I wanted to share the lyrics to one of my favorite songs. If you haven't heard it, you can hear it on Youtube here. The words are so beautiful and so humbling!

I once was lost in darkest night

yet thought I knew the way.

The sin that promised joy in life

had led me to the grave.

I had no hope that You would own

a rebel to Your will

and if You had not loved me first, 

I would refuse You still.

But as I ran my hell-bound race

indifferent to the cost,

You looked upon my helpless state

and led me to the Cross. 

And I beheld God’s love displayed

You suffered in my place.

You bore the wrath reserved for me

now all I know is grace. 

Hallelujah, all I have is Christ

Hallelujah Jesus is my life

Now Lord I would be Yours alone 

and live so all might see.

The strength to follow Your commands

could never come from me.

Oh Father use my ransomed life

in any way You choose

and let my song forever be

my only boast is You.

Hallelujah, all I have is Christ

Hallelujah Jesus is my life