A must read for us Christains living in today's world

My heart has been so very heavy the last few weeks.  Things I've seen on the internet and Facebook have been weighing heavily on my mind.  Making me start to wonder how on earth I am going to be able to raise Godly children in such an ungodly world.  I am so not one to talk politics on social media sites because frankly, even friends and family can be so cruel when someone has a different belief than they do.  Most of the time it's completely fine for them to plaster their opinion all over Facebook and yet I know if I put up a belief of mine I would be condemn and ridiculed.  I would be beaten down to the ground with their words and hateful speech of a God I so dearly love.  There would be words twisted, books twisted and everything in between.  If you know me, you know where I stand on hot topics of the world.  If you know me, you know I'm not a judge, I'm not a fighter. 

As I got on Facebook this afternoon, yet again my heart got heavy.  Facebook can be such a fun thing and lately it's become such a not fun thing.  I've seen fights and hurtful words being spread around on all sides of arguments in today's world.  I've also noticed most of the time, it's a very one sided fight.  I guarantee you if you go on your Facebook you will clearly see which side of a certain fight is the only side being shared around.  I started to pray and dig into what God wants from us who love Him so dearly.  It breaks His heart to see so much hate and anger and sin going around.  And that's how I came to the book of Jude.  I will be honest I have never read it before today.  It has brought tears to my eyes this afternoon.  It is a short book in the bible, and frankly I cannot just choose one verse of it to share because it is all way to good, and something us Christians living in todays world need to be reminded of.  Therefore I am going to re-type it here so you don't even have to lift a finger to search for it.  If you have a bible I encourage you to go grab it and look it up.  I have highlighted most of the end of the book.  The end is things us Christians need to be doing to stand up for our faith and our God. 

"I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love.

Dear friends, I have been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we share.  But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to DEFEND the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people.  I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying God's marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives.  The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.  

So I want to remind you, though you already know these things, that Jesus first rescued the nation of Israel from Eygpt, but later He destroyed those who did not remain faithful.  And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged.  God has kept them securely chained in the prisions of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgement.  And don't forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion.  Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of eternal fire and God's judgement.

In the same way, these people - who claim authority from their dreams - live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at the supernatural beings.  But even Michael, one of the mightiest angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses' body).  But these people scoff at things they do not understand.  Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction.  What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain who killed his brother.  Like Balaam, they deceive people for money.  And like Korah, they perish in their rebeillion.

When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord's love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you.  They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves.  They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain.  They are like trees in the autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots.  They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds.  They are like wandering starts, doomed forever to blackest darkness.

Enoch, who lived in the 7th generation of Adam, prophesied about these people.  He said, "Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgement on the people of the world.  He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires.  They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want. 

But you, dear friends must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said.  They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires.  These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you.  They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God's spirit in them.

But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life.  In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God's love.

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.  Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgement. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sings that contaminate their lives.

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.  All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord.  All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present and beyond all time! Amen!"
-Jude NLT

 

Taking a plunge into a little bit of the unknown

With much nerves and excitement I'm writing this post.  It is truly amazing looking back over the past few months and seeing how God has slowly been nudging me to make a change.  Eventually sometimes He does have to start screaming in my ear but this time it just took a series of serious nudges before I said "Ok Ok. If this is what you want for our family I will take the step out of my box and do it."

You see many many months ago I was talking to a dear friend who was doing Mary Kay.  I remember having multiple conversations with her about the company and her trying to convince me I could do it.  Pretty sure I laughed in her face every time she said that but God bless her heart for thinking I could be successful at it.  If you know me at all, you know I barely wear make up period.  A little eye liner and a little mascara and I'm good to go. ;) That was nudge number one. (And no this doesn't end with me becoming a Mary Kay Consultant.)

Then this winter I started feeling like I was supposed to be doing something on top of my photography business.  I wasn't sure if God was trying to tell me to go back to a part/full time job (which I really didn't want to do) or what exactly the desire was.  Trav and I talked about what we thought I should be doing, if I should be looking for part time evening work ect.  I think we did this on and off again for a few months.  Neither of us really wanted me to start working again like that but we were still feeling like there was something I was supposed to be looking into, we just couldn't pin point what. 

Finally last Thursday evening I went to a sweet friend's house for her Lia Sophia party.  Pretty much just went to see her beautiful face and eat her delicious food ;).  On the drive home I started feeling that same nudge again.  There was something I was missing and something I should be doing.  The next day I started looking at all the different companies like Lia Sophia.  You know the ones where you are your own boss and have parties in peoples homes?  I knew Mary Kay wasn't my thing and I knew Lia Sophia wasn't my thing.  I'm a girlie girlie but not when it comes to jewelry and make-up.  I knew I wouldn't succeed in that venture.  Then Pampered Chef came to my mind.  I began to think of the amazing products I currently have in my kitchen and how much I love them.  I thought about the party I went to last Spring and how much fun it was to sit around with my girlfriends, eat some yummy food, and look at some amazingly tempting products I wanted in my kitchen.  So what was the next step? I prayed and prayed and prayed all day off and on about it.  When Trav got home from work we talked about it and prayed some more.  Saturday I emailed a gal from Pampered Chef wanting more information on how it all works and prayed some more.  During this time I talked to a few girlfriends and of course mom and got their take.  All of them were so encouraging and positive in thinking I could do it. 

Last night Carla called me back.  We talked for over 45 minutes about it and I got all the details.  Honestly so much less scary than I thought it would be and she seems like such an encourager that it gave me the confidence I was seeking.  But of course what did I need? Another night to sleep on it and pray some more.  Big decisions are a difficult thing for me.  I like to know what I'm doing is the right choice for me and my family and of course know it is something God wants for us.

Well ladies and gentlemen, this morning I officially emailed Carla and said let's do this!!  I am so excited for all that it could and will bring to our family!! I am so excited for all the people I am going to get to meet in the next few months.  I still have to 'officially' get everything set up but within the next few days that will all be done.  :)

I'm not going to lie though friends, I am going to need my family and friends support in this.  If not by hosting a cooking or catalog show (which I so hope you will be doing because they literally are so much fun!), but by praying for me on this new adventure.  Not only will it get me out of the house a few times a month (which is something all us mommas need sometimes), not only will it hopefully bring in some extra cash for our family, not only will it help me meet more people to hopefully become some of my photography clients, but I also hope it will help me bring the love of Jesus to everyone I meet.  When I am at someone's home who I don't know, I want them to be able to see Jesus in me.  Because that's the ultimate goal for all of our lives isn't it? :)

Have a wonderful week and I will be talking to a lot of you very soon about a grand opening party :)