Moving mountains

So I saw a verse today in Psalms that was pretty awesome. It talked about how God is just storing up good things for us. Isn’t that cool? He is like a Dad who is just buying up everything for his little one’s birthday and just so excited for them to unwrap it on that special day. Everyday can be our “birthdays” from God. Pray that you can receive and use all the amazing things God is waiting to give you because we are precious to Him. He loves us and wants us to do great things.

You know how you read the bible and see all these miraculous signs and wonders and think to yourself, man that would be cool if that happened these days! It can! (I sound like a tv salesman!) We have something better than an angelic visitor or vision! We have the Holy Spirit with us at all times! A part of the Trinity inside us. Wow. I mean think about it. It’s the whole mustard seed thing. If you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can move mountains.

Me...Me...Me..Me..

I've noticed recently that I haven't been doing a great job at looking at other people's perspectives. I work at a hotel, so my job is kinda based on that. I've become so accustomed to how it goes and those bitter people who are out to get you that I have forgotten to empathize. Example: Lady, I don't care that your room smells funny because we don't have any other rooms so you can't switch. I need to remember to put myself in their shoes and understand it can be stressful, but to really feel for their situation. I would want them to do the same thing if our positions were reversed. It isn't all about me. Good customer service isn't always smiling and being friendly, its about smiling and being friendly while POSITIVELY reacting and solving the situation. Better to be merciful than judgmental.

Cursing and Learning

I’ve grown up in a church environment. The church I am currently attending was the one I was baptized in as an infant. So, I feel like I’ve gotten the opportunity to be exposed to a lot of different doctrines and church ideas. Today, during bible study I came across an idea I don’t think I’ve ever heard of or thought about. In her Daniel study, Beth Moore firmly states that she believes that the nation of Israel will acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Messiah before final judgment and eternity. For some reason unbeknownst to me, I’ve never thought about the Jewish people realizing that Jesus is the Messiah. (Note to any Jewish folks reading this: I’m not judging I’m just exploring!) I’ve known that we share the same Old Testament, but since they don’t believe the Messiah has had his first coming to earth yet, there’s a big differing point. I guess I’ve just always accepted their point of view and not thought about how it could be changed. Just kind of a sarcastic mumbling to myself “well, they are going to be waiting for a LONG time since Jesus has already been here!” How refreshing that maybe one day Israel (God’s chosen people not the current country) and we Gentiles will come to believe the same thing.

Beth also said she believes that God’s chosen people and the church (referring to all believers not refined by descent or denomination) are separate. She doesn’t think that we Gentiles will ever become his chosen people or vice versa. Good thing He loves us all. I’m just enjoying learning new things! Because when we learn, we have the opportunity for growth!

On a less serious (?) note, my job makes me swear. Haha. As any of my coworkers can attest to yes, old high school friends the girl you thought would never utter a vulgar word has done so. This disappoints me. Yes, I know. What a stupid thing to worry about, but it bothers me. I want to hold myself to a higher standard. Well, you say. Is swearing really so bad when it doesn’t involve kids and has a really good reason J I guess not, but the bible does say don’t use foul language, and the women I just called a witch with a b last night ( not to her face, don’t worry) is God’s child. He loves her just as much as He loves me. I used to be able to count on one hand the number of four letter words I have said out loud. Not so much anymore. Not that I hadn’t said them in my head!!! One of my current goals is to clean up not just my vocal words, but my internal ones as well.

You

Today’s blog is brought to you by YOU. :)

So, something that I've been thinking of recently- What is something that you are ashamed in your life? Ok, great. We are now all thinking about something(s). Now, what have you done to change that. Uh Oh. Yeah. Probably a lot of nothing if you are like me. I think I live in a constant state of life that I don't work very hard to change.

Another thing, since I restarted the Beth Moore Daniel bible study it's been very interesting. The second half is all about the prophecies in Daniel, mostly relating to the "end times." I thought I wouldn't like it, but I find it really neat. It is teaching me a different way to think about things. You mainly think about the "rapture" as a negative event, but in the Christian circle it should be thought of as a joyous occasion. Christ coming back like He said He would to jumpstart eternity!

Now speaking as a single lady trying to live the right way, this one may not apply to all of you. I ( and all you other guys and gals in my boat) need to make the conscious decision every single day to live a life of purity. It isn't a passive situation. It needs to be an aggressive situation. There are a thousand different little things every day that I do that should stem from my decision to be pure. It shouldn't just be something I say I live like. It should be something I DO everyday.

Why is it that we think of God as a last resort? We think, " oh, I've done everything I can think of, ok now I will turn to God." I can't do anything else so, I guess I'll call up God now. No, He can be a player in the game. He isn't the last battle. He is the one you can turn to all the time. It isn't about what we can do, it's about what He can do even before you've used up all your ideas.

Sunday thoughts

I think I like this blogging thing more than I thought. I like being able to put my thoughts out there and sort through them to write them down. I don't really care if anyone reads them as long as I have written them. My pastor had some great "pearls" of thought today. He explained defining wisdom as God's way of thinking. What a great definition. Because, how do you explain wisdom? Especially to a younger child. It isn't being smart. I guess I like to think of wisdom as a gift. (That maybe everyone isn't blessed with, haha)

We were in the book of James this morning and James talks about being double minded and doubting. Now, for someone like me who thinks ALL THE TIME I can read into that pretty harshly. But Pastor Jim talked about sometimes when he prays he isn't doubting God's ability to do whatever He wants, he is doubting if he should be praying for A,B,C... and so on. That is EXACTLY what I think. One of those agreeing moments. I don't doubt God's ability to do whatever the heck He wants. I doubt myself and the situation. It's like you always kind of put a clause at the end of your prayer, "But if this isn't supposed to happen, let it be to Your will..." it's like our escape route. So when God says, "Hey, Krystle, remember when you prayed for a,b,c and d... well yeah, that wasn't cool." And I'm like, "oh, hey yeah, God, remember I said at the end that if it wasn't meant to be to not do it." Maybe I should pray for wisdom for myself :)

Cool thought. Discipline not as a punishment, but training. So the next time my little dog does something I won't "discipline" him, I will discipline him!

Last but not least, this is something that keeps coming up in my head, so I feel like I need to really focus on it in my life.

Ask yourself. What are YOU doing for the kingdom of God?

......Yeah. I have no idea what I am actively doing right now. Yes, I pray. I go to church. I read my bible. But right now I wish I can say, Oh well I'm doing this, this, and this. But, I'm not. Hm. Or maybe we can think about it this way. How are we being changed by God? Are we? I don't want to ever be content where I'm at.

Any ideas?

Relationship(s)

You know that great feeling when you and a friend share a secret that you know isn't shared with anyone else? Well, wouldn't it be kinda cool to have that with God? Have one of those little inside jokes or moments with Him? That is going to be a goal of mine. To find a "secret" with God.

Yet again another point from my Beth Moore bible study ( from here on out let's call it BMBS) is sort of about going through the motions. Don't you ever get caught up in the routine that you miss the point? Even enjoying something but not really connecting. Having a good time at church with the social aspect, the songs, and even the preaching. BUT did you really connect and get plugged in? Because I know I don't. I'm going to try and hash out some real alone time with God. Not doing my study, not singing, maybe not even prayed. Just talking. Or listening.

Also, don't we get caught up in the conflicts? Inside our own churches and denominations. Between denominations and especially between other religions. Didn't Jesus come to teach us to love each other? Why are we so caught up on the details? Because all in all if the basics are there it doesn't matter if we do communion 4 times a year or every Sunday. Whenever we argue and fight amongst ourselves it reflects badly on God. We are too busy blaming and pointing fingers that we forget to spread the message of love to everyone. Ok, stepping down from my soapbox. :)

Hope this made sense!