Wednesday, September 19, 2007

bad girls, bad girls, what ya gonna do...




so, we've begun a new book study w/ the ladies of faith, entitled Bad Girls of the Bible. i haven't yet figured out what type of bad girl i am/was, but in my devotional time this morning i searched a topic online and found this great article...it's so cool to see how it coorelates w/ the book thus far...sorry it's so long...it's good, i promise! ;) enjoy!

The New Bad by Greg Laurie
It seems as though everything is turned upside-down in our culture today. Think about it: Good has become bad and bad has become good. This is even true of certain slang expressions we use today. Back when I was a kid, words like "far out" and "groovy" were popular, although I could never bring myself to actually say "groovy." Some of these terms have gone by the wayside, but certain expressions dating back to the 1950s are still popular today, such as "cool." Here in the 21st century, people still say "cool."
But today, we have another word, "hot," which means the same thing as "cool." To take it a step further, if something is really cool or really hot, we say that it's "bad." If you have a really fast car, someone might ask you, "How fast will that bad boy go?" They wouldn't ask, "How fast will that good boy go?" because good is bad and bad is good. Everything is turned upside-down.
In the old days, back when more people would try to live a moral life, if someone was doing drugs or having sex before they were married, people would say, "Oh, that is bad," and "bad" actually meant bad. But now in our twisted culture, which is reinforced by music videos, television, and all the rest, someone who might do these things would be-in a way-good. Meanwhile, someone who doesn't do these things would be considered bad.
Here is what the Bible says: "What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever" (Isaiah 5:20-21 NLT).
If you are a true follower of Jesus Christ, then you will be considered bad in the eyes of many, and by "bad," I'm speaking of the negative sense of the word. You will be thought of as conceited or lame or out-of-touch or insensitive. So here is what it comes down t If you want to be a true rebel in today's culture, if you want to be a real bad boy or bad girl, then simply follow Jesus Christ. That is true rebellion. In today's culture, it is not rebellious to do drugs. It is not rebellious to have sex before you are married. It is not rebellious to party. These things are the norm. But it is rebellious to live a godly life. It is rebellious to go against the flow of the culture.
Psalm 1 begins, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night" (verses 1-2, NKJV). Note the progression in this verse: First you are walking, then you are standing, then you are sitting. And that is exactly how temptation works. You are just walking by, minding your own business. Then you are standing and thinking, Whoa! What is that? Then the next thing you know, you are sitting. You are doing something you shouldn't even be thinking about, much less engaged in.
So be careful. The Bible says, "Don't be misled-you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant" (Galatians 6:7 NLT). Satan will try to pull you in and destroy you. But Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10 NKJV). In other words, He wants you to live a life that is full. You don't need drugs. You don't need alcohol. You don't need to chase after the things this world says you need to make you happy. If the things this world offers has all the answers, then why are people so miserable? Because that is not where it's at. It is in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Why settle for the cheap substitute when you can have the real thing?
Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life." That is life not only beyond the grave, but life during life. Medical science seeks to add years to your life. But only Christ can add life to your years and give you a life that's worth living.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

1st day...new school, new teacher, new teeth!


today was nathan's 1st day back to school!

he begins 2nd grade today, on a new school bus w/ a new driver (#9 - mr. sherman), in a new school building (murphy el.) w/ a new teacher (mrs. megge) he'll be meeting new friends, and making new memories! not to mention LEARNING LOTS of new stuff!!!! :)

we are so thankful to have 3 beautiful children who love God and love beginning new journeys each year w/ school and friendships and beyond!

nathan is our oldest, so learning the ropes has been challenging, we're blazing through new territory in everything...our school system, doctor appointments, development, attitudes, spiritual growth, etc...but we continue to be reminded that we must pray over ALL things...even those that might seem insignificant...they are still important in the life of a child.

we had a rough week last week...i began college classes for the 1st time in a LONG time, julia began preschool, and nathan had his 2nd grade open house. we were all very excited to begin the school year and this new journey w/ nathan...into 2nd grade! and nathan was thrilled to meet his new teacher and see his new classroom! (BUT we never really prayed about the specifics, we never prayed for anything other than thank God for this new year and that was it)

upon entering his classroom for the first time i was disheartened by the lack of familiar names on his class list. in fact, i became a bit irritated! i heard nathan's disappointment with not having anybody in class that he knows (except one child from last year's class, whom is a disruptive & volatile child) anyway, it was hard as a parent to see his sad face, to hear his disappointment, and to feel his excitement turn to anxiety...bummer big time! :(
i then spent the next 24 hours on the phone & internet talking w/ principals, former teachers, superintendents, teacher & administrator friends & family! researching online about responsive classrooms and the need for familiarity in transitioning children, on and on and on...it was a BLAH day indeed!!!

after expressing my disappointment and concern, i grew even angrier! :( it was only after 8 hours of fuming, that i was overcome w/ a cloud of peace! God spoke to me at 4pm and said, "Nathan is going to be Alright!" He filled me w/ peace again. And with excitement for the coming school year! He said, this is good for Nathan and good for the new classroom. Nathan is a nice boy and a good student. "He is my child," God exclaimed! and it finally hit me...God's plans prevail, not mine! God's plan for Nathan's 2nd grade year are already in place and who am I to change them!? His purpose for Nathan this year could be to share his love for Christ w/ a new friend or maybe the teacher!? Who knows? But the truth is...God knows!!! And I'm trusting in Him for Nathan's life journey...including his public school education!

"Remember, Jen...this is all part of you and Greg's prayerful decision (way back when) to send Nathan to public schools...to share w/ others His truth and love!!!" (maybe you (jen) should continue to be prayerful!!!)

hmmm...i think God just hit me again w/ a 2-ton brick...duh!!??!!
stop being so stubborn, jen...TRUST!!!