TEARS OF REGRET

My Honey preached a great message tonight and I wanted to share just a few snippets of the notes that I took tonight in the evening service.

When you get to Heaven, how much of what you've done here on earth will endure the test of the judgement seat? How much will turn out to be wood hay or stubble and burn up right before our eyes? Will we be shocked to see the size of the pile that remains, the gold and silver?
There will for sure be some tears of regret in Heaven, will there not?


What sort of regrets will we weep over?

*Foolish priorities we've had.
Things we've spent money on: hair products (have you ever added up the amount of money you've spent on hair care products over the past, oh say, 10 years?), dog or cat food and products, home improvements, unnecessary shopping - just to shop - then once you get there, you HAVE to buy something since you're shopping.
Those things aren't bad in and of themselves. But we seriously need to strive for a balance in our lives. The cause of Christ SUFFERS today when high value is placed on LOW value things.
* Flippant positions we've held to.
Things that won't matter in eternity, like facial hair on men, eating pork, drinking coffee, etc.
We major on the minors and minor on the majors. Where is the balance in that sort of thinking?
To some Christians, church attendance, Bible reading and prayer have become optional in their life, but they would never miss a day of work or a family reunion or scheduled appt. such as the dentist. Yet when it comes to church functions or even just simple church attendance, sadly, way too many Christians these days say "I have other things to do today."
* Flippant conduct.
We don't think a thing about lying, swearing, gossip or backbiting. But we'd never say a cross word about the boss we work for. Our flippant conduct really reveals who we are.
*Flippant giving.
We don't tithe because it's a "tight week." Have we ever NOT had a tight week? Doesn't everybody have tight weeks, these days? Why is it that when the finances are strapped, tithing is the first thing to get kicked to the curb? But we make sure the union dues at work are paid up! Then there is the cell phone - gotta pay that! And *GASP!* What about the cable bill - we HAVE to pay that or they'll shut it off!

We just need to make sure Christ is in His rightful place in our lives - first place. And all our other priorities will fall into the right place. I don't know about you, but I don't want to get to Heaven and see all that I've done "for the Lord" burn up because it was only wood, hay and stubble. I want, what I do for Him, to last.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. I Cor. 11-14

SALVATION TESTIMONY

Recently I was asked about my salvation testimony. It brought back such memories, as I recounted the emotions and steps that led up to it. Once again, I thanked the Lord for people, He placed in my path, to bring me to salvation. There were so many people the Lord used to help me find the right way, but the one that I am most indebted to, is my precious father-in-law. He loved me unconditionally, even during the times I was most unlovely - those rocky, rebellious, teenage years. He made up his mind he was going to love me, no matter what, and that's what he did. Then he never got rid of me! LOL I loved him as much as my own flesh and blood.

My testimony of salvation can get a bit lengthy, but I'll try to shorten it. LOL I made a false profession at 12 yrs old. I carried that w/ me until I married the preacher's son, at 18! We were married 6 months and I was expecting our first baby. We had been showing the "Thief in the night" videos to our teen group (I see them now, and I wonder what we were thinking! YIKES at the 70's clothing in it! LOL) Anyway, they were instrumental in MY salvation. They made me begin to do a little self examination. All of a sudden I became troubled about the after life and preoccupied with the rapture. I began to worry that I might be left behind for some reason. I tried to go back in my mind and remember what had happened the night I made that profession at 12. I was at a huge crusade that was taking place in our local high school. When the invitation was given, I went forward because my friend urged me to, not because the Holy Spirit was convicting me of any sin. So consequently, it really meant nothing to me. It was all perfunctory.

But I hung onto that as my salvation experience for years. Now all of a sudden, 7 years later, married to the preacher's son, and pregnant, I couldn't remember what had happened that night. What did the preacher preach on? What verses of Scripture were shown to me? Did I pray? If so, what did I say? I couldn't remember any of it. That really bothered me. I began to get worried. But what do I do now? I married the preacher's son. I teach Sunday school. I work on a bus. I help in the nursery. EVERYBODY thinks I'm already a Christian! One day when I was at my in-laws house, my precious father-in-law (who is now in Heaven) said to me, "Chub (that was his nickname for me LOL) the best thing you can do for yourself and for that little baby you are carrying, is to keep your heart right with the Lord." Then he showed me I Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

I didn't fully understand what that verse meant, but began to wonder, if I wasn't right with God, does that mean that the Lord might judge me somehow through this pregnancy or birth? That weighed heavy on my heart. Fear and pride just continued to hold me back from saying anything. Then one hot July day, I had been at my mother's house doing laundry. I was big as a house with the baby. I came home, expecting to see my husband, home from work. But instead, what I saw, scared the daylights out of me. I walked into the house, calling for him, only to get no response. What I saw, were his clothes - pants draped on the side of the bed, socks in a pile, by the legs of the pants, and his shirt crumpled, on the bed. My first immediate thought was HE'S GONE! The rapture has happened, and I've been left behind! I got on the phone right away, to call my father in law, to see if they knew where he was. No answer! I was mortified! Later I found out that he had gone swimming with his little brothers. That night, I couldn't sleep. My emotions were through the roof. My husband was sound asleep, and I just sat there in bed, in the dark, staring out the window. Wondering, if I'm saved, then why am I so worried about the Lord's return? That event should be exciting to a believer. I argued with the Lord for hours, it seemed. Finally, it was almost as if I heard a voice - "It's now or never! If you don't take care of this tonight, you never will." I had to swallow my pride once and for all, and get it settled. In sobs, I woke my husband. His first thought was, that it had to do with the baby. But when I finally got him to understand it was my eternal soul hanging in the balance, he jumped out of bed, and we went to the living room of our little apartment, knelt by the couch, and there I TRULY repented of my sins, and asked the Lord to save me. I've never doubted it since. I still mess up, who doesn't? What a joy to pillow my head at night though, and know without a doubt that when I die, I will go to Heaven. I don't know what people do without the Lord. He gives me such peace.

*As an added note* When I delivered our first baby (our son), I had preeclampsia. To force delivery, I was admitted to the hospital 3 weeks early. I had been induced all night with Pitocin, to no avail, no labor pains had begun. My hubby, who had been by my side all night, stepped out of the room to get coffee, and get washed up. Moments later, I hemorrhaged badly, and was rushed in for an emergency C-section. We lived 30 miles from the hospital. They told me later, that had I been at home and that would have happened, I could have lost the baby or died myself. My mind went back immediately to I Timothy 2:15.....

I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS

I have one deep supreme desire,

That I may be like Jesus.
To this I fervently aspire,
That I may be like Jesus.
I want my heart His throne to be,
So that a watching world may see
His likeness shining forth in me;
I want to be like Jesus.

Oh, perfect life of Christ my Lord,
I want to be like Jesus.
My recompense and my reward,
That I may be like Jesus.
His Spirit fill my hung'ring soul,
His power all my life control;
My deepest pray'r, my highest goal,
That I may be like Jesus.

I Want to Be Like Jesus
Thomas O. Chisholm

INTERNET CHAT

Surely I'm not the only one that is alarmed at the increasing number of Christians involved in internet chat. I wonder if these particular Christians that are involved in chatting with the opposite sex, think they are above getting into sin over the thing? I wonder how many instances there have been, where a seemingly harmless, strictly platonic, online "friendship" went much further than it was intended to go?

One thing I have covenanted to do for myself and for my marriage is to NEVER chat (IM) with or private message back and forth with the opposite sex. Couples that get involved in such things, destroy the trust that has been built in the relationship. That is the exact opposite of what you want to do. You want to BUILD trust in a marriage, not do things to eat away at it or ultimately destroy it. Married people who chat with the opposite sex are teetering on the brink of the destruction of their marriage. Even if it is a "harmless" friendship. We've all heard the horror stories of men and women alike.... "they met someone online." God have mercy!

Also, am I the only one that is troubled over the numbers of Christian young people using Myspace? Now before anybody maligns me for this, I know many responsible adults use facebook to keep up with family members and old friends who may have moved away. I'm not talking about that sort of thing. I'm mainly talking about Christian young people who get online, join Myspace, and then post uncensored pictures and chat about everything under the sun, all without parental control. They post pictures of themselves with their boyfriend or girlfriend in compromising ways. Ways that damage their testimony with others who might happen on their page.
I asked a young person the other day, "do you guys ever talk about anything spiritual on there? Do you kids that all go to the same church ever say anything about the Lord? Or do you ever say anything to help these other kids in your youth group in their walk with the Lord?" I'm not saying I think they need to get on their and have online Bible studies with each other. I'm all for having fun - good grief, we do our fair share in this family, that's for sure! But from what I've seen of it, most young people on there are just horsing around and playing on the edge of sin. I just don't think the kids really put any thought into the fact that many people will see pictures that they post, and read things that they talk about. And the effects can be far more reaching than they realize.

I don't know.... I just find it all extremely troubling these days.
So what can Christians do to protect themselves while surfing the worldwide web? Here is an excellent safe traveling guide for traveling the super highway.

RULES FOR THE ROAD

Safe Traveling Guide
For The Super Highway

PROTECTING YOUR TESTIMONY

Simple, but helpful safeguards for protecting your heart and mind from diverting from a healthy Christian Focus.

1. Open Door Policy Keep the computer in a public place with the screen facing the doorway or other viewers. If needed, commit to never using internet while alone in a room.
   
2. Use Filtering Services Subscribe to a reliable filtering service that supports your own personal values.
   
3. Be Accountable Request the help of a friend to monitor your activity regularly checking your web history to personally hold you accountable.
   
4. Use Wisdom Be committed to use the Internet for only constructive and helpful ways that will not interfere or weaken your spiritual journey with Christ.
   

PROTECTING YOUR EFFECTIVNESS

Safeguards to prevent Internet usage from interfering with healthy priorities and productivities of a purposeful life.

1. Use Self Control Avoid all unnecessary surfing or other web activity unrelated to your task at hand while on the job, or working on a specific project.
   
2. Verify Important Information Be cautious in accepting Internet information as factual, accurate, and reliable.
   
3. Honor Legal Expectations Honor local, state and federal laws regarding communications, modification of materials, unauthorized materials or fraudulent copying.
   
4. Be Respectful Respect the interest and guidelines of the company, church, or institution that you represent in ways that honor faithful Christian principles.
   
5. Be A Good Steward Define and limit the amount of leisure time allowable for web activity in correlation with the primary goals of your life and standards of Christian stewardship
   

PROTECTING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

Helpful ways to nurture and promote healthy relationships through Internet usage.

1. Create A Schedule Work out a schedule limiting your usage to times that are most acceptable with those whom you are in close relationship.
   
2. Know Your Contacts Block instant/personal messages from all people you do not know and do not answer unknown contacts. If you are married, do not answer instant/personal messages from members of the opposite sex.
   
3. Watch New Relationships Be cautious and accountable to someone who cares about you should any new relationship develop through e-mail, chat rooms, or Instant Personal Messages (IMS).
   
4. Care Deeply Find ways of helping others develop healthy standards for Internet usage who you know are using it recklessly and inappropriately.
   
5. Review Your Activities Review your Internet and e-mail activities regularly with those whom you are in close relationship to help you be a responsible user.
   

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

HOSPITALITY

When was the last time you invited somebody over for dinner? It doesn't have to be fancy schmancy. You can just pick up a pkg of cheap hamburger and buns and grill out burgers. If you don't have a grill, then fry them in a skillet. You could even just slap together some good old bologna sandwiches. Toss some chips in a bowl, make a batch of cookies. You can even use your leftover chicken, to make a pot of chicken and dumplings. People don't really care what you fix them. It's just healthy to fellowship with other believers. We invited a large family over recently and they were surprised first of all, at the invite, because of the size of their family. After they arrived, they commented that it had been probably 10 years since they had had a dinner invite to someone's house! I'm sure that's probably so, we invite a lot of folks over, but I don't see a lot of others doing that. There are a few, but for the most part people just don't do it anymore. Not sure why. Too busy? Nah! No space? Nah! Money? Eh, maybe, but that doesn't need to stop you.

You can't really get to know someone when you only see them at church. But when you sit down to dinner together with someone and fellowship, you can really start to get to know them well. People relax and you can laugh and maybe even share burdens and prayer needs with each other. After dinner, you can brew a pot of coffee, break out the homemade cookies and reach for your favorite game, as everyone gathers around the table to join in the play.

I remember when my Honey and I were first married. We learned from his folks, the obedience and importance of fellowship. We lived in a TINY 2 bedroom apartment. There really was no dining room to speak of, it was jut kind of an afterthought to the side of the kitchen. Our table wasn't much bigger than a card table and we had 4 metal folding chairs. And counter space.... HA! It is too laugh! This is how we remedied that obstacle. We would invite someone over. Fix them a modest dinner for our budget. I would set up my ironing board in the living room and cover it with a sheet and we would use that as our buffet. LOL Everyone would fix their plate and we would sit in the living room to eat. Hey, it worked! And I'm thankful we started early, getting our feet wet, so to speak, in this area of hospitality. Over the years, I have learned to be comfortable with people coming into our home. I like to hear folks say they felt right at home, while they were here. That is my goal, to put people at ease. I don't want them to feel like they can't be themselves around us.
My Honey preaches often that the church should be a "hospital" for hurting people. Well our homes should be no different. People from all walks of life are just hurting, for one reason or another. Could be sickness, marriage problems, financial woes (who doesn't have those these days?), family issues, trouble on the job. The list is endless. But people don't walk around carrying signs that say "I'm hurting, because...." They just hurt, and it's our job to help bear their burdens.

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2

And a good way to help with that is to have them in your home for fellowship. You don't even have to fix them a full dinner. You can fix snacks or just have dessert. Invite them over for pie and coffee. The idea is to just DO IT.

And don't worry about your house. If you're waiting until this gets fixed or that gets fixed, you'll never have anyone over. Your house will never be perfect. People don't come to see your house, they come to see YOU. So do what you can to make it clean and neat and a good testimony and don't worry about the rest! Relax! And don't let "space" be an obstacle to you. Remember my ironing board? LOL And now with the warmer weather upon us, you could even move outside to eat.

I just want to really encourage you to take a minute today and ask the Lord to put someone on your heart that could use a little encouragement. Then get on the phone and invite them over for SOMETHING.

"Use hospitality one to another without grudging." I Peter 4:9

¶ Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

Just because hospitality is last on the list up there, doesn't mean it's of any less importance. We are instructed to DO IT. So who are you going to be hospitable to this week in your home? Care to share?

EARTH'S CRY HEARD IN SPACE

Earth's cries recorded in space.

I read this story on Yahoo news this morning. The first thing that came to mind as I read through it, was this passage:

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:22, 23

It's so true isn't it? You can almost feel the earth and all creation just groaning, waiting for the Lord to come. It's so evident in all the world's disasters, hurricanes, typhoons, floods, fires. The list just goes on and on. Every time we read of another world disaster, it ought to make us keep our eyes fixed even more on the Eastern sky.
One thing I found kind of comical in the news story though, was how behind the times scientists are, in relation to God's word. He told us thousands of years ago that creation was "groaning." But here it is 2008 and the "professionals" are just discovering it. We think we're so smart. Isn't it wonderful how the Bible can be such a text book of LIFE? Science, history, literature, etc... We just need to READ it to learn such things. I wonder if any of those scientists working on that project have ever read the Bible?