DON'T BE ONE TO DESPISE RELIGION/CHRISTIANITY OR THE CHURCH

I was watching a video earlier about a person despising religion, and it got me to thinking...hum. These are my hodge podge thoughts. Christianity is a religion. So is Islam. So is Hinduism. Whether you or I are a Baptist, Methodist, or Episcopalian, is what denomination we are a part of. A person can switch religions, if they choose and they can switch denominations. But to be a believer in God, you must be a believer in Christ. There is no opting out of Jesus Christ. You can hate political parties, chose one over the other, but you will find Christians in both parties. There are Christian Democrats and Christian Republicans. You can refuse to go to church standing on principle that you don't want to be religious, but the disciples created churches in homes of believers crossing all cultures and races throughout the world. You can hate religion because you say it causes wars but God is not apart of that. People cause wars. You can say I don't go to church because churches make you follow rules. You are right, the rules of the church are made based on the Word of God. And whether you like it or not, so is heaven. Jesus was about rules and principles given by His Father, and He carried them out to the letter. You don't want to be a Christian because they are a bunch of hypocrites, well at least they are trying. Christian or not, none of us are perfect. But a practicing Christian as unperfected as he or she may be, who goes to church, and states they follow the religion of Christianity, renews their mind daily in God's written Word, under the institution of a church denomination or so called non-denomination are getting better and better each day at being imitators of Christ. You can't do that sitting on the sidelines criticizing. Check back with them in a year, cause of the Word of God, It changes people for the better. You won't recognize them a year later, if they are committed to changing. You don't like authority figures or following directions from others, so that's why you've not said the sinner's prayer or accepted Jesus as your Savior, or joined a church, or pay any tithes, call God a Divine being or the universe, instead of Creator God, Father of Jesus Christ, and you detest religion? Pick up the Word of God and you will find He requires all of the above before He will accept you into His kingdom.

God is not just some cool dude you hang out with. He is that, and so much more! God loves His church, its body of believers, His pastors, His prophets, His teachers, His evangelists, His intesessors, His nursery workers, His greeters, His urshers, His etc. He loves those in the church and He reaches out to those outside the church and loves them too. But He's got rules. They are not to cut your fun out, but to extend your life and make it more fruitful and abundant!

Don't stand on the outside hating the institution of church or religion, join and make them better. Do Christian always want to go to church? Nope, but thats my flesh speaking out, and it has nothing to do with it (I'm speaking honestly for myself here.)  We are to go anyways, because it is a committment to renewing our minds, a committment to the desire of God, "Neglect not the assembly of other believers." If we can't go we are still to pray, renew our minds on our own reading the word, praise and worshipping at home. God wants us to go to church to gain knowledge and strength from other believers. In the midst of praise and worship He shows up and joins in-that is when we realize we are not alone. Ease into it if you are not ready. Find a sevice online or on TV, that is a start. But have a goal of moving toward a church body you can assemble with, and then maintain you online church. You can do both. Neither is a sin. The 12 disciples chosen by Jesus came from inside the church and outside the church. He was always out and about in the market place, speaking about His daddy God. But the devil couldn't keep Him out of the church. He was always in the church reading the words and laws given by the prophets before Him.

But please, please understand what I am trying to communicate. Don't stop short of acknowledging God and thinking Him to be just a cool being. Take the next step, acknowlede Him as Father God, then accept His Son, Jesus Christ as alive and well! Accept that there was always a plan between Him and His Father-God to connect you with the Creator God. So much so that He died on the cross for yours and my sins, so that the Father God would not turn His face out of disgust for our sin, but toward us, so that He could forgive us of our sin. Accept that by asking Jesus to be Your Lord and Savior, that He will forgive you of your sin, which is any lifestyle outside of Him. For when you can believe that, and acknowledge that you have been living a life of your own outside of Him, He-Jesus Christ will claim you as His, and interceed with the Father on your behalf to become a child of God. Then just invite Jesus to be apart of your life. When you can speak thoses words out loud, Jesus hears you, and accepts your plea. That is all there is to the sinners prayers. 

Don't be ashamed to be a Christian and don't be afraid of religion.  Find a church body of believers and join in, but don't expect them to be perfect yet, for neither are you just yet. Go to Lifeway Bookstore or wherever, and ask the sales clerk to help you find an easy to read bible for new believers. Then, enjoy your journey with Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit!  

Be blessed.-FLOWERCHIC

WHAT WAS "IT" ALL ABOUT YOU ASK?

By "it," you mean, "The Plan?" It began with immaculate conception-see even God didn't break His own rules. Mary and Joseph were both chosen by God as proud participants in the plan. The birth of John the Baptist was to prepare the way for Jesus. Jesus was to receive His anointing to lead mankind to God, becoming the link between us, and God, as our Savior. To subdue the earth and prepare it for His death and His resurrection. To take on all of the sins of mankind, and become that sin. As a sin offering, allow Himself to be crucified on the cross in our place, rather than letting us be destroyed thru the wrath of God, due  to our sins. Go into Hell boldly, get the keys of death, sickness and disease from Satan's possession. On the third day, arise from the grave, that no longer would have the power to contain Him, since He then had possession of the keys of death, of sickness, and of disease! Deliver the Keys to heaven. Return to sit at the right hand of God-the Father in His rightful seat, which He still occupies to this day! \o/ Praise God from whom all blessings flow!


Now that I have put the piece together both in my heart and my mind, and I understand THE PLAN of God, and the role Jesus agreed to play, I believe it must frustrate Jesus greatly when He sees any of us giving up. Especially when we give up on our faith in the Trinity. For He has shown He is faithful and; He is committed to each of us so, even at great cost to himself.

What Christmas Means To Me-It Took A Lot Of Life Experiences To Get To This Point

My Wreath Made At Craft Night At The Public Library

There is something to be said for getting back to the basics. This year I have not put a tree up and probably won't. So far, I have not sent out Xmas cards, and may decide not to. And, I personally am O.K. with that. After spending 2 Xmas' in the hospital with mom either dealing with cancer or in a coma, I realized all the money in the world, and all the presents under the tree, were not going to make things better. Santa was not going to be able to fix anything. But I knew who Jesus was, and that He by all means could. I knew Jesus could heal my mom, He would visit me wherever I was at, and that He would love me whether I was naughty or nice-preferably nice, and I could have joy-maybe not happiness 365 days a year. My family is now down to drawing names, setting a limit on how much we spend, with the option of buying each other trinket gifts. I understand who St. Nicholas was, and his principle behind gift giving. I know who Santa wasn't, because it is a fictional character. I simply don't let retailers momentum behind buying gifts in the name of Santa supersede my celebration of the birth of Christ.

Now that I have been released from giving gifts or receiving gifts at Xmas under the premies of changing someone else's world or my own with a material gift, I'm finally at a place of enjoying Christmas. Oh, I still love the look of a beautiful Xmas tree and I love the Xmas light displays around town and around the world. I don't believe anyone is bowing in worship of their decorated Christmas tree, that I know of, or praying to any tree god or goddess. However, I'm no longer buying into the myth that if I don't have a Xmas tree bedazzled with bling, I will have a depressed or a second rate Christmas. I really hate that I fell for that train of thought once upon a time. And I feel sad, if I contributed to some one else feeling that way by making a big deal that it wasn't Christmas if there wasn't a hugh, bedangled, over the top, decorated tree in every home in the neighborhood. Now days, I have a chosen charity that I contribute to before Christmas. It is a worthy charity, I know the persons behind the scenes, and they have a solid grasp on the reason for celebrating December 25th. That brings to mind another belief of mine, I personally don't think the Trinity minds that we are not celebrating Jesus' birth according to the "correct" date.  What I believe, is that by universally celebrating one day as the birth of Christ, where we thank Him for sharing His son with the world, so that together thru Him, we could have the opportunity of becoming one with God is the real reason for the season.

Like I said in the title of this note, I went thru a lot to get to this point. God has a way of making good on the bad experiences we have had in this life. I absolutly do not want anyone to feel as though they have to agree with me in how I approach Christmas. This is an individual approach based upon my own journey. But it feels good to be free of chains that bind leading up to, and the days after Christmas(zero bank debt, no credit card balance to pay off, & no one to impress.)  I celebrate a secular Xmas in a small way, and I celebrate a Christain Christmas honoring the birth of Jesus Christ, who is my Savior. I also no longer get caught up on whether it is Xmas or Christmas. I guess what I have allowed God to do is release me from the mental and social chains that bound me, so that I could love Him, His Son the Christ, and those around me in a differnt way and on a different level.

Merry Christmas everybody!  


Enjoy the below link of Linus relaying the real meaning of Christmas to Charlie Brown!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DDKk9rv2hUfA%26feature%3Dshare&feature=share&v=DKk9rv2hUfA&gl=US

BLACK FRIDAY IS TURNING INTO THE SECOND DAY OF HALLOWEEN!

OK I've been online reading about stampedes, pepper spray, physical altercations, robbery at gunpoint, and other nonsense that happens on every Black Friday. It can be potentially dangerous to even take a small child with you on Black Friday with all these crazy people acting up! Going to Wal-mart or any electronic store can turn into a life or death situation, if you meet up with the wrong kind of people! There can be some bad spirits intermingled with obtaining Black Friday Deals! I'm starting to liken Black Friday with the second day of Halloween-trick or treat, a day when all the evil spirits come out! Black Friday can be a profitable, worthwhile adventure, if you are aware of who you are; if you are in control of what you value; and if you know the priority of your values; before heading out. If you don't have an understanding of your values beforehand, you can leave Black Friday broke in more ways than you anticipated! Just a little humor mixed in with some common sense.

GREATER BLESSINGS IN THIS LIFE & LIVING WITHIN GOD'S PARAMETERS

How well we succeed in pleasing God in our actions, our words, & our faith here on earth will determine how well we will succeed in heaven after Christ returns. I keep going back to my original conversation with God where that in heaven, there won't be any pixie dust passed out. We are going to have to pass and master Christianity 101 before we get there.  Jesus said he did all things to please the Father & that he imitated the things He saw the Father do. So I am more convinced, that those little sins the world says are just part of living life here on earth, & that God can't possible expect us to cease, or master, are actually expected by God to be mastered. And, that by doing so, I can live an even more abundant life with greater blessing than I thought were available. Because, God telling me not to do something in His Word is not Him being petty or picky, but about greater blessings in this life. It is about how we are expected to flow in His kingdom. When you live under someone else's roof, you are expected to act within the parameters they have established, in order for their household to exist, and ensue in an orderly manner. God's home is where Jesus will be taking us when He returns again for His righteous ones. It is time for me to prune myself of the little sins, always striving to please God, and in return receive greater blessings here on earth for an easy transition into His kingdom.

I LOVE TO COOK. ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE

Today is our first frost. Which means everything in my garden is done for the season. So sad! I had the presence of mind to bring in my scented geranium yesterday before the frost hit last night. The building where I work was all a buzz talking about the end of the growing season and the first hard frost coming overnight. When my lil dog Caity and I were out early this morning you could see the effects. I salvaged 3 baby eggplants and 10 cherry size green tomatoes off my plants. I'll fry the baby eggplants and mini tomatoes for sure. They'll not go to waste. By the way I love fried green tomatoes and am on a hunt to find some much bigger ones salvaged. I have the best cornmeal seasoning ready to do its "thang."

Early this morning I put a cornish hen in the oven in my cast iron dutch cooker and a pot of green beans and potatoes on the stove top. Those green beans are good enough to make me stamp my foot and stamp it more than once. They are that good!  I am so glad my mother and grandmother believed in cooking good food. I cook for nourishment and for fun.

Two household items I am buying me after the first of the year. One, is a new gas stove and the other is a front loading washing machine.  I've put aside all year and it is time to buy. Tomorrow I'm going "looking" and see whats out there.

My oven knob keeps coming off and the stove is just too small. I've been without my washing machine for about 3 months now and have decided not to fix it.  So I'm springing for a front loader without the "thingy" in the middle. That "thingy" is forever tearing my clothes.

Oh for the day of washing my clothes in my own home with dinner in the oven of my new stove.

THE ODDEST STUFF HAPPENS TO ME.

O.K. Caity and I went out early a couple of mornings ago around 5 a.m.  So I am standing around waiting for her to find her perfect spot that does not exist, as usual, and I look up and running at neck breaking speed toward us are what I think are 6 pitbulls without a leash or their owners!  The "business owners" on the corner of my block own pit bulls. They are the kind of owners who are open 24/7, if you get my drift. So I yell, "In the name of Jesus you will get, as I point my red Maglight flashlight at them!"  Well as they get closer & before I get my command out fully, I start to recongnize they are not pitbulls, instead they look like Whippets! Whippets are very docile dogs and would not hurt a flea, so I am much relieved.  But as my eyes adjust better, I recognize they are 3 small deer and 3 adult deer! LOL But, I still am quite concerned, because I have never been charged by deer before in my life, especially since I live smack dab in the city! With my red maglight extended like a rod, I am speechless, however, the deer stop immediately! I'm like, alright Jesus, thanks for letting me borow You mighty name! Except all 8 of us are having a Mexican stand off and nobody is moving!  So I get my biblical "i's" dotted and "t's" crossed and I then say, "You will not disobey."  Next, the funniest thing happens, they look around at each other as though conferring as a group, then take off running across the street, and down my dad's empty lot! 

With my red Maglight flashlight still extended and pointed in the direction they were to go, I am completely speechless, no words forthcoming! Caity and I just stand there in awe!  

I'll have to tell you later about the falcon/hawk I found perched on my mailbox facing my front door one day last month. LOL That was an odd experience as well! LOL

"BLUE IS MY FAVORITE COLOR, WHY CAN'T YOU BUY ME SOME BLUES?"

Flipping thru a LL Bean catalogue (deciding whether to keep or throw) and remembered a conversation last year around Christmas or Fathers Day. Mom and I shop LL Bean when buying for dad for the free shipping, and there is one catalogue where they offer radical great deals before the holidays. Mom had ordered dad some clothes and they were all shades of brown. Earlier in the year, I had asked dad what his favorite color was. He said navy blue and light blue were his favorites. He has this one shirt that he found after the house fire to wear at the Dollar Store, that Sista absolutely hates! Its a Bugle Boy sweat shirt and it is light blue. He wore it every chance he could. It has Bugle Boy on the front. I think Sista does not like it because she does not think Bugle Boy written across his chest is age appropriate. But its blue. This one particular occasion, I guess he made up his mind to make a stand! "These are all brown, or different shades of brown. I don't like brown and I don't like Khaki, I like blue, navy blue and light blue. Why can't you buy me some blues?" Of course I was cracking up, because mom was so shocked that he had a preference of any kind, because he had never been really vocal about it before. I remember telling him, when asking what color t-shirt he wanted for his birthday, (which is another issue Sista and mom have, I keeping buying him his favorites, T-shirts with cool logos) "Dad, if you prefer blue, then tell people blue is your color!" "Its not that difficult to find what you like in blue." So essentially, I was responsible for the little outburst that liberated my dad from browns and khakis last year. In flipping thru the LL Bean catalogue, I found a light blue sweatshirt with LL Bean written across the front for dad for Christmas! I guess since I started my dad's liberation, I'll make peace with the heads of state and replace the Bugle Boy sweatshirt with the LL Bean sweatshirt! Light blue of course! LOL

GOD PROVIDED THE OPTION, NOW YOU CHOOSE

"If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak." http://bible.us/John12.47.ESV

It just hit me! Jesus IS SAYING, He did not come to judge the world, but if we choose to NOT follow what God spoke in His Word-the bible, NOT follow Him and repent of our sins, NOT commit long term to Him being Lord of our lives, that it will be us who will condemn ourselves to eternal life without Him! He is letting us choose!

Even today, we choose. Jesus Is here to save.  He is one of our choices. It is His first order of business-His assignment from God. We condemn ourselves, and we condemn others, but Jesus offers us a free-will! Jesus will judge us all in the End, that is His second order of business.

As believers, God's Word and His laws judge us now. We are to honor our commitment. We've taken that next step with God! Following God laws written in our Bibles is what keeps us out of the quagmire of the consequences of our contrary actions. His written Word is our blessing, not our curse.

Unbelievers feel as though the Bible is of no consequence to them. They choose not to accept Christ, and they choose not to follow God's law. They feel they are not effected. But that is faulty logic. The consequences still exists. That is where the curse comes from. Whether unbelievers or believers choose to follow God's laws or not, the consequences of not following them remain unchanged.

As believers and unbelievers, understand this, Christ and the Father are not beggars. They appeal to us and they offer us a choice. Choose Christ! Who else do you know who will die for you?  Be blessed!

TEACH ME O GOD HOW TO BE LIKE YOU

Securing your private thoughts with God can be quite liberating! You can be apart of a world gone crazy and have peace in God and your thoughts. Once you understand you will be misunderstood, you won't always be liked, and that you will be unjustly criticized by others at times, you then move on to a level where your main goal is to not impress, but be impressed by God, and what He has to say and ask of you. It is here that the drama of life begins to decapitate. I am learning to commune more with God and receive more of His inner peace. God is teaching me and I am learning. Proverbs 3:5 & 6 "Lean not on your own understanding, {or that of others} but trust in the Lord; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make you path straight."

In my recent study and walk with God I have been changing things up in how I commune with God. So day before yesterday I asked God to teach me Prov 3:5 & 6. Well yesterday was the day from Hell where nothing went well. I was not liked, misunderstood, and critizised, but I kept my thoughts on the matter to myself, chose not to defend myself, with an expression of I am sorry...but that's just the way it is and moved on with my day! I had to reign my anger in, and you know what, it was doable! I ignored a lot of disagreeing comments, and facial expressions, and I am sure hand expressions as I walked away! Guess what, at the end of the day I was tired, but I found out I could do things God's way as He requests and advises to live an abundant life.

Just like rule #2, I am, as hard as it may be, going to incorporated this into my walk with God too.  I won't nail it down perfectly, or one hundred percent of the time, but I got a goal to accomplish, in the name of Jesus!

When the end of my days come, I am going to enter the gates of heaven with my eyes wide open, with as much of God's Word and will incorporated in me on the front end. No way am I going to miss out, and be deceived by the devil thinking there will be pixie dust to straighten me out once I get there. LOL Nope, nope, nope, I plan to work The Plan and have IT work me, so I can sail past the gates of hell and through the gates of heaven!