Social Salt & Light, Part 2

I will start this post with listing the method and resources that Jason and I use when picking out movies, TV shows, books, etc.  There is really no excuse now days for a Christian to mistakingly end up in front of a movie screen and be surprised.  With technology the way it is, and how big the culture war has gotten, there are always reviews and articles to read before putting yourself in that position. 

First we ask ourselves these 3 questions (the ones from the earlier post):

1- Is is God-centered or man-centered?  Psalm 19:8-10; Psalm 119:20; Psalm 119:97; Psalm 119:103; Psalm 119:167
This meaning is the central theme and focus of what you are watching, reading, listening to, draw you to God or the things of God.  (You can really use this question in every area of your life)
2- How is it digested?  Colossians 3
What are you going to get out of this content?  How is it going to be used in your life?  Is is going to "upset your stomach", is your "heart" going to recognize it as something productive or will it be rejected and unused?
3- What fruit is produced?  Colossians 3
What is the content producing in your heart, mind and soul?  Likewise what is it producing on the outside?  Is it being used to draw others to Christ coming from you?

Colossians 3:1-17

Rules for Holy Living


1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

This is just one passage out of MANY!  We also use Plugged In Online & AFA Report (which we get in the mail).

More to come...........

"Social" Salt & Light

Three areas/categories I am tackling that this issue directly affects:
(meaning:  This is what the Lord took me through years ago when I first got saved.  I am sure there are MANY other areas that these social issues affect.  These are just the 3 that the Lord brought to my mind as I was studying)

1- Is it God centered or man centered?

2- How is it digested?

3- What fruit is produced?

First I am going to pray that all who read this will allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to YOU what YOU read and study from God's word.  Don't take my word for it!  Read the Bible for yourself and ask, seek and knock!  He will answer :)

As disciples of Jesus Christ and parents of 2 small girls, my husband and I are extremely careful about what we allow to come in to our home through television and radio.  I will tell you that we do not have cable, satellite, dish network, etc.  We have a TV, DVD player, and a VCR - yes we do and we still use it :).  We do have local channels, but have an intenna and can only get channels 12, 16 & 29 - if the weather is good!  I am not saying all this to boast, but that when you don't have the "options" it is MUCH easier to aviod all the "questionables". 

A little testimony as to how we as a family came to be a "no cable" family:
When Katie, our youngest was a newborn, and we were really still newlyweds (married for only a 1 1/2  years), we beagn to kinda "grow apart".  Most of you know the stress of a newborn, especially your first, and we were building a house, selling our house, and still trying to get to know one another!!!  Well, to shorten the story, we started really praying for help, and direction.  What is this parenting/marriage stuff all about?  What did the Lord desire from us?  Through that we felt strongly that  He was asking us to purify.  Which led us straight to our TV (other areas followed, but that was the first).  I can say that even though we weren't watching those things considered "terrible",  we were spending our time soaking in things that 1- were not lifting up the name of Jesus 2- not drawing us closer as a family 3- keeping us from being together.  And so that is what we were doing - growing apart from each other and the Lord.  So, we called the cable company and had them turn it off.  I will not lie and say that it was easy.  And for several weeks I really felt like we were missing out.  But as time went by, we started spending our time together, and found a Bible teaching church, and really seeking the Lord as to what He desired for our life, we knew we had done the right thing.
Fast forward almost 4 years, we have been cable TV free and only use the local channels for news, really only during football season :),  weather and I allow the girls to watch a FEW shows on PBS.  If you know us and our children, we are not socially deprived or lacking in any way!!!  My kids love life and have not missed out on a thing!!  And not to mention we save $$$$$  too!! 
 Matthew 6:24 says, "Noone can serve 2 masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and mammon (spirit of materialism)."

Well, the children are waking, so I will have to continue later......

The newest journey

TV & MUSIC
I have always struggled with why these two social issues cause so much contraversy and division in the church.  Of course I have my own beliefs and thoughts about these issues, but I want to more than just "think" I am doing the right thing.  I don't usually "publically" announce my views on social issues, but if I am asked, I am always ready to give an answer - we should all be according to 1 Peter 3:15.

So, I have decided to do some research on the spiritual differences between secular & christian TV/Music.  Stay tuned and walk this journey with me.  Pray and ask the Lord to reveal His plans and desires for your life.  I trust He will show us....

A skeptics view

I just heard a quote by Frank Turick (not sure I spelled his name right) on a radio show.  He said "Do you know why skeptics are talked out of the truth?  Because they have never been talked in to it!"

I stopped what I was doing and thought.  You know, he's right.  We who call ourselves believers, do not know the Word of God, We do not know how to give a testimony to the hope that we have.  We are in love with the things of God, but not God, His Son and Holy Spirit.

Then I thought, "Why is that?". 

COME AS CLOSE AS YOU WANT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM1nTGleTW0


Be patient while I am still learning how to post things.....I want to put this video up.  Send me some direction if you know what I am trying to do :)

"What does love look like? Is the question I have been pondering...."

This was taken from a song by Misty Edwards.  Arms Wide Open tells of God's love for us in His Son Jesus.  My words really do not do the job in describing this song and what it means.  It has made me really think about how I view Jesus and the cross.  Do we REALLY know how much He longs to be with us?  I think if we did, we would be desperate to spend time with Him.  "We were made for abandonment, wholeheartedness" - and nothing else!  We were not made to function outside of a love relationship with Jesus Christ.  

I sometimes wish I could have been the woman who simply touched the hem of His garment.  Think about it - she loved Him and knew His love for her so much that she believed and when she slightly felt His clothes He felt it!  What love!

I truly believe that if our generation would grasp this and do it - our world would look a lot different!

Check out the song.....let me know your thoughts :)

 

In the beginning....... Part 2

Psalm 143:8

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love.

Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul."

I pray this post is used by Lord to show His people how much He loves them. We were not created to live outside of a true love relationship with Jesus. And then and only then will we be able to walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit and become the "fruits of His Spirit".

About a year ago, during one of my rare "time alone with alone God" moments, I simply asked Him, "Is this it?".  Meaning, is this all there is?  Do you get saved, live off the fire that was so huge from the first time I fell in love with Him and then over the years - job, marriage, kids, etc - live off the tiny flame that is barely burning?  God, being the man He is, did not get angry with my question ( Psalm says He is compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love) but simply replied, "Carrie, is this all you have for me?".  And you know, amazingly I knew exactly what He meant.  I knew that He did not have my whole self - the self He created for Himself.  Now please understand, I loved Him, I believed in His Son and loved His Son, I worshipped, tithed, served, proclaimed His greatness and even read His word, sometimes.  BUT He was not the center of my life.  I spent my mornings helping my husband get ready for work, cooking breakfast, getting the kids up and going, washing dishes, making coffee, starting a load of clothes, etc., ect., etc.  I was taking care of the family that God gave me, I was "serving"!  So, in my mind I would say, ok God, I will read your Word tonight or I will read when the kids go down for a nap.  Basically, "Lord I love you, but..." And if we get honest with ourselves, most Christians can say they have been there - or maybe you are there now. 

So, out of my conversation with the Lord, I realized that where I was, not where He desired me to be.  But what I did not really understand was that ALL He wanted from me was, just me - TIME with me.  Well, I began getting up a little earlier and before I did ANYTHING, except potty and pour myself a cup of coffee :) , I sat on my couch opened up the Bible and began loving my Savior!  In all honesty, I took some time to get used to this.  It was a discipline.  I had to discipline myself to get up and not "do" all the things that needed to be "done".  But I will testify that after a couple of weeks of just simply sitting in the quiet, in the morning, and just reading the Bible, my life began.  I must add that the Lord redeems the time that I spend with Him in the mornings - I am not as tired in the evenings, I think more clearly through out the day, I am more patient, my relationship with my husband has grown and is sweeter now than ever!  And now, a year later, I am up at least and hour or two before the kids, and look forward to the time I have alone with my Savior!  So sweet!

To be continued.......

These are from last summer.  Just thought it fun to dress them up and take their picture :)  The joys of being a mom!

In the beginning...

Thanks to a special friend and all my friends who blog, I have finally joined the "blogging band wagon".  I pray this is the beginning of a sweet time for me to share what Jesus is doing in me and for me.  I know I will probably, sometimes, occasionally add a pic or two of my little girls, but my heart is to love you through my love for the Lord.  Thanks for visiting or following - still learning the jargon - I hope you are blessed!