There is a Road

There is a road that leads to questions, there is a road that leads to pain, there is a road which brings waves of sorrow

enveloping like the rain. we all fall, we all cry, but are we crying loud enough?  do we seek what we claim to search?

The heart is deceitful above all things, who am I to trust it? rely on everything before you listen to your heart, before the wind of mental blindness washes over in the guise of love, a guise of lies which falls among the dried up leaves of the morrow.

Seek the higher way, seek His Face. For relying on the human race will hurt and gash and borrow the life from your breath til you can breath no more.

Still, I believe in One who can raise us from the death, from the mire, from the sinful life that our souls try not to desire. He can push us out, push us up, wipe the Dictator’s lies from our eyes.

Believe. And let go. Every day, every moment.

Let Him reign.

What It’s All About

Today, I had to answer the question in class, “What is Christian Ethics?” It ended up being an enlightening time of typing for me!

~How are we to live our lives? How are we to know what to do or not do? What is Christian ethics?…..

It revolves around who we are in Christ.  “In Christ.”  Not next to Him, behind Him or before Him. IN HIM. Our whole life should be a development of that relation. When we believe that Christ can meet God’s requirements for us and we can be IN him before God, we are seen as Him. God no longer looks at a failed human being who failed to meet His “do’s” and “don’ts.” He sees Christ alone. If we are in Him, there is no better place to be!

When we place our faith in Him to bridge the gap between us a God, we begin a relationship. Rather, in many ways, we repair one. Ever since Adam sinned (breaking the glorious relationship he had with God), God has been offering a way to repair that. He offered the law, an impossible means of reparation. (As mentioned in the videos, Christian ethics is impossible!) Yet, this was followed by the sacrifice of Christ, a possible means to reparation of that relationship. The basis of our daily lives no longer has to be based on attempts to follow laws, or a set of ethical expectations, but it is based on that relationship. Many times, we liken the life of a Christian to a plant which needs to be nurtured and feed to grow. It is through the growth of this relationship with Christ that we know how to live. His living Spirit is what guides us!

Over the years, my mom mentions how she and my dad become more like each other each day. They adopt each others habits, or mannerisms, actions, or perspectives. Everyday they are becoming more into ONE person. I think I finally understand why Jesus calls the church of believers His Bride. Like a wife becomes more like her husband, He wants us to become more like Him. To be really IN Him. So much, that one day, we will not be able to find where Christ begins in our lives or where He ends. A seamless garment before God.

When you are in something, you are surrounded. Our lives need to be surrounded by Christ. Every moment, every breath should be IN Him. We are not our own, nor should we live that way.
In striving for this daily non-separation from Christ is where we find our identity in Him. When we give up our lives to Him, the process begins. There is no more Elise Reyes. I gave myself up to be absorbed by Christ. In Him, I should “live, breath, and have my being” as the Bible says.  It’s such an exciting and beautiful thing, it makes me want to shout for joy and cry at the same time.

Cleaning Up

Today, I took apart the family PC keyboard. It was filthy; I can’t remember the last time we cleaned it out.

Dirty, dusty, and just plain old nasty.

Makes me think of lives. My life, your life, and ours. How much hidden dirt and grime do we have hidden in our hearts? We try to function and move on with it, but it only hinders. Like the sticky keys which keep the words from being typed out clean and easy, the secret sins of our lives keep us from living clean and joyful lives. What will it take for you to allow your Maker to enter the recesses of your heart and mind to clear out the darkness which hinders your walk?

Are there people you have not forgiven? Habits you cling to which are stunting to your growth? Sins are sometimes as blatant as the sun in the sky, but other times only the Son of God can uncover them to the Light.

Swirling

Sometimes, when you are stressed and overworked, your brain goes crazy! Millions of things to do, and your brain goes round and round, from subject to subject!

They say women are generally like that, we spaghetti from one thing to another. Supposedly, men can shut stuff off and only concentrate on one thing at a time, or none at all! Right now, my brain is chaos. I wish I was a man sometimes. Women frustrate me in general, and I am at times ashamed to be one. But if I were a man, I’d think the same of men.

My brother said there is at least one good thing about being a woman. You don’t have to marry one!  HAHA! Goodness, to have to deal with a woman every day of my life! Poor men.

Maybe, I’m just tired of evil old sin. Yup, that’s it. Sin makes people mess up, and sometimes, the sins of women are so much more LOUD. Not only loud, but public, and chaotic. Men’s flaws are a bit more quieter…but then that can be disastrous, too…

Conclusion: Sin is bad. Humans are messed up.

But, then we knew that already, didn’t we! ;) Praise the Father who sent His Son to liberate us from sin and lead us in a path to righteousness and holiness! One day, we shall be complete in glory with HIM! Isn’t that the most beautiful thing EVER!

Question?

Is not your soul more important than your body? If it is wrong to hurt the body how much more the soul? If it is socially accepted that cutting, anorexia, bulimia, and other self abuse practices are wrong…then why is it OK to break hearts, dash hopes, throw around the emotions of others and worse?

Why do people believe it is OK to go from relationship to relationship heading straight for the rocks of emotional abuse?

Why do we encourage our children to find “the one” via a path of pain and destruction? I really want to know…

Joy vs. Happiness

So, today I feel happy. My mama is coming home from her trip! This feeling of positive goodness is definitely circumstantial. When mama left 10 days ago, I did not feel happy, but I could feel joy.

Joy is not dependent on one’s circumstances, while happiness is.

I felt joy because my dear overworked mother would get a wonderful break from it all and get to spend time doing something she loved (genealogy). I was not happy that I would not get to see her for a whole long ten days.

So many times, I have chosen happiness over joy. Not only am I given a rollercoaster of a ride, but I end up feeling dry and empty when circumstances change.

Even so, I am prone to finding myself depressed when my circumstances are amazing.

I have all I need. A family that loves me, an amazing boyfriend and his family who love me, a chance to get an education, a past where God has always provided, and most of all a saving relationship with Christ! So why, why do I get depressed at times? Why is my “happy-ness” level on Zero?

I believe it’s because my focus is on myself and not on Christ. I want to “feel” good. I, me, and myself.

Joy looks at what Christ has given me, who He is, and praises Him in Sunshine or Storm. Joy moves on. How I wish I chose joy every time over happiness!

Will you choose joy? It’s so much more longlasting…

Anne’s Ideals

Anne is a woman of ideals.

She dreamed of a tall dark handsome man with a never ending list of alluring qualities. After rejecting Gilbert, Anne is told by several she won’t find her ideal man. That Gilbert may not be what she wants, but he’s good enough. Even Anne herself says, “He’s hardly my ideal…”

This got me thinking. So many times, women set a standard for the kind of man they want to marry. They make a list. Definitely checking it more than Santa Claus and never finding the “perfect” man.

They’re picky. Well, some are. Not everyone who sets standards for a guy sets them the wrong way. There are standards and there are standards.

I was asked once by a guy what I was looking for in a husband. I really hadn’t given much thought. Really, I hadn’t.

Of course, I wanted him to be a believer, dedicated to the Lord, interested in ministry, good with kids, kind, patient, blah, blah. But I never made a list. I just knew those things were part of the character of a godly man and recognized them when I saw them.

I’ve always been quite conservative. When I was in high-school, I met maybe one guy as conservative as I. The kinda guy I thought I might be able to marry. I don’t watch what everyone watches nor do I listen to the Top 10. I’m not into tv that much and am not a fan of being one of the crowd. So, without meeting many who thought like me, I imagined I’d end up single or God was gonna have to throw someone at me.

But there was the other option. One the enemy wedged in there quite often as well.

Settling for less.

That’s what everyone told Anne.  You’ll have to settle for less than your dream man. Yet, her desires for a man were superficial and physical. Not life changing or theological. She eventually did not marry the kind of man who she thought was best for her, but married the man who was best for her.

Girls, don’t make a list with what kind of music he needs to like, what kind of hobbies he has to have, the color of his hair, and build. You will have to rethink your list eventually.

Do recognize what a man of God is and seek to surround yourself with those who seek Him first. Don’t settle for less in the belief department or conviction area. Those are the elements which create part of your soul and spirit and “dumbing” them down dumbs the One who created you. Never listen to anyone who tells you you need to settle for a man who seeks God’s word less than you and who will make you be the spiritual leader.

God will orchestrate the music which brings you to the one who He has for you. Listen to Him and stick to what He has shown you to be of value.

~I wasn’t looking for someone.  I wasn’t expecting anything.

And then God opened my heart and eyes to what He had, and I’ve been more thankful everyday.  <3

No More Mister Nice Guy

Today, I began reading “Smart Women, Foolish Choices,” by Connell Cowan and Melvyn Kinder- some book I picked up in the back of the library for a quarter. I’m skimming it- since half of it is 80’s psychology I already know. Lol…But the part I bookmarked caught my eye. It was what I was looking for.

“This masked “nice guy” is truly a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He is often to hard to detect at first, as he is quite skillfull at maintaining his guise. But if one looks closely he can easily be identified by three basic traits. First, this nice guy never really gets angry- at least not at first. Secondly, he is wonderfully sensitive and understanding, again for a time. And third, he is highly motivated to be supportive and helpful, provided the woman expresses early and often, her gratitude and appreciation, and also spends all her free time with him.

…So compelling is his need for women that he identifies with their struggles in order to confirm his sensitivity and secure their trust. Watch out!! This same “nice guy” can be counted on to subtly sabotage the woman as soon as he senses she is becoming too strong and independent….

Boiling the Frog

It’s something you’ve heard since you were a kid.

Bad company corrupts good morals. Don’t let your friends influence you for the worse.Yeah, it’s what mother’s been telling you since you heard Johnny in the sandbox say a four-letter expletive.  And you know she’s right.  Even more, you agree. You’ve seen it happen before and you try to stay away from those druggies and women of bad repute. Try to.

But then there are those other friends. The ones who aren’t selling drugs or swearing every five minutes. They are believers and profess to follow the Lord. They talk the talk. They lift their hands in worship. You even find yourself admiring them.  But then…well, there is that other side of their lives.

• They watch movies filled with swearing, but then they post those Hillsong praise music videos.
• Their conversation can get crass, but then they praise the Lord for providing for their college tuition.
• They worry about getting married, but then they “know” the Lord will provide for that missions trip to Mexico.
• They cuss out the security guard for booting their car, yet give testimony of the Lord’s goodness in front of the congregation.

Does the godly act justify the ungodly act? Do you praise the Lord with the same mouth you damn mankind? It just doesn’t make sense. It would seem the whole concept of “being in the world, but not of it” has been taken and used as an excuse to fill one’s life with that which doesn’t glorify the One the claim to serve.  I’m pretty sure Jesus was the best example of being in the world and not of it. He ate with the Pharisees, yet did not participate in their lifestyle of good works as a way to heaven. He ate with the tax collectors and prostitutes yet steered away from living like they did.

“Shall we continue in sin, so that grace abound?, By no means!!” One of the most famous servants of God said those words. And he was right. “Everything is permitted, yet not everything is beneficial.” The same dude, Paul, again.  Just because it’s not a sin specified in the Bible, doesn’t mean it is not bad for you.

Watching R rated movies which are filled with the misuse of the name of the One you claim to serve doesn’t add up.

How can you benefit from watching people have sex? Would you watch the Smiths next door have sex? No, but it’s ok to watch Jolie and Pitt do it.

How can a logical Christian man justify this?  A non Christian man cannot.

One of my friends is dating a non-Christian. He tells her there is no difference between “you and me”. And maybe he is right. Is there a difference between you, a believer, and a man who is not? How can you serve two masters? How can the light abide with the darkness and be at peace? One will surely over take the other.

It reminds me of the frog in water example. Drop a frog in boiling water and he will flee. Drop him in cold water and slowly raise the temperature. He will die before he realizes. If you are thrust into sin, you might flee. But slowly desensitize yourself to that which is not of Christ, and soon your communion with God and sense of morality will be as dead as the frog in the water.

Yeah, so those friends? Maybe they’re better off being just acquaintances.