Thursday, March 6, 2014

Prepare

Kitchen gadgets.  I have two drawers full of gadgets and a few containers around my kitchen that contain more gadgets.  I feel prepared to cook or bake anything on a whim.  When someone says "we need to prepare", I'm always left with this worry.  Prepare!!!!  Freaks me out that I have to prepare for something.  Getting ready.  I think that is why I always wait for the last minute to do something because then I don't have to prepare, I can just do.  But procrastination is for another day....or so it shall seem.  Back to prepare. 

I tried to think about what this word means to mean when it comes to Lent.  Prepare my heart.  Prepare my mind. 

1 Peter 3:15 ESV     
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

To be prepared to make a defense that person needs to have tools.  When ever someone brings up a hot topic about being Christian I always get this "freak me out" feeling.  Like I don't know what to say or do.  I don't want to be the Bible thumper but I have always been raised to stand up for what you believe in.  I think in this day and age we are starting to hold our tongues more being afraid of what others may think or say.  I don't feel like I have the tools....I'm not prepared to have this fight.....or am I. 

I discovered a few days ago that I didn't need much but courage (a big tool).  I had a tool and I was going to use it.  A friend posted this picture a few days ago on FB:

Now before you get all puffy and upset about this picture, I will state that my friend took feedback from others very well and I believe has had some times where those of us who say we are "Christians" act otherwise and have treated him differently.  Hmmm, ties to my dust.  Strange.  Ok!!!  Now I used to just let things like this go as I feel everyone is entitled to their opinion except.....no dang it.....I felt it was my right as a believer in Christ to state that.....this poster would read differently depending on what Christian helped her fill it out.  I felt strong and liberated that I spoke up.  And shame on what ever parent puts this sign in their children's hands.  I am a full lover of science I believe God created individuals to find answers to his Almighty Kingdom.  But I would like to defer that on some ends of the spectrum it could say that According to Science   I am: genetically defected.  Yes, it is our job to prepare children for the hardships in life and let them know that they sin.....but so do we adults are sinners.  We are weak but God has prepared us with love that we are to share with each other and prepare us to walk with Christ.  I love my tools and my new found esteem to say I'm a believer.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Dust....

I will be honest...not that I really want to be however I have never gone to an Ash Wednesday service at church.  I'm a little in shock by this admittance but if I rack my brain hard enough no service comes to mind.  So I have never been smeared with ashes on my forehead.  I was going to plan on going this year however life has gotten away from me and I won't be able to make it yet another year.  However, I was slightly turned off by the idea after reading about a church that had an Ash Wednesday drive-thru.  A what?  Yup, drive-thru.  I write from time to time about my hardship of how we have become such a society of entitlement and instant gratification.  BUT, who am I to talk?  I can't even get in my vehicle to go to church, let alone a drive thru.

This doesn't speak to my heart that I do not regard this day as important or the Lent time for that matter.  I love this time of year.  Gives me time to reflect, to give more, to grow closer to God.  This year I have a list of photos that I will take each day and blog about.  Forcing me to slow down in this crazy thing I call life and reflect upon my calling to Christ.

Today's picture is to be of dust.  As I am eager to pick up my camera after a period of rest for carpal tunnel, I have decided to wait till tomorrow.  I have a photo that I had take recently that shows dust in such a perfect way that I want to share it.

 
“Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return
Turn away from your sins and believe in the Gospel”


I love this picture as it shows the growth of relationships between people.  But dancing so delicately in the air is flecks of dust.  If we continue to remind ourselves that we were once dust and dust we shall return then whose dust is better or worse than mine.  Kind of evens out the playing field in my opinion.  Continuing to focus on Christ will keep us turned from sin.  I find as I continue to try and walk with Christ my life is much easier than the days where I couldn't fathom walking in the light and took my life into my own hands. 

So today I will remember that I am dust and to dust I shall return....tomorrow....Prepare.