Bible

Sharing God’s Love

May 6, 2009 By kelly 3 Comments

I have really been struggling over how to write this post that has been on my heart for quite some time now. It’s an issue that really moves me and I want to make sure that anything I say comes across in the way my heart feels it and the way God has laid it on me to share. So, my prayer is that when you read these words you know that they are directly from my own heart and that I feel that God has given me purpose and a call to write them. I just hope I can come up with the right ways to say the things I feel lead and called to say. Bear with me, please.

Recently someone close to me that I love very much became involved in an interracial relationship. At this point the relationship is still pretty new and we all know how that goes – there is much to be discovered, much to learn about each other, etc. There is already a huge hurdle to this new relationship and that is something that is weighing heavily on the person I am close to which has been on my heart as well. The hurdle is that she is worried, with cause, that her family and friends won’t be accepting of this relationship. Without knowing the person with whom she is involved, automatic red flags will go up simply because he is of another race. This really hurts my heart. It hurts me because I just don’t believe for one second that it’s right to judge anyone, especially because of their race. It hurts me because I don’t believe it’s of God to feel that way about other people and races. And it hurts me because if this is a person that can truly make my loved one happy and truly love her, then there should be no hurdles, no qualms and no misgivings. I keep thinking about this over and over, so I have felt compelled to write it out here.

I have had racial issues on my heart for a pretty long time. I think this is because I grew up in rural South Georgia where, frankly, racism does exist. It is not one-sided nor is it right, but it exists. This truly bothers me. It bothers me because I know in my heart that God created all of mankind in His own image. And ,who are we to feel that we are greater than anyone else simply because of skin color? Who has the right to act superior to another based on race? No one. God Himself is not white. Jesus did not come to this earth as a white man. These are facts. Jesus was a middle Eastern man. He was certainly not a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, tall, tanned and ruggedly handsome white man. This is one way that I know that God does not elevate nor value the causasian race above any other. God made us all, therefore I know that He loves us all. He does not differentiate His love whatsoever. There is not a heaven for every race. Heaven is a place for all children of God which includes every person of every race who accepts Christ to receive the gift of eternal life. So, who are we to deem ourselves higher than God? To say that we cannot accept someone as a friend or even a potential future family member because they are of a different race seems to me to be against God. God’s family is huge and it’s diverse and it’s beautiful. He didn’t make a mistake when He created races. He made various races on purpose and He loves each of us as His own. If we truly have the love of God in our own hearts and souls, how can we not do the same? How can we look with disdain or distrust or dislike (dare I even say hatred, at times) on someone of another race? If we are of God, we are to love as God loves and that is without boundaries and most certainly without the prejudices of this sinful world in our hearts. We cannot know or extend the love of God if we cannot love all of His people. That’s my belief. In John 13 verse 34 -35(NIV) reads – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” The very Word of God instructs us to love one another as Christ has loved us. This doesn’t say white people love white people, black people love black people, etc. This simply and completely says LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Period. No boundaries, no defined parameters whatsoever – just to love. If we are to truly love as God has called us to love through Christ, we must be color-blind, without prejudice of any kind and willing to accept God’s own family as our own.

First John also covers the way that God loves us and wants us to love one another. Verses 7-12 (NIV) read: Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. What believer can read these words and deny that God has called us to love all mankind? We aren’t just to love the ones that look like us. We aren’t only to love the ones that act just like us. We are called to love one another and that is the simple truth. God is love. To know His love is to live in Him. To live in Him fully is to extend His love. This is a theme that resonates over and over in God’s Word. He hasn’t called us to love according to this world, but according to His Word. And, I believe that with all my heart. I believe God has put a calling on me to reach out and try to show that His love is without limits. God, in essence, is color blind. He doesn’t love anyone because of race. God loves the hearts and souls of His people. Hearts and souls that, quite frankly, are all darkened by nature of sin, but only made pure by the very blood of Christ. None of us are without sin and none of us deserve God’s love in the slightest. But, by His unwaivering goodness and grace, He gives love and forgiveness to all who receive Him. To truly believe and live in Him is to not only receive that love, but to pass it on to every person without exception.

I am not here to sit in judgment of anyone. I just feel this heavy on my heart because, as I said, I feel like God has called me to be compassionate about this in my life. I am ashamed to say that I used to have some issues with prejudice in my own heart. I am ashamed of that, I have repented and I have most certainly changed my feelings and my ways. This happened a long time ago and my heart has been uplifted since then. And, I have had a burden to share with others that God’s love knows no boundaries, so therefore ours should not either.

As for this new relationship, I am in full support of my loved one. I feel blessed to have the family and home life that Mickey and I share and that is what I wish for the person I care about so much. If this new person brings that joy, that happiness, that peace and that love then that is a prayer that will be answered. If their relationship is right with God then I hope and pray that no one here on this earth tries to stand in their way. I hope that hearts will be changed and eyes will be opened so that these obstacles are removed from them. My prayer and hope is that God’s love works on all of our hearts so that we can not only experience it for ourselves, but pass it along.

I may have more to say on this at another time as it really is something I care deeply about and feel moved to share. In the meantime, I hope my words have revealed God and brought glory to Him. It’s not about me. It never will be. I only want to serve Him and be His vessel.

Amen.

Thankful List for November 12, 2008

November 12, 2008 By kelly 1 Comment

I have decided to work on my “thankful list” since we have just over two weeks before Thanksgiving. My family and I are so blessed and have much to be thankful for and I want to use my blog as a declaration of our thankfulness.

Today, I am thankful for friends…

Mickey and I are blessed to have some incredible friends. Since we don’t live within close proximity to any members of our family, we are even more thankful to have friends close by that we love and who love us in return. We know that we have this extended family in God and it blesses our hearts tremendously. I am grateful that I have had the same best friend for such a long time and even distance can’t separate the bond God gave us as sisters of the heart. Mickey and I are both thankful to have reconnected with old friends and also made new friends via the internet. To see our girls forming friendships and sharing in giggles, play and fun is just beautiful. We just have so much to be thankful for in the way of friendships that I cannot do justice with words. Friends are a true gift of God and for each of our friends and their places in our hearts and lives, we are truly grateful.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV)

Thank you, Veterans!

November 11, 2008 By kelly Leave a Comment

Today is a Federal holiday here in the US. It’s Veterans Day. A day to honor and thank those who have served our country and those who have fallen in protecting our liberties. In our combined family we have many veterans serving from WWII through the War on Terror. We are honored and grateful for EVERY Veteran and especially those closest to our own hearts. THANK YOU! God bless you all!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

With God It’s Never a Coincidence…

November 7, 2008 By kelly 8 Comments

God has really been working on me lately about reading my Bible. I’ll admit that I have slacked off on it and I have no excuse for that. He’s working on me. It’s subtle, but I know that God is guiding me to and through His word.

Last night I read my current novel (Savannah Comes Undone) before bed. I got a few chapters read and put the book down before reaching over to my nightstand to turn off my lamp. As I reached across the nightstand, I noticed my Bible there. I felt a nudge to pick it up and read it, but continued to reach for the lamp because, well, I was tired. The nudge won over and I picked up the Bible and began to read where I had placed the ribbon marker the last time I read it. I have a goal of reading through the New Testament, but I have admittedly not been reading as regularly as I should. So, last night my reading took me to Matthew 6:25-34 which reads as follows:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (NIV)

That is a passage about worry. It was a passage that my heart has desperately needed lately. Our family has had some financial struggles over the last year and a half or so. I think it goes without saying that financial struggles are some of the hardest to face because, well, money is so essential to getting by in this life. I have been praying for a solution and have asked God for guidance, wisdom and His continued provision. All of which He has freely given, in His amazing ways. Last night’s reading was such a comfort to me because I needed that blessed assurance. I needed to once again realize that my trust needs to be fully in God’s plan. I needed to find that release. He gave it. He guided me right into His word and took me to the passage that my heart so desperately sought even without me knowing it. It’s not a coincidence that my reading last night took me to that particular section of Matthew. That was God and with God there are no coincidences. I just feel so blessed that He, the God of all creation, gave that to me at that time last night. At a time when I could have worried myself to bits and pieces, God brought me to His word and reassured me yet again. He didn’t have to do that, but He did. Amazing.

I think it’s so important to remember that God doesn’t always come to us in ways that move mountains. Sometimes He nudges. Sometimes He whispers. We might think we NEED Him to yell, to get in our face, to guide our feet, but His way is THE way and we have to trust in that. We have to be willing to move according to Him and not ourselves. I find that hard sometimes, I won’t even begin to say that I don’t. How many times have I reached over that Bible and turned off the light to go to sleep without reading? Too many. But, not last night. And, He blessed me for it. Praise be to God!!

If Life Were a Movie…

November 6, 2008 By kelly 5 Comments

I don’t know exactly WHY this thought popped into my head last night, but as I was getting ready for bed I started thinking about what it would be like if my life were a movie that I could watch. At first I thought about how cool that would be. Who wouldn’t want ot relive the great memories, right? I also know there are LOTS of good things that have happened that I have simply forgotten over the years. That would all be pretty fun to see again. But, then it occurred to me that there are just parts of my life that I’d rather not revisit. I’d rather leave that footage on the cutting room floor to be swept away never to be thought of or seen again. Aren’t we all like that? Don’t we all have regrets along the way? I’ll confess that I certainly do. It’s human nature because we’re born sinners. Try as we might, no one gets through this life without some sources of shame. So, more than wanting to see my whole life as a movie, I think I’d rather see the highlight reel. I’d rather see the beautiful moments and relive some forgotten good times. Wouldn’t that be pretty amazing?

I hope it doesn’t sound corny to say this, but in writing this I realized that Jesus came to provide believers with a cutting room floor for the sinful times in our lives. Okay, I know. It’s a bit corny, but stick with me. It’s true, right? Because Christ came, taught, was crucified, died and rose again we have the awesome gift of losing the sins of our past, present and future. If we accept and believe. Now, that’s incredible. Because of Jesus, we have the highlight reel and the rest is forgotten in Eternity. That’s not to say it’s forgotten during our lifetimes. I don’t mean that we should dwell on mistakes of our past or that we should live under a depressing cloak of guilt. That’s not the way of Christ. He has promised us forgiveness that comes by faith and trust. So, our mistakes are washed away, but I truly believe that the lessons we can take away from them need to remain. If we don’t acknowlege and repent, then we don’t move forward. If we don’t realize our wrongdoings and work to make sure we better ourselves, we don’t really let go of the mistakes themselves. I have gotten bogged down in the sadness of my own mistakes. I keep thinking that sometimes things are just not forgiveable. But, that is not faith talk. That is not faith in action. To believe fully in Christ is to know that ALL is forgiven by His sacrifice. We cannot and should not remain in the mire of our sin, but we can take valuable life lessons from our mistakes and move forward. We can live our highlight reel every day! All we have to do is accept, confess, repent and believe. How awesome is THAT?!

1 John 8-9:

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.