Why I am Anti-Woman Power

“Day 5: The Spoke of Valuing Your Calling”

At first glance, this chapter seemed to be about managing your time.  Making sure we make time to do the things we need to do; to live out our calling.  However, there were many times during the reading when she spoke about men vs. woman problems.  I don’t feel like this has anything to do with ME valuing MY time and doing want I need to do with MY time.

If I am working as a nurse in a nursing home in San Diego making $21 an hour, and nurse Joe, whom I work beside daily, make $23 an hour I do not care.  I may be the only woman on this planet who says it, but I say it again, I DO NOT CARE.

I took the job because the $21 an hour offered got me what I needed.  It clothed me, fed me, got me to and from work, and helped pay for the roof over my head.  What nurse Joe is making has no bearing on my situation what-so-ever…

I like to value, more than the money I am making, the fact that I have a job.  I like to value that I have been given the gift that I have been given to be able to complete my job.  I like to value my ability to get up and go to work, everyday, more than the money I am bringing home, ESPECIALLY in comparison to what someone else is doing.

We all have our jobs.  All of our jobs are different.  Even people who do the same type of work , do their jobs differently.  Is it fair that a woman may get paid less than a man for holding the same position?  Probably not.  Where we ever promised fairness in this life?  Absolutely not.

I was told that I would not say these things if I were a single mother.  I cannot say what I would do as a single mother, and pray I never have to.  I can say what I pray I WOULD say:

God will provide.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?  “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?…

Matthew 6:25-27

I have met a couple of people who have said they have literally gotten checks in the mail, in a time of need, and that they had no idea where it came from.  Personally, even growing up, we have always had what we needed.  WE have never been rich people, but we have always been provided for.

Someone else said I must not be a justice person.  Justice for what and from whom?  My God gives me what I need.  Who shall I get justice against if someone else gets more?  God?  The Devil?  Joe?  When people are truly wronged, (murdered, raped, stolen, lied to, ect…) then, yes, justice should prevail.  But not over money.

I don’t know why Joe is getting more money.  Maybe God sees fit that his needs are greater.  Maybe he is being rewarded by the devil for doing the devil’s work?

We all have a place, and a job, and they are not all equal.  We can’t all be on top.  However, we will all be provided for with what we need, if we believe, and that is “good enough” for me.

Our time should be used by us to accomplish the things we are meant to accomplish.  There is no heavenly way to compare our tasks to anyone else’s tasks.  We must all complete our tasks on our time with what we are given.  We do not NEED any more than what we have.  We want.  And if our wants are not in line with our mission from God, they are just that: wants.

I just feel like there are so many other things that are so much bigger than this.  Starving people who wish they were making any money at all.  People being persecuted and murdered for their beliefs.  Some may say: “Well, to help those folks you need to make more money to be able to give aid”.  And if that is in my life plan from God, I will have the money to give.

We were not put here to serve ourselves.  We were put here to serve God, and He WILL provide everything that is necessary for that.  That may mean that some get “more” than others.  As long as I am able to complete my calling, that is also “good enough” for me.

These are, obviously, just my opinions.  None of my writings are against the other, wonderful, ladies from the group.  I welcomed their views, as I have never understood this struggle.  I, still, do not understand, because I can stand strong in knowing God provides me with exactly what I need, and my worth is certainly not measured in dollars.

*FYI:  The “book” I speak of is “The Christ-Centered Woman”, by Kimberly Dunnam Reisman.

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Bruce Jenner Is Not A Hero

Illuminating Truth

I generally try to steer clear of controversial issues on here. Most are so deeply embedded in presuppositions that writing about them generally just generates more anger and frustration than meaningful discussion. However, I never want to shy away from speaking something that needs to be said even if I know it is not something people want to hear. So, I want to talk about Bruce Jenner.

Today, Bruce Jenner appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair, dressed as a woman and introducing himself to the world as “Caitlyn Jenner.” You see, he has decided that he is a woman and that by saying it and probably some very extensive surgery, he can make it so. In today’s world, we think gender is something we get to choose, like our career path or our clothes. So, people across the nation have lauded him as a hero. Certainly, this is the…

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God’s Random Gift

You may be thinking, “God’s acts are not random”.

And you would be correct.  🙂

Sometimes, it seems like this is how we think, though.  God sent His Son to save us; to take away all our sins, and to give us salvation.  Yet we find it SO hard to simply receive the gift, and say THANK YOU.

The topic of whether or not it is OK to question “things” came up again the other night.  Most believe it is.  I do not.  It was the way I was brought up, but, more importantly, at this point, it is what make most sense.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t ask questions so we can better understand how we are to live.  I’m saying that when the Bible says something, take it as truth.  If God sends you a “message in a bottle”, do what He says.  Don’t ask why; don’t try to find a way around; don’t argue it doesn’t make sense.  Listen.

It’s called obedience.  We have a hard time with that word these days.  We want to do as we please, and we don’t want to have to listen to anyone.  Jonah didn’t listen to God and he got eaten by a WHALE!  😉

It’s, also, basic faith.

John 20:29~ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

As awesome as it would be, we do not get to walk with the physical Jesus.  However, we can still walk with him.  We just need faith.  A childlike faith.  Like the faith we had that we had in our parents, as we grew, that they would would take care of us.  I know not everyone had the pleasure of the parents I speak of, but if you’re reading this you have made it this far.  And if not with the parents I spoke of, with a more powerful Father in your corner.  We all have Him.  All we have to do is accept Him, and He will be with us always.

Romans 10:9~ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

It likes when we experience a random act of kindness.  We are overjoyed.  We can’t believe someone would do something SO nice.  We thank them a million times over.  “Are you SURE you want to give me this gift?”  Eventually, we accept the gift, and we walk away smiling.

Why can’t we do that with God’s gift? God gave us this amazing gift, His son, to save us.  It’s a normal reaction to be in awe when this realization hits.  It’s normal to relive that awe over and over.  It’s normal to want to share it.  However, at some point shouldn’t we just say thank you and stop asking if He’s SURE He wants us to have the gift?  Is He sure it was for us?  He isn’t going to take it back, and he leaves no one out.  All we have to do is EXCEPT IT!

I, firmly, believe constantly looking for answers we will NEVER find robs us of the joy God wants us to have.  We are so worried about stuff we aren’t supposed to worry about, we miss out on the peace we have been given.

Tell God thank you.  His gift was NOT random.

Attitude is Everything

The Things I’ve Wanted to Talk About!

Oh my goodness!  It’s been way too long, and I’ve had SO many things to share!

We just finished “The Best Yes”, by Lysa Terkeurst, and it was FABULOUS!  I would highly recommend reading it…you know…in your spare time! 😉

I lead the discussion today…(my third time…EEK!)…and what really hit me was the section on a fixed mind set vs. a growth mind set.  It reminded me of when I was younger, much much younger, and I would say, “I’m not changing myself.  Especially not for YOU! I’m fine the way I am…”

While being fine may have held true, was it the best me?  Likely not.

I believe that’s where the message gets misconstrued, and Lysa helped me see that.  I still see young people, on social media, saying, “I’m not changing who I am for you.  If you don’t like me, that’s fine”.  And it is fine.  Not everyone will like us, AND we shouldn’t change for others.  However, the question we need to ask ourselves in these situations is AM I THE BEST ME, I CAN BE?  Not to please others, but to better ourselves.

A fixed mind set will tell you, yes…yes you are.  You are you.  This is who you are…the very best of it.  It gets no better than this.

Can you imagine hitting your full potential and being who you are going to be at 15!?!  (Which is the approximate age of the above statement.)  I definitely wouldn’t be here, writing you, if that were the case.  I would have most certainly not lead this mornings discussion, and this new job I’m starting…that would be a definite no go!

With a growth mind set we believe there is a better me inside.  There is always room to grow and improve.  Not just ourselves, but our relationships, as well.

“I want to grow through this with you.”

This may be my favorite quote.  Trials happen, but they are what we make of them.  If we let them pull us down that is our choice.  We can also GROW from them.  Grow ourselves, and grow our relationships.  And isn’t that what we are supposed to be doing?

Philippians 3:12

¹² Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus.

Working to be perfect; working to be Christlike.  It will not happen, but should we settle for being who were at 15?  Should we go on forever the way we are today??  Goodness no!  That would be sad for us, and, I know, sad for God; who knows ALL of our potential!

Fifteen year old Heather was nice, but today’s Heather is a great improvement in so many ways.

Who is your best you?

Faith Note

From Out of this World

There has been a topic floating around in my world for a couple weeks, now.  It has come in many forms, but always points back to the same issue.

First, there was a sermon about hurtful words.  While, yes, I do believe it is important to remind people we must watch what we say, I believe it is equally important to remind people the words that are used against them, to hurt them, are just that: words.  The saying “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt” is a very true statement.  They only hurt if we LET them hurt.  They will sting when they are thrown, but if our eyes and mind are fixed on God, we realize, quickly, that the only opinion of us that matters is that of God.  We pray for the hurt sower, and move on with our happy days.

Next, a very dear person to me was in a bad spot where people were afraid they may hurt themselves…  The issue is now, I believe, being dealt with, but that is a scary spot to be in.  No matter what others are saying (or doing for that matter), at school or work, it is grains of sand compared to the love God has for us.

John 15:18, 19~“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.…

The people of this world have an innate desire to hurt others.  Perhaps it makes the hurt sower feel better about themselves?  Perhaps the hurt sower is just unaware of the power they have to another individual?  In any instance we have been chosen “out of this world”.  We are not to follow the patterns of this world.  We are to follow Jesus Christ.

John 13:34~”A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

The last instance was a discussion of kids making friends so they aren’t depressed later in life.  While I do agree that human relationships are VERY important, I think we have to be realistic, and teach our children to be realistic, in that everyone is not going to like and agree with everyone else.  We are called to love one another, but every one is not going to be “besties”.  People are put in our lives, and people are taken from our lives.  There is a reason for them all, but there are only a select few that will REALLY be our “friends”.  The ones who really get us, and understand us…and vise versa.  When we are making the best decisions we can, and we are doing our best to live like Jesus did, everyone isn’t going to like our decisions and the way we live our life.  It doesn’t mean we are wrong.

Hatred and hurt is of THIS world, so we must not let it hurt us.  We must rise above the patterns of this world, and do our best to build each other up to fight the hurt sowers of this world, not submit to their realities.

Be a Trend Setter

While leaving church tonight, my friend asked, “do people ever lift their hands and praise?”  I told her that, yes, they do sometimes, and that that had been in a recent Thursday night sermon.  It’s ok to visually praise God during worship, whether people are looking or not.  After all…we are taking things from Me to Ministry.

In the car on my way home, I thought, I should have told her to raise her hands and praise God.  Don’t feel embarrassed; BE A TREND SETTER!!

Have you ever noticed it always takes that one person to stand for a song?  Everyone is thinking about it.  They just aren’t sure if they should do it…  Isn’t someone else going to stand?  Ok, I will.  Never mind, it’s too late…the song is almost over.

BE TREND SETTER!

Don’t wait to see what everyone else is doing.  Do what you know to be right!  Sometimes the right thing isn’t the comfortable thing.  DO IT ANYWAY! 😉

Philippians 4:8~ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

Can I get an AMEN! 😉 (Or even a grunt of some sort?)

When we set the trend, we control our thoughts.  When we control our thoughts and keep or focus on God, we shine His light for others to see.

Cue Mighty to Save: (3:35)

(Sorry, it’s running through my head as I type…)

Again, setting a trend.  If we walk around smiley and lovey, people will, eventually, want to know our secret…  Jesus Loves ME!  No seriously, We are saved.  HE does love us.  HE came and died FOR US.  Seeing His trend?!?

When the focus is turned from how will we do it, to how will HE help us do it, we realize He will get us over that mountain.  He will provide us with what we need.  There is no, “I’m not sure I should do this…God might not be able to provide everything…”  He can and He WILL!  (As He sees fit.  He reserves the right to say no, just like any good parent, and that’s ok.  It’s all part of our journey.)  He is a huge God…greater than all the problems of the world.  It’s up to us to share Him and show others His glory.

We never know who is watching, or who is listening.  We may be that one happy thing in someones day, week, or year.  A smile.  A bright side.  And when they see our smile, they may smile.  And when they smile, someone will see their smile.  We never know how far OUR smile can go.

Praise God; others WILL follow.

Show God to the world; others WILL follow.

Take the focus off yourself and put it on God; others WILL follow.

Be His hands and feet.

Be a trend setter!

Why Did He Let It Happen?

How often do we hear THAT question?  When someone gets sick, people ask why God would let this happen.  When tragic events occur, people ask why God would let this happen.  When people are lacking, people ask why God would let this happen.

Truth?

He doesn’t.  In most cases, WE let those things happen; human error.  God does perform miracles, when He sees fit.  When we pray and ask for help, we do get it; it just may not be EXACTLY what we had in mind.  If God intervened in every situation to fix every mistake we made, or obstacle the world threw at us, we would have no works to do.  As GREAT as that may sound, we were put here to do God’s works.  He made us, and He put us here to take care of this place and each other, in His name.

To do this, we need resources.  Money, time, gifts, ect…

Ephesians 4:11-13~11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.…

When we give back to God what is His, monetarily or otherwise, it shouldn’t be based on how we feel that day, or on what God has done, or not done, for us; we give based on the fact He gave everything to us.  Without Him, we wouldn’t be here.  Without Him, I wouldn’t have the greatest little family on the planet.  Without Him, we would be condemned.

2 Corinthians 9:7~Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

I am as guilty as the next person of not doing as much as I can.  I have fallen behind on this years giving merely because I ran out of checks.  At first, I kept saying I’ll get them next week.  Then, I kept forgetting…  Then, it became a month or so…  Today, I utilized the QR code!!  I had tried once before, but I got frustrated and gave up.  Now, we can give anytime we forget to stop for cash, or we can’t find our checkbook. New start, no excuses…

I am glad that stewardship is an intentional “season” in our church.  It leaves less room for random rants, and makes room for a more intentional and, likely, a more successful explanation of the meaning and expectations of being a good steward.

1 Corinthians 4:1~ This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Proverbs 11:24~ One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want

Perfection is not demanded and will NEVER be attained by us, but if we do our best to glorify the Lord, and do as He asks, He will always make sure we have what we need.

A New Journey: Changing Focus From a Me to a Ministry Mindset

Going to church isn’t about making us feel better.

What?!?!

Yes, I said it.  Going to church isn’t about US, it is about worshiping God.  It’s about thanking Him for all we have, and all we don’t have.  It’s about praising The Man who came to us, to save us.  We should go to church thinking “what can I do to help our church”.  What can our church do for those in need.  There will be times when we are the ones in need, but that’s, hopefully, not the only times we walk through the doors.

Of course, there is plenty of time for learning and growing, in the church.  There are usually book study groups, small group studies, circles, etc.  However, the knowledge we gain from these should be used to give back to the church.  When the church equips us with the knowledge to help others, we are to use it, not sit on it!  Go out and tell people.  Bring them with you, so they, too, can thank God, AND learn.

Just imagine.  What if everyone stopped trying to get something, and everyone started to give something?  There would be an overabundance of gifts to receive, use, and give back!  Forcing GROWTH.  And that is our main mission…to spread The Word.

Everyone isn’t going to have the same gifts to share, that is why it is so important that everyone do their part.  Not everyone is born work the back office numbers, but the person who isn’t good at that may be perfect for organizing a family church day, or delivering meals to people in need.  Someone may be a great listener for the tough times, but not the person who is to stand and speak in front of the church!  EEK!

This is where the wondering thoughts have taken me…  Moses.  While completing Disciple I, I realized Moses is my man.  He is the me in the Bible.

Exodus 4:10-17~ 10Then Moses said to the LORD, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” 11The LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12“Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.” 13But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”  14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15“You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.16“Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him.

FOCUS YOUR FAITH!  We have to learn to change our thoughts from what “I” can do, to what God wants me to do.  If He wants us to do it, He will equip us with what we need.  I HATE to speak in front of people.  Not HATE; cannot.  I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.  And if something does, Heaven help us, because it’s not likely what was in my head.  😉

I worried and worried about this until I read these verses.  If Moses can tell God “face to face” that he is a chicken, why should I be ashamed!!  God gave Moses Aaron; God gave me a computer.  😉

Ephesians 4:11-13~11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.…

Point being, we cannot just turn away, because we feel we have nothing to offer, that our gift to share isn’t as important, or that we, simply, aren’t capable of what God is asking.

In all of our journey’s, we will have times when it seems we are running full speed ahead, and there will be times when the devil is pushing us, with all his might, trying to get us to go backward instead of forward.  When he throws an obstacle in our way, we have to bob and weave those punches!  As long as we are moving forward, God will equip us with what we need to reach His destination.

All of our gifts and talents are equally important, and they should be used according to God’s will.  We just have to figure out what they are, and how they fit into the picture.

Jeremiah 29:11-13~¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.