Today is September 21, 2013.
I read something in Galatians 5:17-18, "The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other and your choices are never free from this conflict. But, when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law." To really understand this, I had to realize that there is Gods way to be free from this conflict. It is to be directed by the Holy Spirit and follow His lead.
Lately the Roman Catholic leader, the Pope, has been adding more confusion into the mix of ideas what it means to live a life in Jesus Christ. He no longer wants the people in his group to focus on the sin of immorality and homosexuality, but, now, focus on the sin of abortion. It's crazy! What more conflict could this possibly introduce to put one sin above another? There is no solution in doing this. The Pope doesn't want to alienate people doing what their sinful nature is leading them to do by practicing homosexual/ immoral acts, but, he does want to shift to the people who are killing babies in the womb. To be honest, I can't measure sin, I don't see any difference in the old sinful nature loving to do one evil over doing another and I don't believe anyone else has the right to do this either. I think he fears losing members and to stop this, took a stand of refocusing his emphasis of pointing fingers from one old sinful nature evil to another. Conflict...would this really exist if the Holy Spirit was leading? Who led the Roman Catholic authorities into making a dogma that Mary, the woman whose womb God used to bring His Son into the world, was created without sin?(Immaculate Conception) Who led the same authorities into declaring there was the true presence of Jesus Christ in the communion wafer after the action of "transubstantiation?" Conflict. And yet, it doesn't bother anyone because then someone would have to address the issue.
I understand from what Paul is saying that when we follow the Holy Spirit, we won't experience any conflict within our hearts to know where to "walk." If there is disagreements, it will be on the outside of the seal, the perimeter of the union God formed with our cleansed hearts through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, our risen Lord, Savior and Messiah. Paul's statements remind me of the parable Jesus told about the "house" that is against itself. Why it was in conflict was because there was a constant battle, constant fighting going on within. The result, the "house" was cleaned, the demon thrown out. But, the next thing that happened, the demon roamed around gathering more forces to come against that same house, enter it with more power and the house was in worse spiritual condition than it was to begin with. Why? If I apply what God, the Lord Jesus is telling me through the writing of Paul, it would be the result of not being directed by the Holy Spirit, completely and fully after the house was cleansed, leaving room for more misdirection than what took place in the beginning. From this, I am directed by the Spirit of God to be directed to pray for all of us, that we humble ourselves before You, Lord God, Jesus Christ and ask for mercy and that we would receive and follow the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Blooming in the desert!
My sons, David and Tommy, have suggested I begin blogging. I've been writing notebooks for years...they are my journals.
Today is Thursday, September 19, 2013.
In addition to being my brother, Toms birthday, it is Sukkot, a Jewish holiday that is meant to remind the Jews of the booths built by the people as they traveled through the desert after God took them out of Egypt through the efforts of His servant, Moses. The ECP is closed in memory of this and I am reflecting on some of my own recent experiences, as I wander through a desert-type event, attempting to rely on God, Jesus Christ, to "bloom in the desert."
I've been thinking about babies and why they cry. Remembering back to the time when Tommy and David were babies, I know, there is a reason a child cries. They, too, go through "deserts," not exactly knowing their needs, yet, realizing they want them met. Doing research and finding articles describing that it's "ok" for babies to cry for extended periods of time hasn't convinced me that it is the best for the child. What is an "extended" period of time? It's pretty plain to see that if a child has been sitting in a position for more than 5 minutes, it may be time to move them to another interesting position if they aren't mobile, or, at least offer them something "new" in which they can focus. Sometimes, the solution is a few minutes being held and talked with. It's not rocket scientist, except for the caregiver who considers this is inappropriate, thinking that the infant will become accustomed to being held and not learn to "self soothe." Another situation I've thought about is my own response to engaging with the infants. Not sure why, but, my style of interacting with children, at any age, is communicating with them while playing. While they learn, I learn, too. I don't always do this intentionally, it's just my way of relating to the child/children and using language and toys/play as a vehicle to learn about them. Does it matter if the infants don't repeat what I am saying and may not understand? Infants/children learn through imitation...actually, we all learn through imitation to some degree or another. Counting objects, identifying colors, asking opened ended questions like "Does this red ball fit in the cup" or, "What's inside this can?," "Can you take the lid off?" and, for the infants, I may be answering my own question but, it all fits together like a puzzle in the endeavor of communication, relationship and learning. I love doing this! There is a spirit about this in which I believe God, Jesus Christ is an integral part as His Holy Spirit speaks within the depths of my own spirit. Eye contact with the children, touch, hugs...in a sense, blessing the children, are all parts of this interaction.
If I'm working in the classroom and my partner is contributing a negative attitude to my approach, believe me, it IS like walking through the desert and continuing to bloom. To have a radio station playing that doesn't have anything to do with the care of the children, go about your business like you're stocking cans in a grocery store, attempt to spread a dynamic of negativism, weather it's intentional or not, is really....sad. I can't think of a better word because the children deserve the BEST and not a mediocre attitude.
My intentions will continue to delve deeper into the reason and purpose for continuing the beliefs I have for my actions and choices. In this way, the results will prove themselves and I will find joy in blooming.
Today is Thursday, September 19, 2013.
In addition to being my brother, Toms birthday, it is Sukkot, a Jewish holiday that is meant to remind the Jews of the booths built by the people as they traveled through the desert after God took them out of Egypt through the efforts of His servant, Moses. The ECP is closed in memory of this and I am reflecting on some of my own recent experiences, as I wander through a desert-type event, attempting to rely on God, Jesus Christ, to "bloom in the desert."
I've been thinking about babies and why they cry. Remembering back to the time when Tommy and David were babies, I know, there is a reason a child cries. They, too, go through "deserts," not exactly knowing their needs, yet, realizing they want them met. Doing research and finding articles describing that it's "ok" for babies to cry for extended periods of time hasn't convinced me that it is the best for the child. What is an "extended" period of time? It's pretty plain to see that if a child has been sitting in a position for more than 5 minutes, it may be time to move them to another interesting position if they aren't mobile, or, at least offer them something "new" in which they can focus. Sometimes, the solution is a few minutes being held and talked with. It's not rocket scientist, except for the caregiver who considers this is inappropriate, thinking that the infant will become accustomed to being held and not learn to "self soothe." Another situation I've thought about is my own response to engaging with the infants. Not sure why, but, my style of interacting with children, at any age, is communicating with them while playing. While they learn, I learn, too. I don't always do this intentionally, it's just my way of relating to the child/children and using language and toys/play as a vehicle to learn about them. Does it matter if the infants don't repeat what I am saying and may not understand? Infants/children learn through imitation...actually, we all learn through imitation to some degree or another. Counting objects, identifying colors, asking opened ended questions like "Does this red ball fit in the cup" or, "What's inside this can?," "Can you take the lid off?" and, for the infants, I may be answering my own question but, it all fits together like a puzzle in the endeavor of communication, relationship and learning. I love doing this! There is a spirit about this in which I believe God, Jesus Christ is an integral part as His Holy Spirit speaks within the depths of my own spirit. Eye contact with the children, touch, hugs...in a sense, blessing the children, are all parts of this interaction.
If I'm working in the classroom and my partner is contributing a negative attitude to my approach, believe me, it IS like walking through the desert and continuing to bloom. To have a radio station playing that doesn't have anything to do with the care of the children, go about your business like you're stocking cans in a grocery store, attempt to spread a dynamic of negativism, weather it's intentional or not, is really....sad. I can't think of a better word because the children deserve the BEST and not a mediocre attitude.
My intentions will continue to delve deeper into the reason and purpose for continuing the beliefs I have for my actions and choices. In this way, the results will prove themselves and I will find joy in blooming.
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