The Process of Disciplined Faith

2 Peter 1:5-11

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters,^[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, ¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Faith is a process. When we first come into our faith it is often easy to go strong and implement change, but as time goes on faith becomes an exercise regimen. We have to completely depend on the Holy Spirit in order for the changes not to be futile. This layered process starts with faith as the foundation, and the bricks of goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love are added over time through God working within our lives and us building our personal relationship with him.

Allowing God to lay these bricks is like a master chef creating several dishes at once. You may be in one particular stage and I may be in another, but the idea in the end is an overall magnificent creation for all. Verse 11 says "...and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." I love that God not only lays out benchmarks for us to measure how we are coming along in our faith-walk, but he also paints a picture of the prize for doing his will.

I'm realizing over time that as the Holy Spirit works in me, getting to the next step isn't as hard as it once was. I was thinking as I prayed just last night that I realize I don't find myself apologizing to God as extensively as I once had to do. And my sense of wrongdoing kicks in a bit more quickly. When I first turned my life back over, I could spit off a laundry list of sins in my daily prayers, but now I've either caught myself and immediately asked for forgiveness or God has quickened my spirit before my flesh could step into action. I love being able to see how I've grown and I know that God is moving in my life. And I take satisfaction in being able to tell people that if God can do that kind of work in me, he can do it in anyone.

Faith is not a one stop shop deal. We all will probably spend the rest of our natural lives trying to develop our "faith skills" but I encourage you to spend time reflecting on where you are now verus where you once were. The process of disciplined faith isn't easy, but it's very satisfying.

Taking a Moment to Laugh at Life

I am really tickled by the fact that all week my kids and I were excited about the Phineas and Ferb movie that came on last night. We were also very disappointed that daddy wasn't going to be here to watch with us.
There used to be a time when dates included flowers, candlelit dinners, maybe a couple of drinks, nice clothes (sometimes), and spending time in the presence of one individual. Now most dates are made for a group of 5, ranging from ages 3-31, and they include pizza, pajamas, and cartoons.
If you would have asked me in 1996/1997 if in 2011 I would have anticipated that crowding around a tv to watch a cartoon movie would be the highlight of my week, I would have surely laughed and told you that you were crazy!
Now I can't imagine my life being any other way. My kids bring me so much joy. I love seeing how different they all are, yet they are all little combinations of my husband and myself. I may not be taking trips around the world or having late night dinners with movies and dancing, but I can definitely say I am living my life to the fullest...times 3. Almost any day can be some sort of adventure with them, and I love that they bring me back to the innocent things in life, when paying bills wasn't a concern, because there were more important things to do like go swimming and playing ball. :D

Psalm 127:3

Amplified Bible (AMP)

³Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.^(A)

Prune It or Burn It Down: There's More Than One Way To Bear Some Fruit

Matthew 7:25-27

New International Version (NIV)

²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

I wanted to start with Matthew 7:25-27 to illustrate that we are all going to face "storms" in life, so we have to be prepared to handle them. Those storms serve several purposes 1)To build our character, 2)To reflect our character, 3)To open our eyes to things around us, and 4)To send our eyes in the direction of God. I am sure there are more reason, but those are the ones I feel that help build my point today.

God uses life as a tool to build his kingdom. We often have to go through things in order to understand exactly who or where we don't want to be. With the negative messages we are constantly being sent by society to live for self, it becomes all too easy for us to be drawn into a messy way of living.

Personally speaking, I have gone down this road several times. I've allowed my thinking to become completely about how I feel, what I want, and poo on anyone else who thought I should feel differently. I had a moment the other day where I realized that the best times in my life have been when I put God at the center. I am able to think more clearly, move more slowly, and my decisions are considerate of others. When I begin to operate in the mindset that I can do things my way, it seems like life falls apart.

And I have to admit that it's often when these storms hit that my faith wavers. After a while God had to hit me with some bigger storms to get me back on track. I lost my cousin which was very difficult for me to understand. It was very unexpected and as strong as I thought my faith in God was...this time became a reflection of my character. It became a downward spiral from that point on.

We had our house broken into and our truck dumped by someone we trusted. One of my best friends received a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. We moved back to our home state with no real plan intact, which caused a whirlwind of financial troubles. By the time things even began to look up, I had given up on God's plan for my marriage. I figured at this rate, I could do it better or at least be happier on my own.

I'd be a liar if I said there weren't things I enjoyed about being on my own, but after a while God made it a point to redirect me. He made it very clear that I was on a destructive path that would not only effect me, but I was going to damage my 3 babies, and even my husband in the process. Not only that but continuing in the direction I was going was putting lives that I touched at risk. I intended to move on with my life, but God made it clear that I couldn't write a new book if the old one hadn't reached its final chapter.

Here began the pruning process. First he gave me a dream where I had to take a test. My husband was in the dream with me and he suggested that I follow him to get to the testing site. I told him no and proceeded on my own path. Needless to say, I never got to my destination in the dream because I didn't follow my husband, and ultimately I failed the test. I spent weeks crying...often times for no reason known to myself. God was telling me I had to do something I DIDN'T want to do. He was telling me to reconcile a marriage I saw no point in reconciling.

I eventually asked my husband to move back in, but I was very clear that it was God's will...not mine. Things happened in a slow progression, which God knew I needed because if I would have had to jump in with both feet, I would have been running for the hills. We talked and we talked...AND WE TALKED, but things didn't necessarily get any better.

Zechariah 13:9

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ This third I will put into the fire;
I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
and I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’
and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”

I finally had a conversation with God that started a fire. I let him know very verbally and clearly (like I had made everyone else aware) that I was not at all interested in making this marriage work, so if he was going to force me in this situation, he was going to have to also force some things to change. I was not a willing participant by any means, and I even prayed that God would just find a way to make it not work so I could go on with my life. But, if it were his will to push the issue, then change is what I really needed.

He began to refine and test the mess out of me....literally. I wish I could recall the exact moment of change, but I honestly can't. I guess God felt it was more beneficial to my story, for the transition to happen so smoothly it was almost unnoticeable. He worked on me, which in turn I believe worked on my husband.

Around my birthday was a big test that I think changed a lot of things. My husband hadn't really acknowledged my birthday and I was upset to say the least. Especially when he bought something for himself and expected me to be excited about it. It was not a pretty site around here and self kicked in urging me to remember this come birthday time for him and see if he felt differently about his initial response if it happened to him. (Yes, my mind got that petty and my friends didn't help, because the agreed with my mind. lol) However, God said it wasn't going to go down like that. His birthday hasn't come yet, but maybe in a month I can blog about what I came up with.

Then spiritually speaking, God had to begin to breakdown things I was holding my husband accountable for that he couldn't really responsible for. I wanted him to be a leader in his home, spiritually and physically, yet I never let him lead physically and spiritually he never had any examples. His home growing up was very different from mine. My mother was pretty much the spiritual head in our home and we were raised according to her beliefs. My dad worked a lot (which is one thing my husband and I had in common), but he did at least go to church with us and he believes in God.

My husband's mother took them to church and like me he attended private school, but there was no real expectation to apply the bible to everyday life. I knew from a young age that God had a calling on my life and I was raised accordingly. My husband was surrounded by God's word, but never expected to really live it. And to top it off, the head of his home didn't believe in God. So, we were at an impasse. How does a man become the leader in his home, when he really has never been shown how to lead, physically or spiritually? Well, only God could answer that and he apparently was going to give the answer to me.

I had to first soften my heart and understand that he didn't do the spiritual things because he didn't know how. I also had to acknowledge that he didn't do the physical things because I didn't let him. I spent more time being right than I did being still. God really had to break me down and pruning quickly turned to burning in order for me to get a character adjustment.

He used this situation for me to begin to lean consistently on him again. Throughout the 2 or so years I struggled with my life and faith, God had proven himself faithful to me and he waited patiently for me to return to him. I know I had to go through those things in order to know where I didn't want to be and definitely WHO I didn't want to be.

Once I was able to clear those things up, God was able to produce useful fruit. My attitude changed, my home changed, and I had hope that I had completely lost.

Galatians 5:13-26

New International Version (NIV)

Life by the Spirit

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[b] 15} If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[c] you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

I had to let go of myself and let God direct me to a place where I could have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, genuine goodness, , faithfulness, humility, and self-control. Light and dark cannot occupy the same space at the same time and neither can God's fruit and my mess. He began to show me what changes I could make (like leading the family in devotions) and then eventually my husband began to take the lead in those areas. When I sat back and let him make decisions instead of forcing mine, he was able to lead with freedom, and not worry about how I would respond.

Is it more work to do it God's way...absolutely, I have to be conscious about what I say and do, how it will effect others, and how God will feel about the choices I make, but the destructive way I was going before wasn't even really self-serving, because no one desires to destroy themselves. Satan was the only one winning when I went about things that way.

There are 2 messages I am trying to deliver here. 1)God uses things in our lives in order to prune us, build our character, and make us better for his calling on our lives. When we are able to see things God's way it paints an entirely different picture for how to proceed, but we have to be open to his perception and desire (or at least be honest with him when we can't).

2)) No matter what direction our lives take we are building a foundation for the storms that will come. My pastor has a phrase that I think paints an amazing picture and turns the light bulb on. "The winds will blow, the rain will fall, the floods will rise and you have to live in the house you've built." What kind of foundation are you building to weather the storms?

The one I had previously been building was only going to continue to crack and fall apart, and eventually tumble to the ground (if it hadn't already). I want to make sure that I am building a foundation that is going to hold strong during the next storm, because it's not a matter of if, but when it comes. Thankfully God was willing to burn me down to the root when pruning wasn't getting the job done and he allowed me to establish a new foundation that has been weatherproofed.

Breaking Down Baptism

My son and I began to talk about baptism today and I started searching the net for information I could use in order for him to make an informed choice about taking that step. Upon doing so though, I realized I needed the same information for myself.

I was born and raised Lutheran, so I was "baptized" as an infant. As an adult, I've considered doing it again, but someone how felt like I would be spitting on my parents' decision when I was a baby. Although I am no longer a practicing Lutheran, and haven't been for well over 10 years, somehow I felt like I would still be wrong for choosing to do it again in my adult life.

Over the past few months I have been feeling led to make that public proclamation of my faith, but I still had the internal battle waging within. But this week I decided I was committed to doing it. However, today I got to research the real meaning behind it and then received confirmation on the subject this evening at church.

As I searched for information earlier to share with my son, I came across this comparison of baptism to a wedding ring. http://www.centrikidblog.com/blog/explaining-baptism-to-kids.html In simplest form it's like this: A wedding ring doesn't make a non-married person married simply by placing it on their finger, just like the act of being baptized doesn't make someone a Christian. The ring is an outward symbol of the commitment that was made between two people and baptism is the same thing. Baptism is the outward symbol of the commitment you've made to God. If a married person doesn't wear their ring one day, they are still just as married and if a Christian person doesn't get baptized they are still just as Christian.

I pondered that analogy throughout the day and then was met with the same analogy this evening at church when they discussed the reason behind being baptized. It confirmed for me that I was on the right track with the information I was seeking out. I want it not only for myself, but for my baby boy too. He's old enough and mature enough to be able to make a conscious decision about his salvation, and although this is more like the 3rd step in the process, I want him to begin knowing what his options are and why at his age verses being my age before really seeking it out.

I should never have felt guilty for wanting to recommit my life in that way, and it's not that anyone made me feel that way. But, because I didn't fully understand it, I wasn't able to make the proper decision. With time I will have even more information, that I know I will want to share with others who are unsure about that step,but I am grateful to God for not keeping me in the dark about the beauty of baptism.

I'll share more as I find it...thanks for reading!!! :D

An Ant's Life by Joyce Meyer

1 Corinthians 9:27

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁷But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].

Paul is speaking here about self-control, self-denial, restraining the appetite, and subduing the flesh. Self-discipline is keeping yourself going in the right direction without someone making you do so. The problem is that somehow people have gotten the wrong idea that everything in life is supposed to be easy.

Proverbs 6:6-8 talks about the ant, "which having no chief, overseer, or ruler, provides her food in the summer and gathers her supplies in the harvest." You need to be like the ant. You need to be a person who is self-motivated and self-disciplined; who does what is right because it is right, not because someone may be looking or because someone is making you do it.

Kat's Thoughts: This was a good one for me to read as I ended my day, because this morning I fell into a funk of "I just don't want to." There were things that needed to be done that I simply didn't want to do. I often have to fight to overcome my natural laziness. I want to sit and talk on the phone all day with my friends, watch tv, eat, and just do whatever it is I want to do. But what I want to do and what needs to be done are rarely the same thing.

As a mom, I know the kids are watching me and I have to stay disciplined in doing things no matter if I feel like it or not, because that is the expectation I hold for them. I expect their rooms to be cleaned. If I ask a question, I expect them to be honest even if they won't get caught. If I expect discipline out of others, I have to be willing to exercise it myself.

This also goes for my spiritual life. If I expect my kids to have a good attitude, then my attitude needs to be in check. If I expect them to be kind to others, they need to see that in me. If I want them to pray, I need to pray. And even if I am sure they aren't watching, that is who I need to be doing, because ultimately it is God that I am portraying out in the world and I need to have a Christ-like attitude at all times, because no matter what, he is watching and I will have to give account for all that I say and do in my life.

My Spiritualmom say "I try to speak in such a way that I never have to apologize." That is how we should all live; disciplined lives in thought and action. We should attempt to make every action, deed, and word one that will not require forgiveness later either from God or others. Of course, we are human and we are going to slip up, but also be disciplined enough to admit when you are wrong. If everyone in the world tried to live this way, I know it would be a much better place. But we can do our individual parts to make the difference and hopefully it will be paid forward. Someone sees your discipline and love, and they feel inclined to do the same. But it's something we always have to be willing to do, because you can't genuinely flip the switch off and on. Eventually you are going to slip up and power-off at the wrong time and someone will see it.

Five Star Dining

Ezekiel 44:23

New International Version (NIV)

²³ They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.

Where we are being spiritually fed is very important. It seems to have become common practice in the church to be sweet and flowery in the things of God, but teaching life applicable, honest and at times painful lessons is not necessarily the norm anymore.

Our world is being dramatically changed with each generation. Things that weren't even talked about when our grandparents and parents were coming up are being plastered all over in our daily lives. Sex, greed, all kinds of wrong doing are not only openly discussed, but becoming socially acceptable forms of entertainment.

As believers we need to be counteracting that with how we are being fed spiritually and then what we are taking out into the world. It is important to be in a body of believers that speaks the truth, even when it can hurt or offend.

Proverbs 27:6

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁶Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are lavish and deceitful.

I want to be under the tutelage of individuals who are willing to wound me and my worldly thinking in order to help me achieve all that God has in store for me and in turn, I will be given the tools to do the same for others. That's not to say that the soft side of God needs to be disregarded, because it is equally as important, but we need to get the entire message...not just the comfortable stuff.

I've been a part of church bodies where "religion" came across as more important than relationship. Things were preached that could not necessarily be backed up biblically or rules were put into place that may have only been statutes for one individual's walk. Religious practices should not take precedence over building a strong foundation and personal relationship with God.

Ephesians 4:15

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

I've been blessed to also be a part of church bodies where speaking the truth in love was common and very much seen. My current pastor will often follow a strong statement with the fact that he is being honest because he loves his congregation and wants to see them spiritually succeed. I see it strong amongst our youth leaders. The kids are able to get truth that the world isn't giving them and they are shown genuine love in the process.

I've been at different churches over the past 10 years and I believe each one did serve a purpose. Some to show me what I absolutely didn't want, and some to show me what I absolutely needed. Some to soften my heart in areas that I never considered before and some to strengthen my walk in ways I never knew possible. There is a time and a season and it is important to follow God's lead of knowing when to stay and when to go, but how you are being fed can be the thing that will make or break your Christian walk.

It is important to hear the messages that are difficult to touch (Pornography, homosexuality, fornication, divorce, adultery, the way you live, your attitude towards others, being a sacrificial individual, etc.) and it needs to be matched with messages on God's true love (mercy, forgiveness, blessings, his sacrificial giving, etc).

When we are met with an even balance of love and truth we know that our spirits are dining sufficiently. And it will reflect in our walk which will in turn help to feed others spiritually.

1 Corinthians 3:9-17

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

¹⁰ By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

¹⁶ Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

The food that we take in is building a foundation, which can either be good or bad. It is important to know that we are receiving a proper foundation, because later we will have to answer for the foundations that we have also laid in others. If our foundation is cracked and unstable, what kind of foundation will we lay in others?

Test what you are being taught against the word, be sure it adds up. And most importantly get to know the word for yourself. Spending quiet time with God daily in prayer and reading will help guard against receiving spiritual junk food. If you know the word for yourself, it won't be as easy to be thrown on a whim by someone's humanity.

God wants you to receive the best dining available, because you will be inclined to share your meals with others either directly or indirectly. :D