Misconception of God

Romans 12:1-2

New International Version (NIV)

Romans 12

A Living Sacrifice

¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I am learning that our world is terribly misguided about the nature of God. His word speaks clearly about things that are and aren't acceptable to him and we all find fault within those things. He is not some magic genie that sits around only granting good. He does allow people to suffer the consequences of their actions. There is no scale that measures our good deeds against our bad, once we confess our sin it is removed. There is no manner of good works that will solely bring us favor in his eyes. It's our honest faith in him that is our ticket to heaven. Someone can do bad their entire life and in their final breath (honestly and wholeheartedly) confess him as savior, returning their life to him and go to heaven. Someone can do good their entire life,but never once acknowledge him and God states that their judgment is hell. Christianity is a way of life, not just a name. God is merciful and has the right to judge as he sees fit, but people cannot become consumed with the thought that our manner of suffering on earth or in death will give us a free pass.

Sin is sin, life is life, and most importantly God is GOD. He doesn't change with the times and neither should we. He loves unconditionally, and so should we. He forgives us our sins, and we need to forgive people who wrong us. He is our example of living a life without wavering our values. It can be done and because we are human we will fail at times (daily even), but we need to walk hard in his presence and keep him at the top of all things.

Romans 8:1-16

New International Version (NIV)

Life Through the Spirit

¹ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you^[a] free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,^[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.^[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[d] because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of^[e] his Spirit who lives in you.

¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,^[g] Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

I've taken notice that there are so many people walking around believing that God and Jesus sit about covering their eyes to sin and don't deal accordingly with it. God never said that in his Word...never.

Romans 1:18-32

New International Version (NIV)

God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity

¹⁸ The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. ²⁷ In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; ³¹ they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. ³² Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

It's time for Christians to step up and be the difference. We can't proclaim the gospel and act like all the unsaved out there, because it defiles our testimony. We have to show the world that although bad things happen to good people, God has mercy and is open to a relationship with every last one of us. We cannot be consumed by the "magic carpet riding God" perception that the world is trying to paint. God is a just God, but he is also merciful. He holds an expectation for his creation and he allows us the choice to walk in it or not, but he also lays out the guidelines and benefits for walking according to his will. And there are many who say they read the Bible and they know that God doesn't punish people for one act or another but it was painted out in no uncertain terms that denying Christ and giving into the world's perception of God is putting your soul in imminent danger.

It's not my job to lie to you and make you feel better about who you are and what you do. It is my job to love you unconditionally and show you the same love that Christ shows me, and to guide you as gently as possible into at least hearing God's will for all of our lives.

2 Timothy 2:24-25

New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. ²⁵ Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,

He loves every last person out there...Good or bad, right or wrong. It's our sin he hates; mine, yours, and every Joe Blow Bag'o'donuts. But accepting him, confessing to him, admitting our sins, and allowing him to work in our lives and develop a relationship with him...those are the only "deeds" that carry any meaning with him.

Ephesians 2:8-9

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.

Speak Words of Wisdom by Joyce Meyer

I feel like God is really trying to drive a point home, but at the same time he was using the events from yesterday and last night to counteract the negative emotions I was suffering the night before.
I had a friend text me to talk about some struggles she was going through as a mom. They were the same exact type of struggles I had with my youngest, so I totally understood. God used that moment to show me I did have valuable information to share and I could still help someone even if I wasn't as helpful as I would have liked to have been to someone else the other night.
Later that day two of my friends were having a conversation and one of them needed some advice on the military lifestyle. Deon told Cami that she was not at all going to be sympathetic to anything she was fretting over, so it may serve her well to call someone like me or our friend Leigh. She ended up calling me and we talked for probably about a good hour. I was able to give her perspective from someone who has lived a military lifestyle for almost 13 years.
Then the last call of the night was from a friend who had been sick and was going through some other personal struggles. Although it is more difficult for me to personally identify with her situation, I was able to bring about some food for thought that at least helped her to feel like she wasn't being crazy or over emotional about some things.
God took my horrible day of missteped words and reminded me that when I give him the time and focus he desires, I can be a very usable individual.
When it was time for me to lay down last night, he gave me this last little nugget to feed on:

Ending Your Day Right: Speak Words of Wisdom
by Joyce Meyer

For out of the fullness (the overflow, the super-abundance) of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34

It is challenging to say right things when you feel totally wrong. When your emotions are running high or low, you are tempted to speak emotionally rather than sensibly. But you must allow wisdom to rise above emotion

God spoke about nonexistent things as if they already existed, and He created the world with faith-filled words. You are created in His image, and you can also call things that are not as though they are. You can speak positive things about yourself into the atmosphere and thereby "prophesy your future."

Think about the words you speak and you will learn a lot about yourself. As a Christian, you are God's representative, and your words should reflect His character. Meditating on the goodness of God will fill your heart with joy, and the words you speak will glorify Him and be a testimony to others.

Kat's Notes: I first have to remember to speak positive things into my own life, just like I attempt to do with others. My words affect me just as much as they affect other people and my tongue can positively or negatively affect the course my world takes.
Next I have to remember that I do have valuable words of wisdom to offer to others based on my own personal experiences. God has given me a special calling as a wife, mother, and friend and I have a ministry that will allow me to be a testimony to others about how to deal with the things that come with those titles.
I know someone else needed to hear these words. You have something of value to add to your own life, as well as others. It starts with the words you speak!

Be Slow to Speak by Joyce Meyer

Okay, apparently God is all over my behind today and he is using Joyce to drive his point home. I didn't get to do my devotion this morning before getting out of bed, so I took it with me to the bus stop to read while Peanut waited for his bus.
I tell my children to be slow to speak, but yesterday I didn't exercise that myself. Honestly, my intentions were great. But because I didn't properly organize my thoughts, what I intended to say to someone and what it actually appeared like when I wrote it were NOT at all the same message. So much so that I had to go back and publicly apologize and delete my posts.
I hate that a misuse of my words has now caused me to seem like the type of Christian I was actually ranting about and now I see messages being delivered that I know are wrong, but because they are being delivered in a more pleasant manner and after what could have easily been perceived as an attack on my part, the wrong message will likely plant a more fruitful seed than the one I was intending to plant.

Starting Your Day Right: Be Slow to Speak
by Joyce Meyer

For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good-whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit). 1 Peter 3:10

Have you ever regretted something you said as soon as the words were out of your mouth? You can't take back the words you speak to others-and words can damage relationships. The Bible says that if you can control your mouth, you can control your whole body (see James 3:2).

Before you respond to people too quickly, stop and listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say about your situation. James taught, "Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry" (James 1:19). Commit your mouth to God's service today, and use words that speak healing to others.

Kat's Notes: I just feel I need to spend time today reflecting on what is it God wants me to say and figuring out how and when to appropriately say it. I don't dink up in this area often, but when I do I apparently go full-throttle. lol My father has a philosophy of "keeping your mouth shut means rarely having to apologize."

Although I do feel there are times to speak up and it does need to be understood that some people are going to be offended no matter what you say or how gently you say it, but our job is to do as much preemptive damage control as possible, by praying about the words we share with others. I would much rather have earnestly prayed to God about what I NEEDED to say than to now have to earnestly apologize to God and others about what I already said. Slow to speak....Got it!
P.S. Don't worry, I'm working on the fact that I spent so much time being offended yesterday as well. :P

Experience God's Presence Tonight by Joyce Meyer

I read this devotion last night and it honestly was a right on time devotion. I just had one of those days where I know I should have spent time in God's face instead of spending time on facebook. By the end of the night I was overwhelmed, offended, and irritated by my own self. Then I read this devotion before bed and although it didn't make me feel completely better, it reminded me that seeking God honestly is my true source of peace and validity.

Ending your Day Right: Experience God's Presence Tonight
by Joyce Meyer

My soul yearns for You [O Lord] in the night, yes, my spirit within me seeks You earnestly. Isaiah 26:9

Have you ever noticed that in the quiet darkness of night there seems to be something special about the presence of God?
He is always with you, even during the daytime, and you can talk to Him anytime, even when you're busy. But during the day there are many distractions that keep you from focusing on His presence for an extended period of time. And by the end of the day you've often experienced problems and frustrations that can cause you to feel lonely and needy. It is then that you can finally give time and attention to the one who is the answer to your needs.
When you yearn for God in the night, seek Him earnestly, and you'll find He will minister to you in a special way. He will provide answers to any problems you may have, and He will give you peace and rest.

Kat's Notes: Honestly, after the day yesterday I will be spending today in God's full presence. No phone, no computer, just me and God today, because I let situations cause me to be tossed off balance and take my eyes off of his calling for me. Honestly, by the end of the day I had tainted my testimony and truly had to humble myself and admit that I make mistakes. I allowed myself to become so frustrated and irritated that I spoke out of line and did exactly the opposite of what my good intentions were designed to do. I plan to experience God's presence today and renew my experience tonight when I can shut off all my duties and focus 100% on God. I hope this helps someone else that suffered a case of the mondays (or whatever day of the week that kicked your behind) and felt defeated. Our victory comes in God.