Fingernails

Eric and I had planned to take advantage of our Saturday and sleep in until 10:00 AM. Needless to say, it didn't happen. On this particular day Caden decided he wanted to get up at 8. I decided to sneak out and take care of him while Eric caught a few more ZZzzZZz's.

After I finished getting Caden ready, I noticed how dirty his nails were. I said to myself "why are little boys nails always so dirty?". I have to clean his nails at least once a day, if not more. While cleaning and cutting away, I started thinking about how adventurous he is and how he explores every nook and cranny. His little hands are hard at work and play each and every single day. I began to realize that even though it's "dirt" in a way it is a small testimony of who he is.

Immediately, I started wondering about what kind of things would be found under my fingernails. Would the labors of my hands, or even better yet the depths of my heart, show through? If you looked, would you see the mountains I've climbed, the holes I've dug, or even the waters I've treaded? In reality, maybe not, but figuratively I would hope you'd see a reflection of my true self. My true self would look something like this:

- A woman who is self cautious about her outside looks.
- A mother who is STILL trying to figure it all out. All the books in the world aren't helping me!
- A wife who has let her husband down, time and time again but is still working through it.
- A sinner who is undeniably unworthy of God's renewing compassion and eternal gift of life.
- A person who loves to sing, even if the voice doesn't match the hearts desire!
- A person who would rather look on people hearts, rather than their actions or words.
- Someone who has been pushed.
- Someone who has done the pushing.
- A person who has trouble trusting people, and a harder time replenishing that trust when its been broken.
- Someone who has had their heart broken...and then repaired.
- A person who needs forgiveness every single day...
- Someone who has given forgiveness...

If I allowed it, if I were humble, honest, and open...you'd see all those things. Maybe not under my fingernails but certainly through my faith, actions, reactions, and works. We are not perfect, but we are blemish free to God and though I may have done things to be shameful of, God has restored my soul each day. Had I not been through the storms, I wouldn't be able to be a "shelter" for those going through those same storms now.

So with that said, what would you find under your fingernails?

New Age Worship

I came across an interesting article today. It talks about "5 Kinds of Christians" you can view it here if you're interested: http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2007/fall/1.19.html?start=1
To sum it all up, it speaks of the new age appetite for deeper more significant worship that many people are getting from places other than Church.

Now days people can get praise and worship music from the radio or iPod or hear a powerful sermon from a preacher on TV. The bar has been set high by the new age means people use to get connected. So many church leaders feel that people come to their local Church expecting that same "high". In the article, Wilkerson acknowledges:

"we [the leaders of the Church] probably end up perpetuating that kind of appetite by trying to be as high-quality as what we find out there. The temptation of larger churches is to compete and to be as good as the others are."

Now I realize that is the reality of it all. However, the thought of Church's COMPETING to be better or just as good as another lights a fire in the depths of my soul - it's vinegar to my ears, ya'll. I understand that we need to be good shepards but that goes beyond the type of music we play, the way our church looks, or how we dress. What good is a building if you can't keep the people there because we are so caught up in the MATERIAL things (i.e worldly view, temporary treasures, looks, etc) and we forget to feed the hungry with something that will fill them for a lifetime (i.e. God's word, God's love, kind followship, etc.).

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Cor 4:17-18)

Are we so consumed with pleasing the world that we forget about pleasing the Lord? How can we worship God with pure hearts when our eyes are focused on the here and now, ya'll? Oh honeys, if you want to get down to the TRUE meaning of sheparding it all comes down to the hearts of the people. You can have my iPod, honey, because I'd much rather spend my time listening to an out of tune lady worshiping God with a pure heart, any day!

We need to keep our eyes upon Jesus and put our complete trust in Him, period.

"All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."(Rom 8:28)

Now on a similar note, here are some things the article pointed out that I'm still chewing on:

1. The local church is no longer considered the only outlet for spiritual growth.
2. Churches must develop relational- and community-oriented outreach.
3. Lay people have to be better equipped to be God's ambassadors.