So....I was driving to my husband's football game and a very interesting car passed me. Ok, I will be honest, it wasn't eye candy at all. It looked like an early 80's Buick that had been driven across country about a 100 times. But that wasn't the thing that caught my attention. It was the fake bullet holes along the side of the driver side door. You know the fake things that you can get to go on your car like the fake baseball crashing through your window and the "leftovers" of Rudolph the red nose reindeer that go in the grill of your car (that is my personal favorite-it really shows the Christmas spirit:)), and of course the fake bullet hole stickers. There is nothing like saying, "How can I make this car that barely runs awesome? Ah yes, fake bullet holes. That will do it." Although it makes me laugh, it also got me thinking about the things we do to make ourselves look and feel better about ourselves. I truly believe that we all live with insecurities, I know I do.
Honestly, I fight insecurities everyday. Everything from physical insecurities to personality insecurities. I fight the thoughts that if people knew the "real me" they probably wouldn't like me so in a sense I wake up thinking, What bullet holes am I going to put on today.
Maybe it is the bullet hole that I have to dress cute so that people will notice my clothes and not me. Maybe it is the bullet hole that I have to act perfect so that no one will no that I am covered with imperfections. Maybe it is the bullet hole that I will do more things for more people because I long to hear praise from people not just my creator.
Do you walk around with any of these bullet holes too?
We try to cover a sinner with these bullet holes in hopes that we too can "appear" like something we are not and weren't created for.
In John 5:44, Jesus says, "How can you believe when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God."
We were not created to receive glory and praise from one another, but to testify to the Glory of the one true God! Let me say that again, YOU and I WERE NOT CREATED TO RECEIVE GLORY AND PRAISE FROM ONE ANOTHER, BUT TO TESTIFY TO THE GLORY OF THE ONE TRUE GOD!!!
We don't have to cover ourselves with bullet holes because we are covered by the blood of Christ. We don't have to be perfect because we are loved by perfection. We need to believe God when he says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We need to believe that we were made in his image so we are covered with the fingerprints of God-not bullet holes!!!!
I want more than anything that when people see me they see Christ and they can't see Him when I am covered in bullet holes.
I will not let my insecurities keep me from testifying about the one and only GOD!
Will you?
Monday, October 25, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
His Autograph
Hello Girls!
Did you ever wait after a game or concert or even see someone famous in a restaurant and ask for their autograph. The writing of a person's name is so huge these days. People pay a lot of money (ridiculous amounts of money) for the signature of some one's name. Now, I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy getting them from a few of my favorite people. I hang them up in my office or a few are hung up in my two boy's room. One of my favorite autographs is from my sweet daughter, Chloe. Why? Because it is written everywhere! Her name is on everything: I open up my journal, she has written her name on every page. I look at her toys and blankets and her name is written on all tags to claim that they are hers. I look at the head rest behind my seat and right there in big black letters is CHLOE. Her dad and I were even shown where she lays down for rest time. How did we know it was her spot? She had written her name on the wall next to her mat. Yep!-There is no mistake about where Chloe has been because her autograph is written on everything she comes into contact.
This reminds me of a couple of verses in the Bible: Romans 1:19-20.
Did you ever wait after a game or concert or even see someone famous in a restaurant and ask for their autograph. The writing of a person's name is so huge these days. People pay a lot of money (ridiculous amounts of money) for the signature of some one's name. Now, I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy getting them from a few of my favorite people. I hang them up in my office or a few are hung up in my two boy's room. One of my favorite autographs is from my sweet daughter, Chloe. Why? Because it is written everywhere! Her name is on everything: I open up my journal, she has written her name on every page. I look at her toys and blankets and her name is written on all tags to claim that they are hers. I look at the head rest behind my seat and right there in big black letters is CHLOE. Her dad and I were even shown where she lays down for rest time. How did we know it was her spot? She had written her name on the wall next to her mat. Yep!-There is no mistake about where Chloe has been because her autograph is written on everything she comes into contact.
This reminds me of a couple of verses in the Bible: Romans 1:19-20.
"For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."
This verse explains that just because God seems like He is invisible, His power and divine nature are not because He has autographed everything we see around us. How can we question God's power and divine nature when you are in the mountains of Colorado? How can we question God's power and divine nature when you are standing on the edge that over sees the grand canyon? How can we question God's power and divine nature when you see your child being born?
God has written his name on everything we see so that when we go through hard times and rough times of questioning if He is real or not, we can walk outside and see a beautiful arrangement of wild flowers and say, "Oh there you are, God." Or you can see the kindness of a stranger and say, "Oh there you are, God." Or you can hear the laughter of your spouse and say, "Oh there you are, God." Or you can see the childish writing of a little girls' name on a piece of paper and say, "Oh there you are, God."
Last, but not least, God has written His name on you! You are his greatest autograph. The Bible says we were created in HIS image. Just like Chloe writing her name on her toys to say they are hers, God wrote His name on you to say that you are HIS. You are an amazing masterpiece of the God of the universe. What you see as a blemish or a problem, He sees as another autograph of His that makes you special and unique. I see it. Do you?
I challenge you this week to go out and notice God's autographs outside your door!
Friday, October 8, 2010
View of God
So....I was listening to Klove this morning and they were talking about a new article in the USA Today titled "How America Views God." In this article, researchers surveyed over 2,000 people on what their view of God was and how that view affected their life choices. They found that America put God in 1 of 4 categories: Authoritative, Benevolent, Distant, and Critical. We are a country where 94% say they believe in God and yet we are still trying to research the face of God, the name of God, and the character of God when He has already given us the answers to every single one of these questions: Jesus Christ.
We live in a world where we want to separate the two, Jesus in one corner and God in the other corner. We want to write articles and talk on TV about God, but without the name of Jesus. I had the amazing opportunity to give the opining prayer at the Thunder/Lakers game last season and in my "rules" of the prayer I could say anything about God, but not mention the name of Jesus.
Growing up, I had very different views about God vs. Jesus. My view of God looked like a billboard I see around town. You know the one with the black background and the white "quotes" from God. This particular one says, "Don't make me come down there. -God"
That is exactly how I viewed God. He was the all-powerful, all-knowing, authoritative, disciplinarian, distant, critical God that obviously everyone else thought He was too. Then there was Jesus, the "Jesus loves the Little Children" guy, the "dining with sinners" guy, the "make you feel all warm and fuzzy" guy. As I got older and my passion became God, the two started to merge into ONE GOD.
We have been asking these questions (name, face, character) about God from the beginning of time and God came down on this earth and answered them. God's name is Jesus. God's face is Jesus. God's character is Jesus. God showed us everything we needed to know about Him through His Son Jesus. We don't have to ask anymore "Is God a critical, judgemental God?"-the Bible says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
As followers of Jesus Christ, we don't have to wonder what our view of God is anymore. There is no "view" of God, only do you know God. There is no believe in God, only do you believe God. Our view of God should be KNOWING God. Knowing that when God sees the adulteress, he sees a woman who needs love and forgiveness and freely gives it (John 8). Knowing that when God sees sisters who have lost their brother, he cries with them because He is compassionate (John 11). Knowing that when Jesus meets the woman at the well who has searched for love in all the wrong places, he says let me have your heart and He changed her with His love (John 4). Knowing that when our view of God is skewed, His view of us is not. (John 15:12-13).
How do I KNOW all this? Not because I just read it in the Bible, but because I have lived it. I was the woman who needed love and forgiveness. I was the woman who needed God to show compassion and cry with me. I was the woman who needed love and have God change me. I know it must break the heart of God to see His children so confused about who He is. I don't just have a view of God, I KNOW God. Do you?
"I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me....I and the Father are one." -John 10:25-27, 30
We live in a world where we want to separate the two, Jesus in one corner and God in the other corner. We want to write articles and talk on TV about God, but without the name of Jesus. I had the amazing opportunity to give the opining prayer at the Thunder/Lakers game last season and in my "rules" of the prayer I could say anything about God, but not mention the name of Jesus.
Growing up, I had very different views about God vs. Jesus. My view of God looked like a billboard I see around town. You know the one with the black background and the white "quotes" from God. This particular one says, "Don't make me come down there. -God"
That is exactly how I viewed God. He was the all-powerful, all-knowing, authoritative, disciplinarian, distant, critical God that obviously everyone else thought He was too. Then there was Jesus, the "Jesus loves the Little Children" guy, the "dining with sinners" guy, the "make you feel all warm and fuzzy" guy. As I got older and my passion became God, the two started to merge into ONE GOD.
We have been asking these questions (name, face, character) about God from the beginning of time and God came down on this earth and answered them. God's name is Jesus. God's face is Jesus. God's character is Jesus. God showed us everything we needed to know about Him through His Son Jesus. We don't have to ask anymore "Is God a critical, judgemental God?"-the Bible says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
As followers of Jesus Christ, we don't have to wonder what our view of God is anymore. There is no "view" of God, only do you know God. There is no believe in God, only do you believe God. Our view of God should be KNOWING God. Knowing that when God sees the adulteress, he sees a woman who needs love and forgiveness and freely gives it (John 8). Knowing that when God sees sisters who have lost their brother, he cries with them because He is compassionate (John 11). Knowing that when Jesus meets the woman at the well who has searched for love in all the wrong places, he says let me have your heart and He changed her with His love (John 4). Knowing that when our view of God is skewed, His view of us is not. (John 15:12-13).
How do I KNOW all this? Not because I just read it in the Bible, but because I have lived it. I was the woman who needed love and forgiveness. I was the woman who needed God to show compassion and cry with me. I was the woman who needed love and have God change me. I know it must break the heart of God to see His children so confused about who He is. I don't just have a view of God, I KNOW God. Do you?
"I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me....I and the Father are one." -John 10:25-27, 30
Monday, October 4, 2010
Encouragment
Hello Friends!
If you have kids in school you know that at some point you are going to be on some kind of committee. I usually dread committees. In my head it is just one more thing I have to do, Oh sorry, get to do:) Every year it is like a race over to your child's classroom so you can be the first to sign your name and not have to be stuck with the crafts at their class parties. Committees, Committees, Committees! There are committees for everything: to read to the kids, make copies, the PTF committee (parent/teacher fellowship), party committee, fund-raiser committee etc. None of these are bad and all have really great purpose behind them, but very few make me want to run as fast as I can to sign up, except one. I am on the Kudos Committee. This is a committee where you are given two names from the school to write and encourage them. I love this committee because we ALL need to be encouraged!
The Bible says, "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up..." 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Unfortunately, we live in a world where we, sadly, take pleasure in watching the downfall of some of those around us. Whether it is a girl you don't like at work fail or your rival football team lose, we all take delight in seeing someone fail. This breaks my heart when I see others tear each other down and it makes me sick when I do it. God says we are not to let any unwholesome talk come from our mouths, but only that which is used to build each other up according to their needs. (Ephesians 4:29). We ALL need to be encouraged. So...I am recruiting. I am recruiting YOU to be a part of the Kudos Committee this month. I want you to pray and ask God who you can encourage this month. It maybe that girl at work you don't like or the wife of the opposing football team or your own husband. You may know someone who is going through a divorce or just needs to be loved. There is someone God wants to use you to show them His Love and His encouragement. Let's use our words to build people up and watch God to something amazing!
Happy encouragement!!!!
If you have kids in school you know that at some point you are going to be on some kind of committee. I usually dread committees. In my head it is just one more thing I have to do, Oh sorry, get to do:) Every year it is like a race over to your child's classroom so you can be the first to sign your name and not have to be stuck with the crafts at their class parties. Committees, Committees, Committees! There are committees for everything: to read to the kids, make copies, the PTF committee (parent/teacher fellowship), party committee, fund-raiser committee etc. None of these are bad and all have really great purpose behind them, but very few make me want to run as fast as I can to sign up, except one. I am on the Kudos Committee. This is a committee where you are given two names from the school to write and encourage them. I love this committee because we ALL need to be encouraged!
The Bible says, "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up..." 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Unfortunately, we live in a world where we, sadly, take pleasure in watching the downfall of some of those around us. Whether it is a girl you don't like at work fail or your rival football team lose, we all take delight in seeing someone fail. This breaks my heart when I see others tear each other down and it makes me sick when I do it. God says we are not to let any unwholesome talk come from our mouths, but only that which is used to build each other up according to their needs. (Ephesians 4:29). We ALL need to be encouraged. So...I am recruiting. I am recruiting YOU to be a part of the Kudos Committee this month. I want you to pray and ask God who you can encourage this month. It maybe that girl at work you don't like or the wife of the opposing football team or your own husband. You may know someone who is going through a divorce or just needs to be loved. There is someone God wants to use you to show them His Love and His encouragement. Let's use our words to build people up and watch God to something amazing!
Happy encouragement!!!!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Lessons from Mrs. Marcum
So....I was helping out at the OU softball tournament and they had my working next a 75 year old lady, Mrs. Marcum. Oh-we had the best time! For 3 hours we talked about our families, our jobs (Yep-she still works because she loves it!), and our relationship with Jesus.
She is so in love with Jesus! The way she talked about Him made me want to get saved all over again. When talking about her family, she could have shared if they were great athletes or if they were smart or what they all did for a living, but Nope-she shared with me how each one came to know Jesus. As I was soaking in everything she had to say, we were interrupted by a woman wanting to buy a shirt. This "interruption" became an amazing divine intervention. The customer was writing a check for her shirt and asked what day it was. Then she asked what month and year as well. She then apologized for so many questions and added that she was suffering from a terminal brain tumor that caused her to say and do silly things. Without missing a beat, my new friend said, "Honey, do you know Jesus?"
I couldn't believe her boldness (this-coming from someone who is in full time vocational ministry). She didn't care what people thought, she just wanting to make sure this young lady had a relationship with Jesus. They proceeded to talk about what all the ladies tattoos meant and how she lost her son to suicide in February and I watched in awe of how compassionate, sincere, and loving Mrs. Marcum was to someone she had never met and would probably never see again. I truly believe I got a glimpse of the meaning "What would Jesus do?"
The customer left and I couldn't get enough of Mrs. Marcum's heart and wisdom. She then began to talk about her husband of 56 years!!! She was so open and honest about marriage and how it wasn't always perfect and sometimes she had to give 100%-there is no 50-50 in marriage. Oh, but how she loved her husband!!! I asked her if she could give me one piece of advice in strengthening my own marriage, what would it be? She winked and simply said, "Honey, I never had a headache a day in my life." We just burst out laughing. Wisdom and sense of humor? This lady has it all!
If I could impart some of Mrs. Marcum's wisdom on you I would encourage and challenge you to 1) Be bold for Jesus today! Our relationship with Jesus is personal, but it should never be private!
2) Look for an opportunity to show someone Jesus. God may want to use you to show His Heart, His Love, and His Compassion!
3) Love your Spouse, pray for your spouse, encourage your spouse, even when it is hard. Marrieage is not easy, but it is worth it and the rewards are a love for 56 years (and maybe a few less headaches:))
She is so in love with Jesus! The way she talked about Him made me want to get saved all over again. When talking about her family, she could have shared if they were great athletes or if they were smart or what they all did for a living, but Nope-she shared with me how each one came to know Jesus. As I was soaking in everything she had to say, we were interrupted by a woman wanting to buy a shirt. This "interruption" became an amazing divine intervention. The customer was writing a check for her shirt and asked what day it was. Then she asked what month and year as well. She then apologized for so many questions and added that she was suffering from a terminal brain tumor that caused her to say and do silly things. Without missing a beat, my new friend said, "Honey, do you know Jesus?"
I couldn't believe her boldness (this-coming from someone who is in full time vocational ministry). She didn't care what people thought, she just wanting to make sure this young lady had a relationship with Jesus. They proceeded to talk about what all the ladies tattoos meant and how she lost her son to suicide in February and I watched in awe of how compassionate, sincere, and loving Mrs. Marcum was to someone she had never met and would probably never see again. I truly believe I got a glimpse of the meaning "What would Jesus do?"
The customer left and I couldn't get enough of Mrs. Marcum's heart and wisdom. She then began to talk about her husband of 56 years!!! She was so open and honest about marriage and how it wasn't always perfect and sometimes she had to give 100%-there is no 50-50 in marriage. Oh, but how she loved her husband!!! I asked her if she could give me one piece of advice in strengthening my own marriage, what would it be? She winked and simply said, "Honey, I never had a headache a day in my life." We just burst out laughing. Wisdom and sense of humor? This lady has it all!
If I could impart some of Mrs. Marcum's wisdom on you I would encourage and challenge you to 1) Be bold for Jesus today! Our relationship with Jesus is personal, but it should never be private!
2) Look for an opportunity to show someone Jesus. God may want to use you to show His Heart, His Love, and His Compassion!
3) Love your Spouse, pray for your spouse, encourage your spouse, even when it is hard. Marrieage is not easy, but it is worth it and the rewards are a love for 56 years (and maybe a few less headaches:))
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The Rock
We hear almost everyday lately about the storms and hurricanes that are impacting our nation. I have been hearing a lot about Earl, lately. I watch the news to see people running around preparing for the storm and it reminded me of this little Methodist church I grew up in and a song we use to sing, The Wise man and the Foolish man. It went something like this (and be glad I'm not singing):
The wise man built his house upon the Rock
The wise man built his house upon the Rock
The wise man built his house upon the Rock
And the rain came tumbling down
The rain came down and the floods came up
The rain came down and the floods came up
The rain came down and the floods came up
And the House on the Rock stood firm
The foolish man built his house upon the Sand
The foolish man built his house upon the Sand
The foolish man built his house upon the Sand
And the rain came tumbling down
And the house on the sand went SPLAT!
Now that I have that song stuck in your head we can continue:) As I was reading the verses this song was based on (Luke 6:46-49) there are a few things that stuck out to me that maybe God wants to use to speak to you today. In Verse 48 it says, "And WHEN a flood arose..."
This verse doesn't say "IF" a flood arose, but "WHEN" a flood arose. It is inevitably, we will go through storms of life. You may be struggling in your marriage, you may have lost your job, you may have lost a parent, your child may be struggling, you may just be wondering what your purpose is on this earth. Whatever your storm is-Whatever flood has hit your life, the Bible says in these verses there is one way and only one way that we will stand firm and not get knocked over-THE ROCK! You can't stop the storm from coming, but you can keep it from knocking you down by laying your foundation on the Rock, Jesus Christ. So, how do we do this?
Jesus says in verse 47, "Everyone who come to me and hears my words and does them..." First, we must come to him. That sounds easy enough...Right? Well, if you are anything like me Jesus, sometimes is about the Fourth on the list. Often times when I get hit with a storm, my first phone call is to my husband, my second phone call is to my sisters, my third phone call is to my parents, and then I will come to Jesus. Our foundation is laid when we go to Jesus first...always!
Second, we must hear God's word. How do we do that? Being faithful goers of a church and getting in the Bible and actually reading it ourselves. God's word is the weapon we have against the enemy. How do we expect to face our enemy in the storms of life without our only weapon?
Third, Jesus says we must do them. We can't be merely hearers of the Word, we must be doers of the Word. We don't do these things to check off a list, but so that we can build our foundation because, Ladies, the storm is coming.
I share with you these things not to make you fear or worry about the storm, but encourage you to focus on the Rock, after all Jesus says those who have laid their foundation on the ROCK, the storm "could NOT shake it."
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Lesson from Vince Lombardi and Jesus
Hello Ladies!!!
I really hope you are having a great start to a new school year!!! The smell of fall is upon us: leaves changing, cooler weather, and oh....football! That is really all that is talked about or watched this time of year in the Roberts' house. As a coach, one of my husband's favorite coaches is the legendary Vince Lombardi. There is a quote from Vince Lombardi that God has used to speak to me and my relationship with God and others. The quote is, "Some people find things in the game that don't exist, but football is only 2 things-blocking and tackling."
God used this quote to challenge me in my faith and help grow me as a follower of Christ and maybe He wants to do the same for you too. How? Well, I always thought that to be a more mature Christian you had to know more about the Bible, memorize more scriptures, you had to do more things, or not do more things. You had to understand the book of Revelation, know apologetics so that you could defend the Christian faith, know theology by studying different commentaries people wrote about the Bible. None of these things are bad things and really can be positive, but these things became the focus of my faith, And when it did I often found things in "the game" that don't exist. I became legalistic, judgmental, and religious and not just towards other people, but towards myself as well. I was so hard on myself and others that there was no freedom. You see, I was making the gospel, the good news, into a list of things I could do or should do, couldn't do or shouldn't do. Then, I read Luke 6:27-36:
I really hope you are having a great start to a new school year!!! The smell of fall is upon us: leaves changing, cooler weather, and oh....football! That is really all that is talked about or watched this time of year in the Roberts' house. As a coach, one of my husband's favorite coaches is the legendary Vince Lombardi. There is a quote from Vince Lombardi that God has used to speak to me and my relationship with God and others. The quote is, "Some people find things in the game that don't exist, but football is only 2 things-blocking and tackling."
God used this quote to challenge me in my faith and help grow me as a follower of Christ and maybe He wants to do the same for you too. How? Well, I always thought that to be a more mature Christian you had to know more about the Bible, memorize more scriptures, you had to do more things, or not do more things. You had to understand the book of Revelation, know apologetics so that you could defend the Christian faith, know theology by studying different commentaries people wrote about the Bible. None of these things are bad things and really can be positive, but these things became the focus of my faith, And when it did I often found things in "the game" that don't exist. I became legalistic, judgmental, and religious and not just towards other people, but towards myself as well. I was so hard on myself and others that there was no freedom. You see, I was making the gospel, the good news, into a list of things I could do or should do, couldn't do or shouldn't do. Then, I read Luke 6:27-36:
But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good
to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray
for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the
cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away
your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone
who begs from you, and from one who takes away your
goods do not demand them back. And as you wish
that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those
who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners
love those who love them. And if you do good to those who
do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners
do the same. And "if you lend to those from whom you expect
to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners
to get back the same amount. But love your enemies and do
good and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be
great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the
ungrateful, and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
When I read these verses and realized these words of Jesus was telling us that the "Game of Life" is only about 2 things: 1)Accepting God's LOVE through His son, Jesus Christ. 2) Giving LOVE to others. Anything else is finding things in the game that don't exist. As a follower of Christ and person in the ministry, my life looked nothing like this and that bothered me immensely. How could I go on to study and learn and try to understand the rest of the Bible when I couldn't understand and live these 9 verses in Luke. I truly believe if every person who claimed to be a follower of Christ would live according to these 9 verses, the world would be changed for the Kingdom of God, starting with me. But how could I love like that? I am not capable and even when I try I fail miserably. Then God simply whispers in my ear "You're right you can't, but I can and I live in YOU!!"
In 2010, I have committed to just read the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and get as much Jesus as I can. It has been 8 months and God is doing some amazing things in me and through me. I truly believe God is giving me His eyes to see people the way He sees them (most of the time)) and I am still working on seeing myself the way that He sees me.
Now, after reading this I challenge you to read Luke 6:27-36 again and let God speak to your heart!
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