Why I Love Organized Religion

You hear a lot of negative things about the church but there are plenty of good things to be said for a group of people who long to do good works and be holy. I’ve been part of three different churches in my life (one Episcopalian, one Quaker and one Methodist) and although they all had “issues,” I grew in each one. 

Although the Jewish religion at the time of Christ was riddled with problems, Jesus, who NEVER sinned, felt it was important to gather with believers in the synagogue(Luke 4:16). I believe that’s a pretty good example to follow. :)

So here are a few reasons I love organized religion.

• The Love – it is the glue that holds the church (and me) together
• The support – when I’m in a jam there are people who are there to help me
• The opportunity to do good works – to make our community a better place to live
• The Disaster relief – when something like a devastating typhoon or hurricane occurs  anywhere in the world there is a way for you to help, either money wise or even a mission trip
• The socialization – God’s people are a built in family for those moving from far away
• The teaching about God’s Word – no matter how well you know the Bible you can always learn more and grow
• The Encouragement – God’s people are like a group of cheerleaders helping you to overcome life’s issues
• The humor – God’s people make me laugh
• It spurs you on to be a better you – growing is a good thing and we all could be better
• The acceptance – God’s people accept me for who I am, though I am far from perfect
• The prayer power – I have seen unbelievable answers to prayer through the church
•  The advice – sometimes you just need a listening ear and a fresh idea to handle an old issue
• The Worship – I love to sing!
• It helps you to grow positive kids in a negative world – a child who hears a sermon once a week all their life is probably better able to handle temptation than one who doesn’t

How about you? What are your reasons for loving organized religion?

If you've had a negative experience with a church it might have been a "bad fit." AND there are very bad churches like Westboro Baptist that are a bad fit for anyone wanting to live a life of love. Don't stop looking - seek the right fit.

Sixty Days Until Christmas?

I saw this in an advertisement today and thought, “I hope women are getting ready.”

Here are a few things that can help make the holiday happy. For instance:

Do a personal Christmas analysis

WHAT WOULD YOUR “PERFECT” CHRISTMAS LOOK LIKE:

ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN, HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE ELEMENTS OF YOUR PAST SEVERAL CHRISTMASES?

1.DISASTER        3.POOR        5.AVERAGE      7.O.K.             10. GREAT

MY ABILITY TO FIND JUST THE RIGHT GIFT FOR EVERYBODY WITH VERY LITTLE STRESS WAS:

MY ADVANCE PLANNING FOR ENTERTAINING WAS:

MY ABILITY TO STAY CALM WAS:

OUR FAMILY TIMES WERE:

MY SPIRITUAL FOCUS WAS:

MY CHILDREN’S APPRECIATION FOR THE TIME I SPENT, AND THE GIFTS THEY RECEIVED FROM US AND OTHERS WAS:

PAST CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS COULD

GENERALLY BE RATED AS:

• Get a 3x5 card and write on it your priorities for making this the best Christmas ever, make a plan and stick to it
• Get a binder and put your list into it along with any gift ideas, card list, anything that has to do with Christmas – if it’s written down you’ll be less likely to forget BUT don’t include your children’s gift ideas – hide those! But still write down so you know you’re not over budget and all the kids are equally covered
• Make a budget and stick to it
• If you bake extra start accumulating flour/sugar, etc. Many baked goods can be made ahead and frozen – Google how!
• My friend Maria starts doubling up her dinners and freezing the second half so she has meals for December when she is too busy to cook
• Even if you don’t usually get the Sunday paper buy it for the next two months – you’ll find deals that will cover the cost of the paper and possibly give you gift ideas – if you clip coupons it pays for the cost of the paper
• To keep reminding you of “The Reason for the Season” find a Christmas devotional and focus on THE Gift! Here’s one I’ve had quite a while:
• Consider shopping at small businesses OR having your friends make things on your list (or make them yourself - I've been reading a book on China's treatment of it's citizen's and I want NOTHING to do with supporting such an evil regime by buying products from China

Christmas Meditations

ON JESUS BIRTH

1. Announcement Luke 1:26-37

2. Mary’s response Luke 1:38-55

3. Joseph’s response Matthew 1:18-25

4. Shepherds told and their response Luke 2:8-20

5. Jesus presented in the temple Luke 2:21-38

6. Visit of the Magi Matthew 2:1-12

7. Flight to Egypt Matthew 2:13-15

ON WHAT JESUS GAVE UP TO BE BORN:

1. His right to be served. Philippians 2:6-8

2. The comforts of heaven. (He knew hunger, pain, weariness, and all human frailties he didn’t know in heaven)

3. The power he had in heaven. (Now restricted by his human body every miracle he did was through the Father’s power, he’d given his own up.)

4. His autonomy. (In heaven he was God, He went from independence to total dependence)

5. His riches (from owning “the cattle on a thousand hills” to the child of a poor carpenter.)

ON PEACE

1. You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Is.26: 3

2. Come to me, all you who are weary & burdened, & I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you &learn from me, for I am gentle & humble in heart, & you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy & my burden is light. Mt.11: 28-30

3. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, & the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

4. The Lord is my strength & shield; my heart trusts in him, & I am helped. My heart leaps for joy & I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7

5. I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints- but let them not return to folly Psalm 85:8

6. Great peace have they who love your law, & nothing can make them stumble. Psalm 119:165

7. Turn from evil & do good; seek peace & pursue it. Psalm 34:14

8. The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness & confidence forever.   Is. 32:17

9. The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, & I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

10. The LORD bless you & keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you & be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you & give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

11. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled & do not be afraid. John 14:27

WHEN ANXIOUS

1 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer & petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts & your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

2...Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, & you will honor me. Psalm 50:15

3. Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Psalm 35:1 

4. Cast your cares on the LORD & he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22

5. Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Psalm 68:19

6. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. Psalm 86:7

7. Trust in the LORD with all your heart & lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him & he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5,6

8. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms & carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11

9. For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand & says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13

10. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

If you have any ideas let me know!

Reign

I am only truly happy when Jesus is reigning in me so why do I sometimes still resist his rule in my life?

Reign

By Jill Krueger Wagner

King Jesus reign over me

I submit to your rule in my life

Even when I fight against you

I know that “resistance is futile” and

It’s not what I truly want

But although “the spirit is willing,

The flesh is weak”

Sovereign Lord reign in me

I desire to do your will but

I’m “prone to wonder, prone to leave the God I love”

“What I want to do I do not do,

But what I hate I do”

“I have the desire to do what is good

But I cannot carry it out”

I am wretched, rescue me

Almighty One reign through me

“Make me a vessel of your peace”

Fill me so with Your Spirit that

You overflow to those around me

Let me be a living stone building your kingdom

In this fallen world let me be a light

Leading others to “the true light that gives

Light to everyone”

Reign over me, in me and through me

I know that your love pursues me

Reign in the morning, afternoon and night

At all times in my life

Your reign brings peace in the kingdom of my heart

Teach me how to remain in you and never depart

Reasons Why I Believe in the Biblical Definition of Marriage

Reasons Why I Believe in the Biblical Definition of Marriage

1.       I have defied God regarding things in the Bible that I didn’t like and didn’t want to obey. That never ended well because God disciplined me (Hebrews 12:7-12).

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

2.       I found that God pours blessing upon me when I do what He desires (Malachi 3:10)

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

3.       I am commanded to love my neighbor and know that condoning his/her sin is to their detriment.

“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13: 6-7

4.       It isn’t loving to support someone whose sin God says will keep him/her out of heaven.

“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters not adulterers not male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were but you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12

5.       I really love the ones who struggle with same sex attraction and want to see them in heaven with me. I KNOW God loved me before I repented of my many sins yet I was blissfully unaware that those sins would send me to hell. It is obedience that pleases God and repentance that saves.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

Although I hate being called a bigot and judgmental I know whom I serve and care more about pleasing Him than any whom falsely judge my motives. So along with Jesus I say what he said regarding the woman caught in adultery …” neither do I condemn you... Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:11

To find the Biblical definition on marriage try these Scriptures:

Ephesians 4:22-33;Romans 1:26-27; Matthew19:4; ICor6:9-10;Mark 10:6-10;Matthew 19:1-8;Galatians5:19;Ephesians5:3-7; Colossians3:5-7;ITim 1:10;Titus 1:16; Jude1:4,7,19;Rev21:27

Two Ways to End Gun Violence

Two ways to end gun violence

By Jill Krueger Wagner

I know of two ways to end gun violence.  The first involves the way we treat others.

Our society pretends to care about others but in truth we all tend to be self-absorbed. We have our individual agendas, our “must-do” lists that have a way of eating up our days. We don’t have time to see what is going on in the lives of those around us. When we get up in the morning we don’t ask, “Is there anyone I know who needs a kind word or help today?” Instead we think, “What do I have to do?” If we took the time to consider those around us we might notice a child that needs some extra love or a mother at the end of her rope trying to deal with that child. We would care for outcast kids, the “weird” ones who don’t fit. They need us, all of us.

The other way is to reconnect with truth. We all have a tendency to believe nice sounding lies that say everything is alright when in reality everything is out of focus. If we become addicted to helping others as suggested above we can lose our zest for life in the demands placed on us. We need balance.

When asked what the greatest commandment of the law was, Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your hearts and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Those are the two ways to end gun violence – caring about others and putting God first in your life.