A Different 4-Seasons

Hunting season.
Flu season.
Holiday season.
Sinning season.

Yeah, I said it. Sinning Season. And the only license you need is a dull conscience.
It’s not a year-round event. In fact, it often sneaks up on us as Christians when we begin to let things slip, and life doesn’t seems worse for it. Sometimes, whether consciously or not, we can begin to gauge our success and measure our obedience on how many bad things are NOT happening in our life.

“Didn’t have time for my devos all of last week. There are just so many other things that need my attention. It’s hard to take time off to study.”

Maybe our weakness is related to flim/tv/novels. “It doesn’t seem to affect my relationships at church, and I’m still loving my spouse unconditionally,” and we continue to fill our minds with content of the world.

Sometimes it doesn’t even start as a sin. The comment we made about our elderly parents was just meant to lighten the mood, but now, our attitude oozes disrespect and contempt toward them and our responsibilities for them.

It could be, you picked on your husband in front of your in-laws and kids last month, and weeks later, you realize that dissenting attitude has grown, and your kids are catching on.
Over time, we find ourselves overwhelmed, under-energized, grumpy, sad, and confused because we’ve been zooming along without check, living loosely, and losing sight of the standard for which we ought always strive: to be like Christ.

It’s like the automobile driver that hasn’t had a ticket in a while. He slowly begins to increase his average speed. 5 over. 8 over. 10 over. “Most cops won’t stop you unless you go over 10.” Soon, he’s regularly going 12-15 over the speed limit without even having to justify to his conscience about why it’s okay to travel that fast because he’s just keeping up with the rest of traffic.

Until he gets pulled over.

The little sins in our life stack up, and will take over if we don’t pay attention to our sin-ometer.

Make a point to check your speed before circumstances pull you over:
Do you have accountability in place to help you get back on track with devotions?
Are you honoring your parents?
Do you lift your husband up, in public and in private?
Are the things you put into your mind (music/tv/books) helping you focus on Christ, or serving as the “duck call” in a season of sin?

Romans 6:1 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
Romans 6:12-14 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

In closing, I just want to take a moment to praise God for His forgiveness! 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We serve a great God who loves welcoming the sinners home, no matter the length of the season, and giving us a clean start! Let that be our motivation to do our best to stay on track!!

http://www.karijo-co.blogspot.com

Scary Christians

Let's try some word association.

If I say Obedience, you say . . . "dog training," "children," "faith"?
I say Sacrifice, you say . . . "barbaric," "suffering," "love"?
I say Discipline, you say . . . "parents," "spanking," "christian"?

That's good. Now, think about God's perspective on these words.

He doesn't mess around with fickle definitions, or feel good responses. When He gives a command, He expects obedience: immediately.

Some of the blessing He has for His children come only with obedience. When the Israelites began their journey through the desert after crossing the red sea, the Lord said,""If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer" (Exodus 15:26). And He tells us to "Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33).

Discipline is often used as a verb, meaning to punish, however, it can also be used as an adjective describing a person or thing. A disciplined person is one who obeys, or does what is right, because he should. Not always because he wants to, but because it is good for him. Very applicable in the areas of excercise, marriage, devotions, bible study, witnessing, going to bed on time, getting up early . . . you can fill in the blank. Discipline is key to being effective in any area, and most importantly, spiritually.

Anyone who was at Prestonwood's Connection service last night will recognize my example of sacrifice. It's really a foreign word in our--me first, want it now--society. Webster defines it this way: "destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else." For us Christians, we strive to give up what we want, so that we can put our husbands, roommate, or family first. We ought put aside some of our hobby time (reading, making music, watching TV) and use it to minister to our church, community, or a complete stranger. It involves risk, and even sometimes taking responsibility for the life or well-being of people with no connection or obligation to ourselves.

Ruth was redeemed by such a man: Boaz. Not only did he go out of his way to make sure she had food, but he also put his reputation and family name on the line to take responsibility for Ruth's land, heritage, and good name. A challenging example of sacrifice, indeed (Ruth 1-4).

Put all three of these characteristics together, and people used of God are a force to be reckoned with. The modern day Boazes not only demonstrate a life sold out for Christ, but also pose the biggest threat to Satan's kingdom, and spread the Lord's territory in everything they do. They are scary.

I read a quote yesterday that stopped me in my tracks: "Be the kind of women that when your feet hit the floor every morning, the Devil says, 'Oh Crap! She's up!' "

I leave you with this; how scary are you? Does Satan have a reason to be on your tail each day because you're dumping salt on his bland world, or can he sleep in because he knows your obedience is self-serving, discipline weak, and sacrifice tempermental?

Lord, help me to do the things you've created me for with fervent faith, dedicated obedience and the willingness to develop discipline in sacrifice. Your word says all things are possible with Christ, and I struggle on a moment by moment basis. May I seek You first and take it a step at a time. Make me an effective Christian who threatens the devil with every decision. Thank you for only giving me what I can handle, and for wanting me to succeed in the tests that come my way!

Phil. 2:13
Ephesians 2:10
Phil. 4:13

http://www.karijo-co.blogspot.com

Currently Listening I'm A Believer (and other hits) : Flashback Vol. 49 By Monkees see related

"Mrs. Copling!" Here I am, ready or not!

I won't belabor the tremendous events of our once in a lifetime wedding day, but will only say that the God centered ceremony and fairy-tale like reception couldn't have been more perfect, more lovely, more special, more wonderful, or more like "everything I wanted" in a way that was not only fitting for Justin and I, but also was a way for us to celebrate God and all He has done in our lives through partaking in communion, a congregational hymn, prayer, and truth from the pulpit. Some time I would like to get more pics up, but for now, I wanted to greet the world from the station of Mrs. Copling, and thank those of you who attended and helped make it a most memorable event! Maybe I'll be back in a blogging sense after all these many months of-different universe living.

Hope this finds you well and blessed of the Lord!

One day my world won't be this small

Congratulations to my sister, the new Mrs. Sandra Murphy!!!

Can't believe my sister is married, but I am so happy for her and Matthew. They have waited  a long time and now can share every part of their lives together. God bless you as you start this new journey!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

And now my wedding day FAST approaches. I'm trying to enjoy every moment and not get caught up in frenzied worry or stress. Can be difficult, but you only do this once!!

We do have our website almost finished. Feel free to drop by even if you arejust curious :)

www.justinandkari.net

Wedding preparation is a season, and I'm going to enjoy it for what all it is!! I have plenty of time to live in the real world, and I promise: I will return.

Oh, my achin' heart!

Yahoo! Shine – “Celeb ‘role models’ have sway, says one dad, but it's the parents who own the power to shape their daughters' self-respect.”

“Wow,” I thought. “Someone in the media, speaking truth and making sense!”

Even upon reading through the article http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/how-to-bimbo-proof-your-daughter-167407/

I was impressed with some of the advice and instruction given. I agreed with a lot of it, and was becoming encouraged by the good news on my yahoo home page.

The last paragraph was especially intriguing when the author actually challenged parents to curb their own behaviors; to become better roll models for their young girls 24/7.

That’s why, when I read the middle of the paragraph, my eyes widened and my heart pounded.

“That doesn’t mean you have to burn every Playboy in your husband’s stash. But you might do well asking him to consider how he’d feel if his daughter found a copy.”

You’re kidding right? What type of an example is this? Do as I say, not as I do? People, all it takes is one playboy in the stash, one bad website, or unexplained movie scene. Even just knowing it’s there without ever seeing it is damaging. Since when does hiding the dirt under the rug help an allergic child?

My heart is infuriated on behalf of all little boys and girls growing up in a culture, where 1) parents don’t know the difference between right and wrong and therefore cannot teach them, 2) the best advice the secular word can give is “hide the trash”: basically “It’s okay when you are an adult, but for now, stay away from it. It will corrupt your mind and self worth.”

 But I guess it goes along with other thought processes like—somehow, just because an adolescent/young adult turns 21, they are suddenly transformed into irresponsible people, expected to be responsible with their alcohol intake and entertainment choices—right.

Maturity of that kind must be instilled over a longer period of impressionable years. Oranges don’t hang green from the branch for days, and then suddenly ripen to a healthy, mature orange fruit over night? Neither do humans absorb responsibility, self worth, morality, respect of human life, or wisdom by turning a certain age or becoming an adult.

Much more to say, Too little time. But take a minute to evaluate your life: what areas of hypocrisy can you work on eliminating. Someone’s watching you, even if you are not a parent! Be responsible. Please.