There are many views out there on same-sex marriage, and I have spoken on mine before, but I just want to comment on the Chick-Fil-A debate right now.
When people heard that the C.E.O. of the chicken restaurant spoke out against same-sex marriage, the immediate outcry was to boycott the fast food chain. I was a little incensed that people would think they could keep a restaurant from coming to a city because of the views of its C.E.O. no matter their beliefs.
I am proud that people have spoken out in favor of Chick-Fil-A, even if they don't believe in what they stand for. Even the most-liberal leaning ACLU said that judging Chick-Fil-A for being against same-sex marriage is the same as wanting to barr a restaurant for being in favor of homosexual unions. I was flabbergasted when I saw the ACLU standing up for a Christian company.
Again today, Christian leaders in Chicago spoke out against mayor Rahm Emanuel, who said that Chick-Fil-A's views are not Chicago's views. Some of the church leaders in the area said they were Chicago residents but had differing views from Emanuel and he shouldn't speak for all of them.
The country is split 50-50, almost exactly even, on the debate of same-sex marriage. I don't think that either side is going to change the mind of others. However, I did love this quote by the Rev. Charles Lyons in a FoxNews article on the subject today.
"If the thought police come to Armitage Baptist Church, we will meet them at the door respectfully, unflinchingly, willing to die on this hill, holding a copy of the Sacred Scriptures in one hand and a copy of the U.S. Constitution in the other."
(http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/31/chicago-religious-leaders-back-chick-fil/#ixzz22ESlisjz)
Even if unpopular, I'm proud of people who stick by their convictions, when they're God's convictions anyway.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Storing up treasures in your heart
Luke 2:51 says, "And Mary treasured up all these things in her heart."
Life is a little bit like a piggy bank. We have chances to deposit into our hearts and times when our emotions take away from our treasure stores in our hearts.
It's probably more common for women, but sometimes our emotions just make us see the worst in life. A Facebook friend of mine recently wrote that she took her daughter to Red Lobster to try shrimp for the first time, bought her school clothes and even went to get their nails done together. Then her daughter threw a tantrum because they "didn't do anything fun" that day.
Those are times when our emotions are exhausted and we feel like our efforts just aren't worth it. It takes from our treasure stores in our hearts.
However, if we stop to take the time to store up treasures in our hearts we will have enough to spend on the days when life doesn't go like we want it to.
When something happens in my life that makes me smile, I try to really take note of it and remember it. I try to store it up in my heart.
When Nate said "I love you" when I remembered not to freeze the steaks we bought, we he called himself my "hubby" even though we're not quite married yet, those little moments are times these past couple days that I have tucked into my treasure store.
Then at the times when it seems like I keep messing up and Nate couldn't possibly love me or when I am so frustrated with him, I can take a couple of those stores in my heart and remember the good times. Without those memories stored up though, I might dwell on only the bad situations.
We all forget, even important things. I want to continue to consciously try to make memories that will stay in my heart forever.
Life is a little bit like a piggy bank. We have chances to deposit into our hearts and times when our emotions take away from our treasure stores in our hearts.
It's probably more common for women, but sometimes our emotions just make us see the worst in life. A Facebook friend of mine recently wrote that she took her daughter to Red Lobster to try shrimp for the first time, bought her school clothes and even went to get their nails done together. Then her daughter threw a tantrum because they "didn't do anything fun" that day.
Those are times when our emotions are exhausted and we feel like our efforts just aren't worth it. It takes from our treasure stores in our hearts.
However, if we stop to take the time to store up treasures in our hearts we will have enough to spend on the days when life doesn't go like we want it to.
When something happens in my life that makes me smile, I try to really take note of it and remember it. I try to store it up in my heart.
When Nate said "I love you" when I remembered not to freeze the steaks we bought, we he called himself my "hubby" even though we're not quite married yet, those little moments are times these past couple days that I have tucked into my treasure store.
Then at the times when it seems like I keep messing up and Nate couldn't possibly love me or when I am so frustrated with him, I can take a couple of those stores in my heart and remember the good times. Without those memories stored up though, I might dwell on only the bad situations.
We all forget, even important things. I want to continue to consciously try to make memories that will stay in my heart forever.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
What does "going well" mean?
In the "New Day New You" devotional by Joyce Meyer, she focused today's message on Deuteronomy 5:29.
The Scripture says, "Oh, that they had such a heart them always to fear me and keep all my commandments that it might go well with them and with their children forever."
She said, "If we will simply listen to the Lord and do what He says, things will go well for us."
In one way, I agree with Meyer. If we just obey God, everything will work out for the best. However, in another way, I think people take this too literally. People think that just because they become Christians and live good lives that everything will be perfect.
We will all encounter problems in our lives. For instance, many of the apostles were beaten, harassed, thrown in jail or even killed for following Christ. That wouldn't be exactly what we call things "going well."
However, they all ended up with a close relationship with the savior of the universe and an eternal home in heaven. That means everything ended up perfect.
So don't think that just because life isn't perfect that means your relationship with God isn't right. What God thinks is life "going well," isn't necessarily what we think. Just remember that if we follow God and obey his commands, everything will end up the most perfect way that we could ever imagine.
The Scripture says, "Oh, that they had such a heart them always to fear me and keep all my commandments that it might go well with them and with their children forever."
She said, "If we will simply listen to the Lord and do what He says, things will go well for us."
In one way, I agree with Meyer. If we just obey God, everything will work out for the best. However, in another way, I think people take this too literally. People think that just because they become Christians and live good lives that everything will be perfect.
We will all encounter problems in our lives. For instance, many of the apostles were beaten, harassed, thrown in jail or even killed for following Christ. That wouldn't be exactly what we call things "going well."
However, they all ended up with a close relationship with the savior of the universe and an eternal home in heaven. That means everything ended up perfect.
So don't think that just because life isn't perfect that means your relationship with God isn't right. What God thinks is life "going well," isn't necessarily what we think. Just remember that if we follow God and obey his commands, everything will end up the most perfect way that we could ever imagine.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Time spent in nature
I love taking photos of nature, because I get to just bask in God's creation. It's a personal experience that makes me smile and admire all that is around me.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
She was almost there
We lost my aunt Linda to a battle with cancer more than two years ago. Sometimes it seems weird that she's not around.
For instance, when Nate's mom asked how many siblings my mom had I said, "Three brothers and a sister, who passed away." I almost forgot that she didn't have a sister anymore.
At our wedding, we plan on having a red rose on the altar in honor of my aunt who can't make it there. I know that if she could, she would be there in the second row, supporting and loving me. She always made me feel so special.
That's why one of the presents I got at my bridal shower last weekend was so memorable. I got a lot of presents and had many wonderful moments. However, when I opened a gift from my cousin's wife (she was Linda's daughter-in-law) I got tears in my eyes.
I picked up a set of heart-shaped measuring spoons that I thought were pretty but didn't think that much of until Mandi explained them. She said that Linda used to give her two sets of stuff, and she got two sets of these measuring spoons. She kept one of the tucked away and decided to give it to me.
I teared up, thinking how it was almost like aunt Linda got to be at my bridal shower after all.
For instance, when Nate's mom asked how many siblings my mom had I said, "Three brothers and a sister, who passed away." I almost forgot that she didn't have a sister anymore.
At our wedding, we plan on having a red rose on the altar in honor of my aunt who can't make it there. I know that if she could, she would be there in the second row, supporting and loving me. She always made me feel so special.
That's why one of the presents I got at my bridal shower last weekend was so memorable. I got a lot of presents and had many wonderful moments. However, when I opened a gift from my cousin's wife (she was Linda's daughter-in-law) I got tears in my eyes.
I picked up a set of heart-shaped measuring spoons that I thought were pretty but didn't think that much of until Mandi explained them. She said that Linda used to give her two sets of stuff, and she got two sets of these measuring spoons. She kept one of the tucked away and decided to give it to me.
I teared up, thinking how it was almost like aunt Linda got to be at my bridal shower after all.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Colorado massacre should make us think
People crowded into a movie theatre in Aurora, CO, just waiting to see the new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises."
That's when a man entered and started shooting. As of reports I've read so far today, 12 people were killed and more than 50 injured.
Nate and I were just in Colorado and drove through Aurora. And just a couple of weeks ago, we went to a midnight showing of "Ted" in our town. We never expected anything to go wrong in either of those places, and I'm sure that the people going to see Batman didn't expect anything except a fun time. Even the police who were called to the scene weren't expecting such a massacre to occur in their town.
Life is often not what we expect. My heart aches for the poor people who won't see their loved ones that they thought were just stepping out for a couple hours to see a movie. It would have been a shock to the system.
It's hard to think what to say at a time like this. I'm sure people will talk about this tragic incident for a few weeks and then they'll move on. It happened with Sept. 11, it happened with Fort Hood. People still think about these events but it doesn't change the way they live their lives right now.
When events like this happen I hope it makes us all contemplate how unexpected life is. We have to be prepared to meet our God, and we need to have made our lives right with him by accepting Jesus as our Savior. It's not something that we can put off.
Enjoy your life today, because you never know how much time you have. God has given us our days, our moments to enjoy and to serve him.
That's when a man entered and started shooting. As of reports I've read so far today, 12 people were killed and more than 50 injured.
Nate and I were just in Colorado and drove through Aurora. And just a couple of weeks ago, we went to a midnight showing of "Ted" in our town. We never expected anything to go wrong in either of those places, and I'm sure that the people going to see Batman didn't expect anything except a fun time. Even the police who were called to the scene weren't expecting such a massacre to occur in their town.
Life is often not what we expect. My heart aches for the poor people who won't see their loved ones that they thought were just stepping out for a couple hours to see a movie. It would have been a shock to the system.
It's hard to think what to say at a time like this. I'm sure people will talk about this tragic incident for a few weeks and then they'll move on. It happened with Sept. 11, it happened with Fort Hood. People still think about these events but it doesn't change the way they live their lives right now.
When events like this happen I hope it makes us all contemplate how unexpected life is. We have to be prepared to meet our God, and we need to have made our lives right with him by accepting Jesus as our Savior. It's not something that we can put off.
Enjoy your life today, because you never know how much time you have. God has given us our days, our moments to enjoy and to serve him.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Heat stroke
Holy moly, it's hot.
In the winter, I remember laying in my apartment under mounds of blankets not wanting to do any of my chores because I didn't want to leave their warmth. I longed for summer weather when I could run around in shorts and a T-shirt.
Today, I could take a little of the kind of weather that requires a sweatshirt and jeans. Even thinking about that right now makes me sweat just a little bit more. I can hardly stand to even wear shorts and a tank top around my hot apartment.
I always think it's funny how in warm weather we wish for cool weather. In cool weather we wish it would just get warm. I bet God just gets so frustrated listening to our thoughts, "You are never satisfied," he probably thinks.
It's true in more than just weather. We are so discontent all the time. For instance, when I don't have anything to do at work I sometimes wish I had something to make the time go faster. When I am crazed at work I wish that there was nothing on my to-do list. People wait and wait to get married, and then once people get married they do nothing but complain about their spouses.
Hebrews 13:5 says, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Let's be content with what we have today. Even if what we have is really hot weather!
In the winter, I remember laying in my apartment under mounds of blankets not wanting to do any of my chores because I didn't want to leave their warmth. I longed for summer weather when I could run around in shorts and a T-shirt.
Today, I could take a little of the kind of weather that requires a sweatshirt and jeans. Even thinking about that right now makes me sweat just a little bit more. I can hardly stand to even wear shorts and a tank top around my hot apartment.
I always think it's funny how in warm weather we wish for cool weather. In cool weather we wish it would just get warm. I bet God just gets so frustrated listening to our thoughts, "You are never satisfied," he probably thinks.
It's true in more than just weather. We are so discontent all the time. For instance, when I don't have anything to do at work I sometimes wish I had something to make the time go faster. When I am crazed at work I wish that there was nothing on my to-do list. People wait and wait to get married, and then once people get married they do nothing but complain about their spouses.
Hebrews 13:5 says, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Let's be content with what we have today. Even if what we have is really hot weather!
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