Faith & Flossing

Lemma share something with you.

Faith is a lot like flossing. 

 

 Now if you're thinking I'm nuts and well yes... But just hang on here and see what I mean.

You see we get one set of teeth if we're lucky. We have to take care of those teeth. Flossing helps us do that by fighting the nasty junk in our mouths. It is important because it reduces the risk of having tooth decay, prevents having bad breath, prevents gum problems, prevents tartar build up, reduces risk and complications of certain diseases. So flossing is an important part of our lives.

As is our faith. You only get one life and its simple. You either go to Heaven or you go to Hell. While you may fight me on this one, you have to realize that its true. You have two choices, that's it.

Okay so how do flossing & faith go together? 

Well its like this. No one really likes to floss, unless you are those crazy people who dig their teeth and teeth in general (I happen to be one of those freaks) so most people don't do it or occasionally will. Flossing is a habit you have to get yourself in too. Once you start and do it then it becomes part of your life, your routine, so thus it becomes normal and natural. You keep it up because its a part of you & what you do daily and then you don't even think about it you just do it. Faith is a lot like that too. Now mind you, its not something that has to be forced, just roll with me here. A lot of times we are busy. We have a lot going on from school, work, family life, activities, dating, etc. We all know that most of us put God some where in there (its like drive by faith) and how we should be having a God day and putting those other things in there instead of the other way around. So its hard to get in to the word. Hard to stop and read your bible, journal, pray, and just plain be in His presence. We don't make the time, just like flossing. We know we need to be doing it because of the benefits of doing it but we don't because we are lazy and put other things first.

The thing is, our faith is very much like how we have to take on flossing. When we start to do it, it becomes a habit, habit becomes a routine, and routine becomes our daily part of our lives. To the point we are in the word, praying, journaling, being with like minded people, church, etc. 

Sometimes we don't want to floss. We go to the dentist and tell them that we did once about 2 months ago, or we are honest and tell them we never floss. Sometimes we don't want to get in to the word because we put other things before it, telling God we don't have the time. But both are beneficial to our lives. Both will help us be better people. Both can be a positive thing. 

I encourage you friends, to put faith in your hands. Choose to make the difference and get in to the word. Make it a habit. A routine. A daily thing. Once you do, I can assure you that God will show himself mightily and you will be blessed!

e.

p.s. try flossing too, go on you know you want healthy teeth! (okay so that's an added perk to life and health and spoken from a true flossing nut!)

Purity.

Hi there!

Can I just be honest? I am kinda long winded and am workin on Jesus' time frame so just pull up a chair and hang on!

Interestingly enough, God laid this upon my heart and then when I was at work, I was putting away books on girls on self-esteem and purity This is a close subject for me, because as Alyssa's mommy, and being one of my biggest charges as her parent is to pray for her and teach her. 

I feel the need to bust out with purity.  We're talkin about sexual purity where you abstain from any form or kind of sexual activity outside of marriage. And I'm not just talkin' to kids here. Parents, wake up! Talk to your children. Educate them. Listen to them. Direct them. Show them. Help them desire to refrain and choose purity! Don't just tell them, show them.

 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. -Psalms 22:6(NIV)

My biggest prayer for her and you is that she/you choose to remain pure. And simply not because she/you "has" to because the word says that it is a must, but because she desires that in her own heart. You desire that in you heart. I can spout off tons of scriptures and really be passionate about this, but I want her/you to desire that not just because I am pounding it in to her/your head but because that is something she & you choose.

Before I go any further, I want to share this with you. I am not affiliated with these peeps at all. These books came to me as a suggestion when Alyssa was 5. Yeah.. She was only 5 (thank goodness I am one open mommy and hit it straight on). Someone on her bus while living in England asked her if she knew about sex. That's when I went to my bible study group and friends and not only asked them to pray, but suggest how to handle this delicate topic to a 5 year old. I bought these, God's design for Sex.  We didn't buy the first one because she already knew about being a baby inside of me, just not how she got there. I loved them. She loved them. They worked for us. They may or may not work for you. But there is my suggestion.

Bing Dictionary defines purity as this. 

pu·ri·ty

 [ pyrətee ]   

1. freedom from contaminants: the absence, or degree of absence, of anything harmful, inferior, unwanted, or of a different type
2. innocence: virtue and innocence
3. clarity: clarity of tone or sound

 I think the bible defines it as this:

God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.  Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.  Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.  Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.1 Thessalonians 4:3 NIV

It's kinda the same thing. However, let's talk about sin for a little bit. I don't particularly care what you think, but if you are engaging in any sexual activity and you don't have a ring on your finger and aren't married you are in sexual sin and aren't being any kind of pure. Doesn't matter what you think or what you call it. Whether you are engaging in looking at things, talking about things, or actually doing things, that's not okay. Sin manifests itself in many different ways and our cultures depicts that its okay to engage in sex prior to being married. I don't really know the stats, but I can assure you, I bet its pretty high. Let me just say, IT IS NOT OKAY TO HAVE SEX PRIOR TO MARRIAGE. 

That is a sin, and I know all too well.

Let me share a lil bit about myself. I am only going to apologize once in advance for being so open and honest on here. It's how I roll. While I don't particularly care if I step on your toes and feel the need to apologize, I don't want to continually do so and affect you reading this. This blog and its real, raw, and honesty is me. It's what I feel led to do so forgive me if I step on any toes being so open and saying TMI. 

Okay.. So about me.  I didn't grow up in a Christian home. My mom never ever talked to me about sex or anything like that however, I do remember having a few conversations with my brother. Most of what I knew I learned in school and you can best believe, it wasn't Christ centered. To act cool in school, I remember I would just listen like I knew about what was being said. Some of it isn't really rocket science since the Lord created us to be sexual beings, some of the topics that left me scratching my head and I later learned through the hard way.  As I grew and did my hormones that were wild & raging, and I'm just being  honest, teenagers at the time of puberty and beyond have it rough. I don't think I knew I should choose to remain pure, and sadly I did not. Yes, you read that right. I was not a virgin and for a long time, I was pretty promiscuous. I am not afraid to admit that, because it is in that where the Lord filled me with a love and covering so vast that it washed away my sins. Don't get me wrong, I knew right from wrong but there was no one there to guide me and help me choose to save myself for my marriage.  But I also, put myself in situations that would lend itself to impurity. In high school, I fooled around. I didn't think what I was doing was wrong at all. Who knew? Surely not me. Did a lot of making out, lots of flirting, and even went so far as to have oral sex. I would like to believe had I knew, I may of have a conscious about it or cared enough to remain pure. But that was not my choice or path, and sadly enough I was sinning. I was filling a God-shaped hole that I spent years filling with sexual sin. God is the only one who can fulfill every. single. area. of your lives! After the act went away, I was left with it all. My feelings, my guilt, my frustrations, etc. 

Friends, let me just share with you that we are actually supposed to remain pure. The bible is clear on that. But in my opinion it starts with your mind. Our minds are powerful. You know that, I know that. We are bombarded with junk all the time. It is all around us. We are fallen people living in a fallen world. However, we are supposed to fight it.

Firstly with our minds. Our minds are a powerful place. We have to ensure we are renewing them. Every second of the day.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. -Romans 12:1-2 NIV

Then your heart. Ah.. The heart. Where most of our "feelings" come from.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. -1 John 3:2-3 NIV

Now I know that I said in the beginning I want Alyssa to desire that and I do. It is her one greatest gift that she will give to her husband. To me, that in itself is one of the most exciting, liberating, fantastical things ever! Imagine that you choose to remain pure. You save yourself all your entire life and you get married. Your spouse and you become one. There is nothing more sweeter, more innocent, and more pleasing to God than this act. 

I don't beat myself up or think about the past as in regret though. God washed me! I have been saved by his grace! It has allowed me the floor to talk to you today and that's why I am here, like the countless others that want to share to you to remain pure and actually do so! But because I violated this early on, I later violated it further in myself, who I was with causing them to sin, and our Jesus by eventually having sexual intercourse. That's not choosing to refrain, to remain pure, to save myself for my husband. And I am sharing with in this with you so that you do not make the same choices. God wants the best for you!

We have to choose. You have to choose to refrain. Aside of the word, let me share with you a couple of things. Firstly, remember God wants all of you, including this. If you have fallen, then go to Him and He will wash you white as snow. He will cleanse you and you will be new in Him! I know that doesn't negate that you may have chosen to not remain pure. I know the pressure from feeling like a dirty rag and not because of your activity but because of your choices. Do not beat yourself up. If we were perfect people we would not need a savior. And man let me tell you, we need Him! 

So today my friend, choose different. The 5 minutes, 30 minutes, the hour that you spend in sexual sin is not worth it. Do you hear me? It is not worth it, trust me. Sure it feels great for second you're in it, just remember that once its over and the raging inside of you subsides you will have to stand. So today friends, if you have fallen know there is a gracious God who will stand firm with you and help you. I wanted to share this from Focus On The Family. I like them. Go read it here. 

He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.-Psalms 103:12 NLT

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,

so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.

Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;

I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble,

and you will answer me.-Psalms 86:5-7 NLT

And if you are someone who has chosen to remain pure, good on you! Remember though, just because you are not "acting" it out doesn't mean that your mind isn't wondering, thinking, or sinning. Stand firm with your mind and guard it as much as you guard your heart.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,  training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.Titus 2:11-14 ESV


 Ephesians 6:10-17"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rules, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day and having done everything to stand firm. Stand Firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God." 

Put your purity in to action by standing firm! Start right now. You now have a choice!

Much love friends.

e.

Intro.

Maybe it is because someone suggested it. Or maybe its just plain time to start opening my trap and actually sharing with a voice, my world in which I live in. That's a world filled with many complex things but the main thing is my faith. I need to talk about my faith. I desire to talk about my faith. I am that much in love with Jesus and let me tell ya, that's a serious love! I want to share what God puts on my heart. You know that deep down, meat & potatoes faith stuff that we're supposed to have. Well I digress, not everyone is at the meat & potatoes stage and that's okay... I wasn't and am not too.

I need to make a couple things clear so I can get this out of the way. I am just a real Christian (you know the water-walkin, pickin up my cross daily kinda thing), like the millions out there. I am not special (except to Jesus and a few people that would tell you that I am) I don't have it right. I get things wrong. My beliefs may not be yours. My opinions may not be yours. And I can't write well at all (but I don't particularly care either). Not only do I not write fluidly, all those English peeps are cringing each time they may read too. I'm also kinda flighty and all over the place when I write. But that's when I'm doing it and when Jesus isn't. There is a huge difference and if you read this blog much at all, you'll be able to tell the difference. So it is just what it is. How it comes out, is well how my mind thinks. And that in part, makes me, me. 

To start off with, let me share about myself.  The boring kinda stuff that will be intertwined with this blog and you may think about who I am. Who they are and stuff like that.

I'm Elizabeth. I've been a Christian for 15 years. I don't claim a denomination because I don't feel the need too. I read from the NIV because I bought my bible in 1995 when I was flat broke and Dayv (my ex husband who is still a very good friend) didn't want me buying it. We didn't even have groceries and I bought this bible that was like 85 bucks. I love that thing. It makes me smile just writing about it that's how much I love it. I choose to pick up my cross daily. And this blog is about Jesus (ya know the one that's a Jew. Which means of course he isn't blond haired and blue eyed. Sorry to shatter that image of the Jesus hanging on your wall, but good on you for having him there! To me he couldn't be.)

Okay. So I'm married, just recently so. My guy has a son who is now my step-son, he's 14. And I've got a daughter and she's 16. I live in Seattle. I feel blessed to have a blended family. I want a dog. I like red. I wear converse. And I am tatted up. 

Okay that's prolly good enough.  I recently wrote 2 posts on FB and took over FB prolly annoying a lot of peeps with writing. But peeps post stuff on there all the time and it is a springboard actually to the start of this and one of my friends suggested it as I said.  So here we are. You and me. I invite you to pull up a chair, drink of your choice, and join me on one of the most important things I'll ever do. My walk with God.

Post 9.11

 Facebook post from 9.11.13

While everyone is focusing upon this day, I just want to say that we (meaning all of us) often feel inadequate. Sometimes we feel small, unimportant, or even at times worthless. We await big things to happen and know there must be something in our lives that are going to matter, mean something, or be huge. We all want to matter to some one or some thing but we don't often believe we are actually that important to entertain such thoughts.

But friends, let me share with you that we are. You, me, and every other person that was put on this earth has a purpose. I do not believe we were born just because of an egg and sperm. We, you, me, them, us, matter. We all have a path and plan that we choose to walk down. And at times we don't feel adequate in doing so and well because often times we aren't.

I don't often feel adequate (and no I'm not fishin for compliments or the lack of, its just my mind running, pondering, and sharing). To be a wife. A mom. A friend. A sister. A cousin. A stranger. A listener. A helper. A servant. An encourager. Or whatever else I may put on that list. The point is I am often inadequate. But the bigger thing is I am willing to admit it. I don't have it right. I jack a great deal of things up. I get it wrong. I fail miserably.

He called men to drop their nets and come walk with him. That was it. He called, they dropped. You can best believe they felt like they weren't worthy enough to do the task set before them. I can't imagine how I would feel because I would be feeling just like them. You want me to do what? How am I supposed to do that? Smh, you've got the wrong person. And even in all of that, they just went with him (and I'm talkin about Jesus).

But that thing is that's just what he's called me to do. And it doesn't have to be huge. Fireworks. Or grand. It just has to be and we have to be willing because it is. Even when I do jack it up, there are times where I see God's glory and get it right. I jack it up because I am human, but I have grace. I've been given that, thankfully. Whew!

Today I was standing there at work beating myself up, which is something we all do. Ya know, the being too hard on yourself type thing. and yet little did I know later in the day an opportunity would arise that would be not something huge, grand, or full of fireworks. But a chance to allow God to work through me. If I have to think about it, I am sure there was something else I could have said, done, or acted upon and didn't. However, the mere fact I did, was something to behold because it wasn't for me. It wasn't about me. It took all selfish pretenses away. It made me look at life a little differently, feel a little more softer inside for mankind. It is in those moments that we often serve our greatest purpose and that my friends is just to be and allow yourself the ability to not see you as you do, but see you as how you were created. A jacked up human being. Yep, that's right you're jacked and so am I. Flaws and all God's got your back even if you aren't walking with him because he created you and loves you.

I am learning that it is in the willingness of myself that we don't need to feel small, unimportant, or worthless. And those big things might come our way or they may not, but you have to remember you are worth it and you have a purpose and you most definitely matter.

My heart vs. My skin.

Written on Facebook 8.30.13

Friday Fact.

Let me share an insight to me. I only share in this because oddly enough after moving to a city that is very liberal, I have learned that even in that people are still very quick to judge who you are and doubly so because I am a Christian. I am merely sharing today.

Point in case. There are all walks of life that have tattoos and all kinds of people that choose to get ink. This of course is including myself as you know. Its a known fact, I don't hide them nor do in any event try to show them off (unless of course people want to see them and talk about them). What you may not know, is that even though I have them doesn't put me in to any "category" or "group" of those that choose to have them.

I also am a Christian (not a religious person they are not one in the same). A fact, I will never hide. Call me what you will, but I walk daily because I choose too and I know Jesus, we're pretty tight. I know what scripture says. I have read and had more discussions than I thought possible on being a Christian that chooses to have tattoos.

I have tattoos because I do. I dig ink, like the fact I can put memories, people, things, and events that are special to me in ink. I do not regret one single tattoo that I have ever gotten, in case your wondering and I'm not gonna burn in hell either. I am among many who choose to get inked. There is nothing special about me just because I have them..

But.. Let me share with you that I am special and each of you are too. Why am I? Because I am a complex, unique, pick up your cross daily, in your face, joyful, sinner saved by grace, passionate, energetic, loveable, girl that's why.

I am special not because of my ink, but because I am me!

So yeah I have tattoos and even more so I am a Christian. Both of which are a part of who I am, but neither of those are cause for judgement because well.. no one has that right, only Jesus does. When I get to Heaven you can best believe He's gonna be looking in to my heart not my ink. Because what's in my heart is a real, raw, honest, of a fallen girl who's got a heart after the one and only Jesus and that's a fact.