Lost In the Prairies.....Found by God

There are times I wished it would get me discounts to buy books or get me into conferences I really want to go to.  More often though it gets me judged by my family or it gets played to make me do things I really am not comfortable in doing.  If you don't know what it is already, let me show you.

Yep, I'm a professing card carrying believer.  Ok, so I don't actually have my official card yet.  It must be in the mail, but it's played a lot.

My family, who are not believers, seem to use it to their advantage in "putting me into my place."  When we were home last summer, I mentioned that I couldn't wait to see Eclipse.  "What? I thought you were a Christian? " was the response my aunt gave me.  I guess Christians are not allowed to see movies?  When I question things or state my beliefs on abortion or same sex marriage, I get told I'm closed minded because of my beliefs.  I also am not able to speak up during family activities when I see things that I don't want my children to hear or see, as I'm being an uptight moralist and not a mother of small children.  I am a believer and yes, because of that many of my former beliefs, which were quite liberal, have changed.  However, I don't go to family functions looking to witness to everyone.  I would hope that the changes within me would show them the power of God in my life.

...if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. (1 Peter 3: 1-2 NIV 84)

I find that those who don't believe use our beliefs as weapons against us - even from those who should love us unconditionally.  Oh, is Satan wily.....

The other time the card is called into action is to get us to do something we don't want to do or something we want to wait and pray about.  During my in-laws 50th anniversary, I wanted to hire a youth group to serve coffee.  I was told by a sister in law, that I wasn't a Christian since I didn't want to serve myself.  I was upset and insulted by the insinuation.  Another time, when someone in my study group wanted a friend of theirs to join in, we all told her that we would pray about it.  She then pulled the card on us, "...if we were Christians as we said we were, we would let her join."  Why do we do this to each other?  We are supposed to support each other, lift each other and love each other.  I don't know any verse for blackmailing each other.

We are believers.  We are sisters in the word.  Daughters of a great and wonderful King.  When faced with the "card," we should show the same grace that Jesus showed to those who mocked Him.  We should truly reflect the way God calls us to live.  To be forgiving and understanding.   We don't need to allow ourselves to manipulated.  We need to stand up for the truth when needed.  We do not need to be judgers of non-believers or ourselves.  

I am a proud believer, but I still wish I could get a discount at my local Christian book store.

I'm linking up with the Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood at Finding Heaven.

There are times where I wonder how much middleman understands and how much he doesn't.  Does he know how much God loves him?  Does he know how much God sacrificed for him?  Will he ever?  Then there are times that I love his child like innocent mind.  When asked if Jesus is in his heart, he answers "No, Jesus at church."  His mind will most likely always be innocent, honest and childlike.

 Today (Sunday) was Thomas' first day in a formal Sunday School setting.  I was worried with how much he would learn.  They were starting off with creation and what God created in 7 days.  I was unsure of how and what Thomas would understand.  

After church and a family lunch at a Chinese Buffet, we went for a walk along the river.  On the walk back to our car, I kept pointing out the grasshoppers for Thomas to look at.  There were quite a few along the paths.  I asked Thomas if he liked Sunday School and he said he did.  I asked if he learned about cars or God.  He answered God.  I then asked him who created the earth and he answered God.  That lead me to talk about all that God had created to him (obviously in words he could understand).  When I asked who created the grasshoppers, he answered "God!"  

I know that many of the dreams I had for Thomas may not come to fruition.  But one thing I do know, Thomas is exactly who God created him to be.

Sorry for the late check in but better late than never....

This week I have been struggling in my goals.

1.  No unwholesome talk:  I really haven't stopped this.  However, I have been more aware of what I'm saying and when I am saying it.  I usually swear when I'm stressed, frustrated or angry.  I had a talk with my best friend about swearing and we both acknowledged when we swear.  Now I just need to figure out a way to stop.  I don't want to use a money jar.  I may have take away privileges, like no pumpkin spice lattes during the week.  I may start keeping track of how many times a day I do it.  I am praying and seeking God's leadership in this situation.

2.  Working out 5 days a week:  I worked out 4 of the 5 times.  I, however, only used the treadmill twice.  I walked the princess to school 3 times last week and enjoyed the good weather we were having.  It takes 15 - 20 minutes one way to get to her school so it was a good walk.  The weather this week is turning, so it is back to the treadmill.  I will be looking at different treadmill exercises to do to break up the monotony.

3.  Organizing the craft area:  I did absolutely nothing in this section.  So this week I am going to set 30 minutes a day to organizing the craft area.  I may get it done by the end of the week.  I have to hurry, training camps are currently starting and then there are the exhibitions games.  I definitely want to be done by the time hockey season starts.

I hope everyone else had a great week and can't wait to see how everyone did.