Priorities

The theme of my life these past few weeks have been priorities. Where did I get the theme? Well, I listen to podcasts from Christians (Mars Hills Church and Joyce Meyers) and Dan interprets the sermons at our church here. I do not have a Christian support person or group that I can share with about all the exciting things the Lord is doing in my life and the struggles that I face.

Growing up as an only child, I was made to feel extremely special and important. I spent a good majority of my life trying to prove that to other people. I was sort of smart, got good grades, faked knowing everything pretty well, smiled a lot, was a hard worker, and was an okay friend (when I wanted to be). The American dream was to work hard and prove how strong and capable you are...and then make money and have nice things.

Priorities...
Thankfully I married someone a lot like me. It's not that I don't want to dress nice, get my hair done, have nice things, it's just that I do not have the money nor the know-how to do such things. Dan actually made a comment that I do not have to buy whatever is on sale, no matter how great a deal, because those clothes do not necessarily look good on me. Whooa! ha ha. Now, that is where I'm drawing the line. I want my husband to think I look good.

Back to other priorities. Joyce Meyers was talking about fitting your schedule into Jesus, not trying to fit Jesus into your schedule. This has been a huge thing for me. Very difficult when I spend my whole day sitting in front of my computer and books...working on school. God has given me strength to accomplish all my work and have time to go to church and read the scripture and pray. I believe with all my heart that I'm suppose to be in school, it's a blessing, and that He has equipped me and continues to do so for this time.

Back to Joyce Meyers and clothes: she is really into the prosperity message. I believe that God blesses people so that His glory shows, not just so we can have great things. He's not my magic lamp that I rub and ask for anything I want. I do believe that He gives me more and better things than I could ever imagine (Dan, a nursing degree, living in Spain, the Master's education, family, friends, etc.). Joyce stated today that she was a garage sale shopper and that God provided for her family through miracles. She then said she was so thankful for the day that she was "delivered from garage sale-ing". She said that as a child of God, she didn't have to live that way (not that she was putting it down). I was appalled and saddened. I believe that God can provide riches, but who is she to say such things? I think I'll be a life long garage saler. I don't see myself ever having a lot of money, but then maybe my faith is too weak. I am sorry for those in her audience who put themselves down because they do shop at garage sales and feel as if they are not being blessed by God.

Well, this posting was not to be a put down blog. The last thing I want to do is criticize another Christian (there are enough people that do that), but I do want my priorities to stay clearly focused on God. It's hard for me to read Christians' postings on facebook (I "LOVE" my new....(possession)). I like things...but when I do have a job, I pray that I am not in love with my new things!

Last Note:
I was excited when I was studying about God giving manna to the Israelites in the desert. I knew that he was providing for me and I trusted Him and had more peace and seemed to get my work done sooner. A few months later I was reading John 6:
32Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

34"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."

35Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

41At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." 42They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"

43"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. 44"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.'[d] Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

52Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

53Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."

Wow, there is more than just manna. There are blessings (salvation!) beyond what He equips us for! I cannot wait to see all that He has for me in this last month in Spain. I look forward to what He has for me in Cincinnati. The future is very unclear as to where I'll be after December, but I put my trust in Christ.