How do we reach them?

I have been reading 1 Corinthians and today I was studying a passage in Chapter 3: 1-3. It states, "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly-- mere infants in Christ, I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men (NIV)?"

It is hard at times to live knowing this truth. I taught middle school this past year and there were some students who were Christians but they were not yet ready to fully accept what they believed. They were as Paul would put it, "mere infants in Christ". I dealt with so much gossip, belittling, cheating, etc...I had to look back and realize who I was working with...TEENAGERS! Of course they are going to behave that way. They are hromonal and think they rule the world. Now, I will say there were a few exceptions with in my classroom, but not many. I would try to talk to the class about a situation where one student was feeling left out and thought all the popular students, who were Christians, were leaving her out. It broke my heart when this girl came into my room crying. So I addressed the class, and they just acted like nothing. It never sunk in and I wanted it to sooo bad! It was so hard at times to try to explain what it meant to live for Christ and model a life after his, they couldn't understand. I know at the end of the day that it isn't me working in the lives of my students, it is the Holy Spirit. I am a mere vessel doing what I feel the Lord is calling me to do and when I felt the urge to encourage my students with something that hadn't anything to do with math, I knew it was the Lords guiding. Plus, who knows, maybe some of the students came to some realization about the situation or maybe they will one day. I just have to remember I am just a seed planter and that Christ is the one who will come and water what I have planted. I can only pray the seed grows.

This was just one example of how that passage struck me. There are other examples I could have given but I chose not to. I just wanted to make it clear that adults are just as guilty and can easily be called mere infants in Christ as well. The sad thing is that adults in a way are worse than the teenagers because you would think they know better than to act the way they do in certain situations.

So, anyway, I answered my own question about how to reach them. It is through prayer. It is listening to the Holy Spirit and following his leading. We aren't here to play the Holy Spirit and intentionally make people feel guilty (just because someone feels guilty after you talk to them doesn't mean you are trying to play the Holy Spirit. It just determines where you heart is when you confront them). We are here to set examples.

Screwtape letters: chapter 2

I have started reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. This book is so different from any other theological type book I have read. There are 31 chapters and these chapters are in the form of letters. The letters are written to Satan's demon nephew, Wormwood who is on earth, from Satan (Screwtape). Basically, Satan is training Wormwood how to keep people away from Christianity. I have read through the first six chapters. The book is pretty deep so I don't want to read through it fast and miss something that could be really important (Screwtape would tell Wormwood good job, you distracted Liana from reading something that could benefit the "Enemy's" kingdom--He calls Christ the Enemy! Craziness).

Chapter 2 starts off with Screwtape being displeased about Wormwoods patient becomming a Christian. Then he tells him not to despair but to make the best of the situation. Screwtape (Satan) tells Wormwood that hundreds of adult converts have "been reclaimed after a brief sojourn in the Enemy's camp"..."that the 'habits' of the patient, both mental and bodily, are still in our favour".

My viewpoint on this small section:

There are so many Christians that seem to have their "golden ticket" to Heaven but don't do anything else about their conversion. Sometimes it isn't the person's fault entirely. Evangelists get people to come forward by the masses, but they don't disciple them afterwards. These people that had their conversion experience don't really know what to do afterwards because no one is helping them along the way. That is why I think so many Christians fall back to the lives they were living before Christ--no discipleship/mentorship was available to them! So, these people walked down the aisle, they prayed the prayer in their bed at night alone, etc...There is this huge emotional feeling they start going through and they are all holy and godly for a week, month, year...and then it dies down. It is no longer this emotional high they once had and they fall back into the temptations of the world: drunkenness, drugs, pornography, lying, adultery....They are Christians but their habits are of this world. It is no wonder why people say they don't want to go to Church...they see us as huge hypocrites, especially when all the media covers about Christianity is when a pastor or pastor like figure has an affair or molests little boys and girls. Christianity is seen so negatively and Satan is just LOVING it!

Christians these days seem so scared to stand out. They don't want to "offend" anyone. We are called to hold our brothers and sisters in Christ accountable, yet when we try they get mad at us and don't want to listen. Christians need to realize the responsibility they have for the people that Christ has put in their lives. If we see a brother or sister in Christ living in sin, we should come to them (in a loving and humble way!) and talk to them about it. They won't want to hear it, but I feel it is our job to bring it to light. We see in Galatians 2: 11-21 that Paul opposes Peter. Verse 11 states, "When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong (NIV)."

So, to fight Satan in this area, Christians can disciple/mentor new Christians. Hold Bible studies to help teach and encourage these new Christians live life for Christ. We need to hold our brothers and sisters in Christ accountable! Life is not easy! Especially when Peter tells us, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings" - 1 Peter 5: 8-9. Satan is on the prowl and wants to devour us. How awful is that? It is no wonder we struggle daily with temptations! We need to reach out to our loved ones and pray with them and pray for them! We need to quit pleasing Satan by letting our fellow Christians slide by the way side.

C.S. Lewis uses a quote from Luther in the beginning of the book:

"The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn." Luther

Let us drive out the devil. Let us win the fight over temptations and let our habits glorify the Lord.

I love you all! I pray Christ dwells in your hearts and you follow him all the days of your life!

Penny Lane

Okay, well I needed to post some pictures of our newest family member Penny Lane Randel (after the Beatles song--nathan made it up). She is the dang cutest thing I have ever seen in a while (I can't say ever seen b/c then my other animals and nathan will start to get jealous!). Ha ha! She weighs less than 2lbs and is sooo snuggly. We have to keep her locked in the back bathroom just to make sure she isn't sick and she doesn't contaminate our other animals. The vet said to seclude her for at least a week...it is getting harder each day b/c she wants out soo bad and the dogs want in soo bad. It is cute. Okay, just wanted to show off our new little girl. Seriously, our house is full of dang girls: me, gracie, roxie, kallie, penny, and soon to come McKenzie! Poor Nathan and RJ!

This N' That

Okay, well a few things have happened since my last post.

1. Kallie has returned! Yay! Here is the story: A man called my cell phone a couple Saturday's ago (May 24) and said he think my cat has been hanging outside AND INSIDE his house! He believed this cat was in his house as he was talking to me. So Nathan and I go over there and search in his house and no cat. As we are looking he told us that on Friday night his sister woke up to a cat on her chest! She started screaming and the whole family woke up and searched for this mysterious cat and no one found her so they thought that this woman was dreaming. Anyway, the next day they see this cat on their coffee table and laying out by the pool. Then they see one of my missing cat signs and called. So Nathan and I search the house and no Kallie. Nathan told this man that he can call us anytime if the cat shows up. Well, 3:00 am on Sunday morning my cell phone rings and the man says he has a cat trapped in a bedroom. Nathan drives over there and Kallie was INSIDE the box spring! She found a hole in the box spring and crawled inside to hide. Nathan said she was terrified but he was able to get her out. I am so happy she is back! I got her microchipped last week and put a better collar on her so she is free to roam once again.


2. Well, when we were all down and out about Kallie, we (Nathan and I) started enertaining the idea of a new kitten. We were at the humane society and found this precious little kitten. It was love at first sight :) We ended up adopting her and Kallie came home two days later. It is what it is, but we saved a little kitten and we just lover her.
   
3. Nathan and I finished, "His Needs, Her Needs: How to affair proof your marriage. It was an amazing book and taught us a lot of things that will help us grow stronger in our marriage now.
4. I had two showers in Fort Worth the past two weekends and they were so great! I had so much fun and we got so many things that we really needed: stroller, car seat, jogging stroller, etc...ALL of our big items were bought so that helps out so much! We are also loaded up on clothes up to six months so we get to save money on clothing as well! Yay!
5. Our nursery is almost done! I haven't taken updated pictures but when I do, you will flip out because it is the cutest nursery ever! Kerre's friend Robin made some window toppers and this drape thing that hangs over the bed...it is just amazing and pictures will make you realize why it is so amazing.
6. Finally, I am reading a new book, Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. I will post about this book for the next few posts until I finish. The book is pretty interesting. Each chapter is a letter from Satan to his little demon nephew (wormwood) on earth. Satan is teaching wormwood how to keep people from becomming Christians or keeping Christians from actually living like Christians should. It is such a neat way to see how Satan can play a role in our lives and how he keeps us away from trusting in the Lord and serving Him in all we do. So, tomorrow, I will share my thoughts on the chapters I have read so far..the book is really deep and there is so much you can learn from and it makes so much sense as to why we do things.

My Kallie Kay

Kallie, oh Kallie

Why did you have to stray?

I don't know how to make this pain go away.

Kallie, oh Kallie,

I love your sweet white paws,

The first time I saw you I was filled with awe.

Kallie, oh Kallie,

I miss you so,

why, oh why did you have to go?

I don't know where you are,

but you seem so far.

I need to know you are okay,

and out of harms way.

I love you Kallie Kay,

and I will continue to pray.

Kallie

My cat Kallie has been missing since Sunday night (May 11). She has never done this before and it is really hard on me. We have looked at the humane society and posted fliers around the neighborhood. She wasn't at the humane society and we haven't had any calls so we are just waiting. I have had her for over 5 years and I really don't know how to handle this. I don't want to believe she could be gone, but reality is starting to sink in and it is breaking my heart....That is all I have to say today.

The greatest gift you can give your children...

Nathan and I are reading a book together titled, "His Needs Her Needs- Building an affair proof marriage" written by Willard F. Harley, Jr. There are 14 chapters and we read a chapter a night out loud together. It has been amazing sharing this time together and the book is phenomenal and we have only read 6 chapters!! The premise of the book is about ten basic needs for men and women. In a marriage, if one of these needs are not met, the husband or wife tends to pull away or take "withdrawals" from their "love bank". When the needs are met, deposits are put into their love bank. The book has made us realize the importance of affection, recreational companionship, sex, and communication (there are six more top needs). I recommend this book to anyone who desires to marry one day and of course to married couples. The author of the book is a psychologist and a counselor. He has found that most people who cheat on their spouses don't cheat intentionally...it tends to be a gradual pull away from their spouse. For example, he would say that if a woman's husband used to talk to her all the time (communication) and then years in their marriage they quit communicating, she feels neglected. Then, lo and behold, some man she works with starts talking to her and she feels loved again...Soon enough, they end up having an affair. The affair was never intended, the woman was missing something that her husband failed to give her and some other man was able to fill that missing need. It is sad and totally wrong, but it happens. We need to be aware of the needs of our spouses. We need to work daily on doing the things that make them feel loved and needed. The ten needs the book discusses are:

1. Affection (#1 for women) - typically
2. Sexual fulfillment (#1 for men) - typically
3. Conversation
4. Recreational companionship
5. Honesty and openness
6. An attractive spouse
7. Financial support
8. Domestic support
9. Family commitment
10. admiration

Some of these needs are more for men and some are more a priority for women. But he basically says that there are a top five for men and a top five for women and when one of these needs is lacking, things start to go downhill. Anyway, I believe that Satan is on the prowel seeking to destroy marriages (especially Christian marriages). Sadly, there is no difference in divorce when comparing Christian's to non-Christians. They have the same statistics. I believe this book can be a useful tool to fight the temptations that Satan throws at us because it educates us about our spouses and how they function. Christian men and women need to rise up and really fight for the sanctity of marriage. We need to quit being selfish and serve our spouses the way Christ served the church. We need to forgive each other for all the mistakes the other has made, and we also need to realize that WE make many mistakes too!!! One of the hardest verses for me to follow is 1 Peter 3:1, "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives. I basically take this to say to us women, QUIT NAGGING!!! It is not biblical! The author of this book says this:

"The greatest gift you can give your children is a strong marriage".

Amen to that! Families need to start strengthening their foundation so that their children see what it is like to have a strong marriage. Not just a strong marriage, but a GODLY, Christ centered marriage.

Well, I will have part II come out soon...I don't want to get too long, but there is so much to say on this topic!