Who's your "Britney"?

Heard a song the other day that made me really ponder...

Do we REALLY see people through the eyes of Christ?

Here's the lyrics to Bebo Norman's "Britney"

Britney im sorry for the lies we told
we took you into our arms and then left you cold
britney im sorry for this cruel cruel world
we sell the beauty but destroy the girl
britney im sorry for your broken heart
we stood aside and watched you fall apart
im sorry we told you fame would fill you up
and money moves the man so drink the cup

i know love goes around the world we know
and you never see it coming back
you never see it coming back
i know love goes around the world we know
and you never see it coming back
but i can see it coming back for you
yes coming back for you

britney im sorry for the stones we throw
we tear you down just so we can watch the show
britney im sorry for the words we say
we point the finger as you fall from grace

i know love goes around the world we know
and you never see it coming back
you never see it coming back
and i know love goes around the world we know
and you never see it coming back
but i can see it coming back for you

yeah, its coming back for you, yeah, its coming back for you, yeah, its coming back for you, yeah

britney i do believe that love has come
here for the broken
here for the ones like us

i know love goes around the world we know
and you never see it coming back
you never see it coming back
and i know love goes around the world we know
and you never see it coming back
but i can see it coming back

i know love goes around the world we know
and you never see it coming back
you never see it coming back
i can see it coming back for you

its coming back for you... yeah
(repeat)

Makes me think of Britney Spears. Also makes me wonder a few other things:

• How often we look at people for what we can get from them?
• How often do we see people's appearances instead of their need?
• How often do we see circumstances instead of opportunities?

We, as Christians, are not told to assess people's situations. We are told to share Jesus. Again, when Jesus said to share the gospel with all people, He REALLY meant ALL people.

Now, let's pray to see as Jesus sees and be heartbroken for what breaks His heart. The world can be changed but not through labels, petitions, boycotts, or boisterous rants. The world can be won one heart at a time! Go be Jesus to someone today!

Children just need to see Jesus!

Something jumped out at me while reading this morning. Check out what the Scripture says in

Matthew 21:14-16 (New International Version)

14The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.

16"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.
"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read,
" 'From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise'?"

The children didn't have to be taught to praise God. All that had to happen was for them to be in the temple and see who Jesus is and what He did for the people around them. How awesome is that?! No one had to lift the children's hands or teach them to jump and shout. All they needed was to see Jesus.

People, God is still the same! If we get the kids into the church and show them Jesus, they will come to Him willingly and praise Him with their whole heart, mind, body, and soul just as we are commanded. What they don't need is to see their leaders "praising" in church on Sunday and living like Jesus is still dead the rest of the week. If we truly believe Jesus is the risen Savior we claim He is, then we must proclaim it in our daily lives. These children see even when we don't know they're watching. And just in case you didn't know, when we reach the children, they will take Jesus home to their parents! All they need is to be shown Jesus... really shown Jesus!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
"Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is LORD!"

Wanting and Whining

Luke 23:8-11
When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.

In my reading today, a couple of things jumped off the page at me:

**The Scripture says that Herod "had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle." Never does it say Herod wanted to get to know Jesus or spend time with Him. It simply says Herod wanted to see what he could GET from Jesus.

**The passage goes on to say that "Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate." After Jesus did not give Herod what he had wished, Herod just ran his mouth and made fun of Him. Then he sent Jesus to Pilate to be done with Him.

Now, how often are we guilty of these same actions? Too many times, we only stop to pray when we have a need or desire. Then our prayer is just enough to pat ourselves on the back and tell God what we want from Him. Too often, we don't spend time listening to what God wants to tell us. Then if God doesn't act on our selfish plea, we act liked spoiled brats. We moan and complain, spreading misery and contempt instead of love and compassion.

As unsaved people, these actions are bad enough. However, if we claim to follow Christ, these actions are reprehensible! Jesus Christ loved us so much that He left the glories of Heaven to be born on Earth, laid in an animal trough in a smelly barn; be raised as a carpenter's son; be ridiculed and persecuted; and then betrayed, beaten, and murdered JUST FOR US! But, guess what?! The story doesn't end there! Jesus rose from the dead! Our God is ALMIGHTY! He even conquered death and Hell for us! The least we could do is live daily for Him, listening to His voice, and following His lead CONSTANTLY!

Oh, and by the way, please note that I said "we" and "us" because I am the first to admit imperfection.

Merry Christmas!

Nature declares His glory!

Galapagos from Darek Sepiolo on Vime

The wondrous creations of God never cease to amaze me! Enjoy this video from underwater at Galapagos Island shot September 2008 by Darek Sepiolo.

Gift Offered to ALL

I was reading a couple of days ago...

Matthew 26:17-30 (New International Version)

17On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

18He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' " 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

20When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."

22They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"

23Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

25Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?"
Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."

26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."

27Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."

30When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

What jumped out to me was that Jesus said His offering was for ALL. In case anyone is wondering, yes, when Jesus says, "All," he means ALL! How often do we deem people unworthy of mercy or think we are personally too low for Jesus to reach to where we are? Hallelujah! God does not see as we see! He had already made it perfectly clear that He knew who would betray Him, yet He willingly offered His gift to them all. If only we could learn to see through the eyes of our Savior, what a wonderful difference we could make in this world. If we are picking and choosing who is worthy to receive the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, we are unworthy to be called "Christian"! Too many people have been pushed away and hurt by self-serving, self-righteous church members! We too soon forget that we too are sinners, and ONLY through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ do we escape damnation. Jesus is coming back, and Hell is a REAL place of ETERNAL TORMENT! The #1 priority as a child of God should be reaching the world with Jesus. He, not we, must be made famous, one person at a time.

These days, everyone is screaming for change. The only REAL change that matters is the transforming grace of our almighty God. He takes old, worthless, dirty rags and turns us into shiny, bright lights to a dying world. He makes all things new!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (New International Version)

17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Ponder these thoughts. Let me know what you think.
Merry Christmas!
Lindsey

A Better Solution?

--Author Unknown A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said, “Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 yr. old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together.” So the Doctor said, “Ok, and what do you want me to do?” She said, “I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.” The Doctor thought for a little while, and after some silence he said to the lady, “I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.” She smiled, thinking that the Doctor was going to accept her request. Then he continued, “You see, in order for you not to have to take care of two babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. That way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.” The woman was horrified and said, “No, Doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!” “I agree,” the Doctor replied. “But you seemed to be ok with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution.” The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point. He had convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb. The crime is the same!

Sometimes I just need to be reminded...

God has reminded me recently how very much I have to be thankful for!

The week before Thanksgiving, we were side-swiped during a hit-and-run with two of our kids and our 16-year-old niece in the car. NO ONE WAS HURT! Our car only suffered minor damage. The other driver was caught, and we have a court date later this month.

Our furnace caught on fire at 3:30 this morning. Thank God no one was hurt, and the fire was contained within the unit. Once power was shut off to it, the fire dispelled. We called our emergency maintenance line, but the unit is going to have to be either completely rewired or replaced. The apartment manager donated us a space heater. We are praising God that we were up. Ayana (our baby girl) has a cold and had diarrhea. She had woke us up, and my husband was putting her into the shower to clean her up. I walked into the bathroom and smelled smoke. I checked on the boys and came downstairs. When I reached the hall closet where the furnace, I could hear the crackle of the flames. I felt the door...still cool. When I opened the door, I actually saw the flames inside the top of the unit, and sparks were flying out into the closet area (which is where I keep my school books and supplies... paper!). I ran upstairs, screaming that the furnace was on fire. David jumped out of the shower, grabbing his clothes. I grabbed Ayana, wrapped her (still dripping water) in her blanket. I woke up the boys, and I ran with the kids out to our car and turned on the heat. I had to put Ayana's pull-up and clothes on in the car! Anyway, David flipped the breaker and made sure the fire was out. We brought the kids back in, called maintenance, and waited to see what he said. After he said the danger was over, we put the kids to bed. David and I went to bed about 6:30 and got up this morning about 9:30 and had an AMAZING day of praise and worship at church this morning! No matter what the circumstance, God never fails and is always reminding me of His goodness!

Thanks for your friendship, love, and prayers!
Merry Christmas!
--Lindsey

PS-- If you haven't checked it out yet, check out NewSpring online.