14 April 2010

Jesus Who?

When I started this blog, I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't really have intentions of it turning crafty. I wasn't even that crafty when I started the blog. It just kind of happened. Although I absolutely love, love, love my glue gun and jar of mod-podge, I also want to focus on what's most important, my faith. I know a lot of people have two different blogs, a crafty one and a personal one, but that's not me. I have one life and so you just get one blog.

If this doesn't interest you, that's ok. Come back tomorrow. But if it does keep reading. I hope you will.

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Do you ever feel like this?


Oh man, I do. Often. 

In fact, I think I'm feeling like that right now.

Kyle and I have been blessed with an incredible church. I mean incredible!  I stumbled upon it the first week I was in my new job and brought Kyle along when he moved here after the wedding. I thought we would have to do lots of "church shopping" but we didn't. We found a church we love and who loves us.

Here's the dilemma, however:

We go to church Sunday morning at 9am and usually are blown away by the worship and the message. Just awesome. Right now we are studying Galatians. Adriana, if you are reading this, all I have to say is "really???"  I have just loved diving into Galatians and learning so much about what my Jesus has done for me (and given me) by overcoming the law and the rules and giving us unconditional love and mercy.

Then there's Sunday night. I am in love with our small group. We meet Sunday evenings, share a meal together, and just fellowship in the Lord. It's been amazing to have this group of friends!

You're probably thinking, "Laura, this sounds great. How is this a dilemma?" Well the challenge is that all of the great "God" stuff happens on Sundays, and then by Monday morning I'm like "huh, how do I keep this going until next Sunday." It's like I'm so excited to invite Jesus in for dinner on Sundays (tonight he would have had pad thai with us) and then the next day I'm like "Jesus who? You want to come in why?"

Please tell me I'm not the only one.

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Revelations 3:20

Usually when I walk across campus I talk to my mom or other friends on the phone. Lately, however, I've been trying to use this time to give Jesus a call. That may sound silly, but that 20 minute walk can be a really great time to catch up with God, let Him know what's going on, and really "answer the door" if you will to invite Him in.

I guess I don't have any great answers to this dilemma. I think I more so just wanted to share that it exists. And if there's anything I've learned from Galatians, it's that God has given us this beautiful, glorious truth that is mercy and faith through Jesus Christ.

"Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law." Galatians 3:23-25

There is no rule book, there's no guilt trip, there's no check list to getting to heaven. Jesus has given us all we need, we just need to open the door and invite Him in.

16 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! I am totally w you on this subject, I was JUST thinking about this the other day, man, God must really be trying to get my attention. My husband and I have small group on Sunday too. But I like your idea of "calling God" vs. grabbing the phone. Gonna give that a whirl next time I have that in between time.
    Heather @ www.savingmoneylivinglife.com

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  2. Hi Laura,
    Thank you for your honesty. I don't think you have as much of a dilemma as you might think you have. In my opinion, there are some people who live their faiths on Sundays and then the rest of the week they forget. Well, you're concerned about having Jesus a big part of your life every day, not just on Sundays. That's great you are concerned about this, because you're putting God in the front of your mind rather than sticking Him on the back burner.

    It's great you take those 20 minutes to have a walk with Jesus! What I try to do is to pray often and live my life in a God-pleasing way and that keeps me closer to Him.

    Good luck! I think you're doing great and I'm happy for you that you found a church you love so well!

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  3. I've just recently come upon your blog, so I hope you don't mind my response here. I really enjoyed your post and your thoughts about keeping the Savior with us at all times. I agree it's easy to keep Him centered in your life when that is your focus (at church meetings, bible studies, etc.), but more challenging on a daily level. The picture you "cartooned" cracked me up. So funny -- and so very true! The thing I do to help me stay more focused on important things in life (like my relationship with Christ) is to read his words -- the scriptures -- daily and to concentrate on personal prayer. Just like you are doing when you "call" him. Love that idea of having a conversation with Him. Thanks for sharing. Your thoughts will stay with me today.

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  4. this is such an encouraging post :) i will definitely be meditating on this topic, because its such a struggle! thanks for just bringing it up when its just so easy to be content with Sunday as "church day"

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  5. Great post - and thanks for stopping by my blog! I also attend an amazing church - and I have the honor of earning a paycheck there too! I produce the weekend services (5 per weekend) and 40 hours a week I am there at work with other Christians - and I still sometimes deal with the same problem! I think as long as we are on Earth we have to make a conscious effort to spend time with God. And I think when we choose to do he honors that. So don't beat yourself up, just look for him often throughout your day - even 5 minutes at time can change your outlook! Wow - this is my first time commenting on your blog and I have been quite wordy! Hope you don't mind!

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  6. Wow, this is a great post. I completely know how you feel. I go to church on Sunday and feel so uplifted and inspired/ Then I go to Bible Study on Monday and the feeling continues. Then by Tuesday I feel like I have been smacked in the face with earthly realities and me trying to control things rather then letting Jesus be in control. I have found the best solution is to wake up before the kids and pray on bended knees out loud. It was weird at first but now it has been the most powerful thing for me. Then through out the day I pray continuously. Just little prayers here and there. Then I feel more in touch with God. You are so right about giving Jesus a call rather then your Mom or Sister.

    This post was excellent and thank you so much for your honesty! Blessings!

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  7. I so know how you feel! As a student it is hard to keep the momentum going through the week--- even @ a Christian college!! But I think we need to realize what heart focuses on during the week-- is it me-my-work-and the pain and toil of life-- or are we deliberately looking to spend time with the Lord and make him an obvious part of our day. Cause-- relationships are 2 ways..

    great thoughts!

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  8. Thanks so much for stopping by, Laura, and inviting me to your Crafty Party.
    I understand totally how you feel about your blog. I've struggled with the same thing - keep one for my art & my beliefs, or have 2 - or even 3! I started a food blog, but really haven't done much with it. There's just so much time, you know?
    I finally decided to just be who I am. Not everyone will agree with me, or believe as I do, and that's perfectly wonderful. It's what makes God's garden so beautiful, I believe, all the different flowers (& weeds!).

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  9. I love this post. Thanks for being real. Walking across campus is such a great time to spend with the Lord!

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  10. Reading your post makes me so sad that churches have closed their doors to mid week services and are rapidly closing them on Sunday evening as well. I am so thankful that we have at least 3 services we can attend a week (more if we so choose) to keep us going. Maybe you could get some friends together to have a mid week get together. Sometimes it is not just the message, but the fellowship that we so desperately need to keep on track.

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  11. Laura,

    I love reading your posts. We are so blessed to have you as a daughter in law. God sure picked us a special one when Kyle found you. Anyway, Bart and I both pray and talk to God in the car. I know that sounds silly, but it is the only time we are alone with our thoughts. Now that Annie will not let us talk on the phone and drive, it gives me more God time.

    Love and Miss you.

    Mom # 2

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  12. Who is Teri S.....I have not been Teri S for 28 years....wow, I'm losing my mind.

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  13. Hi Laura,
    I think this is a dilemma for most Christians because we are human and the flesh is weak. It is so easy to get distracted easily by the things we fill our day with. I know I constantly struggle with this, and funnily enough especially since I started my blog not too long ago. Although, before then, I just filled my time with other things. I do pray throughout the day, however I find it difficult to be motivated to study my Bible. Thankfully, God is merciful and full of Grace, amen? I saw that you had a link about Crazy Love. I haven't read the post yet, but I absolutley LOVE that book!
    Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting on my $3 chair makeover. :) I will link up to your craft day party. I'm under the weather today so I am not doing much crafting. Ugh.

    Amber @ It's Greener Over Here

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  14. hahahahahaha :)

    (This may not seem like a fitting comment to anyone else, but I know you get it, Laura!)

    -Adriana

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  15. Hi Laura,
    Bless you for your honesty...it's that kind of attitude that makes people like me really notice that I am lacking that honesty. Your blog entry in April (I'm a bit behind in reading) really hit home with me about keeping God in our lives each and every day of our lives, not just Sundays. As one poster a while back said, the fact that you are concerned with staying in touch with God shows your heart's tenderness for this situation. And what is so great is that God knows our heart and our heart's desires to long for him and to strive to be like him for His glory each and every day of the week. I, too, listen to KLove, a great station, and they play a huge part in my keeping close to the Lord whether I'm in the car or at home or just reading the scripture. Every time we make a step toward God, He makes two. Keep the faith, friend!
    Susan

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  16. I'm a little late arriving at your blog, but I am receiving such a blessing from it! I can not remember not having the Lord in my life because I have been a Christian for so many years(in my 50s now), but I still face the same struggle you speak of in your post. I grew up going to church on Sunday, was there on Wednesday and anytime anything was going on, that made it easy to keep my relationship fresh...now however, I can not find a church. While there are many churches in our area, none seem to touch us. So to make up for that missing part, I visit around to different churches, surround myself with other followers, or just find spiritual growth in the tiniest, most unexpected experiences. There are so many ways to have *church* without being in a building. We are humans, we have many hours, minutes and seconds of the day...He is there no matter where we are...church or our backyard. I do need the fellowship, the love and the teachings of the church, but in today's society there are many ways to achieve that. Not having a church home or attending regularly at first worried me...I felt He wasn't there, that I was letting my faith down...He is and He let's me know that daily...if I stop and listen. Eventually, He'll lead me to the right church building. Until then I find church everywhere. A friend of mine that is a pastor, and a very wise one... When I say that it brings back memories of our growing up and his mischievousness, who would have thought I'd ever write that. But he says you must keep your humanity...God made you, He knows what you are struggling with, He knows you are a person first, but with the added blessing of having Him in your life. You are right it is not a guilt trip...He would never make us feel guilty about being who He made us to be. It is a dilemma, but what a dilemma to have in order to have a wonderful life with Jesus...right? I can't imagine my life without Him. Thanks for letting me ramble...your blog is a wonderful witness for the Lord. Best, Vicki

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Thank you for coming along for the ride with me. Your comments make my day!