I'll be quite honest. My brain doesn't really have a blog idea, and God hasn't banged me over the head with one either. However, a few people in my life will be disappointed if I write nothing, so here is a little something...
Everyday at least one child in the class I assist for has ants in his or her pants. Maybe due to early consumption of sugar. Maybe due to exciting plans. Maybe ADHD. Who really knows. I only know that the child cannot sit still to save his or her life. Sometimes I'm tempted to super glue their butts to the chair.
Likewise, my brain is a 3 year old. I must be entertained all the time. Unless I'm sleeping, my brain is ticking or turning to mush. At work, my mind is on the kids or what I have to do after work. After work, if I'm stuck doing something that's not really fun, I entertain myself while I do it. Just today, I listened to a audio book while exercising. I watched a show via my cell phone while cooking dinner. I wish at this very moment I could listen to music and not be distracted from typing. When I fold clothes later, I'll probably be watching or listening to something.
It's like I have to bury my thoughts in crap as often as possible. This, I believe, is one (maybe THE) reason I haven't got an idea for this week's blog. I've allowed very little time for God's still small voice to speak to me. I've allowed very little time for him, period.
There's a reason God inspired the psalmist to say "He says, 'Be still and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10). No one sits still anymore. I'm not convinced they ever did. I wonder what they used to drown out God's voice in Jesus' time. Now we have televisions, computers, mp3 players, game systems, fancy phones, theaters, books, etc. Technology is fun, but if we worship it, we are in danger of our growth being stunted. By worship, I mean put it before the Lord, God who should be our Almighty.
So, pray I listen more. And if you have this issue, at least you know you're not alone. =)
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
But I said sorry!
Our new woman's Bible study has directed me to Romans 6. Paul becomes a bit repetitive and says almost the same exact thing in verses 1-2 and 15. Romans 6:1-2 states, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!..." Romans 6:15 states, "What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!"
Why do you suppose he had to state twice in the same chapter that we are NOT to use our freedom in Christ as an excuse to sin? Could it be, perhaps, because this deed is second nature to us, the dumb sheep that we are? From watching children and how they pick up on the universal "rules," I'd say yes, definitely. It's a very natural response to attempt excusing behavior and avoiding punishment.
Let me give just a tiny example of what I see at work. Child A deliberately hits child B. Child B runs to tell the teacher. At some point between these two events, Child A says the magical words, "I'm sorry." The teacher (in this case, me) confronts child A and asks why s/he hit child B, but all child A says is, "I said I was sorry. I said sorry!" Teacher can't see into the heart of child A, but appearances signify that child A is not sorry at all. Teacher punishes child A by putting him/her in time out. Afterward, teacher tries her best to explain why saying sorry doesn't mean no punishment. That time out is necessary to keep child A from doing it again, and saying sorry doesn't make hitting acceptable behavior. Then, of course, it's time to say sorry (again) to child B, and, hopefully, this time s/he genuinely means the words.
Because the child lacks the knowledge of the need for sincerity, I comprehend why child A thinks s/he can hit, say sorry, and all is fine and dandy. Children just don't understand.
So then, what's our excuse?
Obviously we think like a child in this manner because we have the audacity to think at times, I can go ahead and do (fill in the blank with your choice of sin). I'll just repent afterward and God will forgive me and forget all about it. Sure, God will forgive, but I believe our confession and repentance has the requirement of conviction. Eventually, one might truly be genuine, but think about what comes with sincerity: guilt, shame, self examination, turning from the sin... I love the say the NLT states this in verse 21 of the same chapter: "You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom." Who wants that baggage? Been there, done that. No thanks.
The solution is simple; don't sin in the first place! Well, duh, but no one's perfect. Sin will creep up on us daily. However, the last thing we should do is use our freedom in Christ to open temptation's door wider. In the end, we'll either not be truly repentant and severely hurt our relationship with God, or we will truly repent, which is a painful process. Children don't understand, but we should.
Why do you suppose he had to state twice in the same chapter that we are NOT to use our freedom in Christ as an excuse to sin? Could it be, perhaps, because this deed is second nature to us, the dumb sheep that we are? From watching children and how they pick up on the universal "rules," I'd say yes, definitely. It's a very natural response to attempt excusing behavior and avoiding punishment.
Let me give just a tiny example of what I see at work. Child A deliberately hits child B. Child B runs to tell the teacher. At some point between these two events, Child A says the magical words, "I'm sorry." The teacher (in this case, me) confronts child A and asks why s/he hit child B, but all child A says is, "I said I was sorry. I said sorry!" Teacher can't see into the heart of child A, but appearances signify that child A is not sorry at all. Teacher punishes child A by putting him/her in time out. Afterward, teacher tries her best to explain why saying sorry doesn't mean no punishment. That time out is necessary to keep child A from doing it again, and saying sorry doesn't make hitting acceptable behavior. Then, of course, it's time to say sorry (again) to child B, and, hopefully, this time s/he genuinely means the words.
Because the child lacks the knowledge of the need for sincerity, I comprehend why child A thinks s/he can hit, say sorry, and all is fine and dandy. Children just don't understand.
So then, what's our excuse?
Obviously we think like a child in this manner because we have the audacity to think at times, I can go ahead and do (fill in the blank with your choice of sin). I'll just repent afterward and God will forgive me and forget all about it. Sure, God will forgive, but I believe our confession and repentance has the requirement of conviction. Eventually, one might truly be genuine, but think about what comes with sincerity: guilt, shame, self examination, turning from the sin... I love the say the NLT states this in verse 21 of the same chapter: "You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom." Who wants that baggage? Been there, done that. No thanks.
The solution is simple; don't sin in the first place! Well, duh, but no one's perfect. Sin will creep up on us daily. However, the last thing we should do is use our freedom in Christ to open temptation's door wider. In the end, we'll either not be truly repentant and severely hurt our relationship with God, or we will truly repent, which is a painful process. Children don't understand, but we should.
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