January 1, 2011

Here is it the first day of 2011.


As a rule I don't like making new years resolutions because, well, I can never keep them. 


Now that I am 51, and supposedly at least half of my life is over, I need to start managing my time better. After all, I may not have a whole lot of time left. That was the first step. Realizing that my time is short. The second step is deciding how I want to spend the rest of my life. I don't want to chase after the wind. I need to find where my true love lies. What is important? Why am I here? Where is my future? 


That brings me to a very simple statement. 


I know that God is. 


Since I know that God is, I really need to pay attention to what He has to say - to what He is all about. 


This year I've learned a lot about some simple concepts. For instance, I never really knew what, "You shall have no other gods before me" meant. I mean, I certainly wouldn't worship Buddha or any of those other Gods. So I thought this commandment didn't apply to me. Boy was I wrong! As an example, Farmville is my current addiction. Actually, just about any game, takes up any and all time, that is not spent at work. I don't even watch TV anymore. So, what does this tell me? Who or what takes up all of my time? If I were married and all of my time was spent as it is . . . what would my husband think? Would he be jealous? Angry? Slighted? What is my God? Is it God, or is it wasting away my days playing games, alone, on a computer? Is your God football? Reading? Television? Another person? 


Another part of the Bible I didn't really 'get' was the parable of the coins. Matthew 25: 14-30. Where the man gives three different men money and when he returns he asks what they had done with the money. 


What will God think of me? What will he say about how I spent my days? 


I know that God allots us our time. How am I spending the time He has given me?  


One last thing. Everybody says that their God wouldn't condemn them to hell. THAT is idolatress thinking. Creating a God in your mind. Your God wouldn't send you to hell. He couldn't because your God doesn't exist. I heard someone say that the other day and it really struck me hard. I grew up thinking that Jesus was love. Jesus and God are love but they are pure love and they pretty plainly state what has to happen for us to become children of God. 


So, I worry that the people of this age have been mislead. We are taught that all we have to do is repent, confess and be baptized. I think there is more to it than that. Many times in the Bible it states that we are to be dressed and watching so that we aren't caught naked and left. I don't really think they are meaning clothes. They are meaning "without knowledge" and the only way we can get knowledge is by studying and prayer.  


Ephesians 6


11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.


It was only recently that I discovered what this passage really means. Do you know what it means?


I mean how cool is this? Certainly this passage would get the attention of most 10 year old boys. They love fighting with swords and battle armor. Heck, I think it is cool too. The thought that this woman can don this armor and stand with God's army. I get chills just thinking about it to be honest with you. Great, now people are going to make fun about me. I'm even giggling getting this mental picture.


Seriously though! About half of 2010 was spent in researching and learning. I plan on spending almost all of 2011 elbow deep in scripture. I'd love any and all company. I promise I won't be preaching. I don't know enough to preach but I have lots and lots of questions.