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Before I begin, I want to say thank-you to JOCELYN for the beautiful new template. I will write more about my birthday in another post.
In Philippians 2:14-15, it gives an example of how we as Children of The King should live:
14Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Ok mothers, I am sure you like the first verse; “Children do everything without complaining or arguing,” because there is no doubt you have told your children probably 100 bazillion times, “Stop whining, and just DO IT!!!” or “Don’t argue with me, I mean what I say.”
Children, it is up to us, to obey our parents, quickly, cheerfully, and if you want to blow them off of their seat, then you should take it the extra mile! Instead of just putting the towels in the closet, fold the whole pile of towels that are toppled over.
I am working on this myself, trust me I am not there yet, nor do I think I will get there easily!
I find, that if I am in a bad mood, it is hard for me to do work, because all I can think about is myself. On the other hand, if I am smiling and I choose to think about others, I find myself happier and more willing to work.
This generation IS crooked and depraved! If we act the same way as them, then what do we say? We say that sin and worldliness is ok! Though people may not admit it, they do have a higher stander for Christians, and also homeschoolers.
Think about it! When something bad happens, like a shoot down, or something disturbing happens, and say (for example) it is a public-schooled teen who commits it, they more then likely will not mention that is say, a non-Christian or what kind of education he has had, but, of course if it is a home schooled Christian, they would HAVE to mention that because they think that they should act better then the ordinary.
When we yell at our parents, or we act disrespectful, we hurt our example of Christians, of homeschoolers, of the family we live in, and depending on the amount of children, the large families.
Once we were in the grocery store and we saw two scroungy looking children being VERY rude and annoying to their mom and we figured that they were probably homeschoolers because school was not out yet. I looked at mom after we left and told her that those kids give homeschoolers a bad name and she said that, that was the same way people look at us when we act like that. They don’t see something new and different. They don’t see the love of Christ. They see typical-acting children, and they look down on our parents, homeschoolers, and Christians.
I want to shine for Christ. I want people to look at our family, wonder what is different and dwell on the thought of Christ living in us. I want them to say, “I want what they have!”
But like my mom always says, we lose our opportunity to witness to someone when we act badly.
Which would you rather be?
One Sunday, the pastor told us that when we wear the garment of praise, then we already shine with the glory of God. So, yes, if you slouch down in church, wearing a black hood over your head, acting like your life is miserable, you are not going to shine! If we are standing up straight, with a broad smile on our faces, and acting in a way that shows that we believe that the God of the Universe actually died for us and that we are thankful for it, then of course beams of glory ARE going to burst through us!
This one time, I was talking to the mail man and he mentioned about how he had a headache, so I said casually that I would pray for him. Well I did pray for him, but I didn’t give it much thought, and the next time he saw me, he made sure to tell me that his headache went away almost instantly that day I said I would pray. Then he thanked ME for healing him! I laughed, and made sure that he knew that I was NOT the one who made his headache go away, but that God was the source. I was glad that God let me be used to minister to this man, (although I do need to be more careful now that I am becoming a young lady. I don’t think I would have held that long of a conversation with him if I was my age now.)
The point is, is that God can use us to shine in ways that we can’t even imagine. Perhaps just smiling at someone who looks grumpy, can lighten their day. Maybe opening the door for an elderly lady will show her that not all teens are bad. Doing your chores cheerfully can be a great example to your younger siblings.
So this week, first thing tomorrow when you wake up, make it a goal to get through that day and shine God’s light to just one person! You don’t have to go anywhere to be able to witness to someone, you can start with your family, then maybe neighbors, then if you just so happen to go somewhere you can make it a priority to shine to someone there.
The mistake that I have made plenty of times, is to shine only for other people, be a joy to the people at church, but be nasty to my own family members. I have heard my mom say WAY more than once, “Would you talk that way even to ******, if she did the same thing to you?” or “Would you treat your Sunday school teacher the same way you treat me?” (though we don’t go to Sunday school anymore for a whole blog entry of reasons unrelated to today’s point.)
I need to learn that family comes first; otherwise I am just a two-faced apple!
*Oh, who me? Never!*
Yes I have been shamefully rude and caustic to my family, because, I am human, and I act like it. Doesn’t make it right, and I don’t want to act that way, but I always do what I don’t want to do! Does that make sense?
Sooo, to make this long blog short, try not to do the things you don’t want to and do, do the things you want to do but don’t! Got that? Clear as mud right? Oh well, how about this, Try to shine for God, but if you fail, don’t fret, because you are human. Don’t give up. Ask for forgiveness and keep on trying. Ug! There, is THAT more clear?
Romans Chapter 7 puts it like this:
15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
I am not sure that is any less mind-twisting!
Well I guess that is all. I could wrap it up with another scripture:
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
See You Later!
Miss Kaitlyn Elizabeth
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