Adventures in writing begins...

There's just some thing about a clean, white piece of paper. It's as if its pleading with me to bring it to life with words and thoughts. Watching the paper come to life with scripted sentences, forming the ideas that lay filed away in the crevices of my mind is somehow pleasing to me. Writing is a tucked away favorite past time in which I rarely indulge. Other priorities tend to fill the hours of my day so when I think I might sit down to put pencil to paper I'm unable to think clearly enough to make sense of my thoughts, much less write them down. But tonight this changes. Tonight a feeling of need has overwhelmed me and I'm plotting out a new adventure which requires me to write. So... stay tuned, and off I go!

How I see it...

I guess I'm a little confused... I am a Christian... I'm  not very good at being Christ like but I try, I've given my life to Jesus and while I constantly stumble and fall flat on my face, the fact is I am created in God's image and Jesus stands at Gods side proclaiming himself as my savior. 

The Word of God, aka the Bible, is my instruction manual for life. I choose to believe the words written in the bible regardless of how it was written by imperfect men or how many times it's been translated in the last bazillion years. 

The simple fact of the matter is that the bible is what God gave me to live my life by and God doesn't say "oops" so if the Bible is perfect enough for God to allow as my instruction manual then I will use it accordingly. In the bible, The Word of God, its stated 1 Cor. 6:9-10 "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God." In this scripture there are numerous "sins" that God specifically states are unacceptable, including but not limited to homosexuality.

Because this is written in the Word of God, I choose to believe it is the truth. Anyone can differently interpret the instruction of this scripture but there is also scripture (Deut. 4:2) where God commands that we not "add to or take away" from his word. It's plainly written. 

I don't see anyway it could be misunderstood or otherwise interpreted. Now with all that being said, here's where I'm confused... this whole thing with Chick-Fil-A "taking a stand" against the act of homosexuality/gay marriage. Initially it was a Christian founded restaurant chain taking a stand against an act that was against their Christian beliefs, then suddenly it became every Christians right through "freedom of speech" to condemn homosexuality/gay marriage; Everyone's right to speak freely about something they believe in, or more so, don't believe in. 

 There suddenly arose a  special "day" where people chose to gather at their area Chick-Fil-A to make a statement, through Free Speech, against something that they don't believe in according to their faith. While I'm all about taking a stand  for God and His Word, I'm confused as to what really took place during this gathering of Christians.

 I saw post after post on FB about those who were at Chick Fil A in support of the Christian belief that homosexuality and Gay Marriage is wrong. In addition I saw post after post that people were supporting their right of free speech.

 I don't have a problem with either of these as I agree with the first according to my faith and believe in latter according my constitutional rights. What I'm confused about is why the focus became about this one, of MANY, acts prohibited by God, in His Word. When did one sin become greater than another?  ALL sins WILL be judged by God. It appears, too, that the focus of the people became more about separating themselves from what they were against instead of using the love of God to embrace those who they believe are lost because of their choices.

 I don't know any scripture in the bible that says it's OK to stand in judgement of others, but isn't that really the message, intended or not, which was being sent out with these gatherings?  I don't know ONE 'gay' who felt God's love from Christian community during the gatherings. These gatherings weren't in effort to show that God's written command as to how men and women should live, love or marry. 

And if in fact that was the intent, everyone one of us Christians missed the mark by miles. 

Gays didn't feel anything but condemnation from the Christian community. And isn't it written that we're not to condemn our brother or judge our brother as we will be judged with the same severity?  Judgement should not be a condemning but an ability to see, believe and know right from wrong based on the Word of God.

 Jesus will judge us as we have others and believe me that's not a judgement that anyone wants to face, and as Christians you should know and feel the severity of that statement as you read it. Not one human being in history or current existence, aside from Christ, has any business judging another. I hope you remembered that stand you took against homosexuality when you got home and cussed your wife, lied to your children, neglected your animals, watched your porn, read your romance novels, watched your TV... should I go on??

I mean seriously... you're condemning people for their CHOICE, a CHOICE afforded to them by the very God you and I "say" we serve. 

I for one do not believe that homosexuality is right in the eyes of God, but there's a laundry list of things that are not right in the eyes of God that I fall subject to on a daily basis so who the heck am I to stand my, full-of-sin-self, in a public place and point my finger?? 

It's one thing to share your faith with others but it's not OK to shove it down their throat and ostracize them because they differ. Jesus said "he who is without sin cast the first stone"... I can't imagine how that could be misinterpreted either. A whore is no worse than a homosexual and a homosexual is no worse than a man who beats his wife. And Jesus walked among the ones who fell short from the word go. 

There might not have been any yelling, pushing, bashing, negativity while everyone was piled up in the area Chick Fil A's, but there was a message that rang loud and clear... and it had nothing to do with God's love, plan for our lives, his desire to have a personal and intimate relationship with each of his children, his ability to heal the sick, rescue the lost, uplift the depressed, or any of the other wonderful miracles and gifts he wants EVERYONE to have and know. 

Really for so many years, decades, centuries, etc the Christian community has really shot themselves in the foot with their actions, words, criticisms and judgments. The focus of God loving everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, etc etc has long been thrown out the window. It's no wonder more and more people run screaming for the hills when a follower of God comes strolling through... I think Ghandi said it best (and yes I'm taking this from a post that was made on fb) "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians".  

Can't say that I blame him. A friend of mine said recently that we all need to remember we're all human, all hungry and all need to be loved. God created us in His image- our God is LOVE, He offers the food each of our souls need - LOVE, He exemplifies and is the epitome of LOVE. People want proof of God's love through proof that you live in and with God's love. 

Try taking a stand on the lack of God's love being shown to EVERYONE, without discrimination. Let's see how many start gathering on that premise.  

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:8-14 NIV)

Throwing stones...

Let me just be BLUNT... unless you know for sure that a person is "STUPID" just keep your mouth SHUT!

With the rising summer temperatures over the last decade we're continuously hearing reports of people leaving their children and/or pets in their cars - be it by accident or on purpose - there doesn't seem to be a summer where this horrific instance hasn't happened to someone. Hi, my name is Jamie McClung and I AM THAT SOMEONE.

When my son was about 3 months old (he was born in April, so this would be JULY), myself and my best friend took a very long drive out to visit some extended family. When we got there, I pulled into the driveway, turned off the car, hopped out and we proceeded up to the house, entered the house, hugged on my family members and walked into the back of the house to announce my arrival. When I was hugging my fourth family member, she pulled away, looking behind me and said "Where's Peyton?" It was in that instance that I'd realized I'd forgotten all about my new little baby and that I'd left him in the car. I don't remember my feet touching the ground as I raced back out to the car. I don't remember opening the car door, I don't remember unfastening all of his car seat straps, and I don't remember pulling him out of the car. What I do remember is sitting in the driveway with my son in my arms crying my eyes out because I'd forgotten him... I'd forgotten all about my new precious beautiful little baby boy. He sat in his seat, sleeping, in a hot car, with sweat beaded up on his little head and his very pink cheeks. I believe the only reason the car hadn't gotten as hot as it possibly could have was because it was still very early in the day, my car was parked under a very large shade tree, and we'd only been there maybe an exact five minutes before my family member asked about my son. None the less, I forgot him. I forgot my son in my car in the middle of scorching summer.

Now... I don't think for one second that I'm a bad parent, mom, person, wife WHATEVER. I don't believe I'm stupid. I don't believe I should be "Sterilized" as some have put it while they judge those of us who have made this horrific mistake. Its ridiculous that people are so quick to judge without knowing what the story is. I understand to some degree the dismay of those who hear the stories of people deliberately leaving their kids or animals in their vehicles while they made what they thought was a quick run into the store or bank or whatever. I get it. But really in all honesty, who are you to judge any one persons mistakes when you don't know the circumstances of those mistakes? Why is it that your little white lie, your innocent attraction to someone other than your spouse, your loss of temper with your children, etc is any less "wrong" than the next persons mistakes?? Regardless of intention, a mistake is a mistake. I see post after post on facebook of people judging and labeling and criticizing, demeaning people who have left their children and/or animals in their cars... stop and think before you post something hateful or hurtful about something with which you have no experience or understanding. Be considerate of those who deserve your compassion whether you're willing to show it or not. Or as my father always told me THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK!

James 4:12  There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

Questions, comments and yes, stares!!

For Christmas my husband, Robby, bought me an all black t-shirt with white writing on the front. When I opened this gift and unfolded it to read the words printed on the chest of the shirt, Robby braced himself with a slight smirk on his face. He wasn't quite sure what my reaction would be but he hoped I would see the humor in it and that it would be safe to laugh. But what I don't think he anticipated was that I would not only see the humor in the shirt but that I would indeed wear the shirt and wear it proudly & frequently. My daughter shot a glance over to her father just as I was opening this gift. I already knew it was going to be something of maybe a "gag" gift and watching their faces made it even more intriguing what I would be reading on this shirt. As it turned out the shirt read: MY HUSBAND ROCKS! and when I read it I immediately shot a look at Robby and belted out in laughter! I absolutely loved the shirt! "Oh my gosh! Seriously? Where did you find this?" Christmas shopping with the kids led them to one of my daughters favorite stores, CRAVE, in the Bossier Mall. Robby saw the shirt,showed it to my daughter and they agreed that he should buy the shirt for me. Coincidentally, there was a matching shirt that read: MY WIFE ROCKS! but of course, he didn't buy that one!  HA!!  I have worn that shirt several times since Christmas. I have no problems wearing a shirt that speaks the truth. What troubles me though, are the questions, comments, and even the stares I get about the shirt. People that I don't even know have stopped me to ask me if the shirt is true, or how much my husband had to pay me to wear the shirt, even once I was asked if I lost some sort of bet. Recently, I was walking into a pretty busy Starbucks for my morning coffee and the people sitting at the outside tables of course were watching those of us coming and going from the coffee shop, but it was obtusely obvious those who couldn't take their eyes off of my shirt...turning hard to catch a look to see if they read it correctly. Inside the coffee house two older gentlemen, who appeared refined and of an upper class status, seated at a table close to the ordering line, were blatantly staring at my shirt. I placed my order and walked passed the men to the pick up line to wait on my coffee. I could see it in one of the men's eyes that he wanted to say something, ask me about my shirt but just chose not to. That evening a server at a local restaurant who waited on my friend and I asked me if my husband  made me wear my shirt. I of course explained that I wear it because I believe the words written on it. She made the comment that before she left the house to go to work, her husband has irritated her. I said "Yes, my husband irritates me too, but you know what, that's called marriage. You just have to roll with the punches!" I'm not sure why it's so surprising that a married woman would voluntarily wear a shirt that praised her husband so bluntly, but I find it to be incredibly sad that it is a surprise and that more people aren't outwardly praising their spouses for who they are and even more so because they simply love them. I love my husband. I've told him on many occasions of the time I spent praying that God would send me who he had planned for me and that I would know when he came along. Robby is my answered prayer. He doesn't just "ROCK, he is my rock!!  The bible says in Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands love your wives just as Christ love the church and gave himself up for her."  Ephesians 5:28 "... He who loves his wife, also loves himself."  My husband loves me and that's something I never question, not even when we've had serious disagreements, and we have had disagreements that would rattle any marriage weak or strong. I know Robby is a good man, a man of God, though like everyone else his halo still tends to have a tiny flame spark up here and there. And I know that he was, is and always will be who God has planned to be my husband from the day we met until the end of days.  In three words I can tell you how I feel about him:       MY HUSBAND ROCKS!!! 

Speak up or forever wonder...

Its never a good day when a death becomes the only option to free oneself from pain, and takes the life of someone you love, endear or even just happen to have a few good little memories with. Our first reaction is to want to know the how, why and when, but even after you find out all that heart wrenching information there's still a piece of you that wonders how and why. Then sets in the heart felt sentiments to be expressed as the friend or family member of the deceased, to the deceased, to the family members and to each other as friends of both. "You were a great friend! You were the life of the party! I'll never forget the way you smiled. Prayers for the family of ... are going out"! Emotional and heartbreaking tragedies seem push from the back of our minds to the forefront of our existence a slideshow of repressed memories - of conversations and events - that included the one who is no longer here. A rolodex of dates and places - where revisiting the past - brings a smile to our lips and  tugs at our heart strings all the while we're STILL wondering how and why, and what would have made a difference. What if  the statement "You're a great friend" or "Your smile is infectious!" would have made the difference? Could that have change the course that lead to a tragic ending? What if it would have? Would you have spoken up sooner or more often? Would you have reached out even more, stretching beyond your comfort zone no matter your fear of non-reciprocation? It's not just in times of loss that we should be reminded to extend kind words, appreciation, acceptance, tolerance, compassion and most of all LOVE. These are what we're to do everyday, with each other - with those that we're close to, those that we meet in a chance encounter, and those that we've lost touch with.  Ephesians 4:2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.  Remember, the next time you run into someone from your past or meet your closest friend for lunch or even have that chance encounter with a stranger, your smile or kind words or even a genuine statement of appreciation could be the determining factor for that person who thought their already made choice was the only choice they had. Take the time to break our of your comfort zone, let down your walls, reconcile a friendship or relationship or express your love and adoration... Speak up or forever wonder if what you could have said would have changed the path of the person your now so gravely miss.

Open Mouth, Insert Foot!

Yep... we've all been there... all done that... except when it's happened to you have you felt the remorse you should have felt or did you just blow it off like what you said was something someone else was thinking but didn't have the nerve to say it themselves?

Today I did just that... I instantly felt remorse but instead of saying something to right my wrong, I just left it alone. I didn't apologize because I was afraid of making it a bigger issue, and since people, having realized I said something really stupid, went right on to another topic as if not to park there and make it any worse, I followed in suit. My words were such that I'm almost certain I insulted someone; hurting them. i can say that hurting someone is the absolute LAST thing I would ever want to do and my regret is overwhelming. It wasn't just the remorse that had me by my heart strings though, it was the fact that I usually hold tight to a scripture that asks the Lord to guard the tongue... Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight oh Lord, my rock, my redeemer"... which for a while had been so very helpful in my attempts to "bite my tongue" in my anger or frustrations, or when I wanted to participate in gossip and such. Somewhere along the way that verse has gotten lost and because of that my tongue has run a'muck!

It's good to know that my immediate conviction is still there... though why would He ever leave me? It is written, "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deut. 31:8. I take comfort in knowing that no matter how off the beaten path I stray, He'll be there to lovingly, yet firmly guide me back. Thank you Lord that you hold me accountable in my words and actions. Thank you Lord that I felt that conviction and that I was able to recognize it instantly. I pray that you'll continue to help me watch my mouth, my words, my thoughts, my attitude and my witness Lord. I pray that whatever light has burned out in me you will once again relight and have it burn brighter to glorify you. Lord I pray that the person I may have hurt will forgive me and see past my short comings and know that I'm truly a compassion and loving person. Lord I thank you for the times when things are all butterflies and rainbows, but I also thank you for the times when weathering the storm seems to be so hard sometimes because it's then we're refined and feel your closeness so much more.  In Jesus Name I pray... 

Having all the answers, is not always the best answer!

As a parent you hope that you can prevent your children from going through the trials that you yourself encountered when you were their age. You hope. But what happens when you can't?? What do you do then?? You find yourself wondering what you would have wanted done to alleviate a situation or resolve a problem... but even today, with the hindsight and experience you've gained through all of life's little broken roads, you still don't have the answer. So you instruct your child... you advise your child... you guide, comfort, you do everything you know to do but for some reason you find that none of those things are really helping them at that very moment. It's a helpless situation for both of you. You're distraught over how to be the best parent in the world when you can't even come up with a remedy to a child's problem and your child feels like you, as the parent, should have all the answers and what you tell them should work perfectly without hiccup. Both are left disappointed, just hoping that some little something somewhere will be the inkling of hope for both of you and will magically appear and fix the situation.

I've thought about this off and on for a while. Having a middle school child and that child being a very outgoing social butterfly, it goes without saying that there's plenty of issues that need remedied. I find myself wondering if anything I say ever seeps into that thick skull of hers... and if what's held by that thick skull could only put 2 and 2 together she would be so much better off. I've found myself telling her that I can't fix all her problems for her, that she has to learn to face them head on and work them out herself. I know that personal growth doesn't come from someone holding your hand through every thick and thin, but you personally pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and facing it head on yourself. Life experience gives you the tools to face the next big hurdle, but if you're not learning from your experiences, those hurdles can seem ten feet tall sometimes. Hence my bewilderment over trying to help my daughter in her personal battles, but at the same time, leaving her to sink or swim so she can develop the strength and experience she needs to face future battles.

In thinking about this... the fact that looking back on similar problems I faced at my child's age, I began to think that it's not about my finding a solution to every problem, but that I'm a sounding board for my child. That I'm able to comfort and relate to the situation, a safe place for her to fall when she's had all she can take. I may not have all the answers, but I can relate, and in my ability to relate I can guide and comfort her so she doesn't feel alone. As Christians, we don't always get all the answers we need from the Lord when we're faced with hardship. Sometimes we're left out to sink or swim or so it seems, but ultimately when we carry our burdens to the Lord, he's there to comfort us and show His ability to understand why we feel the way we do, and relate to the place of hurt or disappointment we feel. He may not give us the answers but he's the safe place for us to fall. And we may never, even after years of life experience, know the answers to what once troubled us, but we know that we could take refuge in our Heavenly Father. I want to be that refuge for my children, no matter the problem, turmoil, chaos, and confusion... to put it plainly, having all the answers is not always the best answer!

Nahum 1:7 God is good, a hiding place in tough times. He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help, No matter how desperate the trouble.