Are you a Christian because you walked an aisle? Part 3

So, you think you're a Christian because you said a prayer or walked an aisle when you were younger.

Maybe you were sitting in church (like I was) and as the pianist played, “I Surrender All”, you had the feeling that YES - you do want to surrender all to Jesus – so you walked to the front and told the world that you want to be a Christian.

Maybe it was during the quiet prayer at the end of the service and the Pastor had everyone bow their heads and close their eyes. Then he asked for anyone who wanted to become a Christian to raise their hands – and you did (again, me too). Then you silently repeated the prayer after the Pastor that stated you were sorry for the sins in your life and that you wanted God to forgive you and give you eternal life through Jesus Christ.

That is fantastic! What a wonderful experience it is to repent of your sins and give your life over to Jesus as Savior and Lord of your life.

Oh, now there is the fine print. Give your life to Jesus and make Him Lord of your life? Did that happen? Or did you just say the prayer and ask God to forgive you because you truly do not want to go to hell for the sins you commit?

Jesus is not a “get out of hell free” card. Yes, eternal life in heaven, in the presence of God, forever in paradise is free, but it will cost you everything you have. It is a life change. There must be evidence of this change.

 Now I am not talking like those TV preachers who want you to send all your money to their “ministry” so that you can have your best life now or be healed of any and all that ails you. If you wonder about these preachers, you should read the book of Jude. It won’t take long. It is only one chapter. He has many warnings about these ‘preachers’.

What I am talking about is what it means to be a true Christian. Jesus gives a strong warning about who will actually make it through the pearly gates and who is actually self-deceived.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ {Matthew 7:21-23}

You see, these people not only call Jesus lord, they call him ‘Lord, Lord’ meaning they thought they knew Him well. They thought they had a close relationship with Him. They did many acts in His name. However, they were self-deceived.

Right before this warning, Jesus also talks about how many people will be going to heaven (narrow gate).  

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. {Matthew 7:13-14} 

The way is narrow and there are few who find it. Please, please, please be sure you are on the right path. More than saying a prayer and walking an aisle, you should be actually following Jesus. Being a Christian means being “Christ-like”. Do you want to be like Christ? Do you know who He is or what He is like?

In the letter to the Galatians, Paul gives a list of deeds that are consistent with a true believer (fruit of the Spirit) and in Romans 1:29-31, he gives a list of deeds of someone who is an unbeliever (works of the flesh). Can you identify with any of the characteristics below (surely you know which list is which)? Would you say you are more like the black square or the blue one?

      

Which list describes your life? I usually am not a fan of the Message translation of the Bible (they are a little too free with their translation of the text sometimes), but in this case, it gives a good description of what a non-believer’s life may include:

 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom. {Galatians 5:19-21, the Message} 

Wow, between the black box and that description from Galatians, it is clear that at least in some point in all of our lives, we can be found in those lists.

The question is which list do you most identify with now? Do you see a pattern of change in your life – moving away from sin and towards the fruit of the Spirit?

If you have made Jesus Lord of your life and you desire to be more like Him, you will see more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. You will start to feel uncomfortable with the sin in your life (like wearing an itchy wool sweater in the summer heat).

If you repeated a prayer or walked an aisle when you were younger but have not noticed a change in your heart, then now is the time (do not delay) to pray to God and ask Him to truly forgive your sins, repent (which means turn away from the sin in your life) and follow after Christ (a good way to start this is to read your Bible daily).

Don't forget about our giveaway. This is the last week to enter.
The winner will be drawn on April 1st (no foolin').

Are you a Christian because you go to church? Part 2

Are you a Christian because you go to church? This is an interesting question. I bet you think the next thing I will ask is what denomination is the church?


Nope.


Does denomination and doctrine matter? Most certainly! But if you have truly started living for the Lord, then you'll figure out soon enough if the church you attend is a good church.

The question I have for you is, "Why do you attend church?"


1. Do you attend church because that is what everyone does? It is what the typical American family with 2 cars, 2 kids, one dog, and a white picket fence do on Sunday mornings (or even Saturday evenings now). It is how your kids will learn to be good, moral citizens. Plus, your Mom calls and asks what the kids are learning in Sunday school each week and there IS NO WAY you can admit that you skipped church!


2. Do you attend church to network your business? There are so many people who attend that large church down the road and everyone knows that Christians tend to stay within their own church friends / family when looking for doctors, dentists, insurance carriers, builders, real estate agents, etc. The best place for you to grow your customer base is in that big church, so you are there on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings (with a business card in your pocket for anyone who may seem interested).


3. Do you attend church because it makes you feel good? Do you serve as much as you can (or in a vital ministry) and feel as if you are giving so much to the church that it may be adding to your "good" bank that God is keeping up in heaven. Do you picture God as the ultimate Banker and He is constantly adding to your account when you do "good deeds" and deducting when you "slip up" (aka sin).


4. Do you feel as if you are doing some sort of penance for the week? Maybe even thinking this is something you need to do in order to get through the pearly gates? You know that you have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (as we all have) and feel justified when you attend church each week? Does taking communion or hearing God's Word taught make you feel closer to God and this removes the stain of sin in your life? Do you feel less *complete* or like a bad Christian if you are not able to take communion for a week, month, year?


5. Do you attend church to sing praises to your King? Do you love belting out Hallelujahs to God? Do the old (and some new) hymns echo in your ear all day long after singing them corporately as a church body?


6. Do you attend church to be around fellow believers? Are you encouraged by sharing life with others who love the Lord? Do you look for ways to love on others in the church so that you are both encouraged? Do you feel as if you are running on a battery pack all week and come to church each Sunday to be recharged by the reading and studying of God's word and praising His name?


If you resonate with numbers 1-4, you might want to do some more evaluating. If you resonate with #5 and #6 then you should be encouraged. The Bible tells us that the church body was created for...


1. First of all the church is for believers in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Matthew 18:17 gives guidelines on what should happen if a church family member refuses to repent of a habitual sin. Not only is this to ensure the person is in fact a believer (not giving the person false hope in a shallow relationship with the church and Christ), but also to keep the body of Christ pure. Even just one person who is habitually entertaining sin can give the devil a foothold and split a congregation (it happens all the time - how many churches are in your neighborhood?).


Self Examination time: Do you notice an increasing hatred of the sin in your life? Do you willing subject your personal thoughts and actions to someone else in the church so they may hold you accountable? If someone pointed out a sin you were committing, would you be willing to repent?


2. In Acts 2, we are given a little picture of how the first church conducted their daily lives. They are committed. They are set apart from the world. They are sharing, kind, giving, and gracious. The church is to be different than the world, but in a good way (not a snobbish way). They are to be the hands and feet of Jesus and be eager to serve each other.


Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,  praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. {Acts 2:44-47}


Self examination time: Are you different than the world (in a good way)? Do you have a servant's heart, being ready at all (or most) times to help others? Do you share your time, money and life with the church - and are you happy about that?

3.  In Acts 20:28-31 Paul explains the role of the elders of the church. They are watchmen over the flock. They are to protect and guide the congregation. That means they are to spend time studying the scriptures so they are able to teach others.  They are to pray for the congregation and be willing to comfort those who are hurting. They are to confront sins within the body and be willing to follow the tough love described in Matthew 18.


Self examination time: Do you submit to the authority of the elders in your church? Do you see them as shepherds leading a flock (yes, that would make you a sheep) - protecting and loving each little lamb? Or would you rather sneak in and out of church and go virtually unnoticed by the elders? Do you fear an elder getting to know you or see you in your daily life (everyone looks pretty good on Sunday mornings, eh?)? If your Pastor dropped by on Friday/Saturday night unannounced, would he be welcomed with open arms?

4.  One more point (because I could go on for a very long time, which I kind of already have) about the church. This one is in reference to the church in Laodicea. They are described in Revelation 3 as a lukewarm church. This is neither on fire (hot) for Jesus or indifferent (cold) to the things of God. They claim to be followers of Christ, but you would not know that by the way they lead their lives. A very strong warning comes from our Lord as He addresses this problem church:

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:   “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.  Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—  I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”


Self examination time: How would you rate your dedication towards Christ. Sure you say you love Him (at least I hope you do), but are you *on fire* for God? Do you live as though Jesus is your King or is someone or something else reigning on the throne? The answer to this, and to all sin issues, is to repent and believe. Believe in Jesus. Trust in His promises. Life is so empty and disappointing without Christ at the helm. Be zealous and repent and there you will find true joy. Not saying it will always be easy, but you will have joy.

Remember the song, This Little Light of Mine? Sing that to yourself as a reminder to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Super Yummy and Easy Dessert

Do you remember the commercial with the Mom throwing flour on her face as if to show how she slaved in the kitchen to make the super yummy Rice Krispie treats? What a great commercial!


Well, I discovered a way to spice up those yummy treats so they are even better.

Have you noticed that the Cheerios cereal comes in all sorts of flavors now? Fruit, Chocolate, Plain, Multigrain, Peanut Butter and .....Dulce de Leche (caramel). Well, if you take the Dulce de Leche flavor and substitute it for the Rice Krispie cereal in the treats - you create a wonderful, rich flavor!  And since our family (at least us girls) are dairy and egg free, we substituted dairy free buttery spread (Earth Balance) for a yummy, dairy, egg, and nut (and red dye) free treat!


I made these yesterday and my girls L.O.V.E them! My two year old loved them so much that she snuck back into the kitchen (when she saw I was properly distracted with a sewing project) and ate another bar. By the time I found her, she had run to the bathroom to clean up any evidence. The fact that she had a Cheerio stuck to her elbow and her hair was matted to her sticky face told the whole story.

Caramel Cheerio Treats

1/4 c butter (or substitute margarine or DF buttery spread)
1 package of marshmallows
1 box (8 cups) Dulce de Leche Cheerios


In a large pot, melt the butter. Add the marshmallows and stir until they are melted and smooth. Remove from heat and add the Cheerios. Spread out into a greased 9x13 pan and press down to make the Cheerios more compact.


Let it cool and then cut into squares.


Enjoy!


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