To Serve God

What does it mean to serve God? I suppose it takes many different forms, depending on your culture, religion or society in which you live in.

Romans 14:17-19(NIV)17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

There has been so much harm done in the name of serving God. Mass murders, "terrorist" attacks, and suicide bombings just to name a few. This is nothing new. In the Bible's Old Testament God had ordered His people to go and destroy those tribes that did not follow Him.

Deuteronomy 20:16-18(NIV)16 However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. 17 Completely destroy[a] them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—as the Lord your God has commanded you. 18 Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God.

There are those today who do the same. We take it on faith that what the stories of old say to us and find it beyond understanding as to those who kill in this way today. We question them on if they are really hearing from God or not. I question this too, don't get me wrong. I believe in the New Covenant of Christ Jesus that of which the New Testament talks of in the Bible. This does not mean though, that Christians do not have blood on their hands, they do...we do. From the Crusades, to "conversion" in the "New World", so much killing done in the name of God.

2 Corinthians 3:5-6(NIV)5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Is this how we are suppose to serve the One True God? Honestly, if this is how one sees their service to God, I begin to wonder if we are knowing the same God, knowing of His TRUE character. Even those who hate in the name of Jesus...I wonder if we know the same Jesus. So again I ask, what does it mean to serve God?

Galatians 5:19-26(NIV)19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited,provoking and envying each other.

I know that we are not all going to agree. I understand that. I know that we do not all share the same point of view. I get that too. What I don't get is how one can read the same Spirit filled scriptures as I do and still hate, destroy, and want to harm those who do know God the same way. To me this is contradictory to the teachings of Jesus.

Matthew 5:43-45(NIV)Love for Enemies43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

~Peace & Blessings~
 Jen

Why hello

It's so good to be back at working on this blog. It's been a while, but that is because I have been at a loss as to what to write about. There's so many ideas that run through my mind as to what I'd like to share, but as the title of this blog states, this is nothing more than a coffee break. So let's chat...

Where are you in your life right now? Me, I'm in the midst of teen-age angst. My daughter will be 15 next month, and is really excited about learning to drive. My husband and I have told her that until she stops sucking her thumb for 6 weeks, there will be no permit in her future. I am hoping that this will be an incentive for her to stop sucking on her thumb.

I know that we all have vices, and I am no exception. It takes discipline to change habits and I often feel as though I just don't have the discipline to change my own habits, let alone encourage others to change there's.  So I have decided to begin with me and be an example to my daughter and to my sons.

Over the next 30 days I am going to focus on disciplining just one area of my life. I will be hard on myself I already know, and I am sure that I will forget to rely on my faith and my friends, so prayers are appreciated. I will not tell you at this time what I am changing in my life (I don't want to disappoint) but once my 30 days are over I will let you know how I did.

Is there an area in your life that you'd like to change or would like to have more discipline over? Are you willing to share so that we can stay accountable to each other over the next 30 days? Join me on a journey of change...


Jen

Desires

I failed at keeping my schedule this week. Why am I not disciplined enough to stay on track?

I have this desire to wake up around 6am so that I can have quiet time with God, read my Bible and Pray before getting the kids up and ready for school, but instead it's my daughter waking me in the morning to tell me it's time to get up.

I have this desire to lose 20 or so pounds and work out everyday, but instead I get home and feel wiped out, tired and with too many other things to do so before I know it, it's time to get the kids from school and *poof*, out of time.

I have this desire to read everyday, but instead I find myself in front of the television watching a show that I don't really even care about, or worse I find a show I love and become obsessed with it.

I have this desire to go back to school and learn more than what I know, but I find myself doing the same old same old and have not finished up with registration.

My desires...are they God's desires? I'm sure that He would want me to spend more time with Him. I'm sure He wants me to be healthier. I'm sure he wants me to be a good steward of my time.

Why do I struggle with what I know I should do or even what I want to do? I would think that if there is something that I want to do, that I should be able to do it, but no. There is a battle...a battle between doing what I know is right and what I actually do.

Paul says it best. Galatians 5:17, "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want."

That is how I feel most of the time, like I am fighting between what my spirit needs to do and what my flesh wants to do.  So I will try again this week, no, I will try today to turn my desires into discipline.

~Peace & Blessings~
Jen