Can't get started...
So the Children's Ministry staff is reading the book, The DaVinci Code as a study. Basically, we want to be prepared for questions that we might get. What started as a mild irritant---is now seeming to become more powerful...and will most likely gain momentum with the release of the movie. I am not sure what is holding me back from getting into it. It seems like an easy ready, however, I haven't been able to make it past chapter 10. Maybe it's because I am so bothered that there are people who are buying into this nonsense and thus allowing their faith of the Truth to waver.
If you believe that God is who He says He is..and the bible is the divine word of God...that Christ came as man to sacrifice Himself for all of mankind...then how can you even entertain the idea that what Dan Brown has written might be true? Maybe that is where the key lies. Is your faith based on the intimate personal relationship you have with Jesus Christ...or the folklore of "religion"? Let me explain where I am coming from...
Part of my testimony, which many of you already know, is that I was raised "kinda" Catholic. I participated in cathecism classes, celebrated all of the necessary milestones (baptism, 1st communion, confirmation) We didn't go to church, but we said grace...we didn't follow the ten commandments, but I knew sex before marriage was a sin. At the time of confirmation I started to question. Why were there so many rules put in place by the Vatican? Who was the Pope after all? Wasn't he just a man? I had all of these memorized prayers in my head...but what did they even mean? I didn't know if I wanted to be Catholic and I didn't want to get confirmed. At first I refused, but after a year of feeling guilty and that I had let my parents down...I agreed. I made it very clear that I didn't believe in what I was doing and that I was just trying to make people around me happy. I spoke up honestly and boldly at the retreat and said that I didn't think many of the things I had been taught were what God had in mind...and they allowed me to get confirmed anyway. I thought that proved how hypocrital "religion" and "religious" people were. Two years later when my daughter was born out of wedlock and that same church refused to baptize her...the church that had taught me that babies not baptized would go to hell...I knew that I couldn't believe in such a faith. What I did, however, was not in turn look for the truth. I let that be an excuse to do whatever I wanted and believe whatever I wanted. I said that I believed that Jesus was the son of God who died for my sins, but I didn't think I had any reason to change the way I was living. I based all of my beliefs and thoughts on just what I wanted to. I didn't know the truth for myself. Hadn't read and studied the bible to make an educated decision.
But God is gracious and patient. He is always there...waiting for us to turn to Him. And after many years of living in sin and lost, I came to Him. I have taken time to study and learn the word of God. I have a lot to learn and know to continue to grow in my faith everyday, but I know what I know and I know that I am forgiven and promised eternal life in Heaven because Jesus laid down His life for me.
Why did I share all of this? For this reason...years ago, I might have been led to believe some of the crazy ideas in this book. It scares me to think of all of the thousands of people that are in that place. I guess deep down I can see how people, even "Christian" people could be led astray. If you've always questioned if what you know or have been taught is right, if you've always allowed your faith to be built simply on what you've been taught and not what you've experienced...then you might be tempted to look at these questioning books as possibilities.
Do not believe the hype of those around you who will entertain the idea that Mary is in The Last Supper. (First of all, using the Last Supper as theological truth is silly because it is not to be "God-breathed", simply an interpretation of an artist of that night in the upper room.) Jesus was married?? Where in scripture is that even alluded to? Nowhere. Read the gospels. Carefully. For yourself.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He was sent to earth to die for our sins so that we might have a way to be united with God and spend eternity with Him...I have experienced life-changing, freeing joy since allowing Him into my heart and striving daily to live by His will. You can have that too. It doesn't matter what you've done or where you've been. Allow Him in. It's that simple. Close your eyes and let Him know that you need Him. Ask Him to forgive you for your sins, for turning away from Him. Ask Him to open your eyes and soul to the truth. Confess that you need Him to make your life right. Tell Him that you believe He was sent here to die for your sins. You will be saved.
Wow. Whew...felt a sermon coming on there for a minute...lol.
God is amazing!! Praise Him and thank Him daily for what you see around you! Say it out loud for all to hear!!
Thank you for the wonderful sun today!
Thank you for the boy's laughter as they played outside!
Thank you for Uncle Frankie's thoughtfulness!
Thank you for a husband that is attentive to my needs!
Thank you for the kindness of others...Kathy giving us a suitcase, Jordyn's youth leader sending her a card, Connie and Rod having Isaiah overnight!
Thank you for Deborah Ross and her daughters sharing the gospel message with the teen moms at the teen center!
Thank you for hugs, smiles, warm chatter...
You are awesome and almighty, I bow before You with only myself and thanks to bring You. I am nothing without You...capable of much with You.
Night all...I think I can get through that book after all!!
