Where do we go from here?

For many of us we have been on a level so long there is often no fear of going backwards(though it can happen) and there is a fear of progressing. We talk about comfort zones and how they are not good, but can a person not be on a level for indefinite periods of time and not see that as a backslidden condition. After all has the pillars of clouds and fire not moved on. Is God stagnant? I think not. As I shared yesterday, where is your growth?

Have your relationships gotten better (deeper?)? Do you see the children moving towards the Lord? I receive letters alll the time about children who have "walked" away from the Lord. Begin to call them saved in Jesus' name. Call your family saved in Jesus' name.

One of the things that I recognize because of the number of letters I receive is that we try to hang on to old ways. God is doing a new thing so we do not develop dependence on the "old way" but on the Only Way-Jesus. Just because something worked yesterday does not mean it will today. The Word never changes but the methods do. And I often see that young people hate change more than anyone. They wear crazy hats and body jewelry to be different and never realize they have become the same. Even within this list that goes to so many college students, I hear of the desire to want to be someone and not desire the change it necessitates to be there.

God seems to be removing the rug from under us, showing us the depth of commitment, the trueness of our hearts. The earthquakes are shaking right now.

My daughter told me yesterday how she had to meet with a very elderly lady who has been a blessing in her life many times. The woman is a former Catholic nun(???) who desired to know why Amy hadn't been confirmed in the Catholic church where she goes with her mom. For the first time in years Amy was placed in an "uncomfortable" position. Here she was at dinner with this lady. She had asked me to pray the day before. The end result was she was able to share her faith with this lady, something she has found difficult to do in the past with someone like this. She called me excitedly to tell me of the meeting and how God had showed up!

And as I asked myself why the young have a difficult time pulling into God I realized that their examples are frequently not Godly. I am not talking about the tv and teachers. I am talking about the kids who look around a church and see the adults whispering and talking, arms folded or hands in their pockets during worship, blank, nonattentive looks during the Word. What is the message they are getting? I heard a 4 year old swear at another to be disciplined for the language that he had heard his parents use. Yes, they are Christian, and yes, they are accountable, but what about the mixed messages our kids often get?

Ask yourself today; what message am I sending my spouse, my children, my family, my friends and co workers? I expect non-Christians to sin. Sinners sin. That's a no brainer. But somewhere we the church have totake a look at our lifestyles. You often are the effect in a small circle of people that changes things. What about the paperclip or pencil you took from work ("everybody does it")? What about the non-believer hanging on the edge, the Word of God stirring in him to repent and invite Jesus in who sees that action from a Christian? Please do not think just because God is sovereign and He can do anything this act is not important and possibly could keep that person from salvation. I hear people all the time say "is that person a Christian?" usually indicating that they have seen this person doing something ungodly.

I have had nonbelievers who have told me (verifiably so usually!) about Christians in sin ranging from adultery to theft. And some of these "believers" have been saved a long time (if you believe once saved always saved or perhaps more precisely were they really saved???). I have more children that I have talked to over the years who have grown up in "Christian" homes who have been sent a double minded message by the ones they trusted the most.

So...where do you go from here???