Readers' Choice

Hello everyone!

Today's post is going to be a little different. I want this blog to be interactive. I don't always want to just be throwing information, or my thoughts and opinions at you.

Also, I'm having a little trouble deciding what to research for my next post. Ultimately, I want to study all these things, but I have to narrow it down. That's where you come in. Poll time! Out of these next topics, what would you most like to learn more about?

• Angels
• The armor of God (multiple posts)
• The 10 commandments (multiple posts)
• Baptism
• Fear

In addition to this poll, I wanted to know if there are any topics or verses I haven't covered or talked about yet that you'd be interested in seeing on my blog. I'm interested to see what my readers are curious about.

So, please leave a comment here or on my Facebook page to let me know which topic you want to read about next, and if there are any other topics you want to see. Thanks!

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Today's verse of the day on my Bible app: 

"Instead, speaking the truth with love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ" (Ephesians 4:15).

Regrets of a Missionary Family

The Poisonwood Bible. An interesting title for a book. A very good book.

I really had no expectations going in. A friend told me the book was good, but I don't always like what everyone else likes, so no expectations. Okay, so there was some anticipation, but mostly I was just excited to read a new book. Like usual.

The Poisonwood Bible is captivating from the start.

My first impression was: this is a book about how not to be a missionary family in the Congo.

Seriously. From bringing the wrong necessities and preconceived notions to judgmental attitudes and being too stubborn to learn something new.

Not to mention the neglect of the children.

But maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. Written by Barbara Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible is the story of a missionary family who goes to the Congo for a year. Told from the perspective of the wife and four daughters, it quickly becomes apparent that this family was ill prepared to bring the Word of God to a village in the Congo, or anywhere, in my opinion.

The Characters

Rev. Nathan Price: Quick to anger. Judgmental. Stubborn. Passionate. Believes that God has sent him to conquer the Congo and its people.

Mrs. Orleanna Price: Tries to be a good mother. Not much of a backbone. Poor choices.

Rachel Price: Vain. Lazy. Misses sleepovers and her life back in America. Values possessions over people.

Leah Price: Adventurous. Liar. Wants her father's love and approval. Ambitious. Real character growth. (Eventually becomes my favorite character.)

Adah Price: Silent. Listener. Understands more than most of her sisters. Physically disabled. Real character growth.

Ruby Mae Price: Very young. Does not understand many things. Likes to sneak off. Disobedient.

All four of the girls are able to quote Bible verses, but have very little understanding of what those verses actually mean. I think this is, at least in part, because their father does not fully understand what the verses mean, and so teaches them wrongly. All are ill-informed, though Adah has a better grasp of some things because of how closely she listens.

The characters are flawed. As I mentioned, in some ways, it's kind of a "what not to do" book in my opinion. It's also a really, really, really good book. Of course, I enjoy books set in the Congo most of the time anyway. There's an element of adventure. But it's also told really well. And there's an element of humanity to such an "untamed" place. You really get to know the characters. Not only the women whose perspectives tell the story, but those around them. The people from the village, the man who flies the plane. You learn so much about people, and how they treat each other, Christian and otherwise.

It's also a good lesson, I think, for Christians everywhere who will probably, at some point in their lives, meet people who aren't yet acquainted with The Living God. Don't be quick to judge them. Don't be quick to thrust your way of thinking on them. Don't assume you are better than them because you have been a Christian longer. Don't be afraid to admit that you're wrong if you are. Don't be afraid to learn something new. Pray. Seek God. Ask Him what He wants you to say. Ask Him the best way to reach them. And always remember that God is love, and He is merciful and forgiving. Thankfully.
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"This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:22-23).

Decrease for Increase

I visited a church a few months ago, and the pastor's sermon was about how we have to decrease so that God can increase. At first, I was like "What does that even mean?" but after a lot of reflection, I got it.

Even John the Baptist said this. Actually, I didn't fully understand it until I found the verse in my Bible on Sunday.

John 3:26- : They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan-the one you testified about-look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him." To this John replied, "A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice.. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less."

Of course, John is talking about his followers. But it applies to other things as well. Who we are, what we want, our selfish selves (ego) have to decrease. We have to be less the way the world wants us to be - less the way our flesh wants us to be - and be more the way God wants us to be. When we stop making it about ourselves, we can start to make it all about Him.

But how? A very good question.

The best way I can explain it is to give an example. A personal example. My flesh would like to read every single book on the planet (and probably from other planets too). I love to read. It's my favorite hobby, and can easily take over my life if I let it.

But some books aren't good for my mind or my spirit. I can usually tell which books those are, but sometimes they fall into my "in-between area" where I'm sure it'll be a good book, but I don't know if my spirit is going to cry as it is tempted with things that are not of God.

This is something I'm still working on. I am continually trying to screen what I read. That doesn't mean I only read books with a good Biblical message. I still like to read other books - historical books, travel books, and works of fiction such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Jungle Book, and Sherlock Holmes mysteries. I'm not saying that all works of fiction are bad. But there are ones that nourish our minds and souls, and those that will destroy them.

And yes, I'm saddened to say that what we read, what we put into our minds, does matter. This saddens me because I wish all books were good and nourishing to my soul so that I could read them all without fear that the message of one would make me feel defeated or saddened or pained or tempted.

Maybe that's not the best example. A better one might be our desires, plans, and dreams. One day I would like to get married. It hasn't happened yet, and I don't know if it's part of God's plan for me. I hope so, because I do want to fall in love and be able to share my life with someone, and I know He loves me, but I also know that He knows everything and wants what is best for me. One thing I really struggle with is the idea that it might not be what God wants for my life, and so my desire for that must decrease so that God can increase through His plans for my life. I have to find that place where I would be willing to set that dream aside if it's not part of God's plan.

So, we must decrease so that God can increase. These are only two of my own personal examples. It can be a real struggle to try to let God be in complete control, and know that He will do what is best. It can be a struggle to war against the flesh so that we can do God's will.

Do you struggle to decrease so that God can increase? In what ways?

Talk to God

I read this blog post today and WOW! Man, did I need to hear this!

I've always felt that complaining, or pouring out my troubles to God is like doubting Him, like a lack of faith. But it's not, is it?

When we tell God what's wrong, when we pour out our hearts to Him, we're showing trust. We aren't necessarily displaying a lack of faith, but we're showing that we put our whole trust in Him, by telling Him what's wrong in our lives. We're showing that we love Him by respecting our relationship with Him, and proving that we trust Him to make it better, even if it's not right away, even if it's just for the peace that talking to God brings, and not an immediate solution.


I suppose if we complain every day without recognizing that there is something to be grateful for, then that's a problem. But there is always a blessing from God, even when it seems like everything is going wrong. I think that when we have to go before God with a problem, we have to try to remember that we also have to praise Him through the troubled times, not giving up, and recognizing that whatever is going on in our lives He is always worthy of praise.

Sometimes we just have to go before God and humble ourselves, recognizing that there is something wrong and that we cannot make it better on our own. We have to acknowledge that God is in control of our lives, and that we are not strong enough to handle it without Him. Then, we tell Him what's wrong, lay it all down at His feet, and trust that He will answer our prayers in His perfect timing.

Then we can just rest in His peace, knowing that God can handle it.
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"Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress" (Psalm 107:6).
"I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies" (Psalm 18:3).

The Empty Cross

This past weekend we went down to a mission. It's historic, the architecture is fantastic, and there was a lot to learn. It was a good experience. There were also several crucifixes hanging around.

Personally, I don't like crucifixes.

Why?

Because the crucifixion was not the end. Jesus died on the cross, but he didn't stay on the cross.

I prefer the cross empty. A symbol and reminder that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but he didn't stay on the cross, he didn't stay dead. He left the cross behind, empty like the grave, and rose again.

That is why I prefer the empty cross. If I wear it on a necklace, or if I have it up in my home, I don't want a crucifix. I want the cross to be empty, to remind me that it didn't end at the cross.
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"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay" (Matthew 26:6).

Is This Blog A True Reflection of Who I Am?

In keeping with yesterday's theme, I wanted to consider if I feel that this blog is a true reflection of me. It's not. I think I lost focus of what I really wanted out of this blog.

I think this is also why I sometimes struggle to find topics for posts, and why I don't always post every week.

So, while I will continue to blog about topics in the Bible that interest or confuse me, I want this blog to really reflect my true self. I want to be able to muse and reflect about a lot of things, in keeping with who I am as a growing Christian woman.

What that means, I think, is that I'm going to try to start talking about a variety of things that interest me and are important to me, not just Bible verses, even if I think y'all might not like them or agree with me. This could include things from the list I posted yesterday, or a variety of other topics. I will still have a Bible verse on each post - either one that talks about the topic, or one that I really like.
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"Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves" (Proverbs 11:17).

A True Reflection

Today we went out, and I wore one of my favorite t-shirts. It's a black v-neck short sleeve with a crossbow and the words "Team Dixon" in purple. I love it. Yes, I'm a fan of The Walking Dead. It doesn't have as much foul language or as much focus on sex as many zombie shows, and I enjoy watching the group's interactions, and the way human relationships change in that type of survival situation.

But I digress.

Anyway, I wore my favorite t-shirt, and I realized that while it reflects a part of who I am, it doesn't reflect all of who I am. None of my shirts do. In fact, some of my shirts are just boring, and I don't think I'm a boring person. So, I started wondering if I should try to update my shirts, especially my t-shirts, to be a true reflection of who I am. Certain parts of my personality, and my interests can be better represented, especially the things that are really important to me.

But what's important to me?

• Serving God (of course)
• Animals (I love them)
• Conservation (for the animals)
• My fandoms (because I'm nerdy and proud)

And of course, there are other things I'm interested in, but none quite as relevant.

So, how can I reflect this? Well, t-shirts are a great way, but I need to be careful of the ones I choose. Do they reflect me in a way that also reflects God? Do they reflect my personality without sending the wrong message? 

This is something that I feel I need to work on. I feel that I really need to pay attention to what I wear, and make sure that it reflects who I am in a way that also reflects God. By this I'm mostly talking about the low-cut shirts I stopped wearing in favor of a more modest look.

What do your clothes say about you? Are they a true reflection of who you are? Of who you are in Christ?

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"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sin in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night" (Psalm 1:1-2).