Christian Women Blogging - Women By Grace

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyEMJBhCtU8

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHj7B7GJ0xU

I read a verse today that made me chuckle a bit.  The verse is Proverbs 14:4 and it reads, “Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, but much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.” (NASB)

So, why did it make me chuckle?  Well, because it made me think of my children!  Okay, so my kids aren’t oxen, and they really cause us to expend revenue rather than increase what comes in!  But, there are some similarities here.

Without kids we could have that perfect house.  We could have that great schedule.  We could have all sorts of freedom.  But, what would we be missing?  There is such reward in the everyday insanity of parenting.  There’s heartache and struggle, but there’s also great delight.  I am overwhelmed at times with the amazing privilege I have to be at home with my little blessings, teaching them, disciplining them, and watching them grow.

It is an amazing journey.

There are days when I wonder if I will survive the volume, the fighting, the whining, the energy, the excitement, the adventures…but each one is a reward in itself.

So maybe my kids aren’t oxen.  But, when I really think about it, they do bring in much revenue.  It definitely isn’t monetary revenue, but money is really one of the last indicators of true wealth.  True wealth lies in the incredible blessing of pouring our lives, hearts, and energies into raising up warriors for the kingdom of God.  And those warriors will point other souls to Christ, thereby increasing the everlasting revenue of God’s kingdom.  Now that, my friends, is worth a dirty manger!

Last week our Pastor gave a really good sermon on unforgiveness and what it does to the person holding onto it, and there was some very interesting points I thought would be great to share here. I didn’t take notes, so forgive me if I don’t get all the exactly the way he laid them out, but I will do my best.

This message was part of his sermon series called “Junk in your Trunk” and unforgiveness is certainly junk in your trunk. When you hold onto unforgiveness, the only person you’re hurting is yourself. God’s word says in Matt. 5:23 to reconcile any differences with a brother before going to God at the altar. This shows us that we need to take care of any issues we may have with someone, before we go to God.

Illness, disease and pain have often been traced back to unforgiveness against someone. When you hold onto unforgiveness, it eats away at your soul, but does nothing to the person you refuse to forgive. Maybe you have experienced this at one time or another. Perhaps someone did something so horrible to you that you couldn’t forgive them for a long time and every time you thought of that person or thought of what they did to you, you felt hatred or anger boiling up inside you. But, once you decided to forgive them, the bad thoughts and anger went away. Maybe you even had a recurring illness, but since forgiving them, you haven’t experienced that illness. That’s because the unforgiveness was hurting you, not them. Most of the time the person you are not forgiving doesn’t feel a thing or isn’t even aware of how you feel.

There is a spiritual root connected to unforgiveness and illness or disease. If you are holding on to unforgiveness, check your heart, pray about how you can forgive that person, and do it immediately. All it takes is a few simple words. Tell your brother (the other person) that you have certain feelings against them, and you need to ask their forgiveness. However, don’t place blame. This is not the time to rehash the incident or issue that caused the ill feelings. Simply let them know how you were feeling, and now you are forgiving them and asking them to forgive you. You’ll be amazed at the relief you will instantly feel.

If they are not accepting of your forgiveness, that is on their shoulders. You were obedient to God’s Word and now you can move on.

If the person you need to forgive is not around to speak to in person, simply forgive them in your heart. You can say a prayer to God, or simply say it in your head from your heart. Even if they have passed away, if you are still holding onto unforgiveness, forgiving them can be done.

What do you expect your government to do for you?

I have never expected them to see to it that I have a job…or health care benefits…or to loan me money when I need it.

I’ll admit there was a financially tough time in my life when I used the “WIC” program. While I appreciated it for a short time, never once did I EXPECT  government to take care of me.  When we qualified for a FHA mortgage and took advantage of it, we never EXPECTED government to have such a program. Whenever I needed a job, I got out there and found one! If my husband lost his job today, we would not EXPECT government to reimburse him, or to “find” him another job!

Let’s blow the cobwebs off our brains for a minute: Way back in American History class, didn’t we learn what our government’s job is? Didn’t we learn that what we should expect from our elected officials in Washington is to keep our borders and our liberties safe,  and to empower each state to exercise it’s own right to govern it’s own people? That’s what it is.

So where did this new ideology come from? You know, the one that some Americans are demanding today: That government “better do something” to fix the unemployment rate; or that they want government to provide our health care benefits? Our Constitution never said that was their job!

Pursuing the “American Dream” is what’s brought millions of immigrants to America since the days of Columbus. We want to work the job of our choice. We want to make as much money as we can;  And we want to spend and invest it as we see fit.  We want to invent things. We want to run our own businesses. We want to choose the education best for our own children.  These are the liberties we expect our government to protect, and not to interfere with!

How do we combat that mentality? Can we admit that government acting like a big “sugar daddy to the rescue” is not best for our country in the long run? 

Sure. Take a look at how they’ve handled our Social Security money (they’ve squandered it all away) Or, consider how good they’re  managing our public schools  (add up the amount of money they dump into each one, and compare it to the graduation rates and levels of illeratacy in America.) How then, could you trust them to find you a job? Or provide your health care?

Do you really want government involved so intimately in your life? I sure don’t!

~Sandra