How are you?

  "I'm good! How are you?"

    I have been struggling with this for some time now but today, as I was a greeter at my church, it hit me very powerfully. Today, was actually the first time in a long time where my, "I'm good." was actually truth. I wonder, how many people are facing huge trials and are putting on their "I'm good!" face.
   Why can't we be real with each other? WHY?

  I have come to a point in my life where I want time to slow down and I want to be more observant of the people around me. I don't want to be tied down to all these responsibilities so I can have the opportunity to sit and talk with someone should that time come. I am not there yet! I do sound two weeks a month, I greet the door once a month, and various other life trials like job, family, bills, etc. My struggle is  I have a servants heart to the max. I want to help everywhere and I am working so hard at not doing that and letting others stand up. (that is a whole other blog post!)
   The thing is, we should be helping in our church families! And undoubtedly, we all have jobs, families, etc. so there goes that. But how do we become a people where we can push pause a moment when you see someone hurting?
    Today, I had two people be honest with me when I asked them how they were. One person, I stood aside from my duties and prayed for. I knew I should. I should have with the other as well but that one slipped away. It is OK to push pause on your duties to love on people, to pray for people! It is OK!
   It is also OK to be real!
  I challenge you, when someone asks how you are, answer them honestly. If you are in pain, let them know. If you are happy, let them know. If you are sad, let them know. If you are depressed, let them know. Etc! Etc! Etc! And, if you are the one asking, don't ask unless you are prepared to listen and to be a friend.
   My goal is to be a friend, a loving friend to all, like Jesus was. And if you catch me being too busy, tell me please, because I don't want to be that person! I don't! And I know I have been.
   I am going to start being real with people at my new church as hard as it is. I don't know some of them very well but you know what? They know Jesus, I know Jesus, and He knows all, so that makes it OK for me!
  I am tired of being fake and being a people pleaser, time to be real and it is time to start loving like I have been called to love!

W.W.J.D. ? ? ?

What Would Jesus Do?

  We have all heard this saying before. It was big, BIG, when...like the 90's? But, it was just a saying right? Did you ever give it much thought?

    Let me tell you, I sure have been lately!

  With the way the world is today, they way people are all about doing what feels good, instant gratification, and self love, about how our kids should and should not be raised, about who we should be able to love and who we should say can and can not do this or that. I have been thinking!

   My amazing pastor and friend has been teaching lately about showing people what we are for, not what we are against and I whole heartily agree! Sure, I don't believe in same sex marriages, sure I don't believe in abortion under any circumstance and am very passionate about that, and sure, I don't believe in the legalization of marijuana BUT....

     What would Jesus do?

  About two years ago, there was a HUGE news story about a business who would not sell a cake to a same sex couple. Two years ago, I agreed with them. I probably posted about it on Facebook. I was probably verbal about it too! We are supposed to stick up for what we believe right???

  What would Jesus do?

  I am a photographer and have contemplated that very incident many times, what if?? What if a same sex couple wanted me to photograph them. What would I do? That surely is not the question. The question is, what would Jesus do?

  When Jesus was on earth as a Man, did He only go to saints and "good" people? Did He only offer His services to those who were perfect and who went to church? Did He only offer Himself to those who looked good on the outside?

   No, He didn't. He went with the sinners, He ate with tax collectors, He was with people who truly needed to see His light and His grace. Are we not supposed to be like Jesus?
 
  Here is the thing. If you are going to draw a line in the sand saying I will not be around people who do ___________________ because that is a sin....then, don't hang around people who look at porn or who smokes cigarettes. Don't hang around people who gossip or who cuss. Oh, don't forget not to hang around judgmental people either because that is sinful too!

  Just in case you didn't know, there is no one perfect aside from Christ. None of us can be perfect so if you are going to call out someone else's, remember your own. For me, a sin is a sin and I am the last person who should be judging anyone!

  For me, if I, as a business owner, am going to not help people who I feel their sin is too great, then what does that make me? If I served them, and showed them Gods amazing grace, wouldn't that be more of what God is calling us to do? I don't have to agree with you to love you. I don't have to agree with same sex marriages, marijuana, or abortions to love those who do because that is what Jesus would do and I know that is what He wants me to do.

           What is Jesus calling you to do?