tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73280174262360709582024-03-19T00:21:50.237-04:00Get Real, Woman!Here are the thoughts of a woman in need of an outlet to share all the things going through my mind. Here is a place to come along side me and begin your journey of being a woman of truth. Join me in pursuing truth in our existence here on Earth. Hope you enjoy the thoughts that flow from my heart to this blog. And I look forward to your stories, questions and honest replies. Get Real, Woman!Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-54082535405880979932014-07-31T22:15:00.003-04:002014-07-31T22:15:44.075-04:00Conscience Who?Everything we read about or see on television is sending a message; we need this, that or the other. Or it is saying that we deserve this, that or the other. The advertisements worldwide are a constant bombardment of someone or a program or a company telling us that we are not complete without their product, their ideal way of living, their resources, their connections to successful people or companies, their smarts, their understandings, and so forth. Their pleads or challenges press in on us daily and somehow we have become numb to most of its pressure.<br />
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As a people here in the United States, it seems we are no longer pressure sensitive. It is as if we are mentally like a sponge allowing any liquid smooth idea, deal, opportunity or product to soak up into our minds and lives; with not a care of how harmful that smooth word or thought or product could truly be to our health and our success in this life. Why are we as a people so desensitized to so many things? Where is the conscience? What has happened to the alarm system that should ring loudly in our minds when thoughts and ideas are presented to us that are of questionable value, unclear consequence or untested success? We just seem to accept so many of the ideas and ways of living that are presented to our culture without any true thought to it. "You must try this! And you will feel great and have more energy, more alertness and more success in your daily living!" "Come here and win!" "Let us find the woman you have longed to connect with, who will bring back the life in your dreary routine and get you that release you are looking for!" "Join our great program, and gain the bright future you deserve!" <br />
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It is so sad to see all of the ridiculous marketing this country has allowed to infest our minds. We cannot seem to be people who make decisions for ourselves anymore! We are urged daily to buy this, get that, learn this, go here, play here, watch this, laugh here, cry here, be scared out of your wits here, eat this, don't eat that. And no matter how ridiculous it sounds written out like this, we still listen to the callings of all of these marketing pitches-when we watch television or go to the movies.<br />
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However, it is not the listening to them that is something to be worried about. It is the lack of listening to our conscience while we are listening to these other things. What do we think it is doing for us to just let others tell us how to live? We all have a precious gift that we were born with; although some of us have a better sensitivity to it than others. Our gift is our conscience. It tells us when we should wait, when we should not adhere to an idea. It tells us when to act and when to protect ourselves. The conscience haunts us positively with thoughts that help us weigh out the pros and cons in a decision. Why have we denied our conscience access into our minds these days? I know that we haven't because even in the responses and decisions of highly moral people, there is so much clear influence of silly empty ideas that our culture is continuously screaming into our world. <br />
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This culture is going to be what it is going to be as long as the majority of the population are just willing to take others ideas and never think for themselves what is best for them and their families. But we can <i>choose</i> to listen in such a way that could change the culture for the better. We can choose <b>not</b> to live mindlessly by the constant demands of billboards and advertisements, but be attentively listening (or reading, if you want to get technical)! Think of all the positive things that can be with this decision to listen to the conscience! So many mistakes will <i>not </i>be made. So many consequences will be weighed out before action is made. So many friendships will still be in tact. So many marriages, even will stay together. So many families will find that their belongings, when treated with care and respect, are valuable and precious. So many families will find that there are good healthy limits in living and freedom in this life still can be achieved.<br />
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I sure hope we see our nation returning to the conscience again. The conscience speaks to us about something even deeper that is everlasting. It speaks to us about who made us initially; that the Maker holds the key to all the success and life and happiness and order and peace and understanding and hope and health, etc., that we will ever need.<br />
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Maybe that is why the conscience is not being consulted. Is it that we, who suffer from lack of conscience consultation, do not want to know what the Maker has to say. Maybe it is because we do not want to know that God our Maker has a better more life-giving idea for us. Maybe it is just too hard on our ego to listen to our conscience because it will forever speak to the need for a eternal connection or relationship with God. Clearly, all should admit the Maker gave the conscience its voice in the beginning. And I must say, I know very well that not everyone believes there is a Maker. I know very well that not everyone believes they are made for a purpose by the Living God. But I also know, that no matter what, everyone has a conscience that tells of the deep emptiness that exists in the heart of one who has no connection...no relationship...no love for the Living God. Those who do not know God have an emptiness that screams out or moans from the depth of the conscience. It is because there is no God yet taking up residence in one's life and mind. God, the Creator, promises that He will be with His people, those who believe in His Son Jesus. He promises to be with them everywhere and always by his very own Spirit---the mind of Christ--to help them in living this life on earth. The conscience knows this because it is made by that amazing God of love and power. If people would but listen to that deep aching and emptiness the conscience has revealed and find Christ Jesus as the only One who can and will forever FILL that void.<br />
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As I tell myself this, I encourage you as well. We do not <i>need</i> to adhere to <b>all</b> the callings of the people and companies and businesses and philosophies out there. We do not <i>need</i> to try <b>everything</b> before we can be anything or anyone. We <i>need</i> to know who we are at this moment. We need to know what we wish to achieve in this life and then pursue all of these ideas and opportunities with our heads screwed on rightly so as to make the best decisions. More than anything, we always will need the Maker--God the Father. If we haven't spoken with him, the LORD God in heaven and Jesus Christ the Son, we ought to do so, in order to have the clearest understanding of what we need in this life. Yes, I said it. And I mean it. With every fiber in me. We need the Lord God more than even the air we breathe.<br />
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The best news of all this is: He, our Lord and Creator, will help us know what we need to pursue, what jobs we need to get, what lifestyle we need to pursue and keep, what lifestyles we need to avoid and reject. He, the Maker and Sustainer--Jesus Christ the Lord and King, will give us the best and fullest life we can ever be offered. Let us start there. Our conscience is telling us that we need to connect ourselves to the Maker. Let us listen to our own God given hard-wiring. Then let us come, as we are, in prayer to the Lord God in heaven and ask Him to shape our story into something great and full of life and purpose.<br />
<br />Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-15247404070887443302014-05-08T08:37:00.000-04:002014-05-08T08:37:54.021-04:00Welcoming THE ROSE!Today is a special day because I am welcoming a whole other group of ladies to join the Get Real, Woman family! THE ROSE is a group of women who have received a beautiful red rose from me or my friends Sarah or Kay last week at West Chester University. Once a woman gets a rose from us, they are forever welcome to be in THE ROSE. It's like a club, but more like a common bond. Women who share a common story.<br />
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Speaking of story, that is exactly what I am wanting to write about today. We all have a story. Some of us like to share their story as much as possible and find ways to relate to their friends and....even strangers they meet. Others like to NOT share their story...ever...because it brings too many questions from those listening and thus is exhausting just to get through the story un-interrupted. Some of us have never thought that you have a story...one that is unique to you and that has power to encourage, challenge, strengthen and...well, even entertain and bring joy to others. Welp, whoever you are, dear one, you have a grand story!</div>
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My story is unique. Your story is unique. Our story of coming together with this common ground of a blog called THE ROSE is unique. Sharing your story is important. Over the next few posts, I will be writing about this STORY thought.</div>
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So, even if you are the woman who loves your story or who thinks your story is no good or that your story is old and boring. If you are a woman who hasn't thought, up until you read this blog post, that you ever had a story to tell. NOW you all most definitely have a story; your story of receiving a beautiful red rose from a stranger with a tag on it that led you to THE ROSE blog and then led you to us, here at <b>Get Real, Woman!</b>. </div>
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May this blog encourage and challenge all the women who read it. May it cause each one of you to look deeper into God's Word, the Bible, and discover what Truth is. I know, and those who follow this blog know that my blog has not had a recent blog post in awhile, but it has more than 50 blog posts that are filled my heart's thoughts on my pursuit to being a woman of Truth. Be encouraged. Enjoy your day! You are prayed for and you are deeply loved.</div>
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Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-66083936429683917922014-02-03T15:52:00.001-05:002014-02-03T16:19:15.336-05:00GUEST BLOG! <div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b><u>**NOTE: This was written for WOMEN, not for young girls**</u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My friend, CES, and I have been recently discussing several different topics that we married women get frustrated by and struggle to find our own personal opinions of them. CES has done a great job explaining one of those major topics in married life--at least for wives. Hope you are encouraged and challenged in some ways, too. Love--your Get Real, Woman! blogger, Becky Smith. ENJOY!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Trouble With "Trying"</b></span><br />
When I was in high school - and even in college - I always thought it was so cute when young married couples would say that they were “trying.” In my naive mind that meant “We’re totally loving this! Our marriage is great. We have sex all the time. It’s awesome!”<br />
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Oh, how wrong I was. <br />
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Don’t misunderstand. My marriage IS great. I have a phenomenal husband - smart, funny, financially responsible, handsome, musically talented, not to mention he loves the Lord. -- He’s the real deal and I am 100 percent blessed to have him in my life. <br />
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But -- this “trying” thing…it’s awful. <br />
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First of all - and maybe if I’d paid more attention in health class I would’ve picked up on this - As a woman, you’re only really fertile for a few days each month. You want to talk about pressure? Thanks to the internet and some fun little apps I can tell you exactly when those days are for the next several months. The problem is that those are also typically also the days when one of us is legitimately sick, injured, exhausted, away on business, or just plain not really feeling up to sex. But we “try” anyway. <br />
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Then over the next two weeks I struggle… every time I want pickles or ice cream, I question - is this a craving or just PMS? Every slight movement in my pelvis makes me wonder if it is the cramping of the earliest sign of pregnancy or just indigestion. I find myself tired after a long day of work and I convince myself that it’s a sign of the exhaustion of week 3 of pregnancy and start doodling the baby names I like on the scrap paper beside my desk and googling “nursery ideas.” <br />
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It’s cruel really. The symptoms of pregnancy being so close to regular PMS; a thing that I haven’t dealt with for years since I got on the pill. See, I never took birth control through high school, or even college, because I thought it was too much of an “indicator of sexual activity” and I wanted to stay pure but then the cramps that would keep me home from school started keeping me home from work and I knew I couldn’t keep that pattern if I wanted to keep my job so I went on the pill. Not only did my acne clear up (woot!) but my cramps disappeared and I stopped being psycho. <br />
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But then I got married and felt terribly convicted about using the pill for it’s “intended purpose” so I stopped and we started “trying.” Now I’m back to being psychotic once a month - conveniently at the time when I have the lovely opportunity of testing to see if I’m pregnant - not that it’s necessary since the last two weeks have convinced me that I am.<br />
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Only, I’m not. I fail the pregnancy test - again - with a single line. <br />
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It’s devastating. Over and over again. Month in and month out. This “trying” thing sucks. It sucks the life right out of me. It makes me crumble to the floor in tears. My husband finds me there and then I find myself, both of us on our knees and think…. Maybe this is how we need to start “trying”.... Maybe this is the “optimal position” for getting pregnant… Let us stop pressuring ourselves with dates and actions and instead just turn it all over to God - the true Giver of Life. Instead of “trying.” I want to surrender. I need to surrender this. <br />
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Desiring to be a mother has turned into an idol. I need to repent. My future children ought not be born out of selfishness but out of humility. God is the one who will bless me with children not my husband; though certainly he’ll help. We need - I need - to be patient and trusting that the God Who Hears will hear me and fulfill HIS promises. It’s not about me. <br />
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Heavenly Father - <br />
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I can not endure this on my own. Even with my husband - I don’t want to do this without You. Help me to trust you. Help me to surrender my desires so that they can conform to Yours. Help me not to idolize pregnancy. I know that your word says that children are a blessing and I pray that you would bless us in that way - I trust that you will but I know that it will not be at the expense of Your Glory. Your timing will ALWAYS be far better than whatever my futile plans might be - help me to remember that when I get discouraged. But mostly Lord I just pray that Your will be done in our lives. In your son Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. </div>
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Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-77575912414968206642014-02-03T14:58:00.002-05:002014-02-03T14:58:43.713-05:00ExposedYou know that feeling when someone finds out something you've done--bad OR good--that you didn't really want anyone to know? Isn't it an interesting feeling to be exposed in that way?<br />
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Also, do you know that feeling of being enlightened to a new fact? It's like so many others things around that one fact are exposed and able to now be compared to the new information?<br />
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Even in friendships, we choose to show our true feelings and our true struggles to one another. Thus expose ourselves, so to speak, to the other person because we are discussing ideas from our hearts and minds. These moments as well are crucial and memorable solely because something that was hidden is now seen......something that was dark is now in the light.<br />
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As I continue to add to my list of posts on this blog, things in my heart will be shared--thus my thoughts will be a bit exposed for you to read about them. Hopefully my thoughts, whether they be silly or serious, will be ones that cause you to think; knowing yourself and the world around you better.<br />
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And lastly, I will be posting articles from friends and acquaintances who will be my GUEST BLOGGERS. Please be encouraged and challenged by their words. Feel free to comment and bring questions to this blog so that all of us can learn and grow from your thoughts and questions.<br /><br />Thank you for reading. May you have a great day. <br /><br />Coming soon, CES will be our guest blogger. She will be speaking to married women and/or women who are considering marriage. It is definitely a great place to expose some questions and topics that many women of the USA face these days.Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-42047896385830182792013-09-03T13:11:00.000-04:002013-09-03T13:11:02.842-04:00Miss Me?This Get Real, Woman! blog has been ignored by me for many months probably because I was just overwhelmed with other life commitments. It lost it's place in the non-existant, only in my head, list of priorities for this summer. ha! I do want to apologize to those of you who have been checking my blog each day for these many many months. I haven't forgotten this blog, I just did not have the quality time necessary to get a new blog post out.<br />
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Here are the highlights of my life since I last posted.<br />
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I have survived an entire summer as the mother of a three year old boy and I'm still going! Yay! My son is wonderful and super sweet, but I will not hide the fact that it has been, at times, very challenging and stressful this summer to parent our wonderful, sweet and smart little boy. I'll just say...UGH! But I sure do love our little guy SO MUCH that the stresses of this summer could never out-weigh the goodness of parenting our little son.<br />
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I have become, since the last blog entry, even more aware of the need to be real with my friends and family and those I meet here and there. I am seeing so much more of my society seeking a deceptive lifestyle---trying to "save face" and keep people unaware of their pains and habits and losses. It clearly creates more pain for people, more agony, more mis-understandings and heart-break for those of us who keep things hidden and UNreal. I am not sure why people are persuaded to be so deceptive in their expression of who they are........I mean, some of this I am sure of the reason why, but it's even among the people who say they believe in God--the source of hope and truth and joy and LIFE. So, that part of my observations still puzzles me. (the rest of this thought will just have to be it's own blog post)<br />
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I have been on a summer "break" from the full time job and privilege of collegiate ministry. My husband is the director of a collegiate ministry and I am the associate director. The summer months for our town are very scarce of college student involvement, presence, and energy. But school has started up again and the town is bustling with college students and our ministry is back in full swing. It is so wonderful to meet young women and young guys who are seeking to find God in their life.....who are interested in knowing more about why they were created, why they are talented in the specific ways they are. I very much enjoy spending my days encouraging and challenging young college women to seek truth---and as usual GET REAL with themselves and their world.<br />
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I have been enjoying the gift of family this summer. Relishing even the worst of days. I am so grateful to have the husband and son that I have. This summer, I have seen all the more how protective I am of my family and our time together. If I notice anyone stealing too much of our family time, I struggle to have a good attitude about that person for what seems like days. haha! Yeah, I know. That's probably not good, but I value the little family God has given me and I am jealous when people get more quality time in with my man and my boy than I do. It's like, game on. Let's go. Boxing gloves on, ring the bell. Phfff! Phff! Juke left, juke right, under-cut. haha! Not really---that was a bit of humor. I just REALLY love spending time with my family because ministry is an on-going thing that has a funny way of stealing family time. It's the battle and balance of time management that happens weekly. Family and ministering to my friends, my family, and my community AND the college campus is where I love to be.<br />
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I have been writing my first novel this summer. So, instead of blogging. I have taken my free time later in the evenings to write....a novel. It has been very fun. Hopefully, I will continuing writing my novel and actually complete it.....instead of just letting it disappear from my lists of creative things to do.<br />
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Lastly, I just want to say....<br />
If you are new to this blog, please read the first five or ten posts I have written.....from way back in the day of the birth of this blog. It will help you know my heart for my postings and help you to really "hear" me on why I write this blog in the first place.<br />
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A little inspiration:<br />
Get real, Woman. Love your neighbor. Treat others like you would want to be treated. Truly live, even if you have to wear bandages and nurse your wounds while you go on breathing. It is so much better to truly live your life than to embrace a fake version of you and constantly be on the stage acting. Acting is fun, I know, when it is on a theater's stage. But it is not fun when it's in the place of your real life. We can live with discretion and not blast the world with all of our problems (by having self-control) and STILL be real with our world and our families. The one way....the only effective way I know how to really do that discretion and control piece is to seek out the God of heaven and to believe His Son Jesus as the Savior. Then, we are able to "real"-ly live.Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-2269169250520410722013-05-28T16:00:00.004-04:002013-05-28T16:00:25.234-04:00Looking and LongingHow many minutes have passed since the last time you thought about something that you are looking for...that you are longing for to happen in your life? Most likely, once you've researched this briefly, you will find that not too many minutes have passed since you thought of that <i>something.</i><br />
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We women have deep secrets that we don't even share with our closest friends. Some of those things are great longings and <i>lookings</i> that saturate our minds...in the deepest parts. Ever so often, one of those longings will be exposed simply because of life circumstances and stress. But for most part, we women are resilient to keep those things locked away and hidden from everyone.<br />
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However hidden we think we have these things, these hopes and dreams (that seem to be too silly to share with even our dearest friends or our spouse) are seen and known intimately by someone. That someone is the One, the Lord Jesus Christ...God the Father...and the Holy Spirit. These three persons are one; in the form of the Trinity. God knows our longings and lookings.<br />
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Secrets and heartaches and unspoken hopes and dreams can be very taxing to carry along. I encourage you to first, bring them before God...since He knows and sees them in your thoughts already. The effort to speak them out to God in a prayer is still a powerful thing. God knows. And God cares about them because He loves you with an everlasting love.<br />
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Has it always been this way in the history of women? Have we always kept so many things so far away from the ears of our closest and dearest friends...even our spouses? Why do we do it, when there is so much freedom and peace in knowing someone else hears us and can help carry that dream and vision to completion. So what, if our hopes and dreams sound silly to someone-- once they are spoken. I believe we should first bring them to God, as I have already stated, and allow God to minister to our hearts and minds about the content. Then, if there is a peace in our minds and hearts about it, we can learn ways in which to share our hopes and dreams with others. Perhaps one of our dearest and closest friends is the very person who can help that dream or goal become a reality.<br />
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This blog post is somewhat simple and completely 'out of the blue', but it is so important that we spend a bit of time on a regular basis allowing the Light of God shine into the depths of us and allow that light to illuminate those dreams and hopes we suppress. It very well might be that those dreams,...those hopes...those grand aspirations were planted there by God because He knows we will able to accomplish it! We must not live so superficially that we miss out on really sharing life with those we call our confidants. And if you do not think you have a confidant currently--a dear friend who you can share anything with. You already do--in God.<br />
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The part about you trusting God...believing He is the true God...believing His Son Jesus is true---that's completely up to you. However, once you do believe...and trust, the Lord Jesus is the best friend, teacher and counselor to ever be. Even before his birth, an angel spoke about Jesus; that he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.<br />
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So, now I have to say it: get real, woman! You only live once. Let the glorious grace of God wash over you and your mind. Let him sort through the things rumbling in your heart. Allow Christ to look into your life and show you the great potential you have for great things; the things you have been dreaming of for years and years. You have a grand purpose. Let us not let our insecurities and our cultures hold us back in this thing....this reality of admitting our longings, our hopes and dreams.<br />
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There is life in the truth. For us, it starts at the heart; being truthful with ourselves--about ourselves, then declaring those things to God. This is a beautiful way to embrace and proclaim truth to the world in which you live.<br />
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Get Real.<br />
And I will strive to do the same.<br />
Blessings.Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-73739493581315535102013-04-16T16:13:00.001-04:002013-04-17T08:38:47.006-04:00Story Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-76887429064901091762013-04-08T14:05:00.000-04:002013-04-08T14:05:02.562-04:00A Big Shout-Out to THE ROSEToday is a special day because I am welcoming a whole other group of ladies to join the Get Real, Woman family! THE ROSE is a group of women who have received a beautiful red rose from me or my friend Sarah today at West Chester University. Once a woman gets a rose from us, they are forever welcome to be in THE ROSE. It's like a club, but more like a common bond. Women who share a common story.<br />
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Speaking of story, that is exactly what I am wanting to write about today. We all have a story. Some of us like to share their story as much as possible and find ways to relate to their friends and....even strangers they meet. Others like to NOT share their story...ever...because it brings too many questions from those listening and thus is exhausting just to get through the story un-interrupted. Some of us have never thought that you have a story...one that is unique to you and that has power to encourage, challenge, strengthen and...well, even entertain and bring joy to others. Welp, whoever you are, dear one, you have a grand story!<br />
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My story is unique. Your story is unique. Our story of coming together with this common ground of a blog called THE ROSE is unique. Sharing your story is important. Over the next few posts, I will be writing about this STORY thought.<br />
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So, even if you are the woman who loves your story or who thinks your story is no good or that your story is old and boring. If you are a woman who hasn't thought, up until you read this blog post, that you ever had a story to tell. NOW you all most definitely have a story; your story of receiving a beautiful red rose from a stranger with a tag on it that led you to THE ROSE blog and then led you to us, here at Get Real, Woman!.Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-44253058389280203882013-04-04T09:59:00.001-04:002013-04-04T09:59:05.844-04:00Where We've Been PlantedSince I'm on a horticultural focus from the re-debut post of this blog, I will continue! ha! Let's continue thinking upon the concept of rising out of the junk and the sin that so easily entangles us; just as a plant rises up out of the ground in spring time. The plant pushes through the soil and digs it's roots deeper into the soil below--thus searching for light and the nutrients the light brings and digging for nutrients and water in the ground.<br />
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As you well know, plants do NOT have a choice where they get planted. They are planted by the gardener--the one tending to their development, their nourishment and their harvest. Plants do not have a say in the amount of sunlight they are given or how much water is or will be available to them. But according to however much nutrients and sunlight they are attributed, they grow upward and outward and dig their roots in deeper. Basically, they respond to it.<br />
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Some plants are fruitful; life givers in one or multiple ways. Some of them are strong and useful for others to grow in. Other plants are fast growers, but wilt and fade away quickly; returning to compost soon after. Just as some fruitful plants are good, there are plants that are poisonous. And there are plants we call weeds because they grow wherever they end up and take over the space provided choking out the other plants availability to sunlight/nutrients.<br />
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Plants trust that where they've been planted is the best place. You might say, "Well, of course, Becky. They can't just get up and move." But think about it. It is something that we can learn. God is our Creator. He knows what is best for us. He knows if we are okay in a smaller pot, a smaller garden or if it is His desire for us to be planted in an open field or a large country garden with space all around. Since God is our Maker, HE KNOWS OUR NEEDS. He tends to our needs and sends rain to sustain us and storms and wind to strengthen us. Since God is our Maker and the Great Gardener, then we can trust Him where we are currently planted. He will tell us to move from our current situation as we grow toward Him. He is the LIGHT of the world. Jesus tells us in the Gospels that he is the Bread of Life. God is spoken of many times in the Bible as a rock we can stand on. So, God is our foundation, our sustenance and our power source.<br />
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There are so many things to learn from the plant world. The Lord Jesus used analogies about plant life many times in his teachings, too. Since He is the Maker of the heavens and the earth, Jesus must know the best ways to get his points across. We should allow the teachings of Jesus penetrate us found in the Holy Bible, even the stories about seeds and hard ground or fertile ground.<br />
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The world around us is most obviously available to us to look deeper in and see what we can learn from the creation.<br />
So, while we are planted WHERE we are planted, we can (if we so choose to) trust God where we are. haha! Plants cannot rebel of their surroundings; they are stuck until the gardener or some force of nature moves them. However, if they have access to light and water and good soil---they grow and flourish until their time on this earth is done. Since we are people, not plants, things are a bit different. We COULD move away from the blessings of God. We can put ourselves in places that choke out the Light. But I just wanted you to think about two things as I end this post:<br />
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1. God has given us everything we need to grow and flourish in this life, but we must choose to receive it. <br />
2. We have the choice to trust that God knows where we are "planted" and that when we are seeking Him and growing in the knowledge of His Word, He will guide us to the next "place" or opportunity whenever or if-ever He wants us to move.<br />
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Here are some verses from the Bible on this thought. BLESSINGS TO YOU!<br />
Hebrews 4:16<br />
John 6:33 & 35<br />
2 Peter 1:2-4 *****<br />
1 John 5:11-12<br />
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<br />Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-17695945436120858092013-04-02T14:56:00.002-04:002013-04-02T15:00:08.772-04:00RISEHello, everyone!<br />
I am back from an unplanned break from writing on my blog!!! Family life and ministry life got priority over this blog for several months now, so I haven't written much in quite awhile. I apologize for my neglect of this blog. Let us start again. Spring 2013.....re-start.....GO!<br />
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It's spring and obviously things are coming into bloom all around us and we should take note of this and follow along. It is time for us to break forth out of the things in our minds and lives that have kept us down and "underground" out of the Light's delightfully warm rays. It is time for us to break out, rise up, look to God and seek His face. Hebrews 12:1-2 says,<br />
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"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."<br />
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We will gain strength for times of adversity, whenever they come. We will gain lasting hope for this life and we will gain nourishment we need (physically, spiritually, emotionally) when we look to God in heaven by reading God's Word, the Holy Bible. It is time for us to "up" our prayer life, to become women who pray to God, talk to Him, about anything and EVERYTHING. It is time for us to break out of old habits like bitterness and deceit, and rise into a life of truth, openness, hopefulness and love.<br />
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It is time....to RISE.Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-32139033308684356042012-11-27T13:59:00.001-05:002012-11-27T13:59:36.998-05:00Staying Knit TogetherCommunity is so incredibly valuable these days. It's such a precious find. Do you have a group of people in your life that you can lean on, learn from, help out, confide in, pray with, encourage, motivate and/or be motivated by? <br />
So many times in my adult life (during and after college) I have had to make a choice about what amount of time in my daily living will be set apart for spending time with friends. I know that time with people that are friends is super important to my success in my work life, my family life and in my life-life. ha! <br />
What amount of time each day do you allow yourself to spend with friends....those who will naturally invest in you-encouragement and quality time.....and those in whom you will naturally invest encouragement and quality time? Its important---whether you are a keep things to myself kinda gal or a share my thoughts with anyone and everyone kinda gal. Both types of gals NEED community to thrive. More than money, recognition, fame, etc., having a community of folks that care about you and check in on you is one of the richest things on this planet. I don't have much wealth AT ALL (in American standards), but I am RICH with a community of people I care about and who care about me. My community is my church and other peers in my town. It is full of folks who care for me and my family. Only a small few of that group are really close friends, but my church as a whole is a HUGE blessing to me and my family. We can go out into our "work" week (funny saying that as a minister to college students) with confidence that there is a group of folks all over our city who "have our backs".....who will be there for us when times get tough/when times are fantastic. <br />
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The next thought on this is that we can't just sit at home and wait for a community of people to come to us. We must continue pressing in to the world we live in. We must be willing to get "dirty" so to say; get involved in the lives of those we work with, go to church with, etc. Community comes to us when we open up our hearts and minds to serving the people in our world of influence. When we decide each day to invest God's love and kindness into the lives of people in our work place, and in our family's sphere of influence. We cannot just sit and wait. The world is waiting for hope. And hope comes many times through kindness and friendship. <br />
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We can be the friend someone needs, thus promoting hope to rise up in them. And if you are a believer in Jesus, you can share the story of God's love for the world, in your own creative way, to the people in your sphere of influence and they will hear of the greatest hope there ever is or ever will be. JESUS. <br />
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Community comes with sacrifice, too. We can't live this American dream and have true genuine community. The American dream is all about YOU. But if an American wants true community, that person needs to be focused on others and not on themselves as the center of everything---sacrificing their own desires for the better-ment of others. (this isn't the case at all times of the day, everyday, but you know what I mean.) The me centered mentality is very difficult to thrive in a true community of folks.<br />
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The ideal solution to this epidemic problematic thinking (American Dream-"have it your way") is to believe Jesus as Savior and Lord and love Him with all of your mind, heart, body and soul. Since He is God of all things and the Creator of each person's hearts and desires, Jesus is the key to having the dream life....to having a great community around us. Sacrificing OUR wants and dreams for the joy of others will ultimately bring us joy, too, because we will be living like the One who gave His life for us on the cross--sacrificed His title of King of kings and Lord of lords. He, Christ Jesus, earns all rights of the greatest fame and fan-club of all time.<br />
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Stay knit together with people in your community that the Lord has or is giving you. As usually spoken on this blog: Get real, woman! Live honestly with those in your sphere of influence. Watch how barriers will fall between people because they see your honesty....your integrity...your genuine life that shines out of you. Watch how many gals will flock to you because they've never known someone to be as open about life/joy and struggle, pain and death. They.....we all long for truth....real-ness in our world. (yeah, yeah,....I know my grammar STINKS. sorry.) So, it's okay to show pain, share hurts and burdens with others. It's a super fabulous way to live.....risking your true identity being known by other human beings. Yikes! haha! Be the woman who the Creator made you to be. Be free and embrace community.Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-60214107562106890012012-11-27T13:41:00.001-05:002012-11-27T13:44:12.752-05:00Veritas, Pulchritudo et Amor: The King's Table<a href="http://truebeautyloves.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-kings-table.html?spref=bl">Veritas, Pulchritudo et Amor: The King's Table</a>: 2 Samuel 9:1-8 1 David asked, "Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?" 2 Now ...Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-91498884261729854962012-11-27T00:42:00.003-05:002012-11-27T00:42:42.967-05:00Friendship Is Not Rocket ScienceSo, I have been noticing a trend in the conversations I am having lately with my college students and my peers at church or in town. We've been casually conversing about how in our culture there is a high expectation for everyone to be able to be a good friend, but very few people actually live out the very expectation they have for every one else. Which the phrase good friend is a bit of a redundancy to me. A friend....a true friend is good. And once again, to me a bad friend.....well, is not technically a friend if he/she is bad at it. (My opinions....obviously) We in this culture seem to still get steamed about someone neglecting us, talking about us behind our backs, deceiving us and mooching off us WHEN simultaneously we many times are completely unaware that we behave very similarly toward others. It's this strange problem. The right desire for the culture to have---healthy friendships, but not many folks are actually attempting to make that desire a reality. If you want true friends, you have to be a true friend. <br />
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At the university in which my husband and I serve in ministry, I overhear girls chatting about this, that and the other with their peers/friends as they walk the sidewalks around me on the way to class or home or to their cars. It shocks me to hear the superiority in their voices about their friends. So many young ladies on our campus seem to think that the world owes them....in friendship....in a better job....in a better grade.....in a better boyfriend. It's like they are just sitting around being waited on and the world just is never good enough for their standards. Who is teaching them to grow up to be 18-23 years old and not even loosely grasping the idea that life is for giving, not for taking? The phrase, "It goes both ways" is missing many times in the lifestyles of the youth of this culture. Who started this wicked trend in our nation that so many young people have today that they shouldn't answer to anyone and that character doesn't matter as much as status and money? Did no one teach them as children these past 18-23 years that status and money come to people with character?....Whether that be good or bad character is the difference for sure, but character is STILL a huge factor in the world of promotion, acceptance, leadership, servitude, blessing AND defeat. <br />
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What has happened?? I feel as though the church is about the only set of people who are seeking, even if just a little bit, to train young people and children the importance of character....honesty, trust, love, faithfulness, sacrifice, devotion, etc. My church is doing very well to promote this truth of true friendship, but I am curious how many other churches are doing the same. I am weekly talking with my college students (those that are in our Christian student organization at the university) about how they can show or exemplify to their peers (classmates), their roommates, their dorm-mates.....maybe even their professors what real friendship looks like. Especially since it seems to be SO rare in these days to find faithful people.....faithful friends. I am frequently encouraging my college girls to rise up and be the example. I am proud of them for doing so.....taking the challenge. We need more young ladies and young women to do the same. We cannot wait around and expect someone else to communicate and/or exemplify these things to our culture....to the future leaders of our world. It is up to us. The task is ours.<br />
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Real friendship is sacrificial, devoted (faithful), honest, admonishing, hopeful, sometimes blunt, loving, strong, giving, gracious, patient and grateful. It is so much more than the things I just listed, but you get the point....right? When one calls another person their friend, I believe that one means to profess that they see that person is able to fulfill the role of a true friend or he/she has seen those qualities of friendship in action....lived out.<br />
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We must not stand by and allow the next generation of people in our culture to grow up from infancy, then arrive at the college level or young adulthood completely unaware, untrained in what it means to be a true friend. It is a HUGE foundational building block for all kinds of other social skills......and societal stability. If we have a whole society filled with narcissistic or leechlike people, we cannot stand as a culture....as a nation. Sacrifice, honor, forgiveness, second chance, hope, perseverance, faithfulness need to be in our culture (starting with our family and friendships) or we will be won over by another culture who is able to work together. "Pride comes before a fall." -Proverbs <br />
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Every person is born into this world with nothing and in need of everything. As we grow up, we learn how to do things for ourselves, but we realize at a very early age the joy in doing things for others, in helping others. I have a toddler.....I know this.......because I see it all the time with my son and all his little toddler friends. It's not like learning what it means and what it is to have good character are so difficult to acquire. Friendship is not rocket science. Little children know and desire the continued joy of giving to and helping others. We need to learn a lesson from them and be true friends to those people God has given us, BUT with the wisdom and mature discernment of an adult to know who to trust as a friend.<br />
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Ultimately, though, the LORD---the God of all creation, commands us who are His people to love one another. It is not a suggestion for God's people. It is a command. And since we, His people, also have God's Holy Spirit in us (for those of us who call on the name of the LORD Jesus as our Savior) to help us love one another. The need for divine intervention in loving others is still as vital as it ever was. We, in this culture, have not "arrived". We still need the mighty power of God to live a true friendship out. But thanks be to God, He is faithful, sacrificial, the most honorable, forgiving, second chance giver, our Hope, perseverant and mighty in power.....and He never slumbers nor sleeps.<br />
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Let us start new in our daily lives.....choosing this day forward to be women of truth who seek to be the best kind of friends to those whom God has placed in our lives. Choosing this day, let us seek to find our joy in giving, serving and edifying one another......and not for our own glory. <br />
I pray for me personally, that God would be made much of in my heart, mind and actions....in my friendships. And I dare you to pray the same.....to pursue that attitude with me.<br />
Get real, woman! Be a true friend. RISE UP AND SHINE LIKE THE MOON! Reflect THE Light, who is Christ Jesus the LORD. <br />
Blessings to you,<br />
BeckyRebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-9379326218747399082012-11-12T13:39:00.003-05:002012-11-12T13:39:20.051-05:00Collage of Thoughts ContinuesContinuing on in my collage of thoughts, my first one for today has to do with the title of my blog. It is so strange that being real with the women in my life about me and about the world around me seems to make gals un-easy. But I know....I KNOW they see things similar to the way I do most times, and struggle with things very similar to me. They just think speaking out about them publicly is.....not cool?....or not ethical....or whatever. How have we women arrived to this point of such discretion? It isn't right. We need others in our lives who truly know us. It can't continue....this living our lives to our selves. We must open our lives up to other women.... but only to <i>trustworthy (non-gossipping, God-fearing, full of integrity)</i> women and share what is going on in our minds and hearts. If not, we are promoting a frenzy of anxieties, depressions, isolations and such that may not really have to be in our lives in the first place. Hope that makes sense. <div>
We share life with others.....but it's usually just surface-y stuff. We talk about the weather with such passion; how we like it or hate it or wish it was a little bit warmer, cooler, less windy, less humid. We talk about our favorite television shows; how we can't stand so-and-so's character or how we LOVE so-and-so in such-and-such show. We have no problems spilling the beans about what we think of our work life, our pet's life, our favorite t.v. show's recent episode, our neighbor's life, our current town's weather, our future vacation plans, our spouse's choices, our president's view points, our waiter's wardrobe.....you get the picture. But when it comes to sharing with other women about our hearts, our dreams/broken dreams, our goals, our accomplishments, our loves, our insecurities, our fears.....we freeze....we hide it....we conceal the real stuff most of the time. Why?</div>
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Women of faith especially, I am talking to you. As a believer in Christ, you should know that you are special and loved by the one and only Holy and Mighty God. God loves the whole world and everyone in it (John 3:16-17), but when you come to faith in Jesus Christ, you become more than just loved by God---you become one of God's children. Family. God wants the best for His people. You should know that Christ wants you to have deeper friendships, the best relationships, hope-filled hearts, joyful minds and.....abundant life. He loves you. Women of Christ, you are the Heavenly Father's daughters. Why wouldn't He want the best for his kids?? Yet, we stay quiet about our fears, weaknesses, pains, failures with people who are our sisters in Christ.....folks who have the Spirit of God in them and can help us cope, strengthen us, look-out for us, etc. Very often we don't allow others to help us.....when God wants to use EACH ONE of us every day to help, to serve, to strengthen, to encourage, to admonish, to love, to protect, to comfort one another.</div>
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Get REAL, women and LIVE like no other. In Jesus' name, I pray that you would. AMEN</div>
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Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-2323012770454626012012-11-03T23:10:00.001-04:002012-11-03T23:10:06.554-04:00Pressin' In: A Collage of Thoughts<br />
There are so many things I want to write about. I have so many aspirations, hopes and dreams swirling in my head each day. I am not one to multi-task very well, but tonight, as I type, I will try to say a few different things on my heart and mind.<br />
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First, I just want to say that I sense there is a great distraction in our generation of Christian women. Women are getting so absorbed in hanging on every word of their favorite Christian author/public speaker gal. I, too, have a few favorites in the world of Christian women encouragers/authors/bible study writers/conference speakers. And I, too, understand how cool it feels to go to a conference or a retreat and be in the same room with women of such faith and such influence. However, one thing I hope we all remember is that we are all given the Holy Spirit and we are all able to pursue God to the same degree and passion these "famous" women do. We all can know Jesus Christ intimately by reading God's Holy Word and we all can learn how the Holy Spirit speaks to us individually by prayer and daily seeking Him. We who believe in Christ are all called to follow Him; to know Him deeply--knowing His heart on the issues of our times by spending time in God's Word, praying, etc. We can't just let the "famous" ladies of our faith do all the work for us.....do all of the growing in the LORD for us. We must go after Christ ourselves!! Our husbands, boyfriends, children, friends and family members are looking to us......wondering if we'll take the plunge and love GOD with all of our hearts and all of our minds and all of our souls. <br />
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Second, how is it that Christians are more known these days for complaining about the government and school policies and protesting about their rights being restricted INSTEAD OF being known for how much they deeply love people with God's love....for how much they sacrifice for their neighbors and friends....for how much they teach others the amazing story of the Truth? When is it going to be that this country first acknowledges it's Christian citizens have a deep passion for their Savior BEFORE they acknowledge the Christian citizens' stance on politics, moral issues, work ethics, marriage, etc?? We Christians in America have no legit reason to try to "hide" our faith/our passion for Jesus Christ. We are not being hunted down to be killed for our faith like our brothers and sisters are in other countries. We have the freedom to pursue Christ openly in this country and yet, MANY of us Americans claiming to know Christ don't take that opportunity. WHY? Friends, you are missing out on so many blessings and adventures by keeping your spiritual growth at bay. I urge you to hoist the sails of your soul and let the Holy Spirit of God breathe life into your spiritual life. I urge you to sail in the winds of the Spirit and let Him lead you, provide for you, protect you and strengthen you. There is no better time than right now to stop stalling; and start your pursuit....again and go after God. Christian means to be a follower of Christ. And a follower of no one else.<br />
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Third, along the same lines of the second, I am appalled at all the time Christian people are taking to fight with each other about their beliefs on abortion and homosexuality. The fighting isn't in terms of actual fist fights, but it is word fights that are so nasty and evil. How does this type of behavior become so normal in such a large number of American Christians. Once again, I believe it is the lack of time Christians are spending with their Savior--reading the Holy Word of God daily, praying and speaking the Good News to others. If we Christians were daily doing the things that Christ commanded His people to do, the arguments and fights probably would be much different. The more quality time a person spends with His Maker, the Almighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, that person will begin to see his or her world through the eyes of the LORD and not through the human eyes of wicked intentions. Now, I too, have my opinions on abortion and homosexuality, but if I do not have the right audience and the prompting of my Lord and Savior to speak of these opinions, I will not. It is not helpful for the body of Christ is be looking for a fight. We are to "seek peace and pursue it". Psalm 34:13-14 says, "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."<br />
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What I urge all the Christian women who are reading this blog to do, starting today, is to get on your knees before God (whether figuratively or literally) and repent of all the things that are holding your affections that are not Christ. I urge you to lay all of your selfish ambitions and deep rooted opinions at the foot of the Lord Jesus and ask Him to sift through each one, showing you each one of those things that is dishonoring/displeasing in His sight. Jesus speaks to the church of Ephesus through the apostle John in the book of Revelation. He says to them, "I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. ....He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."-Revelation 2:2-7 I don't know about you, but these words Jesus Christ spoke to the church of Ephesus seem to be right for my heart to hear, too. I feel like I relate a bunch with these believers who lived in Ephesus. Their city was filled with wickedness and the worship of false gods. Our country today has a bunch of the same characteristics (mentioned in full in the book of Ephesians and Romans). I read these words from Christ and I am broken. I....no, WE all need to hear these words and be moved. We need to be moved to repentance and humility before the Holy God. Being right with God (righteousness) is THE MOST important thing a believer can do each day before all the other important things; like standing up for what we believe...raising our children, being a the best friend, spouse, employee we can be, etc. In everything, we need to remember the words of John the Baptizer when asked about what he thinks of the new guy called Jesus who was on the other side of the Jordan river baptizing folks. John the Baptizer made sure to tell them that he himself was not the Christ and that "He (Christ) must increase, but I must decrease"-John 3:30. <br />
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Once we take time to go before God and repent of the junk we have collected in our hearts each day and we find out those things that dishonor Him, I strongly urge you to pitch those things as far from your heart and mind as you can.....RUN from them. Give up those things to God. He can take care of them....get rid of them, by His power. And if you are living in the blessing of being a child of God, you are bought and paid for. You are Christ's. You no longer live for yourself. Galatians 2:20-21 says, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose." We are not our own anymore, if we are born again Christians. And this verse 21 is saying that if being right with God was able to be achieved through living according to the book of the law, then Christ died for nothing. And we know, as believers in Christ......as believers in his death and resurrection, that Christ died for us. John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-2375076528185094002012-10-17T12:45:00.000-04:002012-10-17T12:45:30.543-04:00Not for the Weak<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #4d4e51; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">Anyone want to be described as the following?</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #4d4e51; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">wimp, baby, caitiff, chicken heart, chicken liver, chicken, coward, cream puff, crybaby, daisy, featherweight, fraidy-cat, jellyfish, lily liver, loser, milksop, momma's boy, namby-pamby, pansy, pantywaist, puppy, pushover, scaredy-cat, schlemiel, sissy, wuss, wussy, yellowbelly</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;">These are synonyms for the words wimp, weak, and pushover. (thanks to google thesaurus)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;">For as long as I have been considered an adult, I have been trying to figure out why Christians look down on their brothers and sisters in Christ who are pursuing a pure life. It's not easy, nor wussy. It takes great courage, great mental effort, and great discipline. People love to make fun of those who keep their lives clear of the "evils" of our world. Fellow "Christians" find it a fun past-time to point out the folks who are attempting to keep their slate clean. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;">What's up with that?! </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Are you offended by what I just said? Have you made fun of folks living with a open hatred toward stuff that is wicked and evil? Maybe that's why you're offended. I don't apologize because that's not something I should apologize for. I encourage you to let these thoughts sink in, sister. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;">Living a life of purity is NOT for the faint of heart. Without the strength that comes from God's Holy Spirit, we cannot live life purely....at least for very long. It's just not natural for humans to exist with a clean slate. Duh! That statement is no revelation to anyone. It's clear through the history of time.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;">What I am trying to get at is....that this is the beginning of many posts on the topic of purity. I haven't posted a blog on this very often because I, too, deal with the understanding that I fail at being pure at all times. I struggle exposing these truths because I am aware that I will be ridiculed for it.......by believers no doubt. It's such a passion of mine to seek a life of purity and I will later explain just why I want that lifestyle, but it is SO hard to express it to an audience I can't see. I would LOVE for you to see my face, to see that I am SO serious about living a life of purity. I am SO serious about taking on the challenge, the hardships, the "sacrifices" of a pure lifestyle....of a pure heart......of a pure mind. Why? That is what I will write about next.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;">To be continued...</span></span>Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-82370335582634818672012-10-16T10:49:00.000-04:002012-10-16T14:02:48.576-04:00Close or Far?As some of you may know, my husband and I are missionaries to West Chester University of Pennsylvania. We have lived and served in West Chester, PA for 6 years this November. For the past two years we have lived in an apartment complex that is about a 30 minute walk to the campus or a 5-7 minute drive through the neighborhood. We have been praying for a place to live that is close enough to the university where students will be willing to walk to our place. If close, our office can be from home. The university does not afford collegiate ministers office space. So our current office is at our church which is still close, but about 4 or 5 blocks away from the school. <br />
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All of this said simply to let my readers know that we are looking to move out of our current place in November. Our lease ends at the end of November, so we need to find appropriate/effective/affordable housing here in the next few weeks. YIKES! In my mind, this is a need that only the Almighty God can provide. So we are praying for great things to happen. Would you pray with us....for us to find the housing God has planned for us? <br />
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If you are one who feels the LORD is leading you to give financially to the work of college ministry here in the USA, maybe our ministry is the place where God wants you to partner. I just ask that you ask our Lord God what he wants you to do and then whatever He leads you to do; to obey the LORD. We seek to obey the LORD too, in the things He leads us to do. And we are SO thankful for His grace when we fail to obey. So, just for those of you who are curious....We are missionaries praying for the Lord to provide about $1000 more a month in our budget in order for us to live in our mission post effectively. Sounds crazy, I know. This area of West Chester is very expensive. Currently we are living on about 60% of the monthly income goal we had made 6 years ago. The Lord has kept our basic needs met and we are SO GRATEFUL. For more information on giving: e-mail us at bjhooray@yahoo.com<br />
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May you have a blessed day. My husband and I ask you to pray for us as we search for housing this week and next. We are looking for a miracle. :-) Thanks for your prayers. <br />
Love,<br />
BeckyRebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-39764211212836489812012-10-05T01:06:00.000-04:002012-10-05T01:06:37.333-04:00Daily Decision: Who Will I Serve? God or Myself?"Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!---assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."<br />
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"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." -Ephesians 4:17-32<br />
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"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,<br />
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"Awake, O sleeper, </div>
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and arise from the dead, </div>
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and Christ will shine on you."</div>
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"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." -Ephesians 5:6-21</div>
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[On this side of grace, we have hope and confidence in eternal life with God because of Jesus Christ. (John 3:16-17) These next verses in Deuteronomy are from the commands of Moses to the people of Israel. They still have a powerful message about living for God's glory and not for our own. It shares how we will be blessed and have life (abundantly as Christ described it) spiritually and blessed in our lives physically on earth.....but blessing doesn't always look like what we think blessing is. It doesn't always mean "get rich", "get married", "get healed", etc. It just says blessed, God decides how that blessing looks.]</div>
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"For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may heart it and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may heart it and do it? But the word is very near you, It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. </div>
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"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." -Deuteronomy 30:11-20</div>
Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-66125727314418304182012-10-03T13:35:00.001-04:002012-10-03T13:48:29.096-04:00Word!: Part 2 of Magic? Uh...No. <div>
Throughout this summer, I have become more aware of a growing fad of "the power of positive thinking"or the "law of attraction" or the action of telling the "universe" what we want in life and waiting eagerly for "Universe" to respond. And I am getting more and more concerned about why so many Christians are jumping on this band wagon too. I am not frustrated with those who are not Christian and believe the statement of positive thinking...the law of attraction to be powerful because they don't yet know the amazing power of God which surpasses all other powers. But I am getting really bewildered/frustrated that so many people claiming to be followers of Jesus Christ are allowing their minds to focus on proclamations from other humans on how they should think and speak and live. It's getting a bit weird......Christians are talking about this positive thinking, name-it-and-claim-it stuff like it's God's Word.<br />
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There are SO many people saying they are children of God, believers in Christ, singing the latest worship songs in their cars each day AND talking about being able to positively think themselves into better fortune, better marriage, better health. It is clearly looking like these folks aren't living like they really know who God is. So, that's a little background on why and what I am about to write.<br />
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We Christians need to first and daily recognize Who we are following, Who we have surrendered to and put our trust in...the God of the universe, the Maker of all things seen and unseen, the Eternal Father. This new cultural/almost world-wide fad of speaking aloud our positive thoughts/hopes/wishes to get the things we want out of life has a bunch to do with....well, people's words. Ha!! Let's first look at the most important word there is. Then let's look at what God thinks of that Word. Then let's look at what our response as humans should be to the Word.<br />
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"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."</div>
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-John 1:1</div>
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"Every word of God is tested;</div>
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He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him." </div>
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-Proverbs 30:5 (NASB)</div>
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"I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek me in vain.' I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right."</div>
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-Isaiah 45:19</div>
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"'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" </div>
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-Matthew 4:4 (ESV)</div>
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"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing each other in all wisdom</div>
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...with thankfulness in your hearts to God." </div>
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- Colossians 3:16</div>
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"Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight,</div>
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O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." -Psalm 19:14</div>
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"Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few." -Ecclesiastes 5:2</div>
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"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." -Psalm 119: 105</div>
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Recently, I have been thinking through, studying, and tackling a couple very difficult topics trending in our culture these recent years. Many folks in our world are focusing on self-improvement, mega business success, family/friendship restoration, and job promotion obsession all through the power of their thinking.....through positive thinking....through their words spoken aloud for the "Universe" to hear and respond. I have friends, even Christian ones, who are beginning to believe the "name it and claim it"approach to life is for them and that it is working <i>for</i> them. I have read portions of the book The Secret and learned a little about this new/"ancient" practice; about people speaking their wishes into the sky...to the "Universe" and forcing their minds and hearts to truly believe the powers of the cosmos will hear their desire and make a way for it to come true...all because they wished it....all because of some law of attraction was on "their side". Of course, as naturally self-centered beings, this is viewed as a great idea. If we don't have to depend on someone else to get what we need or want, that's the best solution, right? HUH!? </div>
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So, Christians, are we to take this in too? Are we to digest these new and also ancient approaches to self-gain/improvement and let them poison our bones as well? Are we to begin living this way, in which God is viewed as a genie in a bottle instead of the Sovereign God that he is? (As you know, I am not an apologetics scholar who can carry my readers/listeners into a deep theological discussion on this topic and brilliantly argue this point. And I am not one to write a piece that carries people in suspense for awhile and then lead them to the real answer of my thoughts and the conclusion. I am the gal who just says up front what I believe, with grammatical errors and all, and hopes that the Truth who I know is seen as beautiful and fearful and holy as He really is.) </div>
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"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, </div>
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and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." </div>
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-John 1:14</div>
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"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life.</div>
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No one comes to the Father except through me." </div>
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-John 14:6</div>
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If all of us have this power, this "Secret" to speak circumstances, promotions, relationships, etc into existence by positive thinking then why on earth is there still so much recall on this "product"; all sorts of disease still happening, so many marriages breaking, so many people un-employed and hungry, so many children parent-less, so many thousands of people with depression and anxiety disorders, so many scandals, and so much violence/crime still happening? And if people are going to be speaking out into the universe and have all their wishes and hopes come true, then this place we call Earth would be truly complete chaos; all thanks to the "law of attraction". Really?? </div>
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Think about it: what if two different people are claiming to the sky, to the "Universe", or to the god of their choosing that they will get the position of CEO of a specific company? What's the "Universe" or whoever going to do? Give it to both of them because they both sincerely claimed it to the skies, from their heart of hearts, mentally "bagging" that job? Is the "Universe" thus going to "see" that they deserve the job for giving credit to the powers of positive thinking and the law of attraction? No. Only one person will get the job because it is clearly for "a" CEO. </div>
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Think about these things: What is this power of thinking going to do for people when their family member gets sick with cancer? Can they <i>wish or positively think</i> someone out of bed rest and into full health? If they can, film makers need to make a new action hero movie about those people. That's probably a new super power not made into comic books yet. Come on people! Why is this so attractive? When, in the existence of man-kind, did we ever get the proof that we are perfect enough, sovereign enough, mistake-free enough, good enough, worthy enough for anything...the cosmos, the "Universe", the Buddha, our ancestors, the gods of this world, the spicy foods we ate the night before....to listen to our desires, wishes or hopes and make them come true all because we claimed it aloud while thinking positively??</div>
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We human beings are not and have never been the completer of the God-head, the giver of all life. We have never been Creator. We are "fearfully and wonderfully made"....MADE. We have all been birthed into this world cold and hungry and help-less. We have all been born completely dependent on a Holy power, namely Almighty God, to keep our hearts beating, our lungs breathing and our bodies growing to be strong and healthy. We have never been in the huddle with God about the blueprints of creation....on any level. It has always been one way. God's way. He was. He is. And He will always be. And we, his creation, will always be in complete dependence on Him for life...our life-breath and our life-joy. Regardless if we confess this to be true or not, we are in full need of our Creator for everything. So, (speaking to my fellow Christians who are believing in this "Secret")--why are you encouraging one another to just think positively, confidently that things are to happen in our favor, by our own "powerful" positive thinking? All glory is reserved only for God the Father in heaven. We, the created, will never get a slice of that pie.<br />
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Yeah, I know. I am stepping on toes; possibly hurting the feelings of friends I deeply love. I have NO idea who has and has not read these books of positive thinking stuff. I am not thinking of anyone particular while writing this. Most of this blog post was my <i>re-action</i> to what I have been learning about these new-ish trends through reading the news headlines and my discussions with friends. But I have been studying a little bit as well, so some of this post was for sure a confident <i>response</i>.<br />
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I just do not see why <i>Christians</i> are being <i>so easily</i> roped into all these different popular book guides to success, self-confidence, self-promotion, health, and happiness through the power of positive thinking; unless they are not truly reading God's Word daily. Are we Christians not reading the Bible AT ALL? Come on, folks! As water is to a plant, so God's Word is to the believer in Christ.<br />
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This topic will be further explored and studied by me and you will hear from me again on this. I am praying for wisdom. I know for sure I am FAR from perfect. I know I have many hang-ups and imperfections. So, that just tells me I need to lean even more on God's Holy Word. His Word is truth and life.</div>
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Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-68770718472619638312012-10-03T13:34:00.001-04:002012-10-03T13:42:40.224-04:00Magic? Uh,...NoIn preface to what my next blog post will be, I want to say just a few things. There are a bunch of discussions and lectures going around our nation about the power of positive thinking. Even more so, books are preaching it and people are getting paid to travel the country and speak to masses of folks about it. But it is seeming to take on another face that is looking a bit frustrating to me. What "gets me" are the Christians (some well-known pastors/teachers/authors or even just the very influential people of our local church families) who are preaching this message of positive thinking being a powerful force...a cosmic force...separate from God's power. These Christians aren't basing their understanding of the necessity of positive thinking on the entirety of the Holy Bible, but just on little portions here and there. They are getting most of their "material" from a conjured up method formed from outside sources who are not surrendered to the authority of Christ. How do I know they are not surrendered to Christ's authority without ever meeting them face to face? I know because I have read their thesis statements and some book reviews about their works and these authors/speakers are not basing their entire power of positive thinking stance on the full message given in God's Word; personal and un-biblical theories are being twisted into the mix to "spice things up".<br />
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Positive thinking is something that I have embraced since I was a young girl. I like to look on the bright side of life. It is a very important discipline to have in our daily life. Even in his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul writes to them to be careful what they think of each day. He even gives them a list of things to think on as a way to help the people (and all Christians, for that matter) to know where to center our minds. That list is in Philippians 4:8. But if you look at that list, each thing listed is something that seems to be hard to find most days. But the one thing...the one person who is all of those things continually is Jesus Christ. Our Lord God is good and right all the time.<br />
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Just because the Bible teaches us to be people who rejoice always, show gratitude often, love everyone, hope always, doesn't mean we Christians get that right all the time. For me, it's clear, if you know me at all or have read several of my blog posts here, that I am not always a positive thinker. I know that God commands me to think on things that are of God, but I am not always obedient. Duh! We all make mistakes. And just to add this in: Jesus Christ came to earth, lived a SINLESS life and died for OUR sins because God loved us SO MUCH. God knows we can't keep it right all the time. He knows we need a Savior. And I am SO grateful for Jesus! So, this trending topic of the power of positive thinking is getting a bit out of control when folks are beginning to speak about the power as a real force----not just a cause and effect anymore. It's being spoke of as a way to connect with the "Universe" and the cosmos and get the things we need and want....like a magical attitude....spell recipe or whatever you want to call it. haha! <br />
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After reading....rather skimming some of the popular articles and books that are out on the bookshelves talking about this, I am seeing that people are thinking that positive thinking can actually, magically, alter their circumstances. If that is not what the books are teaching then, the editor of their book should have chosen better words for their descriptions. Seriously. <br />
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Positive thinking is a great thing and should be practiced regularly by all because it can dramatically change a person's situation for the better when implemented, but it is not a power.....in terms of power of a superhero. And we, are not people who hold any power of our own. SO, positive thinking isn't some magical thing on it's own. Ever.<br />
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There is the possibility that I may "ruffle some feathers", but I believe God's Word is the Truth and is Holy. I believe that everything else should be looked at through the filter of God's Word. Okay, now you can read my personal stance on this topic that I had already written in the next blog post. Blessings.Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-21473523380578260352012-09-12T09:21:00.000-04:002012-09-12T09:21:49.484-04:00R4MThis is a special post to ask you to check out my husband's blog. He is running a half marathon this weekend and is running for a cause. He's done a great job training for this event and I am so very proud of him. He's been using his blog to document his journey throughout all of training and he will continue writing about his journey up to and after the race. Also, he created a twitter account for this event to allow twitter folks to follow him. Please take a minute or two to look over his blog if you haven't already. And if you are interested in joining him in his cause, which is a very worthy cause, please make sure you "sign up" or register on his blog site before the race on Sunday so as to help encourage him even more as he runs. THANKS A BUNCH!! I just want him to get as much encouragement as I can give him before his run on Sunday. <br />
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<a href="http://runformontreal.blogspot.com/">runformontreal.blogspot.com</a> </div>
Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-21758468215484628402012-09-11T09:44:00.002-04:002012-09-11T09:44:35.623-04:00The Truth PursuitJust as we regularly take time to enjoy the rays of the sun, whether by sitting on our porch in the sunset's light, by reclining on the beach in the hot sun's rays, or by driving around town with the windows down warming our face with the sun's light, as people who believe in God's love and His Son we should find ourselves regularly looking into God's Word and exposing our hearts to the Truth. <br />
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Look at the trees as an example. They are faithfully growing to the skies, whether in good times or tough times. They seek out the sunlight, move....position their branches to get the most sunlight exposure. They take time in winter to dig their roots deeper so as to thrive in spring and summer through all the storms and windy days. Trees and all things 'flora' know what gives them life and they pursue it.....with what we would describe as a passionate pursuit. Can we live with such a passion for the One who gives us life, now that we know WHO that is? I am so grateful to God for giving us His Holy Word so that we can know what brings us life....so we can pursue with reckless abandon God's Truth and thus truly <i>live</i>.<br />
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Romans 12:1-3 (The Message version)<br />
"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life---your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life----and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."<br />
"I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as everyone of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him."Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-34227245136546909252012-08-14T13:31:00.000-04:002012-08-14T13:42:46.314-04:00We Show Such Faith in Chairs...Just a small thought I have today.<br />
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Why do we so easily, with no anxiety or hesitation, sit down in a chair--any chair, putting our whole weight on it; never questioning the strength of the bolts, screws and/or nails holding the chair together? BUT when we need to trust God for things more important than just bearing our weight as we sit, we have such a hard time putting our whole "weight" on Him. It's not like the "Him" I'm talking about is a flawed human being or even an animal of lower conscience than humans. The "Him" I'm talking about is the God who made our every cell......every atom....every particle of the atoms in our bodies. The "Him" is the God who made our physical bodies, our personalities, our talents and giftings, our skin color, our height, our family (lineage) and our souls. It's such an amazingly strange thing that we struggle so much trusting someone who knows everything about us, who knows everything we have done, are doing and will do; who knows everyone we have met, do know and will meet. This great God knows our every weakness and loves us SO much He chose to die on a cross for our sins...taking our punishment so that we could be brought back in line with God and become children of God. (John 3:16,17 and 18)<br />
I understand that there is a big difference between physical trust (like sitting on a chair) and spiritual trust (like believing the invisible God will help, guide, teach, protect, provide, restore, etc.) I get that. But still it is interesting to think of these two things together. I hope you are following my train of thought. haha!<br />
We so easily collapse on a chair or couch at the end of a grueling day, resting our whole weight, physically on it. We need to pray and ask our great God to help us collapse into <i>His</i> loving lap (so-to-speak) in our hearts, our minds and our souls each day. We need to pray and ask our loving Savior to show us what we can do to trust Him deeper.<br />
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"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones."<br />
-Proverbs 3:5, 6, 7, 8<br />
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We show such faith in chairs each day with our physical person. Can we show an even deeper/stronger faith in God each day with our spiritual/emotional person; thus showcasing to the world around us that our great God is able to bear the weight of any soul......that He holds the whole world in His hands?<br />
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Let's get real, women! Let's rise out of our anxieties and doubts by the power of God and shine to the world around us----showing them Who we trust with our every breath! Let's be women who seek truth; knowing there is only one Truth, Jesus Christ. Let's quit worrying about bringing ourselves fame, recognition, status, etc. and start turning our hearts to the LORD, living to bring God glory and honor each day in our world of influence---for He is worthy. <br />
<br />Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-72971130321834744312012-08-06T14:00:00.001-04:002012-08-06T14:00:29.464-04:00Music Video "He's Always Been Faithful To Me"<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2lhtx417HwU?fs=1" width="459"></iframe>Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7328017426236070958.post-91346757094708674262012-08-06T13:51:00.001-04:002012-08-06T13:51:07.643-04:00David Crowder Band - I Am a Seed<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UDpkj9Kamqg?fs=1" width="459"></iframe>Rebecca Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17870052704892350570noreply@blogger.com0