Here me out. Its not like I was out right rude to him, but I just didn't give him (or any of my brother's friends, for that matter) the time of day. That still is a sin. God, I'm sure, was disgusted by my attitude, "Sure Liz, say you love me, but go on acting as if you are better than them. Are you really sure you understand the reason I died on the cross?"
Since then, I have realized that my brother's have been a better example of Christ than I have. They have shown God's undiscriminating love to so many people. They don't worry about how a person lives or what they participate in, but rather embrace them as friends without question. Their goal is always to show love, never to judge. This is the true message of Christianity--love.
I have a lot to learn from their example.
When I heard of this friends passing, it really hit me. That, combined with the study that we are currently doing in our bible study group, have weaved a deep conviction in my heart that I'm approaching life and Christianity the wrong way.
Our bible study group is reading the book The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller. Keller takes the story of the prodigal son and transforms it into a tale of being the best Christian you can be. He challenges us to see this story as a way to look at people in this world. The "younger brother" types are characterized as irreligious yet, eventually repent of their ways and are accepted into the kingdom. Then their are the "older brother" types who are moralists and view the world through their "superior beliefs." They also refuse to see this as a negative and thus, the story ends with the older brother not repenting of his sins. At the end of the story, we don't know what happens to the older brother. This scared me.
I was definitely a moralist. I still am to some degree, if we are honest. But God is doing a work within my soul. He is showing me that my life should be a light to others. I would hate to be "that Christian" who caused someone else to doubt the reality of salvation. I never want someone to look at me and think, "Wow, if that is what Christianity is, then count me out!" Oh that would be horrible.
Another realization that I had, came with the sermon series our pastor is currently preaching. Man, I really must have needed a reality check, because God was coming at me at every angle. Our pastor has been talking about idols and how they come in ALL forms. It has been a powerful sermon series and has made me realize that I have many idols in my life. Food, having children, and my need to be good at something, are all idols that I have been paying too much attention to. This blog has become an idol of sorts because it feeds my need to bring attention to my decorating skills. For some reason, I have been trying to prove that I'm good enough.
But God says I'm good enough because of my love for Him.
Crud, I have really messed up.
All that being said, I also want this blog to be a light. I want to stop trying to be "the best" and I want to be God's best. I want to make sure that everything I write and post is (as it says in Philippians 4:8) true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. These things are what bring light.
Don't worry, I will still be writing a bunch about our house updates, but I will definitely be throwing in some other topics too. I have a few blogs that I read on a daily basis that are a good example of light and I will focus on using them as my guide. Please check them out: Summer Harms and Whitney Newby. You won't be disappointed!!!
So all of you who have been asking about our house and what is going on, tune in tomorrow! Let's catch up shall we?