Convictions...

So, I really thought my next blog would be about the tornado. I just cant seem to sit down and write about that yet.  Guess it's not time! :)

Again, like many other times when I have "blogged" I was laying in bed, trying to sleep, and the Holy Spirit kept nudging me to get up and write.  So, here I am.

I recently read the book, "Kisses from Katie".  For those of you who have read this book, you can totally relate to what I am about to write.  Those who haven't, you gotta get the book!

I have spent major amounts of time thinking about my life lately.  Thinking about my "claim" to be a follower of Christ, yet how much of my life actually SHOWS that I follow him. 

Does the house I live in? 
Does the car I drive?
Do the clothes I wear?
Does the color of my hair?
Does my makeup?
Does my jewelry?
Do my shoes?
Do my children?
Does my furniture?
Do my decorations in my house?

And my list goes on and on....

I know what some of you are thinking, because I am thinking it too.  God blessed me with the money to buy those things, so is it really wrong to buy them?  I'm beginning to think, yes, it is.  This is why...

How many starving people could I feed and how many orphans could I place with parents on the money I spend on those things?  When someone sees me, do they think, "Wow, now that is someone who gives sacrificially to the cause of Christ!" When someone comes in my home, do they think, "Wow, now that is how a sacrificial giver lives!"  What does my life say?  I know that our motive behind doing things is not supposed to be because of what "others" will say, but that is EXACTLY why we do it!  That is exactly why I...

Wear makeup
Color my hair
Dress fashionable
Decorate my house
Drive a nice car
etc, etc, etc...

Now I know that we cannot isolate ourselves from the world and still reach the world!  But I also KNOW, that it is possible to exist in this world and sacrifice all these things for the cause of Christ and STILL have a voice! 

We, I, as an American, as Americans, have it all wrong!!  We have to be different.  They have to be able to see Christ in us! 

I know that not everyone will agree with me, heck, I am not sure I agree with me! :) It's that flesh, spirit thing that is always plaguing me! But I know the power of conviction when the Holy Spirit is working on me, and boy is He working!  What God calls you to do will not be popular with the rest of the world. It will always look "odd" to them.  Just look at the examples in history, it speaks for itself....Abraham, Noah, David, Daniel (just to name a few....)

There is something to these convictions.....