How to help those who know you best when it comes to God's stuff (Luke 4:16-31)

Becoming a Christian is a huge decision to make.  Shoot, it took me how many years to make it??  ha ha.  Once you make this decision, it's important to realize that there are certain things that will start to change, namely YOU!  :)  Those who know you best will still remember the "old" you and resist.  Here's some interesting thoughts on the matter.

First and foremost, you need to know that some of those who are closest to you will resist this growing up in Christ.  When you read Luke 4:16-31 you quickly realize that even Christ had this problem in His hometown of Nazareth (See Matt 13:54-57).  They wanted to know why He could teach with such authority when He was "just a carpenter's son."  The people closest to you will potentially resent that you don't party with them or talk/behave in the same way (See 1 Pet 4:3-4).

You can try to change their perception of you by explaining "that was then," or explaining that you messed up in the past...own it (Prov 28:13).  Once you do that, explain to them that "this is now" and you are changing who you are.  Tell them that you are a Christian and want to be the salt of the earth and you want to shine the Light of the world (Matt 5:13-16).  To do this we have to be willing to speak God's truth regardless.  It becomes so easy to cop out with those who share our DNA and walked in our social circles.  Just remember that it is very selfish to not care about their eternity.  BUT!!!  We must do this out of love and concern for the other person.  AND!!  We must live out the truth as well. 

In life (and in poker) we must learn when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.  Jesus had to make this decision, too, while in His hometown.  If you read Matt 4:12-13, you'll read that He left Nazareth and settled down in Capernaum.  So, if what you're holding, God's Truth, isn't going to get the job done, fold 'em.  We must not waste God's precious truth on those who will disrespect or attack it (Matt 7:6)  Kindly and lovingly tell them that you will not allow them to disrespect your Dad.  If they don't stop, you may have to sever the relationship, leaving a door open with them to come back and hear the truth.  Remember Matt 10:34-39...it happens. 

I want to thank my church, The Cool Church, for this teaching.  It is painful when your own family reacts badly to your becoming a Christian.  I know for me, I had to distance myself for a while until I was a more mature Christian...not because they attacked God so much as it was for me, because I couldn't yet resist the DNA and/or social circle temptations. I've learned how to handle it better; definitely not perfect at it yet, either.  :)

Being Real

I was reading a couple of blogs today, by a husband and wife going through their 4th deployment.  Between my husband and I, we have been through four deployments and a remote tour in Korea, so I felt a bit connected with them.  One thing that struck me about their blogs was their reality to struggles.  I struggle...daily...with one thing or another.  But I think out of fear of losing it, I suppress those struggles and continue to cope.  People think I'm this strong woman who blah blah blah...it doesn't matter.  This is my confession.  I'm not strong, or I don't feel strong.  I'm angry a lot about circumstances that are beyond my control.  I fight emotions on an hourly basis.  I want to scream and shout and jump up and down because I don't have it together.  But, like every other "good military spouse" we put on our happy faces and trek out into the world.  This is the face YOU see.  This is the person you are used to.  But to be real, I fight my own living hell day in and day out.  A hell that not many experience.  However!!!  I am also a woman, wife, mom, sister, cousin, etc., of faith.  I KNOW life sucks and I know it is going to be painful and bitterness creeps in at times.  I had an email conversation with a very good friend of mine (who will read this eventually) yesterday and she was truly concerned about me because last weekend I didn't have my "happy face" on and was seriously struggling with emotions, which I was having serious difficulty keeping in check for some reason.  People look up to me as this strong person who has it all together and now I feel as though I am lying to them.  God guides me through each and every day and my job is to ensure I have His full armor on.  I have to wake up each day and decide what I'm going to clothe myself in that day:  will I wear the clothes of Christ or will I not.  But I have to ask, does the clothing of Christ mean that I keep emotions in check and put on that happy face?  I sit here and am honestly wondering about this.  I am still human, so why do I try to act like I'm super-human?  Why do I suffer in this silent hell alone?  I can tell you some of it is I just despise crying!   I hate it with a passion.  I have to laugh because I don't hate it for any other reason than it makes my face look silly.  My eyes puff up and become red.  My contacts cloud over from tears.  My nose gets red from blowing it.  It's all vanity!  Am I serious?  Unfortunately, I am.  I think, however, that I'm going to find myself in a looney bin if I don't figure out how to handle all these pent up emotions.  I will tear up at the drop of a hat for Pete's sake.  I'm very serious.  There's a show on TV about military members surprising their families on their return from deployment.  I don't watch it for obvious reasons (cry city!), but was out to lunch with a couple of friends and they were TALKING about it.  Mind you we were just talking about it!  I started to tear up!  OMGosh!  Was I serious!  You have got to be kidding me, but there I was tearing up over the mere mention of this show!  Something's going to give here, and I'm going to need a river dug for my tears just to ensure I don't flood the house!  I truly feel my coming to the end of my rope. 

There will be a lot of Bible and quiet time with my Father over this because He is the only one who can help me through this.  If any of you have any verses that can help, I'm all ears.  I will meditate and study those verses til this passes.

It's like I'm almost done with this remote to Korea only to have to start a NEW separation 2 weeks later!  It's disheartening.  But, God will get me through, as will my wonderful friends at church, who I call family.  Thanks to all who help me through this life.  I am going to spend some time with my Father then maybe take a short nap.  I'm feeling a bit tired lately.  Probably should have my blood drawn again to check on my counts.  Could be anemic again and need some iron.  Who knows.  Could just be emotionally tired, too.  A nap should help with that, too. 

in Christ
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