It's Worth A Few Minutes....

to read this :http://rethinkmonthly.com/?p=217 . I hope it challenges you, it did me.

My kids were talking last night about gifts, oddly enough. Around a bowl of soup, Lauren said that all Jesus wants for Christmas is for us to give Him our hearts. It sparked an interesting conversation. I decided to let them continue and just listen. Finally, I chimed in and told them that the gift Jesus really wants is obedience. They all just looked at me. No one said a word, then Lauren says, "Yep, mom, you're right."

You see if we all were just obedient to live as He has instructed us to do, then would we be in the messes we are in? Probably, no definitely not.

As you put up your decorations at home, inside and out, remember to decorate yourself with obedience. Consider it the big red bow on the present you give to the baby Jesus.

Down the hatch, baby!

It's been a while, I know, sorry. I've had so many things on my mind that I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to say. I think I'll tell you about the shots I had in church this past weekend. Well, maybe I am exaggerating a little. Let me tell you the story and YOU decide.

The pastor told us to come to an "encounter" weekend. He didn't tell us much, just told us (the entire church) that it would change our lives. I immediately was on board. Not that I needed a major change in my life, but I love it when preachers "step on my toes", if you know what I mean. This was an all weekend event and we had sitters lined up for Friday night and Saturday night...hooray!

There are so many things I could share about. The things I saw and the messages I heard were incredible. Maybe some of it was things I knew, but this time it was different. For instance, the cross. They played an excerpt from The Passion of the Christ. The excerpt of Jesus being nailed to the cross. Now, I saw this movie when it came out, but I can honestly say it's not one I watch over and over. To see this again made my entire body shake. I forced my eyes to not look away, because he was doing that for my petty, stupid sin. You know, sins like a bad attitude or self centeredness. That's when the shots came out. Communion cups, really, but each was filled with vinegar. As soon as the cover was lifted off the plate, the aroma of vinegar filled the air. Then they passed out the cups to each of us and read how Jesus was thirsty. He had been beaten for hours and all they would give him was vinegar. It was our turn now. Some people took a tiny sip, some only put their finger in to their tongue. I couldn't. I took the whole thing- down the hatch- like a shot! It burned all the way down.

I know you're probably thinking I am nuts, well that is debatable some days, but this time I was perfectly lucid. I wanted to taste what he tasted. I can't even imagine what he felt like physically, but I do know what he felt when he took that sip from the sponge.

Something so simple, but it was BIG for me. The entire weekend was full of BIG moments for me. I encountered Jesus this weekend, a new and a fresh, and it was wonderful! Exodus 3:26 "....the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush."

Lesson:
Stop trying to quench the thirst of your soul with worldly things. All the world has to offer is vinegar.