A Little Bit About My Faith.

     A lot of things have happened in the last few years that have made me rethink my faith,  And by rethink, I mean re-resurch what I know for the bible to say.  Rethink who my God is.  Unfortunatly the way I was raised ingrained many untrue falsehoods in my brain about God.  I don't think that the people who tought me this, were trying to deceive me, or really realized they were using them to manipulate me, they were just doing the best they could.  

     1) I have struggled with the feeling that I have to justify my decisions to my Godly friends, by saying God told me to do this.... when in reality I made the best decision I could for me and my family when God was 'silent'.  You guys,  some times, God speaks to us, some times he clearly opens doors, and sometimes, he lets us make decisions for ourselves.  God give us freedom to make our own choices on our own conscience.  That does not mean that he is not in it, or that he will not bless it, or that it is wrong.  It means that in Christ, I am free.  When Christ lives in me, the decisions I make will reflect Him.  Weather or not thunder and lightning fell from the sky.  

     2)  When someone in authority in our life tells you something, that does not mean that that is from God.  Pharaoh told all the midwives to throw out all the Hebrew baby boys, and They did not listen to him. He was their King, and God blessed them for that.  Actually there are many times in the Bible, where authority figures, were wrong.  God calls us to respect them, but that does not mean everything  or anything that they say is God sent.   Respect is looking out for the best interest of others, Not bowing down and kissing their feet.

     3)  My God Does not cause bad things to happen.  we cause bad things to happen.  Sin causes bad things to happen.  our own stupidness (is that even a word?) can cause bad things to happen.  but God, He is perfect.  Some one so perfect does not cause horrible things to accrue.  You guys, he may use them in our lives to shape us.  But the fact of the matter is, God did not cause my Mom to leave when I was 12 to teach me anything!  No that happened because we live in a fallen world, and bad things, and sad things, happen.  it is a fact of life.   However, my God used that horrible thing anyway, because He makes all things beautiful.  He used it to show me the power of his healing.  (Mom I love you! )  He used it in my life to show me the true meaning of his forgiveness, and healing in a way that I can forgive others, and heal from other hurts that have come my way.  As I heard someone say reticently, "My God does not Throw old ladies down steps". 

     Sometimes we get to wrapped up in what our preacher, youth leader, or parents tell us and we stop looking in the Bible for truth.  We start believing little lies, that are so not true.  All Gods truth is written down for us in the most beautiful story ever told.  That's the Bible.  Read it!