This past summer, God gave me a book idea. Or at least I thought it was a book idea…
Going through my different documents I ran across this outline. I’m posting it here so that my work is not left behind. Even though this may never become anything more then an outline; it may be something ‘more’ to someone else.
Faith measured by Apples
Chapter 1: Honor thy Mother and Father
Matthew 19:19 Honor they father and mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. This is one of the commandments from God.
I will have to confess as a new Christian, I’m not sure if I always upheld this commandment. It seems like a simple request, but being in the hot seat didn’t seem like the time to honor anyone. Especially the people telling me what I can and can not do.
I remember embarrassing my mother in Target. Throwing condoms in the cart, requesting not to have any more siblings. My mom laughs when she retells this story, however I couldn’t help but wonder what that truly meant to her. The embarrassment in front of strangers. I took pride in moments were my jokes won. Not realizing what the damage was to myself and to her.
The definition of honor is 1. high respect; great esteem. 2. Adherence to what is right or to a conventional standard of conduct.
It’s clear that I did not practice this in Target and probably not in my home either.
Chapter 2: Tiny lies are still lies
1 Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron
I think as a society, we aren’t considered liars. I think we spend so much of our time walking around a subject, trying to keep feelings from being hurt and just not answering- that we don’t make lying a choice. We just want to keep the peace and we avoid.
Lies can quickly become too much to backdown from- then we’re stuck. Lies can start, build and climax very quickly. The Bible is very clear; let your yah’s be yah’s and your no’s be no’s.
Chapter 3: Knowing who your friends are
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is the enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.
Being a new Christian, you hear discernment get thrown around a lot. You have to discern what God’s trying to tell you and what the enemy is lying about. Bottom line is you can’t keep the old and make new. If you have friends that strive to pull you away from God and what you want to follow. It’s easier to say good bye now, before you have more then just friends to let go.
Chapter 4: Doing what’s hard/ Righteous.
Mathew 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Ouch! This one hurts. Doing what’s right is hard. God said so in the Bible. Life is not easy, and the more we try to walk away the more crap we are pulling behind us. You can not live a life faking it until you make it! The truth will set you free… stop piling on the sin before you get rid of the burden.
Also pay attention to your motivates! Why did you help that lady cross the street? Were you looking for acknowledgment or some pay off? God doesn’t like show offs- He rewards what’s done in private!
Chapter 5: Confession/ Repentance
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believe unto the righteous; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
Confession is truth telling. As a new Christian, I’ve learned a few valuable things. One confession allows God to work through you. And God wants to work through you! Second you can’t move forward without leaving the sin behind you. God says to give Him your burdens. All the ‘stuff’ wrapped in your past is what He’s referring to.
Make a list. Write everything down. You don’t have to go into great detail- God was there, He knows everything. The writing down if for YOU. When your done, ask God to forgive everything you wrote. Be sincere and trust He loves you enough to forgive and forget. The Bible says He throws it as far as the East is from the West. I’m not sure how far that is but I know it’s really far from where you are now.
After you repent- burn it, shred it…. Run it over with your car. It doesn’t matter because from that second on: YOU ARE NEW! Remade with God living inside your heart. Enjoy it and don’t lean back on your past. It will paralyze you if you do.
Chapter 6: Waiting on his time
2 Thessalonians 2:6 And now ye know what withholden that he might be revealed in his time.
This ones tough. Sometimes the situation we find ourselves in has a deadline. It will expire before God decides to address it. There may be a job that needs us to answer, or a conflict that can’t go on without a stand. Whatever it is if you prayed for an answer…. WAIT! God has this way of opening and closing doors to help us move toward a righteous path. If it’s not good then He’s not done.
If the situation can’t wait on God- then perhaps it’s God closing that door. Don’t try to manufacture a miracle. It will not be the payoff God has for you.
Chapter 7: Standing out- Lamb among sheep
Acts 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was a led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
I’m not sure if this scripture fits the topic. But a life that reflects a living sacrifice, is the desire of my heart. Since joining Jesus on this journey I have often found myself thinking that He can’t use me because I’m stuck. I’m married with children, a granddaughter even. I work 8 to 5 then have a family to care for. How will God find time to ask me to do anything? How will I make time to serve Him?
Then Holy Spirit helped me to realize that this life is how I serve Him. Everything that I do brings Him glory. I ministry to people I encounter and my family. I reach people through my posting and through a servants heart.
I don’t have to be an outcast to fight for Jesus. He makes me welcome among all types of people.
Happy Reading!
Tabi