I read something yesterday on xanga that really upset me.
It all boils down to the same old, sickening story.
Instead of love coming from a Christian I saw criticism, judgement, and a refusal to be open.
I’m so sick of it.
Wake up!!!!!
Christianity is not about WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING. . .
It’s about loving God.
It’s about the fruit of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.” Galations 5:22
NOT ABOUT what denomination I am, not what I wear, not what music I listen to, not what I buy my kids for Christmas, NOT the number of children I have, not what I chose to do in my free time, not about homeschooling or public school, not about how long my hair is, not about tattoes, not about reading novels or having a tv in the house, not about the clothes I wear, how many minutes I spend doing devotions, how many tracts I pass out in a week, how involved I am in church programs. . .
When these things become the focus, it grieves God and makes Satan laugh.
IT’S MORE THAN THAT, MORE, MORE, MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you think what you DO is what Christianity is you are missing out on the most fulfilling and beautiful part of life! Throw it off like the rubbish that it is! Our works are filthy rags. It’s what comes from the heart that counts.
Am I going to despise my precious sister in Christ because she has higher standards than I do??? Will I chose to stick my nose up in the air because I have the freedom to do certain things that she has said NO to???
Am I going to despise my sister in Christ because she has a lower standard than I do?? Will I look down at her because she feels she has freedom in an area where I feel restriction????
DO I NOTICE DO I EVEN THINK ABOUT IT AT ALL???
Because, really, we shouldn’t.
Because Christianity is SO MUCH MORE.
Move on. . .move on. . . .to better things.
Go further up and further in, as C.S. Lewis writes in his Narnia books.
Do you love Christ??
Than you love your brother and you love your sister. LOVE, really love. We all say it. LOVE IS A CHOICE, LOVE IS A DECISION.
You don’t love someone. What do you do??? You PRAY, you beg God to help you, to empower you to love your sister in Christ. Show mercy. And then you wait. He WILL let His love shine through you. Try it, you’ll see.
Make your religion about yourself and your Savior. Not about what Joe Smith is doing across the aisle from you. Not what Suzy Jones is doing on her xanga blog.
You know, my blog, this blog that you are reading right now—I am aware that it probably seems at times that I have a wonderful dream life of magic moments. But, I decided early on that I want my blog to be a beautiful place for people to come and visit and enjoy. . .free from (the majority of!!) my own complaints and issues.
I have bad days. I have dark spiritual struggles. I know what it’s like to be utterly confused about how to live my life as a Christian woman. But, I don’t see the point in AIRING everything out on my blog. This is a public place, anyone can read this. . . .so I filter my life’s events and share what I think would help others. Encourage others. Give others a laugh or a smile. Show love, share quotes and verses. I see my blog as a way to make friends and share good things.
But, don’t ever think that I’m proud or I think I’m perfect or anything like that. I have issues just like everyone else.
My heart’s passion is to develop my relationship with the Lord. I read my Bible, I have books that I turn to, like Spurgeon, that edify me when I am low and blue. I have fears and doubts, I sometimes wonder if life is worth living.
But you won’t read much about it here on my blog. I have had women send me private messages and we share each other’s heavy burdens in that way. In private.
I never wanted to write this post. I don’t want to have one single drop of poison here. But I’m hurt and I’m crying and I just want to say please—please develop love in your heart toward your sister and your brother.
We are going to be different. The weaker/stronger brother scenario is never going away. It was a problem in Bible days and it’s a problem now. But let’s throw the dirty blanket in the corner and move on. Read Romans 14. So you have a ____________ (fill in the blank) person in your life. Do you love them? Do you show mercy? Give Jesus your poison so He can throw it in the deepest sea and give you love to share instead.
Oh, God help us!
“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”
Good to be Home 
A-MEN!
I’m so sorry that you had to write a post like this. I enjoy reading your posts, I love the attitude you have & your posts have truly helped me be a better person.
Amen to that!
You know I’ve been hurt many times in my life. When it comes from another sister or brother in Christ, it hurts the most!
Hugs
AMEN!!! I’m so glad that you said that b/c i’m sure there are others who read and need to be reminded of that (and maybe it’s good for us all to hear sometimes).
Amen sista! I whole heartedly agree and am equally vexed when I read things like that. Hugging you and thanks for always having amazingly beautiful and encouraging and uplifting posts. Love you!
I could not have said it better. THANK YOU for the much needed exhortation. Our brothers and sisters are NOT the enemy. We must let God speak to hearts…let HIM change them as they need it…change ME as I need it. Let us not neglect the commandment of God and invalidate it by clinging to the traditions of man. It definitely IS about grace and love…..not about judging. That is God’s job.
It’s so true, we should not judge each other by any standard other than love, and fruits of the spirit. Thank you for the reminder.
Since I know you personally, I know how much it took for you to write this. I don’t know what’s going on, but I know you’re hurt and for that I am very sorry. How I wish I could hug you right now! It took me a long time to figure out the things you are writing about. Christ is all that matters! When will we all realize that?
thanks for that post. You are exactly right and I applaud the courage you had to write it. One thing that always draws me to your site is the way you’re so optomistic about life. I just love it-such a soothing balm to my soul. You challenge me to quit publicly whining about life and enjoy all the good things God’s given me. I have thought that sometimes you look like you have such a perfect, wonderful life… but after thinking more…I figured that there is no way a homeschool mom of 5 can be so blissfully perfect, and you’re CHOOSING to encourage and strengthen others. I was so blessed to read all that you wrote was precisely what I was imagining! I like it when people are ‘real’ in life, and not fake. But there’s a fine line between pretending all is well, when all is not, and choosing to enjoy the good things God has given, and to glorify Him. You’ve done an excellant job-bless you!
ok, end of epistle. 🙂
Well said ~ very well said.
Wow. This is a fire-y Shanda that I’ve never seen! 🙂 I love it. You’re so right! I’ve been guilty of judging others more times than I can count. I do share my bad days on my blog, but I always try to share whatever encouragement I have received from the Lord. I’m so sorry you’re sad. I wish I could send you a barrel of hugs and sweet things. Thanks for being a constant source of encouragement in my life.
I don’t know you at all except through this blog which I enjoy alot!….however, I feel like whoever you are, wherever you live, whatever age you are, you have shown through this post that no matter, we ALL struggle with the same things! You said it so well! In a Bible Study this week I was praying and petitioned God to “help us with this fight of faith”. Afterwards a friend asked me to repeat what phrase I had used….when I prayed it, it just had sort of popped out, but since then I have thought so often….IT IS A FIGHT. We cannot just go through stuff namby/pamby ~ but must fight with our shield of faith to respond to life as Jesus would. Thanks for such a good reminder. God bless you!
I am so glad you wrote this. It is something that needed to be said. Thank you for being brave enough to write it. You stated it very well. You are so right…………it is not about what religion………it is about the relationship with our Lord and Savior! Sending you lots of hugs!
Amen and Amen! Thanks so much for sharing your heart here. I have chosen to do the same thing on my blog in regards to keeping it a place of peace and not, for the most part, airing everything tough that I struggle with…..and for the same reasons you describe. I love your heart!!!
We just went through a very difficult experience and I just did a blog on it…..but through that experience, the Lord drove even further into our hearts the things you are describing here. It was horrible, but I’m glad we went through it. My heart is so grateful!
Blessings to you!!!
Jana
this post is something i went through when i was first on xanga for about a year (i’ve been on here since the summer of ’04). i almost deleted my blog and never returned. then i remembered why i was here. i made a xanga mission that sits on the left sidebar on my blog and when i get discoraged with xanga i remember the mission. it helps so much. my blog is to be a place of edification for friends, family and kindred spirits. it is not a place to “air” private matters that should be private. there are folks i have unsubbed to many times for such criticism that my life is all too perfect and i’ve had to block a few for extreme vulgarity. lately i’ve been getting some complaints that i don’t visit people as much as i used to, but life is busy and there will always be complainers in the lot. weed through and sift the things that are important from those that are not, and above all… do not let the unimportant criticism enter your spirit! you are too beautiful and too gorgeous a person!!! 🙂 i LOVE you blog and it is one of my favorite daily stops!
this was a great post today!!! 🙂
Well said, Shanda!
~Laurel
Well said Xanga Friend. We all need to check ourselves from time to time to keep from becoming judgemental. Thank you for sharing.
Now, most good coffee companies have entire lines of excellent decaf products…..
I could have written this post myself yesterday, it makes me wonder if we read the same thing. I will never for the life of me understand why people feel the need to tear down others or tell them that their choices are wrong because they’re different. God made us the way He did. He made each and every one of us different, unique, and ALL in His image. “God is love.” How simple is that? Even a child understands it.
It’s just a shame when the very people who should understand open hearts and open minds, and accept all sorts of people the way Christ did are the ones shouting their hallelujahs down from glass ceilings.
You are certainly not the only one, and I’m glad to call you a Xanga friend.
If we have not love for one another, we have nothing. We each have different paths to walk. It isn’t for any of us to determine how one should walk it but only of our own path.
I say Amen, Shanda. We are all special, all unique and made just the way God wants us to be. When we got our eyes onto comparing ourselves to others, judging others, we are taking our eyes off of Jesus Christ. All that matters is our relationship with Jesus. I think if more people (I included) put the energy into knowing Christ as we do trying to live up to others standards or judging someone else, we’d all have the fruits of the Spirit active in our life and we’d be walking in love all the time. Nothing matters, except Him. I look at our blogs as our individual way of letting God speak through us to those who are reading it. God uses our good and bad experiences to touch others. I think that anytime we lift our Lord up and glorify Him, He will move upon the readers and people in our lives. It should be all about Him.:) Thanks for sharing your heart Shanda!!
Amen! This is so true. Thank you for saying this- I know it must have been hard. I can tell that you are hurting. Blessings to you my dear friend! You have encouraged me over and over again. Love and hugs to you!
Amen and Amen….thanks for speaking out!
{{{{HUGS}}}}
I’m so sorry that you are hurting — please accept my (((((HUG)))) — Keep on posting as you have because I, for one, am uplifted by your posts — it would be insane to think that every day is perfect in your life — you do have 5 children!! I have read some posts which are almost always “negative” and I don’t go there after the first visit because I don’t need that — I’m looking for encouragement and godliness in people’s posts and yours is one of my favorites to visit. God bless you friend.
AMEN! Good message.
This reminds me of my Mom’s recent conversation with me on 1 John and how it boils down to “If you love me you will love others” so convicting in my own life where I am quick to withdraw and hibernate. The last verse in this post is so perfect for what you are trying to say about building people up and our focus being peace and to edify..so often I fall short and lose sight of the goal.
Keep on keeping on, your blog is a wonderful, kind place to visit and so many of us are blessed by it, do not grow weary in well doing….
I totally agree and it must have took so much of you to write this blog, Shan. I understand you enough to know that it takes a lot to get you this hurt and fired up! I’m sorry for your hurt and I wish I could’ve been there to give you a hug when you were crying. I’m glad you posted this though. Much love! Elisha
Thank you…as simple as that.
I am just seeing this for the first time, and if it wasn’t so late I think I couldn’t refrain from calling you. I totally agree with what you’ve expressed here. We don’t need to compare ourselves with each other! Only Christ. As for what you put on your blog, I have always found it to be honest, yet intentionally focused on what is edifying, consistent with the purpose you stated. I am always blessed! Hope you have a great weekend.
Amen!!! Very well thought out and you addressed the issue with love. =)
AMEN!!! I use to think by doing “church work” I was closer to God. But over the years I have learned that if I don’t have a personal relationship with the Lord then everything I do is in vain. Thank you for sharing your heart with us today, I am sorry you are so hurt. (((((HUGS))))
Amen!! Wonderful post!
xoxo Cat
Thanks for your comment…and thanks for this post. It’s just a time of earnestly knowing and doing God’s will, which includes praying for each other instead of back-biting, etc. Have a blessed weekend.
Thank you for putting my thoughts into words! Life is too short to spend it with critical thoughts and judgments. It’s brings so much greater joy to focus our thoughts on things that are upbuilding and what would increase our love for Jesus. Thank you for your upbuilding site and your honesty. We know we all have our personal struggles in life without dwelling on them, so let’s take those to Jesus, and continue to build each other up on our xanga sites! Your exhortation was right on. God bless you and your family!
Shanda, dear…I get your xanga everytime you write something..I am so excited to see your xanga because I know without a doubt that I will be uplifted from your thoughts and especially your pictures of beauty within your children, you, your husband and your surroundings. After seeing the sweet pictures of your children playing, I wanted to write something to thank you for them, but I didn’t because for whatever reason. Your post is Godly, you lift up so many more people than you actully know. Your blog is the one blessing I get the priviledge to read and see, again thank you for staying strong in our Lord and His Word. Your heart is so full of love for Him and the brethren in Christ. Please continue in your stand and love. God bless you, love…evalyne
Thanks for your post Shanda. God used you. He uses this website to encourage and uplift others and to reveal to us what is important. I am sorry you were hurt, but God used it to edify him. Have a glorious day in HIM. Miss you Courtney
can you say, “OUCH!!” 🙂 a very needed reminder to me… the same way we all stand up and yell for everyone else to give us freedom to be ourselves, we need to give others that same freedom – it’s about realizing that GOD is the one who works in people’s heart.. we can’t see what He’s doing. what He’s about. But we need to TRUST. to flip the mirror inwards and take care of what He’s telling us to do – – I’m convinced if all did that, we’d see revival break out in our homes, in our churches. imagine Christians that were DOERS of the Word and not just hearers!! :)”and the world will KNOW you my followers by your…. LOVE… for each other!!” post like this aren’t easy to write.. but i appreciate your transparency. You’ve been a channel of HIS love to me ~ thanks. :)and re. your comment on my post – – you ARE a real friend!!! 🙂 and no. it’s not my house – wish it did look like that. have a great weekend girl ~ a.
typo – :)”and the world will know you ARE my followers by your love for each other…” well, i’m sure you could have figured out what the missing word was… but there you have it!
Amen and Amen. How I love you, my little sister in Christ.Your wisdom comes from His Spirit residing in your heart!!!
AMEN and AMEN!!
I’m so thankful for your site, and I visit often BECAUSE it is upbeat, uplifting and encouraging! : ) I wonder how many others thought “I hope I wasn’t the person who offended her”?! I know I did. But completely agree with all that you said, so I’m praying it wasn’t me : ) Have a beautiful Lord’s Day tomorrow!!!
Thank you!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!! I was just with a friend over the weekend and we had this same discussion! What is Christianity all about?! What does it mean to be a Christian? Why do people get so caught up in the meaningless things and loose focus! I pray that I do not get caught up into that same cycle! Thank you for sharing your heart and what a great reminder to all of us!