Which Jesus Do You Follow?

I have heard said, “God is a loving God, He would never send someone to hell.”

Is this the God you follow? The Jesus you know?

A Jesus. A God who is loving and kind and a God who would never send someone to hell would never judge because he is so loving….

We have turned God into a “loving” God only. We’ve taken away the justice of God. The jealous God. The God that requires ALL of us. We have turned that God away from our:

• Our politics – our government
• Our religion
• Our quality of life
• Our sexual identity
• Our very breath

God warns His people. He gives us directives to live by. But we pick and choose. We read that book and choose what we want to live with and ignore the other parts -  it is more comfortable to  for us.

How do you look at the Bible? 

• Promises?
• Prophesies?
• Teachings?
• Stories?
• Warnings?
• God’s Word as a whole complete book? As His infallible Word?

In only presenting God as love, we remove all fear of Him. We remove all Accountability. We present only a part of Him.

In a world that abuses love in every way:

• By throwing it away
• By perverting it into any “thing” we want it to be for pleasing self
• By believing love is only sex

And then we present God as only a “Loving God” – so what is to be expected? We turn a “loving god” into anyone – into anything we want him to be. Then God becomes as perverted as our beliefs on love are.

We must present Jesus as our only answer and present Him in the Truth as it stands –  in the Bible.

To think His Word has changed throughout the years is not correct. It stood firm when He wrote it through men and it stands firm today.

 

2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

Written on April 3, 2015

From my journal on April 3rd
Two weeks ago the love of my life went to be with Jesus.
My beloved husband, Randy Cohorn.
I had him in my life for five years. As my husband for four.
My chest hurts so badly – I can hardly breathe.
He was on this earth too short of time and he was definitely my husband for too short of a time.
I don’t know how this happened. I have no idea why God took him.
I feel as if I can’t function with out him by my side.
I am so very very thankful he was sure of his salvation.  I could see his salvation worked out in his life every day that I knew him.
We were looking forward to many more years together.
I’m scared. I’m hurting and I just want it all to go away.
God is my refuge, He is my strength.
God gives me peace.
He will give me wisdom to carry on.

God, give Randy a hug for me. Reassure him we are leaning on you. Thank you, Amen

Because I am a Woman of God….

I am a child of God. I am a follower of Christ.

Elisabeth Elliot – one of my mentors, my heroine ( why do we not use the word heroine anymore? is it because they named a drug heroine? I just love the way the word feels on my tongue when I say it.) Anyway, Elisabeth Elliot died on June 15, 2015 at the age of 88. She was such a wonderful example of being a follower of Christ in her 88 years.

One of my favorite quotes from her is this:

“The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian but the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different kind of woman.”

On March 21st I entered a new season of my life. This struggle has been just that. A struggle.

Just weeks(?) days(?) after my husband died, I told Pastor Bob (and I’m sure others) that I have no idea what God has for me but I want to be a widow that studies and teaches Bible Studies….  But when it’s time to begin studying, I have no concentration. No “drive” to teach.

Which leads me to this blog, I haven’t been writing here because it all seems so personal and I don’t want to seem like I am begging for sympathy or empathy because I’m not. In fact I often seem to do better without it. So I’ve been jotting in a “real” journal.  But this morning I had a revelation!

I am a Christian.  If I don't use this season of my life to help someone else, then I have utterly failed.   Utterly, completely, totally, absolutely entirely, fully, wholly.

So, I will share my struggles, my joys, my setbacks and my accomplishments. And all the other stuff that comes in the package deal of mourning a loved one.

My journey is not more important, more special than yours – or anyone else's. – Except to me and it is special to me because it is mine and I live it daily.

My goal for 2015 is to make it to the end of the year standing on both feet, my shoulder’s back and my head held high. Being that "different kind of woman because I am a Christian."

My ultimate goal is to help someone else get through their tough days in their important journey with maybe a laugh, a tear, or just an understanding of hurt - knowing that we serve a Great God and He is right here with us on this journey.

For My Family and Friends

I am writing this blog to you with no apologies!

I have found as I have gotten older that I have an urgency. An urgency to make sure you know Jesus Christ and all that His death means to you.

I’m interested in where you are in your faith. Do you have faith? Is your faith where it should be?

I believe our world is winding down. I believe that Jesus will return soon. I believe that a time is coming for you to decide whether you are for Him or against Him. There is no half way, there is no wavering on this decision. And it’s an all or nothing decision.

I will venture to say that everyone of you that has an opportunity to read this post has at some time heard the Gospel – the Good News – the plan of salvation – whatever you call it or whatever you’ve heard it called, I am sure you have heard about Jesus Christ and that He died for you.

If you are wavering in the decision to accept Him for who He is, in the decision in knowing the one true and living God I pray you choose Him.

I will pray – I will talk with you if you want to talk.

Figure it out.

Your future depends on it.

30 days of Thankfulness, Day 1

Day 1:

I am grateful for My God for seeing something in me that no one else could ever possibly see,

for giving me strength when life gets tough and makes me weak,

for courage when I am afraid,

He gives me peace when my life becomes chaotic,

He helps me to be kind when I don't want to be,

He shows me grace so that I might learn to be gracious,

and He gives me dignity - when I want to throw fits!

This doesn't even begin to touch all He does for me - all He calls me to be.

But I will spend my lifetime striving to be the woman He wants me to be

and call on His forgiveness when I fall short.

This is my prized possession.

My instructions from Him.

This is my favorite verse. 

Philippians 2:5

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."

I know I often fall short of this attitude.

That's okay because He understands

and 

He knows my heart.

Thank you, God.

What's in a name?

This is the end of the first week of my birthday month. It has been  productive week! I've been able to start packing and I took 5 trash bags full of "stuff" to Community Care last evening! I've packed all of my tea pots, and several boxes of books.

Tuesday evening I took supper out to the farm to eat with my Mom and Dad. This is something we started doing several months ago and I really enjoy it. I have found that if I need to miss a Tuesday night "supper at the farm" they aren't very happy with me! 

After my parent's first met Randy, my Mom had a hard time remembering his name. She kept calling him Dan! It became a joke and now she just calls him any name that comes to mind and she always laughs when she says the name. Tuesday he was Jimmy. - I've told Randy not to feel bad, she often forgets the grand kids names, too!! but then again, I get them mixed up myself sometimes!

I'm not sure young parent's realize the importance of the names they bestow upon their children. There has been much research done on naming children. There are lists of baby names. Names that supposedly strengthen the national economy, names that make outstanding children and believe it or not - evil baby names! Children with certain names do better in school than others! I'm surprised all children aren't named those few "good" names!

I did a little research on my own and found out this information on the first name of Randy: 

• creates a shrewd, aggressive, business nature, intent on personal gain.
• The desires for independence and financial success have been strong motivating forces from early in his life
• He is capable of logical and analytical thinking along practical business lines, and could excel in financial fields, law or politics
• His judgment is seldom swayed through his feelings
• this name creates the urge to be a leader and organizer.

Continuing in my research I discovered that this information on my first name Brenda:

• it gives me a responsible, self-sufficient, and dependable nature.
• if given the opportunity I will do well in business developing leadership, administrative and managing abilities. 
• appreciates quality in all things, desires to be prosperous
• does not like to relinquish control , doesn't readily accept advice :)
• has a strong, determined nature and must be careful not to dominate or interfere in the lives of others in your desire to be helpful  (hope my kids don't comment on this one!!)  
• this name makes me too forceful at times, limiting the natural feminine qualities of tenderness and tack

You can enter your name at this free website to get info on your name:

http://www.kabalarians.com/cfm/what-does-my-name-mean.cfm

The Bible stresses the importance of names. Names are so important that God named many of the people - He told parents what names to use and many times changed names during their lives. Many names reflect faith, gratitude to God, and many have prophetic significance.

Then of course from Shakespeare's famous play Romeo and Juliet, 1600:

JULIET:
      'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
      Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
      What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
      Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
      Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
      What's in a name? that which we call a rose
      By any other name would smell as sweet;
      So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
      Retain that dear perfection which he owes
      Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
      And for that name which is no part of thee
      Take all myself.

What matters is what something is, not what it's called. 

So do names really matter? 

You are still you.

Or are you - you because of your name?

 Roses from Randy - or Dan - or Jimmy :)