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A Birthright For A Bowl Of Stew

August 5, 2020 by pattiburris

 

Genesis 25:29-34

29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) 31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” 33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.

Have you ever been so hungry, tired, overwhelmed, frustrated, ______________________, that you were willing to sacrifice something important (valuable) just to alleviate the feeling? That is exactly what Esau did. He was famished (starving)! He wanted food NOW and didn’t care what he sacrificed to get it.

Jacob, who wanted Esau’s birthright (the right to be recognized as first born) saw an opportunity and took it.

Let’s take a look at the two sins that were committed here:

Jacob: 

Jacob had a jealous heart and stole Esau’s birthright. He knew exactly how to manipulate his brother and he didn’t have any hesitation doing it.

Esau:

Esau was impatient. He was hungry and he wanted instant gratification. Instead of making his own food or waiting for something else, he sacrificed his birthright and didn’t seem to care.

The Lesson For Us:

Although Jacob turned into a man of God, at this moment Jacob was a snake. He was jealous and manipulative.

God does NOT want us to hold jealousy in our hearts. 

God does not want us to use manipulation to get what we want. He wants us to be content with what we have. When we covet what someone else has, the Devil gains a foothold, and sin takes root in our lives. If you find yourself jealous of someone else right now, ask yourself why? Also, ask yourself what sacrifices, responsibilities, etc. might come with what you are coveting? One more question I want you to ask yourself is: what would I do to get what so and so has? If you are willing to break the law or sin to get what someone else has you have a heart issue and you better be on your knees before God in repentance.

Esau was impatient. He wanted food, he wanted it NOW and he didn’t care what he gave up to get it. He wasn’t willing to wait and he suffered the consequences of his actions. He regretted it later, but it was to late.

God does NOT want us to have a spirit of impatience.

God does everything in His own timing. When we try to take control of things and jump ahead of God, we suffer the consequences, just like Esau did. What are you impatient about right now? Why? Are you trying to control the situation or the timing of something? Is God telling you to wait? Why aren’t you obeying God? What could some of the consequences be of going it alone? You will be going it alone if you allow your impatience to cause you to disobey God.

I know that we live in a world of instant gratification. We are able to do or get anything almost instantly and it has made us not want to wait for ANYTHING. Are you that person who needs to be instantly gratified? Are you REALLY satisfied when you get what you want? What are you willing to give up to get what you want right NOW? Is your need for instant gratification causing you to lead a sinful lifestyle?

I want you to reflect on all of the above questions, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you and convict you if necessary. I want you to dig deep. Heart work is sometimes painful, but as a Christian it is something we need to do on a regular basis. If there is the tiniest of sinful roots taking up space in your heart, it is an open invitation for Satan to take up permanent residence. God will not stay where we allow the Devil to reside. I would rather have the love and goodness of God in my heart any day!

You choose: The love and compassion of God or the anger, chaos and evil of the dark one? The decision is yours.

 

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Dear Single Mom: Why You Should Forgive

July 29, 2020 by pattiburris

 

Dear Single Mom,

I know how easy it is to feel anger towards or even hate your kid’s father. I know how easy it is to stay in that defensive position of, “Well he did such and such. He deserves every bad thing that happens to him.” I know how easy it is to get stuck in that resentment and bitterness. I’ve been there! I have been eaten up with hatred and bitterness. I had so much rage inside me that I became physical and went after a woman who is now my ex-husband’s wife and my best friend. I’m here to tell you that anger and hatred just eats you up inside. It doesn’t stop the other person from moving on and being happy. It hurts you and in extension, your kids.

Forgiving a wrong is never easy. It may take daily reminders to let go of the negative feelings and forgive the wrong. Heck, it might take hour by hour reminders, but you deserve the peace that comes with letting go. Your kids deserve to have a peace-filled mom who can model forgiveness and grace.

Here’s what the Bible says about forgiveness:

Colossians 3:13

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Matthew 6:14-15

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Ephesians 4:26
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.
Psalm 4:4
Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
While we are talking about forgiveness, is there anything you have done to cause someone else hardship or pain? It goes both ways single mom. I challenge you to do some research on your own and see how God feels about un- repented sin. God expects us to ask for forgiveness when we wrong someone else. We need to ask God’s forgiveness and then make things right with the other person when appropriate. If you wrong your child, repent, and ask forgiveness. When we confess our sin and ask forgiveness, we are setting an example of how a Christian should act, in front of our kids. And don’t think for a second that they don’t see your sin. I hate to tell you, friend, they see more than we realize or want to admit.
Real peace comes from the act of forgiving and from making right a wrong that we have done to someone else. Allow your kids to see forgiveness in action and you will be setting an example that they will carry for the rest of their lives.

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Dear Single Mom: You Are Precious To God

July 24, 2020 by pattiburris

 

 

 

 

Dear Single mom,

Did you know that you are beautiful? YOU ARE! I know that it is hard to feel beautiful when you are exhausted from juggling job, kids, homework, housework, and the to-do list. It is hard to feel beautiful when you are up to your ears in dirty diapers, piles of laundry, a sink full of dishes and the other daily messes that kids of all ages tend to make. But, what you see as the dirt and mess of an overwhelmed mom, God sees as the beauty of a mom who has made the decision to do the hard thing. God sees the beauty of a mom who is there for the long haul and who is not going to quit when the days are long and the kids are sick.

This is what God says about YOU:

Zechariah 2:8

For this is what the Lord Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye—

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!

Galatians 3:26

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 

Romans 8:17

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Genesis 1:27

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Jeremiah 1:5

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

This is not all that God says about you. I encourage you to do your own research to see what else God says about you. You are STRONG! You are WORTHY! You are LOVED!

If you need prayer, a compassionate ear, or an encouraging word, please contact me. I am here for you, single mom! I have been where you are and I am here to walk your journey with you.

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Manna And Quail: Part 2

July 22, 2020 by pattiburris

 

Exodus 16:6-8

6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” 8 Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”

The Israelites complained ALOT! Nothing was ever good enough for them. God in His patience listened to their complaints and gave them what they wanted. Manna, quail, water, clothes and shoes that never wore out and guidance through the wilderness. Still, the Israelites grumbled.

Sounds like us. No matter what God does for us, we grumble and complain, “well, you answered our prayer, Lord, but that wasn’t the way we wanted it answered.” Really? Can’t we just be grateful?

We are especially ungrateful here in America. Life is not perfect, but the majority of us have what we need. We may not always have what we want, but we have what we need. I raised 5 kids as a single mom. We lived in a low income neighborhood and struggled financially, but we had what we needed.

There are 2 things I want you to remember:

  1. There are those that are truly suffering. There are those living around us that really are suffering and in need. Those that are homeless and food insecure. Those that have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and can’t pay their bills. Look around you and be grateful for what you DO have. Be willing to share what you have with those around you who really are in need. Be willing to give someone else a hand up to help better their  life.
  2. You are grumbling against GOD. Moses tells the Israelites that they aren’t grumbling against him and Aaron, they are grumbling against God. When we complain and whine like petulant 2 year olds, we are whining against God. We are telling God that we don’t appreciate what He has done for us and that we think that we are entitled to so much more. When we grumble we are telling God that we don’t believe that He knows what He is doing and that we think that WE could do better. I would rather be grateful for the goodness in my life that is because of God. Life is not perfect, but life is still good.

 

Don’t be like the grumbling Israelites. Is it to late to warn Americans not to become entitled, snot nosed, whiners who think they deserve the best of everything because they are Americans? America is a nation of spoiled brats and God is now reminding us that HE is the King of kings and Lord of lords. God is now warning us to start thinking about others and to stop being selfish or the days ahead could be full of suffering for many many people. God had patience with the Israelites but He also allowed them to suffer because of their attitudes and disobedience. Be warned Americans. God’s patience is wearing thin!

 

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Dear Single Mom: Discovering The Promises Of God

July 15, 2020 by pattiburris

 

Dear Single Mom,

This has been a crazy year and it isn’t over yet! I know that many of you have lost your jobs due to the Coronavirus and many of you have struggled to balance job and e-learning. As we head into a school year that will be an adjustment period for parents, teachers and students, know that you are NOT alone in your struggle.

Your life has been tough enough already, without the added stress of a pandemic. On a normal day, you balance job, bills, housework, discipline, homework, meals, demands from the ex, and other miscellaneous responsibilities. You are stressed out, depressed, and lacking sleep. I have walked in your shoes, single mom, and I am here to tell you that certain situations may not change, but life can be better!

If I did not have Jesus in my life, I would not be here. I am being real with you. Will having a relationship with Jesus suddenly make the Coronavirus disappear? No. Will you still struggle in some aspects of your single mom journey? More than likely. Life is not perfect. Welcome to a fallen world, where sin and evil lurk, waiting to snatch whatever happiness we have been lucky enough to grasp.

The answer, plain and simple is Jesus! When you have a deep, abiding relationship with Jesus, this is what God promises that you will have in your life:

HOPE

Isaiah 40:31

But those who hope in the Lord, shall renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. 

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you,” Declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

LOVE

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

1 John 4:9-11

9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Romans 8:37-39

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 4:16

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

JOY

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Nehemiah 8:10

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

PEACE

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Phillipians 4:6-7

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 4:8

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

REFUGE

Isaiah 54:10

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 43:2

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Psalm 91:9-13

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you  to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

I offer these verses as encouragement in these precarious times. I challenge you to continue the search for other scriptures on the above topics. The verses I listed are in no way exhaustive and much comfort can be found in the pages of the Bible. You may wonder if these promises are really meant for you. In Mark 9:23 Jesus tells us that EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE FOR THE ONE WHO BELIEVES! Have HOPE that you will find JOY and PEACE in the ONE who LOVES you and HE will be your REFUGE!

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Manna And Quail: Part 1

July 12, 2020 by pattiburris

 

 

 

Exodus 16:4-5

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

Exodus 16:15-20

15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’” 17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed. 19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” 20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

The Israelites did NOT starve! They were given manna in the mornings and quail in the evenings. God gave them enough for that day. They did not have to hoard their food, because God provided for them daily. When they did try to hoard, the manna was not edible. Some trusted God for their daily provisions and some did not.

Like many of us today, we have a hard time believing that God will provide for us on a daily basis. We want to hoard our wealth or our resources for a “rainy day” instead of sharing what we have or leaving behind enough for someone else. I was astonished at this hoarder mentality at the very beginning of this pandemic. The store shelves emptied quickly of things like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, meat and other food items. The words “pandemic” and “stay at home order” were enough to send the masses into a frenzy and I believe that even many Christians forgot their faith and stocked up “just in case.”

In my household, we did not stock up. I live in a house with my ex-husband, Howard; his wife, Tami; and our 18 year old son, Ty. We trusted God to provide as we had need and He has. Howard was out of work for 3 weeks and we still ate well, paid the bills, and lived life as we always had. We live simply anyways and give to others out of our abundance. But, God provided. We NEVER had to stock up. We NEVER had to worry. God provided what we needed EACH DAY, as He did for the Israelites.

I know that these days are filled with events that cause us to worry. I know that it is easy to follow the masses into a panic and forget that God has EVERYTHING under control. If you belong to God then you don’t have to worry! He’s got you covered!

If you don’t belong to God then today may be the day that you decide that you need God on your side. I wouldn’t want to live in this world without Him. My only assurance of security and refuge is through my all powerful, all seeing, all knowing, always faithful Almighty Father in heaven. If you have been thinking about accepting Jesus into your heart or have felt a tug from the Holy Spirit, please contact me via my contact form or email me directly at pattiburris@yahoo.com. Do you really want to do life without God on your side? I don’t!

 

 

 

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2020 Featured Expert: The Life Of A Single Mom Ministries

July 10, 2020 by pattiburris

 

Article #3 is up!

In a Facebook post reflecting back over her first year of teaching, my daughter, Cree, made the statement that a flower planted in the right soil blooms, and then she added, “so plant your children in the right soil.” This simple statement made me reflect on raising children as a single mom…click HERE to read the rest of the article.

 

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6 Lessons We Can Learn From The Mormons

June 29, 2020 by pattiburris

 

My ancestors are Mormon pioneers. I come from a line of Latter Day Saints and I have distant relatives who are still Latter Day Saints. I do not believe all of their doctrine, but I do believe they have some disciplines that the Protestant church can learn from. As the Protestant church shrinks in size, losing members in droves, the LDS church continues to grow. What are they doing right?

  1. They Pray – Mormons have active prayer lives. Prayer is woven into the fabric of their lives. In the Protestant church, prayer is usually an after thought. Prayer is something most Christians do when we need something or when things aren’t going our way.
  2. They Study The Bible – Mormons study the Bible. They know the Bible and can defend their beliefs in any conversation. Most Christians in the Protestant church have a hard time defending their beliefs or their faith.
  3. They Evangelize – All young Mormons are sent on missions. It’s a requirement of all young Mormons. Evangelizing is one of their top priorities, while the Protestant church makes it difficult for missionaries to raise funds and become a missionary. Mormon missionaries spend their days going door to door talking to people while Protestants stay inside the walls of the church.
  4. They prioritize Family/Community – The LDS church has mandated that every Monday night is family night among Mormons. They spend the evening doing a Bible study, prayer or watching a family/Christian movie. It is to be an evening that strengthens the bonds of the family unit and those in the family with God. They also build community with each other through activities in the church. The women are all a part of the Relief Society and the men are all elders. I have found in the Protestant church that family life is busy with running around and very rarely is there a night at home focused on religious study. We don’t hand down our faith like Mormons do and church is not a priority other than on Sundays.
  5. They Disciple – Discipleship is a very important part of being in the LDS church. Every active member knows the doctrines and can defend their faith to those who question or oppose the faith. In the beginning they are taught by the missionaries. Later they are taught by visiting teachers, elders, and older members. Parents/grandparents disciple the children. We, in the Protestant church are largely left to disciple ourselves. We depend on Sunday school to disciple our children and ourselves. We can not be discipled by Sunday school alone! Discipleship takes relationships built over time where a mature Christian takes on the teaching of a new Christian. In the Protestant church, we gather on Sundays, but scatter the rest of the week.
  6. They Help The Needy – The LDS church takes social services seriously. They have the largest social services organization of any denomination EVER. Deseret Industries has warehouses in many large cities to help the needy in those areas. God never intended the government to provide for the needy. That was always the job of the church and Mormons take that seriously. If the Protestant church did as much instead of turning people away, we wouldn’t need a welfare system. With as many churches as there are in America and with the unlimited resources of God, there is no reason people should have to suffer in poverty.

 

I have researched the LDS church in my research on my Mormon ancestors. Although I don’t agree with everything they believe, I do believe that they do many things right. We in the Protestant church could take some lessons from our Mormon friends. We need to step it up. The Protestant church is in a decline, the LDS church had a slight uptick in conversions in 2019. If we want to transform the Protestant church, we need to get back to what’s important. Making Jesus #1 like the Mormons do.

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5 Lessons Learned In My First 50 Years

June 9, 2020 by pattiburris

 

I turned 50 yesterday! It is a milestone that has caused quite a bit of reflection. There is so much turmoil in our world today, that I have been reflecting on my own contributions whether for the good or bad. What have I put out into the world that made things better or made things worse? Have I been a light in this world or have I brought more darkness? How can I shine my light into a world full of hate, anger and chaos? What lessons have I learned in this half century that I can use to make this next half century better, not just for myself but for those around me?

Lessons I have learned:

  1. Jesus IS the reason – A life that isn’t Jesus centered is not worth living! There is no hope, joy, purpose, or true love without the ONE who makes every day worth living. When life is lived separated from God, there is an emptiness, a void that we try to fill with other things, but ultimately, life is not worth living if Jesus is not in it. I intentionally fill my life with prayer, digging into God’s Word, surrounding myself with other believers, and serving others. Being intentional about deepening my relationship with God, means that He is never far from me. Without Jesus, what is the meaning of life? There isn’t one.
  2. Love CAN conquer hate – I can personally testify to how love can drive out hate when we open our hearts and allow love in. Hate, anger and bitterness makes us miserable. When we carry hate and anger in our hearts, we are carrying around such a burden of negative energy that we close ourselves off to anything good. It becomes such a heavy load to carry that some are so overwhelmed by the pain and hopelessness that they make the decision to end their lives. When we decide to open our hearts to love, life changes. When we allow love in, our view of other people changes. We have to choose to love. We have to choose to let go of hate. It is a decision. I chose to open my heart and now hate has no hold on me.
  3. Money means nothing – WHAT??? I mean it. Money is the root of all evil. A simple life lived for God is a good life. I live simply. I have very little material possessions and I am free from the burden of having to financially care for those possessions. When we hoard our money and our possessions, we give up our freedom. We become robots who work to maintain our possessions and hoard more money. We give up our time to relax and play. Our possessions and money become our reason for living while the real meaning of life slips away.
  4. Community matters – Being surrounded by family and other believers gives life more meaning. We were never meant to do life alone. God made us to do life together. We need each other. Isolation brings on depression and pain. When we surround ourselves with others who share our values and lives, we can be there to encourage each other, help each other and love each other. We need other people. satan attacks when we are isolated and alone.
  5. Life can be peaceful – I realize that drama is a part of life. I don’t like drama. I don’t like chaos. I have dealt with so much worry and anxiety that all I really want is a peaceful existence. Life can be peace-filled, but that is part of having faith in a God who has every circumstance under control. We can have that deep seated peace that surpasses all understanding when we believe that God will bring good out of every situation.

 

Every lesson that I have learned is centered in having a relationship with Jesus. This next half century will find me becoming more intentional about sharing the light of Jesus in the chaos. Time is closing in. I feel it. I have more of a burden than ever to make sure that people know that redeeming love that ONLY comes from a relationship with Christ. A life without Jesus is no life at all.

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12 Reasons I Left The Church

June 5, 2020 by pattiburris

 

It was January of 2011 when we decided to leave the Church as a family. We had decided at the beginning of 2010 that we would give it another year to see if things improved. They did not. We wanted to make sure that we, as a family, were making every attempt to make things work, because we really did NOT want to leave. We really didn’t want to leave on bad terms. Since then, we have struggled to find a church that we feel is right for us. I have attended other churches through the years, but have not found that home where I feel comfortable. Don’t worry, I am not putting that all on the Church. We are all human and none of us is perfect. I get that, but there are fundamental issues that I could not ignore. If it had just been people being imperfect, I could have dealt with that, but the issues that drove me away were a straying from the fundamental principals of Christianity. It was a straying away from God to please man and I could not support that.

The 12 reasons I left the Church are:

  1. Lack of meaningful prayer – I’m not saying that there isn’t prayer in the Church, but reading off our prayer requests is not all that prayer is about. Prayer is inviting God into the fabric of our lives. It is a communication with God where we talk to God, but we also listen. Prayer is the cornerstone in building an intimate relationship with God (Jesus). The Church is not teaching Christians how to pray. Most Christians don’t have an active prayer life because no one has ever taught them how to pray. Most Christians have never been taught how to incorporate prayer into their daily lives. Prayer is a partnership between us and God. Prayer is the way that God allows us to partner with Him in bringing about His will here on earth. We need active prayer in the Church.
  2. Too secular – The Church has become too secular. Leaders have decided that the way to bring people in is too become worldly. We have allowed things into the Church that are clearly against the Bible. Would Jesus watch horror movies, play violent or graphic video games, or go to rock concerts? I doubt it. Would He approve of videos in bars of comedians drinking alcohol being shown before the sermon and not having to do with the sermon? Would He approve of a church middle school girl’s group being taken to see the Twilight movies? Would He approve of a church throwing weekly watch parties to view the Walking Dead TV series? Would He approve of HIS Church becoming secular to appeal to the masses? I doubt it. We have forgotten that the Church is NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SECULAR! That’s why it is the CHURCH (the BRIDE OF CHRIST)! We need to get back to the foundation of Christianity, start teaching the Bible and allow the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of the lost.
  3. Stuck in the box – We, as Christians, are stuck in the box we call the Church. We refuse to go outside of the Church to bring people in. We expect people to come into the Church in their pain and heartache, but they won’t. People will not come into the Church, because they are afraid of being judged and they are afraid that they are not good enough. None of us is good enough! We need to be “backyard missionaries” and love the people in our own communities, where they are. We need to meet people in their need, build relationships and love them to Jesus without judging them. Jesus never intended for us to get stuck inside the walls of the Church. He set the example. He went out and met people in their need. He didn’t wait for the people to come to the Church. He healed them where they were and allowed the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts.
  4. Judgmental – We as Christians can be the most judgmental people in the world. We think we have the right to flaunt our “righteousness” while making other people feel as if they aren’t good enough to walk in our hallowed halls. Excuse me??? How did we get to the place where we think we are better than everyone else? Jesus was a humble servant and HE was the King of kings! He NEVER judged and He had every right too! Who are we to judge others, as we sit in our own sin?
  5. Lack of Faith – As a single mom of 5, I struggled at times with vehicle issues and just having a support system in place. When I reached out to local churches for help, I would get responses from the pastors saying that they didn’t have the resources to help me, but I was welcome to visit. Where is our faith in a God that has ALL the resources of the heavens and earth at His disposal? We should be a modern day example of the Church of Acts, giving our abundance to help those in need. Instead we sit back and say, “let the welfare system take care of them.” NO! The welfare system was developed because the Church quit doing the job God gave it. God designed the Church to look after the needs of the poor. He WILL provide when we have the faith to step out in faith to help others. I know of churches who save up “rainy day funds” of $28,000.00 or more, but claim they don’t have the resources to help those in need in our communities. Really? Where is your faith???
  6. Prideful Leadership – I realize that everyone sins. No one is perfect. This goes beyond that. I have seen pastors who will NOT have a mature discussion about decisions made by leadership, but instead feel like it’s a personal attack of their leadership. They refuse to be questioned about any decisions they make and if you do question leadership, you will be disciplined. Discipline could include being lectured via a Sunday sermon, being ostracised, or told to leave the church. I have heard a pastor say, “no one is going to tell me how to run my church.” Church members have a right to hold the pastor and other Church leadership accountable. The Church does NOT belong to the pastor or any other leader. The Church belongs to Jesus and we need to be good stewards with what Jesus ALLOWS us to lead for Him. When a pastor or other Church leader holds himself above those in the congregation He is wrong. When a pastor or other Church leader believes that he/she is above accountability he/she is wrong. You are leading a church, but you are not above anyone and we ALL answer to Jesus.
  7. Greed – I am blown away by these pastors and Church leaders who preach prosperity gospel. These leaders who have homes, cars and other material objects worth millions of dollars, while people are dying homeless on the streets. They sit up in their million dollar churches and guilt or bribe people into giving their hard earned dollars. I’m sure they do some good and help some people, but they have placed themselves on pedestals and believe that they have some spiritual super-power. The Bible clearly tells us not to store up treasures here on earth, but to give generously to those in need. What Bible are these people reading? Have they walked the streets and seen the need around them? Do they feel any compassion for the hurting? I am not just talking about the well known T.V. evangelists, I am also talking about our pastors in local churches in cities across this nation who think that for some reason they are to good to reach out to the homeless or the poor. Do we remember how Jesus lived?
  8. Discipleship – I grew up in the church and was never discipled. I went to Sunday school and Bible Studies, but those can’t take the place of intentional discipleship. Making disciples is about building relationships that continue outside of our Sunday and Wednesday corporate worship days. Discipleship is intentionally sharing life with a small group of people to help them grow spiritually. Jesus gave us an example of this in His relationship with His disciples. The Bible tells us to MAKE DISCIPLES! Sunday school is NOT enough! We go to Church on Sundays and Wednesdays and then leave new or struggling Christians to figure things out on their own the rest of the week. Jesus was available 24/7. I was actually discipled after we left the church in 2011. I was not discipled by a person. I was discipled by the Holy Spirit. I was desperate not to lose Jesus and I kept my heart open to the teaching of the Holy Spirit. It is a journey. He still leads and I still follow and I continue to learn.
  9. Lack of Community – We say that members of the Church are family, but we don’t act like it. Christians are the most stuck up people I know! Again, I am not talking about every Christian here. I have seen that most churches that I have visited are divided into cliques. Those cliques consist of the Haves and those that are “in” with the church leadership. They also consist of those who are thought of to be spiritually “above” everyone else. Those who belong in the cliques rarely step outside the walls of that clique to realize that we are ALL one family. We are ALL Christians and should not to be divided.
  10. Denominational Separation – Since I mentioned cliques in the above section, I think I need to mention the denominational division in the Church. Every denomination has tweaked the Bible in some sort of fashion to suit the purpose and beliefs of that denomination’s leaders. There is only ONE Bible! We should not be divided! When Jesus returns, He is coming back for the entire CHURCH! He did not say, “I am returning for Methodists, but those Baptists just don’t have it together.” And how many different Baptist Associations do we need? Really? We take PRIDE in what denomination we belong to like it’s some sort of prize, “I belong to the Southern Baptists! What denomination are YOU?” Seriously people? It doesn’t matter what denomination you belong to, if you are living in unrepentant sin, YOU ARE GOING TO HELL!!!
  11. Unrepentant Hearts – We think that if we ask Jesus into our lives and to be our Savior that we can live any way we want to live and that ALL will be forgiven. Not true! Once saved always saved is not a thing. If you are a Christian, but you are knowingly living in sin, you will go to Hell. We think that we can go to Church on Sunday and live the way we want the rest of the week and all will be well. Not true! If you profess to be a Christian then you need to live a Christian life at ALL times and when you sin go to God and repent. We will all at one time or another sin against each other and God. It’s time to repent. We wonder why our nation is in the state it is in. We have allowed sin into our churches and it is running rampant. satan is having a blast seeing how many Christians he can deceive into falling away from the Church and God.
  12. Business/Entertainment – It seems that the Church that is meant to be a place to worship God has become a place to show off to the world. It has become a contest. Which church has the most people, the biggest building, the most baptisms on Sunday, the biggest Sunday productions, the most money, the richest members, etc? Do we really need spotlights and smoke during our worship services? Do we really need our Sunday morning experience to feel like a rock concert? I don’t. It all seems sacrilegious to me. Jesus was born in a humble stable, without the fanfare. Who is the rock concert experience for anyways? I would say us, because I am pretty sure that God isn’t impressed.

I have wanted to write this post for a few years, but haven’t felt that it was the right time. Is now the right time? Maybe. I’m still not sure. These are my opinions based on what I have personally seen in the Church. I also realize that there are pastors, leaders and Christians that are living according to God’s will. What I saw was fundamental doctrinal issues that I couldn’t ignore. We all make mistakes, but when leaders go against the Bible, it’s time to leave. Will I go back?  Absolutely! I LOVE the Church with all of my heart. How could I claim to be a Christian and not love the Church? It is in finding that right church that holds to the Bible and the biblical view of how Christians should live. There is no compromise when you are a Christian. It breaks my heart to see the Church falling away from God’s will. I pray continually for a revival of our hearts. We don’t have much time left. Jesus will come. Are we ready?

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