I Don't Even Know How To Title This Post...

I know this is an adoption blog and those of you following along are really just interested in that. Like me, you want to connect with other people going through this process. But like me, you've probably also bumped into some blogs along the way that left you going, "hmmmm..."

Well, I've been deep in thought these past few days over a blog that someone sent to me. It was a really funny post that this girl wrote last week and my husband and I had a good laugh together, relating to much of what was said. I love people who aren't ashamed to just be REAL. Ya know? The blogs I follow along on are from the Christian perspective and this girl SEEMED to share those views too. She speaks very openly and honestly about her love for Jesus and others. Her blog has a very LOVING theme. It's ALL ABOUT LOVE. Who wouldn't want to join that club, right? So, I went into her archives and checked it out in further detail. She has an amazing testimony. I am always in awe of people who have lived a very hard life and who have found their way to the feet of Jesus. God is so good, isn't He? This gal has clearly been to hell and back and now all she wants to do is to love others and encourage them. She also has over 10,000 page views per day and over 6,000 members. Wow.

Flash back...
When I was growing up, Oprah was my hero. I thought this woman was incredible. Didn't we all? She overcame so many huge obstacles in her life and used her fame to help others. Such a generous soul.
You may remember in the late 90's how her show turned super-spiritual... I was like, "Yeah! You go girl!" She was proclaiming the name of Jesus openly and in front of millions of viewers daily. I was so excited.
Then something happened. It started to take a turn and it became more watered down, more new age, more... acceptable. Somewhere along the line, Oprah got off course and shared with her viewers that she no longer believed that Jesus was the only way. My heart sank for her. Since then she has become even bigger. She is in many ways, larger than life. I will always be grateful to her, because without her show, I would've never said yes to adoption 7 years ago. She opened my eyes to the crisis in China and I am forever thankful to her for that.
Shortly thereafter there was a surprise show for her. Many of her girlfriends got together and did a tribute to her. They had Josh Groban on to sing, "You Raise Me Up". Did y'all see this show? They were singing along with him to HER. I remember something in me thinking, "gosh, that sounds like something I'd more likely be singing to Jesus than to a friend"... Then I found out that "Selah" wrote the song. "Selah" is one of my favorite Christian groups. The song WAS written to Jesus. And here these ladies are, up there crooning to Oprah about how she raises them up to walk on water and how they are strong when on her  shoulders... UGH. They had begun to worship the creature instead of the Creator, just like many of her followers. So, that was it for me. I was done. I can't say that I've watched an episode since. It completely turned me off. That, and her new enlightening ideas of how to "get to heaven" that people were, and still are,  praising her for. While under the notion of preaching "love" she has been leading millions of people astray... DAILY. Do ya'll know that we are held accountable for the things we teach others? James 3 speaks about this.

Back to my point... This blog I'm referring to has left me with that same aweful pit in my stomach. While proclaiming the name of Jesus, she has gone and profained His truth on a very contoversial issue... to thousands of followers. There were over 650 responses to her post, most of which were extremely loving, but spoken from both sides of the coin. I am SO PROUD of the Godly people who responded with the truth in love. And telling the truth, as we believers know, isn't always received in love because we live in a day and age where if you don't support people in their decisions, good or bad, then you are considered "un-loving" and sometimes even a "hater". The folks who don't agree with the Bible on this issue, have accused the loving deliverers of the Good News as being "un-loving". So not fair, but oh well. "Fair" is one of our "human" terms that I'm sure was coined AFTER the fall. Doubtful it was ever used in the Garden... That is until the serpent came around. Just something to consider. My thoughts, not scripture.

You want to know the very worst part about her post in my opinion? There are many "Christians" who don't have a clue about what the Bible says. There are so many churches these days, watering down the gospel and making it more about what feels good and more comfortable for all us sinners.
Friends, if our ideas, feelings, opinions don't line up with scripture, guess which one of us is incorrect??? It really doesn't matter what we think, does it? God is sovereign! We aren't ever going to have ALL the answers to life's mysteries. We have to trust HIM. We have to surrender to HIM. Is this always easy? Heck no. Right now He is asking me to do something that is very contrary to my human-ness and it's SO VERY HARD. I don't want to. But if I don't obey him, who am I hurting? It's the same way we have to parent our children. God knows what's best for us because He sees the big picture. He has experience. We know what's best for our children. We see the big picture. If your child looked at you and said, "But mommy, I want to touch the burner on the stove." Or, "I want to smoke pot." Or, "I want to play in the middle of oncoming traffic." We would say "no" because we understand the outcome. We LOVE them. Are we being unloving because we disagree with their desires? No. Not anymore than God is unloving for saying no to us for the things HE knows are not good for us, contrary to what we may think or feel.

There were many "Christians" who commented that they were so happy that this gal said what she did because it gave them the freedom to be ok with how they feel too. That's what I'm stewing on. It has literally eaten me up inside for 2 days. So this is my release. I need to take it to the Lord, I know. I have been.

I look at the people all around me; the people who haven't chosen Christ, and I anguish for them. My heart literally aches for them to grab hold of Jesus. I long more than ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD for people to know the AGAPE of the Savior. There is no joy in sin. Happiness? For a season, yes. But never JOY.

Is there someone in your life who needs Christ? Pray for them. Diligently. There are MANY in mine.

Do you know Jesus personally?

He has a plan for our lives. His ways are not our ways. His path is narrow and only a few take it, but it is open to all of us if we're willing to take it. NO ONE who chooses Christ will be turned away.

Blessings,
Rebecca