Wake Up!

 I like to spend a lot of time on my blog talking about God's love.  I think it's important for those who once lived lives of sin to know that God doesn't hold their past against them, and reminding other Christians that we shouldn't either.  It's the truth, and is often preached, but isn't always lived.

God's love is important.  I want everyone to know of it, but even more, I want everyone to actually know it.  It's a good topic to talk on.

But right now, I am sad, and angry.  I think the fancy word for that is grieved.  I think I've talked a bit about this before, but I feel like it needs brought up again.

The church in America is asleep at best and dead at worst.  The church in America has a tendency to be lukewarm.  God hates lukewarm.  As he told the church of Laodicea:

"But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!" — Revelation 3:16 NLT

 Over 50% of people in the United States say that they are Christians (source).  There are 328.2 million people in the US.  Even 50% is almost 200 million people.  Almost 200 million people say that they are Christians.

And you have the nerve to tell me that there is still so much evil in America?  And it's getting worse?  Wake up already.  You sit in your pews and sometimes you might give, and sometimes, sometimes you don't even go to church, you sit at home and watch an online service (understandable in certain circumstances), or you even just sleep in on Sunday, because, well, God knows you're a good person after all.  But you don't even know the God you claim to serve!

You can list more Pokémon than you can quote Bible verses!  And no, this isn't a dig at Pokémon, I love Pokémon.  You can list more Disney characters than people from the Bible (another fandom I enjoy)!  You can retell every episode of your favorite TV show, but you don't even know the story of Jael (Judges 4, if you're interested)!

No, being a Christian isn't all about knowing about God, but when you know more about the things in the world than you do about the God you claim to love and serve, the one who isn't gonna let you go to hell because you're a "good person...."  Honey, you done screwed up.

No, God doesn't want you to go to hell.  He straight up says that he doesn't want anyone to be destroyed.

"The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent." — II Peter 3:9 NLT

But you have to repent.  And if you're living your life all lukewarm, like the church in Laodicea mentioned in Revelation, you're screwed.  And you screwed yourself over, God didn't do that to you.

"You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." — Revelation 3:17 NLT

This is what God said to the church of Laodicea, and we are blind in America if we think God isn't saying this to us.

Like I pointed out in my post Stop. Praying., if we, as the church, actually followed what our God asked us to do, and speak up for those who can't speak up for themselves (Proverbs 31:8-9), took care of the abundant amount of widows and fatherless in our country (James 1:27), gave to those who had need (Luke 12:33), and just generally loved others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39), we wouldn't have all the issues that we're having.

There would be decent people in office, because the over 50% of Christians would get out there and vote in decent humans, who truly care about helping others.  The over 50% of Christians would stand up and ask God to use them and to put them in positions where they can be the ones voted in to help others.  If every single one of the over 50% of people who say that they're Christians truly knew the God I know, and truly cared about doing his will, then we could be over here moving mountains.

Wake up!  Please!  I'm begging you!  Wake up!  Do what God has asked you to do, live the life he's asked you to live!  It's not easy.  I promise you that right now.  If it were easy, I wouldn't be writing this blog post with tears in my eyes, nervous to even post it because I'm afraid of the backlash.  But it is good.  It is rewarding.

When you allow God to love others through you, it's incredible the changes you can see in a person.  It's amazing to see his love change others.  It's amazing to see his love change you as you let him work through you.

Please...wake up.

God's message to the church of Laodicea didn't end by him calling them lukewarm and arrogant and saying he was going to spit them out and be done with them.  Because he wasn't done with them.  He didn't write them off, he didn't say, "Welp, y'all are too stupid and I am done.  G'bye!"

This is how he continued his letter to them:

"So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.  I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference." — Revelation 3:18-19

He said, "Come back to me."  He said, "Stop acting like this."  He said, "I will help you see what is right to do and do it."  He said, "I love you.  Act like you love me."

And then he ended his letter like this:

"“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.  Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne." — Revelation 3:20-21 NLT

 There is hope.  We can still be victorious.  But you have to wake up first.  Please...please...wake up.

"“Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” — Ephesians 3:14b NLT

Stop. Praying.

Alright, that was more than a little click-baity, coming from me, and obviously I'm not encouraging you not to pray, because that would violate I Thessalonians 5:17.

"Never stop praying." — I Thessalonians 5:17 NLT

Please pray.  Pray is our greatest weapon.  Unfortunately, often, it's also our greatest copout.
I'm in several groups on Facebook, and in one of them we have daily discussions and questions and polls.  One of the questions was, "If you're nonreligious, do you get offended when people say they're praying for you?"  Unfortunately, the answer was often, "Yes, because they say that instead of actually offering help and support."
And sadly...they're right.
I'm wonderfully blessed to be part of a church that is constantly giving their time and resources.  They show fruit and shine God's light.  I've also been in churches where those who desperately needed help were ignored or even helped by members of a different church.  Churches where they'll pray for you all day long, but when you need help, you're on your own.
That's the exact opposite of what we, as Christians, are to do.

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." — James 1:27 NLT

Who are the orphans and widows?  Obviously we do have widows and orphans.  Kiddos in the foster care system (over 400K of them), single mothers, and children in single parent homes (over 24 MILLION).  Care for them!  I would have killed (slight exaggeration) to have a father figure who didn't leave or abuse me as a child, who would take me to father/daughter dances and just been a safe adult man that I could have had a close friendship with.
It doesn't take much.  Sometimes all that's needed is a listening ear.  Sometimes what's needed is someone to mow the yard.  Sometimes it's just an extra hug, or financial aid.  Sometimes that may mean opening up your home to foster children (a couple in my church is setting up and planning to adopt through the foster care...TWENTY kids, not just one).

"A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself." — Matthew 22:39 NLT

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he said to love God, and that this was the second greatest commandment.  Loving others.  Not just loving others, but loving them as yourself.
As someone who has struggled with mental illness, I'm gonna be honest, I don't always love myself, and sometimes I don't take care of myself.  But I always make sure that I have food available to eat, even if I don't feel like eating, I always make sure that I have my utilities on, I always make sure that my cat has food, I always make sure that I have plenty of enjoyable activities like art and video games.  That's how I love myself and take care of myself.
Likewise, I should make sure that my friends, family, neighbors, strangers, those around me who I have the opportunity to help have those things.  If I can help, I should.  Not just sit here and go, "Oh, God, my friend Annabelle doesn't have food in her cupboard, please provide her some food!" then go buy myself some Taco Bell.
I shouldn't sit here and go, "Oh, God, my friend Ronald is sad and lonely, and needs someone to remind him of your love, please send him someone to tell him that you love him!" then scroll by.
I shouldn't drive past the beggar on the side of the road and go, "Oh, God, first of all I bet he's a drunk and so I won't give him money, but good grief give him some help!" when I have some money I can give.

"Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow." — Matthew 5:42 NLT

Furthermore, we are told specifically to give to anyone who asks.  Anyone.  Unless you honestly feel GOD himself pressing you not to give, then you need to give.  I need to give.  What they do with the money you give is between them and God.  If they are not a good steward of what God gives them through you, that is a them problem.  What is a you problem is when you refuse to give, due to your own biases.

"Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven!" — Luke 12:33a NLT

Reading this verse in the full context, it's referring to not worrying about your daily needs because God already knows your needs and will take care of you.
I, personally, can attest to this.  I don't make a lot of money.  I make the opposite of a lot of money.  However, since I've moved out on my own, I haven't had anything shut off.  Not the super important utilities, to the less important Netflix.  God has taken care of me.  When I've needed help, it's come.  Sometimes without even asking anyone other than God.

"And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’" Matthew 25:40 NLT

The Missing Kitty

Those of you who know me in person know that I'm a crazy cat lady in training.  I only have two cats, but I'm trying to get a head start on the crazy.  I love my cats more than I love most humans (this is mostly a joke), and if I ever become so poor that it's me or my cats getting food, I'm gonna get them something first.
I love my cats.  I could tell you loads about them.  About how Tabitha was a girl, but apparently he was just a late bloomer, and by the time I found out that he was a boy it was too late to change his name.  About how I accidentally trained Poro to sit on command.  I could whisper to you that I love Poro better (I love him different) than Tabitha and that he is my most special baby (kinda true).
But this isn't about that.
Poro is missing.  He got out Monday night, and I noticed his actual absence on Tuesday.  He's a shy, independent loner cat, so I figured he was just hanging out on his own Monday night.  But Tuesday when I got back from dental surgery (that's another story), I couldn't find him.
I looked through the entire house.  I looked in his favorite spots, on my bed, places he rarely goes, in every window, under the beds.  He was gone.  He's still missing.  Eventually, I realized that he probably got out Monday and I didn't notice because it was dark, and he's a mostly black cat.
I've had him for about 5-6 years.  He's my baby.  I love that cat so much.  He took my last bit of money last month because I discovered that he had worms.  He completely clawed me up as I tried to get two pills down his throat.  He continued to claw me up as he got a bath because he peed in the carrier on the way to the vet and it got all over him.
And that didn't change my love for him.
He's been gone almost a week and I miss him even more now than I did Tuesday when I realized he was gone.  If I knew where to look, I'd be looking.  I'm pretty sure he went out in the country area though...but that's not my property, and I'm not allowed back there.
I've prayed so many times for him to come home safe and sound.  I've begged God to please bring my baby home, because I miss him, and even Tabitha is getting extra clingy and misses him.  He's a quiet, independent loner boy, but his absence fills the house.
And then I had a thought.
Poro is my 1 in the 99.  The one that I want to come back to me.
Jesus told a story of a shepherd who had one sheep who strayed.  The shepherd left his 99 other sheep behind to go find and rescue his lost lamb.  When he found it, he carried it home on his shoulders, rejoicing all the way home, and when he got to his friends, he told his friends to rejoice with him.

"So Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.  When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!" — Luke 15:3-7 NLT

 And then I had another thought.
I'm over here praying several times a day, almost in tears, over my lost kitty.  I know that God cares about my kitty, because he cares about the sparrows, and my kitty is bigger than a sparrow.  I know he cares about my kitty because I care about my kitty and he cares about me.

"What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it." — Matthew 10:29 NLT

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." — I Peter 5:7 NLT

He knows where my Poro cat is, and he cares because I care.  But do you know what he cares about more?  The souls of my friends and family who don't know him, who haven't been redeemed and adopted by him, who don't have the same peace that I do.

"This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth." — I Timothy 2:3-4 NLT

And do you know how often I pray for them?  It's not that I don't pray for them.  I do.  Usually once a day at a prayer time that my family has come together and decided is our family prayer time, despite us all living far away from each other.
But I only pray for them maybe once a day.  Sometimes more if I'm thinking about them.  Guys, Poro means the world to me.  I adore him and I love him and I miss him and I just want to hug him again.  But the humans in my life matter more.
It's not fun to realize that you're wrong.  It's even less fun to admit that you're wrong.  But I was wrong.  It's not wrong for me to pray for Poro to come home...but I should be praying as fervently for my friends and family to "come home."
I'm not going to say that I'm now magically amazing at praying for the humans in my life to be saved.  I'm not.  But now I'm aware that I have a problem, and I plan to make an effort to fix it.  My prayers have power...I should make use of it.

"The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." — James 5:16b