For me 2016 is a very special year, it is my Jubilee year,
my 50th year.
Many take stock of their lives during this season, making
New Year’s resolutions, changing some things that need changing in order to
better their lives. I too have been doing this.
Being half way or more through
my life (and that is if I would make it to 100!) I allowed myself to venture
into some deep contemplation about my life thus far. Well, a lot of it has not
been a very pretty picture. A lot of pain & suffering under the hands of
others, a lot of pain & suffering that I’ve caused to others, and a lot of pain and suffering I simply caused
myself.
I have had a handful of events happen which should have
ended my life. As a child and as a result of some psychological abuse I
believed & was convinced that I would not live past 25. When I passed that,
I did not believe I would pass 30, and on it went.
I've survivied child abuse, adult abuse, rape, domestic violence, murder attempts and dodged gunshots. I've survived my own self-loathing bouts of depression, drug & alcohol abuse. I've survived chronic asthma, multiple bouts of pneumonia and various illnesses due to a compromised immune system. I've survived three pregnancies/3 c-sections. I've survived multiple surgeries. I have flat lined in the hospital twice. (that’s another story) and I promised God , however foolishly, that if I
ever lived to 50 I would enter into and commit to living the simpler life which
He was showing me. I’ll reveal that later.
Throughout it all there has of course been the good times,
the peaceful times, the times of great joy, of marriage, family, children &
grandchildren. But even so I began to
think and question…
“Am I really living life the way I want to, the way that I BELEIVE
that I should be living it?
I began searching my heart, and what it is that I truly
believe as far as my faith goes. I’m afraid that I don’t and probably won’t
ever believe exactly as any faith or denomination sets down as their standards
for I find that I can go along so far with them and inevitably run across
something in the bible that they either choose to ignore or meet up with some
man-made rules of religion that they have that has no roots in the word of God.
Yes, I feel that I can worship with them, whether they be
catholic/Baptist/church of Christ/Brethren/Assembly of God—you name it, because
I count anyone a brother or sister who calls God the Father as the one true
sovereign god over all, His son Jesus Christ as their savior & only way to
salvation and the Holy Spirit as teacher & guide. All the rest of the ‘sorting
of the doctrines’ I leave to them and for myself just try to follow the bible
which God gave me to guide my life with the help of the Holy Spirit.
In principle I believe in a simple life uncluttered by the
things of the world. I believe in the word of God that says we should, “Be in
the world but not of the world.” “To be separated unto Him.” I do not however think that means to be ‘secluded’ from the
world because to be that would be to have no effect and Christ clearly teaches
us to reach out to those around us with the love of God and to proclaim His
gospel. You just can’t do that if you’re hiding under a rock afraid to interact
with people in the world.
That being said I choose this year to draw closer to God, to
begin to live what I believe, not to just have faith or give mental accent to an
ideal of theology but really LIVING WHAT I BELIEVE.
I believe in living simple, humbly, serving the Lord with my
voice, hands, talents & life etc.
I believe in a plain lifestyle with modesty minus all the
flash of passing fads and fashion. In clothes that are simply practical for covering
the body and functioning for the job at hand. In wearing skirts as they are
identifiable as clearly women’s clothing but wearing jeans when they are more
modest like bending over in the garden, bike riding, sports etc.
I blieve in women wearing a
head covering as it is stated we should in the New Testament as a sign of
submission my husband as the head and He under god.
Yes, I believe in freely submitting to my husband not in
subjugation or abuse of any kind. But as he submits himself to God obeying His
word to love me as Christ loves the church…it’s easy.
(Really as two people walk together in a relationship in an
unselfish way wanting to bless and serve each other, this is just not an issue.
In truth the whole ‘submission’ issue for us just comes up when we can’t agree
on a situation and I just say well, “I don’t know or don’t really have a opinion
on this one so go ahead with what you think.” That is just submitting to his
headship of the family. Everything else is lived in a partnership of agreement.)
I believe in being separate from the worldly way of doing
things ie:
The self-centered me-me-me lifestyle,
the greedy over indulgent consumerism,
the aggressive, harsh, hard hearted opinionated meanness that seems to be
admired as strength.
The self entitlement, the endless need for constant noise
& entertainment all to fill a universal hole of emptiness every human being
has without Christ.
I believe in living quietly & in peace with others as
much as possible.
I believe in serving Him freely without the restraints of
man-made religious rules that have no basis in the word of God.
I believe in the 10 commandments and the whole word of God
as given in the bible.
I believe in the assembling of the body..we, His church. Not
a building or an institution.
I believe in all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.
I Believe God the Father, Son & Holy Spirit are the only
one true God over all.
I believe that a Christian should NEVER use their faith as
an excuse to abuse, malign, manipulate or in any way bring harm to another
human being in either word or deed.
I believe that a Christian should be an example of Christ in
the earth, a life marked by the spirit of God spent in unselfish service to
others motivated by a heart of Love, preaching & teaching the gospel of
peace and leading others to Him.
All this and more, I believe and now for the rest of my life
I commit anew to endeavor to live out my life according to these beliefs.
Though at times I am sure to fail, I will put my trust in the grace of God to
correct me and keep me on His good path.
I realize that some will judge this decision as an emotional
one due to the season. A burst of shortly lived religious ferver, or at best
simply the onset of old age—time will tell.
For me, it’s just about time I start really
LIVING WHAT I BELIEVE.
☆ HAVE A BLESSED Day ☆
