"Christ Sharing" Block - A Little Something for Christ Followers

I have started this sentence over enough times. I am trying to find that perfect intro to transition into the thoughts that I want to share. I started writing about Tuesday morning prayer.  Next, then how Tuesday morning is better than Monday morning and then about my new strange breakfast combo, coffee and popcorn. None of these introductions were particularly relevant and were all slightly lame. Perhaps I can blame it on 9:30am bloggers block. Then as I am writing this equally lame introduction paragraph I had my "ah ha" moment. This lack of coming up with a clever introduction to my blog does relate to what I read in My Utmost for His Highest today. Instead of bloggers block Oswald Chambers does write about working to prevent having a "Sharing Christ" block.

Chambers challenged his readers to work on expressing well our beliefs. He wrote "If you don't, other people may miss out on the blessings that come from knowing the truth"(December 15th entry). In the second paragraph he writes "Your position is not really yours until you make it yours through suffering and study". (Is he trying to say that to study is to suffer? =) ). I like this line because our faith and beliefs in Christ need to belong to us. If we don't understand why we believe what we believe and if we don't own them as our own then when the time comes to share Christ with others we will find that we have "Sharing Christ" block.

I loved my time at Vanguard University for many reasons. One of my favorite parts of Vanguard were my Bible and Mission classes. These classes gave me the perfect opportunity to study God's word and to further my understanding of my beliefs. When you understand what you believe and why you believe it you don't need to feel threatened when someone challenges your faith in Christ. The maturity we find in Christ will allow us to be "a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool" because "you never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth".(2 Timothy 24- 16 The Message Version).

I want to encourage you as Chambers encourages his readers to know how to express your beliefs. Chambers even suggest rehearsing your words. So, not only do we need to know what we believe and why we believe it, but need to know how to express it in words! I pray that you and I will not find ourselves with "Christ Sharing" block, but with the ability to speak truth lovingly and clearly! So, today make sure you know, understand and are able to express the essentials of what you believe. After all you never know what meetings God has ordained for your day. =)

Bread Bowls, Grapes and Oswald Chambers.....

I am waiting for Lolo to come over. I told her to come over at or after 7:30pm and it is now 10:30pm. Apparently she took "after 7:30pm" to be I didn't want her to come until the world has frozen over. Of course according to some that may be closer than we think =). While waiting for her I decided to bake gluten free bread bowls. This is my first time baking gluten free bread and my first time baking bread bowls. They are currently in the oven. Sarah, Josh, Lolo and I are going to have a bread bowl and soup party after church tomorrow. So, while I am waiting for Lolo and my bread, I am eating the world's largest grapes. I wonder what they used to grow the grapes, steroids perhaps???? I haven't blogged in a while, so I thought it was time for an update. Now you know what I do in my free time - bake bread, wait for Lolo to come over and eat grapes that most defiantly have been given steroid shots.

I also read My Utmost for His Highest today by Oswald Chambers. Chambers discussed being accountable to God for the way we act and behave. Essentially we are responsible for our actions, thoughts, behaviors and so forth. God has given us grace and salvation, but we are accountable to God for how we behave and represent him. We exemplify Christ when we call ourselves Christians.

The verse Chambers used was "...only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you" Genesis 41:40 This was interesting to me because this verse is Pharaoh telling Joseph that he has power over all of Egypt. Only Pharaoh was greater and more powerful than Joseph. It is interesting to me the parallel here. Just as Joseph was accountable and a representative to Pharaoh, so are we to Christ. Just as Pharaoh freed Joseph from prison and gave him freedom, so Christ frees us from sin and death. Just as Pharaoh entrusted Joseph to represent him and to do his work in the land of Egypt, so Christ has asked us to represent him and to do his work in this world.

 I am not sure what Chambers original intent was in using this verse. However, I like how this story can be related to our relationship with Christ.  Normally, when I read this story or hear preaching on it people focus on Joseph's interperatation or how God took the terrible circumstances of Joseph's life and used them for good.  I thought the different slant was refreshing.  So, on this note - Go and live as Christ representative.  Take your grace and freedom and use it for God's purposes.  Remember who you are in Christ and that ultimately you are accountable to him!  

Amen y Amen =)

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                                                   My Gluten Free Bread Bowls -)