WHAT, Mean Christians?

My heart today, it aches as the Lord deals with me in my own soul.  As I have been, and also myself experienced mean Christians.  I know, mean Christian is an oxymoron, right.  Or at least that's what Gods word reflects.  I have come to the realization & time in my life where I have a hard time fathoming the association of the the two words, but I have also known Christians aren't perfect, I am not perfect.  We know this!!  Only Christ is the perfect offering for our sins and no matter what we have done Christ approves of His children.  We as flesh can't even wrap our minds around a love so deep and wide.  It doesn't even make sense to most of us...a love that BIG & forgiving!!  I often wonder even if we could completely understand that kind of love, would we even want to or even dare try?  I have been a mean Christian myself, so when I say that, I don't say it in judgment, I say it because I have been one. It has really been troubling my heart lately.  I have done a lot of growing and God has shown me a lot about myself. As we will all continue to grow daily as we yield to the Holy Spirit .  Judgment seems to be a major problem in the body of Christ.  As parents we are teaching our children it is ok to judge and talk about people that aren't just like us or very similar.  When I say that, I mean even in the same body of Christ, not just in a worldly sense.  As if it isn't enough to teach them to discard or write off worldly people, we are teaching them to separate and judge within our own body.  We must be careful not to cauterize the very heart of God. We are called to be separate & stand out from the world, yes, but we are not called to judge nor put off an heir that we are above anyone. God is unbiased free from prejudice. Jesus set the perfect example for us and left us with the blueprint in His Word.  We as a body are called to love and be a light to the whole world and fellow Christians.  It deeply concerns me that the body is so easily separated within its self. Division is dangerous. Their isn't a single person in this world that has gone through or experienced the same exact things in life, growing up in a divided or broken home or the death of a parent, there are so many different types of abuse I can't even think of them all to list, but this I can guarantee, no two people are the same, no two families are exactly the same, we are all different and the experiences life has brought us has had a part in making us who we are.  God's hand has brought many of us out of bondages and broken the chains the enemy has had on our families and yet we still waste time judging others just because they aren't exactly like we are or where we think they should be.  We are not here to set the rules, we are here to follow the blueprint God has set for us. Christ's sanctification is a process, some things may be instant for one, yet it make take another years of molding and surrendering in obedience to arrive at a destination of deliverance. I am not looking for a replica of myself, I am seeking genuine, like minded people who love the Lord & desire growth or one who seems to have a slight interest in learning about the God who can break any bondage or chain in their life. People are curious and we can not lead them  to freedom if we are busy comparing and judging all the time, and are not ourselves free.  Let God clean the fish, as the saying goes.  We are here to help bring people the freedom we experience in Christ, to help people understand we will never deserve a love so BIG, yet we all can receive it and experience it daily if we want to...one doesn't have to be perfect or have the exact beliefs as I do to deserve the love that God desires to share with them, through me or any Christ follower for that mater.  As a matter of fact who are we, fleshly humans to think of ourselves so highly as to judge and say if another deserves the love of God. Who are we kidding, have we forgotten where we came from, are we forgetting God desires that no one should perish!! Who are we to place that limit on God and just make Him fit our little box. From experience I know God works in his time & I can't control the world. We shouldn't judge if someone isn't where we are. I thank the Lord, just knowing He can change anyone on His own or through us allowing Him to work through us & our lives.  I am sick of people being held back and limited by people and judgments. No one has time to worry if others approve of their selves or family because they aren't what so & so feel they aught to be.  I know that God knows each of our hearts and circumstances, past and present. We should not be judging anyone if they aren't where we are spiritually or if they choose to raise their family differently.  My prayer for each individual family is that they find comfort in knowing, as long as your family is asking God to lead & guide you in raising His children for HIM you are in His will.   If you are feeling drawn to God let Him in, seek Him and you will find Him & His will. Allow Him lead you.  Always be open to Him and the people he places in your life for you to grow from, positive and negative, good and bad.   We attend very large church, so we have indeed experienced people who have differences, sometimes we meet families that are very similar and others no so much, but it is important that we all respect and not judge and gossip about how others are being led in their own families.  It is our job as a body to help one another grow in love, we can come together and help one another, be there for one another, pray for one another and edify the body of Christ. I think Christians are giving the devil to much ground. It is time that we slow down take a step back and get some perspective on what is going on in the body.  Maybe try and have a little less reacting and a lot more reasonable response to one another in meekness and love.

1 Cor. 13:1- 13Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I have become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have prophecies, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so as to move mountains, and do not have charity, I am nothing.
  And though I give out all my goods to feed the poor, and though I deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, I am profited nothing.   Charity has patience, is kind; charity is not envious, is not vain, is not puffed up;   does not behave indecently, does not seek her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil.   Charity does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth, quietly covers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.   Charity never fails. But if there are prophecies, they will be abolished; if tongues, they shall cease; if knowledge, it will be abolished.
  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when the perfect thing comes, then that which is in part will be caused to cease. When I was an infant, I spoke as an infant, I thought as an infant, I reasoned as an infant. But when I became a man, I did away with the things of an infant.
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall fully know even as I also am fully known. And now faith, hope, charity, these three remain; but the greatest of these is charity.

School of Discipleship

SOD has been such a blessing for me & my family.  I am so grateful for a church that supports the spititual growth of it's members.  I have never experienced anything like this.  I am learning and growing so much in the Lord, finding true identity and freedom(John 8:32).  I can feel myself and life around me effortlessly changing.  This is a direct result of seeking first the kingdom of God and his rightousness(Math. 6:33) & trusting completly in God(Prov. 3:5-7). 

We are often tought as children to live for yourself, you can be anything you want when in essence this is a piece of the truth.  We are suppose to love ourselves and we can be anything we desire, but without God in us and in all we do, we are setting ourselves up for great fall.  I myself have tried so hard to acomplish fixing myslef, my marriage, my family, my health(mental & physical).  In my own strength nothing has worked, I've grown tired, weak...worn out, depressed, over weight, exc.  I am learning to recognize stumbling blocks(Heb.5:14) and fight the good fight of faith(1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 4:7). In finding my true identity in Christ and building my foundation on Him I am seeing great changes all around me.  I had left my first love(Rev. 2:4), now I am finding my way back.  I now see that "I" have been living mylife in a sefcentered place insted of a God-centered servanthood.  God loved me first, before I was even formed in the womb and he loved so hard he bled and died for me(us all-1 John 4:19).  I without realizing it had turned my back on that love, yet he still loved me(Rom. 5:8).   In seeking God whole heartedly(Luke 9:23; Mark 12:30) I have recently felt that love more than ever, seeking HIM is not a daily religous ritual it is an honor, joy and great privlidge. 

I urge everyone to ask the Lord to enter & search thier heart and show you the true way to Him.  He knows our heart, thoughts, intents(Psa. 139:23-24) and only He can lead us into His pure truth.  For Jesus says, "Ask, and it shall be given;  seek, and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened."  Then share what he shows you with the world, be a light(Math.5:14).  Forsake the learned ways of this world and become His disciple(Luke14:33).  Jesus said, "  Come and follow me and I will make you fishers of men."

Answered prayer...

Just got a call from someone asking about the house, YAY!!  I don't know if you know, but we are selling "in this economy" without a realestate agent.  I don't know about anyone else, but lots of times I start out believing hard, faith full and then slowly get worn down  if God's promise doesn't come to pass quikly enough for me.  In this case a few days ago I was questioning our situation..."Are we crazy not selling with an agent in this economy, my goodness the home purchasing for those with agents is down, what are we doing...are we even suppose to be selling now or what, is this just what I want and not what the Lord wants for our family?,  am I being selfish?"  All these questions flooded my mind as I prayed "Lord please show me, if this is of you, if this is going to happen, if you are doing this, please give me a sign....just a phone call, something.  I need to know this is you and not me being selfish or me attempting to take control."  I had almost forgotten praying that just a few days ago in my doubt or lack of faith.  I had been jokingly asking Michael if he'd gotten any calls yet & telling him he'd better be expecting it.  This evening Aly runs in the the house screaming somebody stopped and looked at our sign.  As I was preping a text to tell Micheal to be expecting a call, he sends me a text, b4 I get the chance to even finsih mine that someone had called about the house....All I know is I was  surprized(that was fast), but as I looked out the window as washing dishes I recalled my musard seed faith prayer.  My house may not be sold, YET, but I know that God still answers even the smallest prayers.  He knows just what we need in our times of mustard seed faith, but that is all the faith we need is what His word says!  Praise God, I'm just super excited to know we are on the rite track, little momments of conformation from above are priceless.  And yes, in this economy we are believing that our God shall supply all our needs & always will in every way.  No devil  can convence me my God , His Kingdom & Children will not overcome.  God is our agent and He is working on this, in Jesus name ...SOLD!! 

What's Happin'n

Whats been up here.  We have decided it is now time to sell our house and move closer to our church, Free Chapel in Gainesville GA.  We want to be more involved as a family unit, we are ready to take our places & do what ever the Lord leads us to do in our life.  The kids & us as well are wanting to do more volunteering and be more involved in events and acitivites through the week and throughout the year.  We are super excited and expecting the Lord to move in this.  We know it is His will for us to be there.  So if you or anyone you know is looking for a home in the North Ga area please share our facebook page(link below) with them, even if you aren't aware of someone looking, someone you know  may know of someone searching for a great home, so please share, share, share!!  We are super excited about whats happening in our lives, please keep us in your prayers and know that we are praying for our friends and family, also and for the potential/future buyer.  God Bless you all!!!  God is good (O:

https://www.facebook.com/JasperGaHomeForSaleByOwner/info#!/JasperGaHomeForSaleByOwner
Thanks,

Michael, Michelle, Aly & Eli Gibson

INsecurities

Thier is so much truth in this little quote.  This day in time being the real you takes guts.  We live in a world where the preasure is on for us to look, act or even feel certain ways.  Standing for what you are and what you believe is getting harder and harder as peer preure increases daily for children as well as adults.  As a child I wanted nothing more than to please my parents.  In school that escaladed to my friends, peers and guys.  Which then formed a people pleasing habint in me.  I got hung up in looking for outward acceptance and never felt good about myself or my own choices. I needed someone to give me some kind of reassurance or affrimation.  I see so many (young girls especially) in this dangerous spiral.  Being sucked in to what everyone else is doing,...the way they talk, dress, act, music they listen to and so on.  No one seems to be happy with themselves.  I was a lonely teenage girl looking to friends(which many turned out not ot be true friends) and guys(which I thought loved me and were actually using me) for my selfworth.  As an adult I found myslef doing the same thing in my marriage.  Always looking around never looking up...

 I didn't understand I had greater value than I thought.  My value from within, I am worth something to someone greater than anyone here on earth.  As a young girl I wish I would have had someone sit me down and explain to me that God loves me for me.  And that the love of God fills all voids, he knows and is all I will ever need.  No matter what I have ever done, he knows all about me and loves me reguardless.  After learning of this great love, it is life changing.  Experiencing it is even greater in life transformation...I encourage everyone to stop seeking importance, worth, value, confidence, exc...from outer sources.  When we have a personal relationship with our maker it will change us from the inside out, and all the other stuff fades away.  Nothing else matters as we draw closer to Him and His Word the Bible each day in our relationship with Him.  We can become who we are really intended to be when we step out and stop allowing people to lead us and  allow the one who created us to work in and through us.  Stop following the crowd and stand out!!  Be seperate, be who you were created to be...there is freedom in it(for you and others in your life). You will be confident, happy, and learn to love yourself and your life.

GRACE

I choose to find or see God in everything!!

Grace, a female boxer pup, is the newest addition to our faimly.  We got her a week before Christmas, thus the name GRACE.  She is so energetic and silly.  Her personality is so unique, she is so smart and funny to watch.  I talk about her like she is a family member becasue she is, as are the other creatures we love.  Grace is now 5 months old and weighs 25 pounds.  Grace lives up to her name & daily I am reminded of God's grace.  When I watch her outside or with the kids, I see so much grace.  Grace is loving, fun, playful, excited easily, care free, curious, at rest & peace, clumsy at times, adventureous, trusting and many more characteristics about her remind me of what Christ's willingness to die provided for us.  As I say her name and watch her daily I am reminded of what Christ's sacrafice was for us...we can be care free from this world and it's labels & judgements, living by God's grace.  Living a life pleasing to HIM, knowing if not for grace where would I be?...I'm glad he see's through eyes of LOVE.  I am so thankful for GRACE.

Fast 2012

Ok. so this year I didn't blog my fast daily.  It's not that I felt bad talking about fasting, becasue the fast our church does at the same time every year and it is a coprerate fast.  Truth is I wasn't feeling it.  I started out not looking forward to this years fast...I am usually excited and rearing to go, but not this year.  For some reason no part of me wanted to paritcipate in this fast.  Yet I knew I had to do it, if not for me for my kids.  To be an posative example and show them that seeking the Lord should always be fist in our lives always, no matter how we feel, in every situation.  Then I realized maybe this fast was for them...so that my children and generatons after wouldn't have to go through and experience things that I myself & my parents & grandparents have struggled with.  When I was shown this things got a little easier.  Michael and I had already decided after this fast we were going to make healthier choices in our eating habbits and exersize.  After the 1st week I felt as if this could happen for us.  Where as before I didn't really feel like we could change our old habbits.  Thank the Lord he has given us the strength to make better decisions in our lifestyle.  In my weakness, he is my strength...God is so good.  No matter how I feel I know he's always with me and all I need is him & water (O:  Even if I have no water I still have him and in seven days will be with him.  Seriously though this years fast I have learned alot about myself.  I don't need all I THINK I need, that goes for food, relationships & THINGS...

I started the fast looking like this...

kept my eyes on:

Now walls are down and there are no limits...freedom is in the air!!