By Carla Castro
Acts 9
On Sunday, Pastor Tim led the kids through the sermon of Acts 9. The entire chapter talks of Saul and how God changed his heart from this horrible sinful life he had to that of a Christian. He went from this man who persecuted Christians to preaching God's Word and proclaiming that Jesus is Messiah and people doubted him and his change. But God did change him.
We all reach the point where we recognize that life is a constant change. Like a river. But also, like a river, it often seems to look the same. The scenery remains. The rocks stay put. The banks never alter. But, unless you look and think carefully, everything is changing. Everything.
Today, for a marketing project, I looked up quotes about change. One was humorous, but true. "Change is inevitable....except from vending machines. (Robert C. Gallagher)
I also liked this quote. "Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights." (Pauline R. Kezer)
And on Monday, I recieved a link to a YouTube video by an organization called "I Am Second." The video in particular followed the story of Brian "Head" Welch from the band Korn. I grew up listening to Korn in high school. About six months ago, I stumbled across Head's book at the public library and picked it up during a event where I was sitting at a booth, bored, for a couple hours. As I read, I decided I needed to check it out and took it home to read it. His story is that of change.
The message of change has come to me at a time when I need to hear it. I don't want to. But I need to. I struggle with change. Sometimes I fight it because I fear it. Sometimes I fight it because I do not want it to happen. Sometimes I fight positive change and sometimes, it's the negative changes. But, I am trying to strengthen my view and recognize that God is the reason behind the change, as long as I ask Him to. I should not fear it, nor fight it, so long as I continue to build my relationship with Him and trust that He is the one guiding the change.
Sometimes, I need to be reminded as well. Grownups can change.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
God's Love is Free
By Carla Castro
Acts 8
I have started a post, sat staring at a blank box for long moments, then closed the page without saving numerous times this week. This is why, as I am supposed to write my post on Tuesday or Wednesday, I am now making myself write Saturday night.
As I have read and reread this passage, I could not determine what to write about. One section kept striking me, however:
"When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, 'Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.' Peter answered: 'May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.' "
I have never understood the value of money. The obsession that people have with money. The power that it gives. Until becoming an adult and having to pay bills, debts, and more. Even when first entering the workforce, I never stressed about money. I stumbled into a good paying job and spent five years there. I was able to carry my family financially when Jose got fired. We were able, after two years of being married, to buy a home, own our cars, take a vacation. And yet, we were irresponsible with money.
I hate money. I hate the necessity to earn money. I hate the distinction of doing work for money and doing work just because it needs done. I hate the materialistic society in which I am raising my kids, with the stigma attached to name brands and styles.
In Acts 8, Simon saw a powerful and amazing thing that the disciples were doing by sharing the Holy Spirit, and he, knowing he was wealthy, offered to purchase it. Peter called him out on it, denying to allow him to buy God.
Although my family is surviving, we are not sitting on a nest egg or a large bank account. And it is a comfort to know that, in this world, where money is the defining factor of so many things, I can walk into church on Sunday and not have to pay to recieve Him in my life. There is no fee to have God. There is no Biblical law stating that to worship, you have to earn an income of a certain percentage. There is nothing in His Word that defines who you are by how much you have. It's very reassuring in this economy, in today's world. So, tomorrow, in church, realize that God loves you no matter what's in your wallet. God loves you no matter where you live or what you drive. God loves you no matter what you wear. God loves you for your heart, rich or poor, and will bless you by the way you live you life, not by what you can pay.
Acts 8
I have started a post, sat staring at a blank box for long moments, then closed the page without saving numerous times this week. This is why, as I am supposed to write my post on Tuesday or Wednesday, I am now making myself write Saturday night.
As I have read and reread this passage, I could not determine what to write about. One section kept striking me, however:
"When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, 'Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.' Peter answered: 'May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.' "
I have never understood the value of money. The obsession that people have with money. The power that it gives. Until becoming an adult and having to pay bills, debts, and more. Even when first entering the workforce, I never stressed about money. I stumbled into a good paying job and spent five years there. I was able to carry my family financially when Jose got fired. We were able, after two years of being married, to buy a home, own our cars, take a vacation. And yet, we were irresponsible with money.
I hate money. I hate the necessity to earn money. I hate the distinction of doing work for money and doing work just because it needs done. I hate the materialistic society in which I am raising my kids, with the stigma attached to name brands and styles.
In Acts 8, Simon saw a powerful and amazing thing that the disciples were doing by sharing the Holy Spirit, and he, knowing he was wealthy, offered to purchase it. Peter called him out on it, denying to allow him to buy God.
Although my family is surviving, we are not sitting on a nest egg or a large bank account. And it is a comfort to know that, in this world, where money is the defining factor of so many things, I can walk into church on Sunday and not have to pay to recieve Him in my life. There is no fee to have God. There is no Biblical law stating that to worship, you have to earn an income of a certain percentage. There is nothing in His Word that defines who you are by how much you have. It's very reassuring in this economy, in today's world. So, tomorrow, in church, realize that God loves you no matter what's in your wallet. God loves you no matter where you live or what you drive. God loves you no matter what you wear. God loves you for your heart, rich or poor, and will bless you by the way you live you life, not by what you can pay.
Friday, July 2, 2010
To Be Fixed, It Must Break.
By Carla Castro
Acts 7 is nearly entirely a speech, given by Stephen, moments before his death. He recaps major events of the Old Testament, from Abraham to Joseph to Moses. Story after story of great men, chosen men, and their hardships, their act to follow God (sometimes unwillingly at first), and their overcoming oppression. Each story shared key plot elements and Stephen used this to accuse the Sanhedrin of being the same as the prior oppressors, failing to listen to the Holy Spirit, fearing those who speak the Truth, trying to bind those who preach in effort to silence them.
Why is it that men of power are often so fearful of the great I Am? Why are Christians persecuted daily for their belief systems? What is it about our Lord and Savior that instills great fear into people? The Truth, I believe.
It's like I wrote about in a prior blog. The Truth is one rough pill to swallow. It's difficult to take when another person points out the truth and your shortcomings. It's even more painful when it is God, telling you where you fall short and need to improve.
How often have you fallen, weakened by the utter dread of life, weeping, sobbing, in an emotional heartbreak on the floor, feeling the conviction that can come from nothing other than the Holy Spirit. I have. It is enough to break me, shatter my life into pieces, on the floor. Shards of what I thought was important become drenched with tears and I feel as if every drop of blood is pouring from my heart because it hurts so badly.
But God is good. Even through those times, He is there. Standing over us. Allowing us to wallow in self pity for a moment. Allowing us to remove the weaknesses from our being. Then, as gently as a parent dealing with an unruly toddler, God reaches down. He grasps our chin and lifts it up while softly whispering, I love you. He grabs us solidly by the hands and pulls us to our feet. He wraps around us strongly, giving us the strength to move forward. He tells us that we are better than that, the brokenness, the pieces of life that we are, and He picks up our pieces, one by one, showing us the way to become more like Him. And the pain of the conviction never goes away, but as we strive to follow God, it lessens.
The Truth is often oppressed because it's hard. It's painful to accept and difficult to overcome. But, we can. With Jesus, we can overcome our past and who we have become at one point or another. That is why it is called "Rebirth".
I wonder if the Sandedrin every broke down and allowed God to change them...?
Acts 7 is nearly entirely a speech, given by Stephen, moments before his death. He recaps major events of the Old Testament, from Abraham to Joseph to Moses. Story after story of great men, chosen men, and their hardships, their act to follow God (sometimes unwillingly at first), and their overcoming oppression. Each story shared key plot elements and Stephen used this to accuse the Sanhedrin of being the same as the prior oppressors, failing to listen to the Holy Spirit, fearing those who speak the Truth, trying to bind those who preach in effort to silence them.
Why is it that men of power are often so fearful of the great I Am? Why are Christians persecuted daily for their belief systems? What is it about our Lord and Savior that instills great fear into people? The Truth, I believe.
It's like I wrote about in a prior blog. The Truth is one rough pill to swallow. It's difficult to take when another person points out the truth and your shortcomings. It's even more painful when it is God, telling you where you fall short and need to improve.
How often have you fallen, weakened by the utter dread of life, weeping, sobbing, in an emotional heartbreak on the floor, feeling the conviction that can come from nothing other than the Holy Spirit. I have. It is enough to break me, shatter my life into pieces, on the floor. Shards of what I thought was important become drenched with tears and I feel as if every drop of blood is pouring from my heart because it hurts so badly.
But God is good. Even through those times, He is there. Standing over us. Allowing us to wallow in self pity for a moment. Allowing us to remove the weaknesses from our being. Then, as gently as a parent dealing with an unruly toddler, God reaches down. He grasps our chin and lifts it up while softly whispering, I love you. He grabs us solidly by the hands and pulls us to our feet. He wraps around us strongly, giving us the strength to move forward. He tells us that we are better than that, the brokenness, the pieces of life that we are, and He picks up our pieces, one by one, showing us the way to become more like Him. And the pain of the conviction never goes away, but as we strive to follow God, it lessens.
The Truth is often oppressed because it's hard. It's painful to accept and difficult to overcome. But, we can. With Jesus, we can overcome our past and who we have become at one point or another. That is why it is called "Rebirth".
I wonder if the Sandedrin every broke down and allowed God to change them...?
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