Things that make me go "Ugh!"
Sunburn On Your Soul
Summer is coming and the temps are rising. As the sun comes out so does the sunblock- well at least for those of us who are smart enough to pull it out. I am sadly not one of those people… Recently I was at a car wash for a friend from 10:30 in the morning until 5 in the evening, and you guessed it I did not wear sunblock all day! Worst mistake.
Two weeks later and I am still molting like a snake.
Sunburns are a painful fact of a bad decision. A decision not to protect our delicate skin. As I was sitting is service feeling like a lobster and burning up a thought crossed my mind… Sin is like a sunburn on our souls….
Here are the 3 basics to obtaining and healing a sunburn on your soul.
1. Sin the Sunburn
At first being outside in the sun is all fun and games. You dont feel like your burning and you continue on like there is nothing wrong with the fact that you are frying like a french frie. Much like sin. In the midst of sin you feel pleasure. In the moment its nice, seems fun and you dont always see the damage happening on the surface. It is not until after the fun has ended that you realize, “Hey! I hurt!” Just like sin. We enjoy the ride but trip down the steps when trying to deboard the train.
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 1 Corinthians 15:56 (NIV)
It is the law of God not to sin and when we do it leaves a scare on our souls. The sting of death. The pain of a sunburn.
2. The Bible the Aloe Vera
How do we heal a sunburn? The most common way of soothing a sunburn is Aloe Vera. Applying helps pull out the heat and take away the sting. Just like the Bible. The Bible is our tool here on earth from God himself to teach ourselves the law and learn to walk in the path of Jesus. When we sin God tells us to forgive ourselves so he may forgive and repent in our way. Where do we learn this? The Bible! Our “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” Applying the Bible to our lives is like applying Aloe Vera to our sunburns. It pulls out the sting and shows the truth and helps us heal our ways.
May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. 1 Kings 8:58 (NIV)
3. Jesus the Sunblock
How do you prevent getting a sunburn in the first place? By wearing sunblock. Jesus is our sunblock to life. He protects and heals. We all know Jesus was sent by God to be perfect and to die on a cross for all of our sins. He protects our souls from our darkest faits. He loves us so much that we can journey away from wrong doing and protect our souls from burning. Use Jesus like you use sunblock. When you are in a hot situation apply him to yourself as a whole.
God so loved the world he sent his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have enternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and bask in his grace. He loves us and does not want to see us scare our souls. Be careful when you put yourself in the heat of things. And my friends as summer approaches take my word, and dont forget to apply your sunblock!
Always,
Deanna
This Means Life…
What does this mean to you? Old… Stale… Moldy…
For about 925 million people of the 6.8 billion that occupy this planet, this means life.
If you woke up healthy today you are luckier then 1 million people who will pass away this week. If you wake up to a roof over your head, clothes on your back and food in your belly, then you are more blessed then 75% of the world. If you are reading this message right now you are more privileged then 3 billion people who can’t.
As Americans it is so easy to take everything we have for granted. Most of us do not know what it is like to go hungry. Most of us do not not know how it feels to freeze overnight with no shelter. Most of us do not know what it is like to come down with even the common cold and not be able to get better because of malnutrition. For those of us Americans who do know how this feels we have put ourselves in that position by choice.
America is the land of opportunity. We are constantly handed things on silver platters and still think we have it bad. We do not realize that there is a very large world around us that suffers everyday. Not every homeless man has the choice to catch a bus and stay in a shelter. Not every child can go to a food bank and get a meal.
In other countries they are not given these alternatives. They must survive on the hope that things may be different some day. Sadly the hope that the life they live may not be very much longer…
What does this mean to you? Hope… Forgiveness… Resurrection..
For many this means life- Eternal life. A life that is never ending and to the fullest. It does not bring bread to the table but it brings hard working men who work for the bread. It does not put a roof over the heads of our families but it is a hedge of protection.
For many this is also a symbol of judgement. Hypocreicy, slander, and hate. This is the symbol of a “religion” that claims a Holy and Forgiving God with people who do not take a second glance at the dirty and the broken.
Instead of being a beakin of light, it is a road block at the end of the tunnel. Instead of being a compass pointing to peace it is a reminder of crime.
Why today do we use this a weapon? Why have we forgotten what took place on a hill just outside of Jerusalem? Is it no longer important? Is it that it no longer applies to us?
Has man sinned so much we have out-grown the capacity? Has man rotted the world down to the feeble core and dug a hole to deep to be filled? Is it that…
“No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” (Acts 15:11 NIV)
We. Are. Saved.
Some live pay check to pay check- they cant afford to give away food. Some are mentally or physically ill and cannot work. But of the 34% (about) of believers, who prays for the weary everyday? Who shares God’s word and speaks with holy lips? Sixty-six percent of this world is spiritually famished and parched. They long for an answer.
Can you not give it to them?..
For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. (2 Corinthians 2:15 NIV)
Take up your cross. Stop letting the world perish. Let it be a sign that the Lord our God is with us, wherever we go.
Love always,
Deanna