Category: Love

American, Faith, Love, Mindset

Why Don’t You Believe Me?

Angela Ireland

Why don’t you believe me when I tell you, you are fearfully and wonderfully made? Why don’t you believe me when I tell you that I know the plans that I have for you, to give you a hope and a future?

Why don’t believe me, when I was the one who sent my son to die on the cross for your sins? Why don’t you believe me when I told you to be anxious for nothing? I provide for the birds of the air and the flowers in the field, would I not do even greater things for you? Or what about when I’ve told you to seek my kingdom and my righteousness and everything you need will be given to you?

Even still, I have told you not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind and to do what is according to my will. Are you even listening?

Those questions, play out in mind almost daily. They are what I imagine, God would ask me, if we were to have a conversation. I can see so very clearly, how easy it is to disregard God’s word when our minds are set on being a part of the world around us. I get it, it’s very similar to when the Israelites begged Samuel for a king. They wanted to be like everyone around them instead of what God wanted them to be, an example of God’s sovereignty in their lives. We are no different today. We want to be like everyone else and at the same time we expect God to bless us and when he doesn’t because of our own actions and choices, we blame him. Can I get an amen?

I have grieved so deeply this past year over what our country has become. The relationships destroyed by fear and lack of knowledge. The fear driven desire to have everyone conform to an agenda that is not rooted in truth, but instead, control. How as Christians do we reconcile, our behavior with John 10:10, when Jesus himself said, “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly?” How is cowering behind a mask, closing houses of worship and taking an experimental vaccine living abundantly?

I know that tomorrow isn’t promised and holding on to what we think this life should be, is not what God has called us to do. So as hard as it is to watch, many of my friends and family members living in fear and unable to reason, I will continue to follow Jesus and to the best of my ability provide a safe space for anyone who asks. I will release the burden of trying to save everyone from running into the burning building. I will release the pain that comes from watching it all happen. I believe God. I take him at his word. I can trust him. I will trust him. I will love you and I will pray for you, but only through Jesus Christ can you be saved.

In Christian love,

AngelaChristine

Faith, Holidays, Love, Service

To Love is to Serve

Angela Ireland

Not in love? No problem, neither am I. But that doesn’t mean you and I can’t participate in this season of all things love. In fact, when I began to think about it in the context of being a Christian, this month is especially suited for us. With I Corinthians 13:4-8, in mind, I came up with of list of tips that all of us can do to love and to serve.

Tip #1- Share your favorite scripture with your friends and tell them why it’s your favorite. It’s so easy to become discouraged and sending a note to a friend with your favorite scripture may just be what is needed.

Tip# 2- Write a note to a friend or family member using eye catching stationary and mail it! I know it’s a bit old fashioned, but who doesn’t appreciate receiving a handwritten note from someone special in your life?

Tip #3- Share the name of a book that you read recently that you found extra special. Perhaps do a book exchange.

Tip# 4- Cook a dish that you know your friend would enjoy and use that as an excuse to pay a visit.

Tip #5- Invite a guest to Bible study or to church. How many times, have thought I wish, Abby were here? She would have loved to hear this lesson.

Tip#6- Share your favorite Valentines Day dessert recipe with your best friend.

Tip# 7- Make a batch of hand sanitizer with your favorite essential oil and give it as a gift.

Tip# 8- Go thrifting with your friends. Set a five dollar limit and exchange gifts on Valentines Day.

Tip#9- Offer to watch your friends’ children for afternoon, so that she can take a nap or get a facial.

Tip#10- Actually meet up for coffee. Set a date and keep it!

Tip#11- Go to your favorite exercise class together.

Tip#12- Commit to checking in at least once per week.

Tip# 13- Offer to walk the dog, so your friend can go and see her grandmother in the nursing home.

Tip#14- Go out as a group to celebrate your friendship. The more the merrier!!

Bonus tip, write a poem about friendship and share it on your social media timeline. Go here for tips on writing poetry. https://self-publishingschool.com/how-to-write-a-poem/

While the world may view love from the lens of chocolates and romantic dinners, although very nice, love is so much more! It is abundant, compassionate, durable and it serves others exactly where they are. 💗

In Christian love,

AngelaChristine

Faith, Love, Mindset, Reflections

I Cannot Sit in that Space

Angela Ireland

I love you, but I can’t sit in that space with you. My days are much too full with work, homeschooling, transporting to this therapy and to that one. Never having more than ten minutes to myself, to think or process. No, that space is much too confining for me.

You see, I have a special needs kid who also happens to have seizures, primarily controlled by medicine, but there have been times when they were not. I’ve ridden ambulances too many times to count. I’ve spent days, a week or two in the hospital after an uncontrolled seizure. So I know fear, I have faced it head on and no, that is why, I cannot sit or be in that space with you.

I know the media has you all up in arms over this virus. Pump the fear, control behavior. It’s a perfect strategy, if you ask me. Ratchet it up enough and motives are never questioned. And right when you think, they may be losing their grip, they up the fear again. The cycle is endless. But I still won’t sit in that space with you.

I had to bury my mother, my best friend, while pregnant with my first child, my daughter. I watched my precious son have a full blown seizure at my dad’s wedding, which I never got to see because I was headed to the hospital in one of the first of many ambulance rides. I was cast aside by my then husband in the midst of my own medical crisis. So you see, I cannot sit in that space of fear.

Fear is a weapon, that is used to control and limit. It’s too overwhelming, it makes me feel even more isolated and alone. So it is not something, I will embrace. The Bible says, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7. Those are the qualities that this world needs now more than ever.

While it may be easy to sit in my home and listen to the news and entertain the doom and gloom, I will instead choose faith, love and hope because I do love you and I know that when fear is present, I cannot sit in that space.

With more love,

AngelaChristine

Faith, Love, Mindset

I Am Guilty Too

Angela Ireland

Why is it so hard to hear God’s voice? Why is it so hard to do what he says? Why is it so easy to live our lives on our terms and only think of God, when all of sudden it becomes too hard? Do we not know or understand James 1:2- ” Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” Do we think like the world and expect that the world will see us as different when essentially we concern ourselves with the same things non-Christians do?

This last year has given me time to reflect on those questions and to really search my soul. To dig deep into my heart to determine, if my life reflects the Jesus that I claim to love and serve. Honestly, when I study the scriptures and examine my own life, there are several areas that could use some serious work. I mean serious, like tear down and reconstruct work.

I guess, up until the coronavirus and masks became a part of our daily vernacular, I think that I thought that I had my finger on the pulse of my relationship with the Lord. I worshipped every Sunday, studied the Bible with my kids and did my own personal lessons. But this is where it gets interesting. I didn’t exercise my faith. I read, I understood, but I did, what I always do. I did it myself. That’s my default. If God doesn’t answer fast enough or do what I need him to do in that moment, I will find a way to fix, resolve or repair. As if, I could do a better job of managing my life than God. I limited God’s power over my life!! I made him small, while I elevated myself. I did all the things my way.

Fast forward to today, how many people need Jesus? That answer is simple, everyone needs Jesus! But how many people have I passed without proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ? How many times have I not spoken about his love for us because, I too have been consumed with what is happening in the world around me. I guess, I am just angry because many of the people that I know, don’t really recognize what is happening. They don’t seem to process the deception and evil that has taken hold of our nation. Even God’s own people don’t seem to understand or worse, care. It’s as if they are so consumed by the cares of this world to the point, that the idea that Jesus could return at any moment is the furthest thing from their minds. Mine too, if I am being honest, because I am still attached. There is a reason that the Apostle Paul, writes “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2. I want to care more about Jesus than our current state of affairs.

Our country is in the midst of ungodliness, perhaps too far gone, but that is nothing new to God. Throughout every period of history man has found a way to dishonor themselves and God. What is also true is that, God has always provided for the righteous. Always. And he has always created a path for his children to share the gospel. So, while I may feel disheartened at times by the state of our nation, it is never okay to not be busy doing the will of my father in heaven and allowing everyone to see Jesus in me. I am aware of what is going on around me, but it is more important for me to spend my time telling people about the one who saves and gives us everlasting life. It is only in him, that I will find my peace.

And you can too!!

In Christian love,

AngelaChristine