Refreshing. Upcoming 40 days

As some know, we have been attending Fort Mill Church of God and we LOVE it. This Sunday we start a membership class and I couldn't be more excited. I feel so at home here. Last Sunday our Pastor talked about the 40 days of fasting and prayer. This will begin late January and continue for 40 days. I am excited to see what will happen when His people humble themselves and pray and seek his face.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

-2 Chronicles 7:14-

 

 

With this being said, our land needs healing. My vow for the next 40 days is to pray for just that. It overwhelms me to think my children will have to live in this world. {{it's a scary thought}}

 

HOW WILL PEOPLE HEAR IF WE DON'T TELL THEM? It's sad to think there are people in this country who have NEVER heard the salvation story. {{I was fortunate enough to grow up in a family where Christian values were exhibited. At the time, I just wanted to stay at home and didn't understand the importance of Church. Now I'm a mother, I do!}} 

 

 

My challenge to you is to do this 40 days of prayer (and fasting, if you desire) with me. Please comment if you want to join in! It's always nice to know you have a support group!

 

 

Open the blind eyes
Unlock the deaf ears
Come to your people
As we draw near
Hear us from heaven
Touch our generation
We are your people
Crying out in desperation

MY.HEART.BROKE

If any of you have been with me in public, I try to avoid as many people as possible. I am out to do a certain thing and get it over with. Today I was faced with the harsh reality of life..

 

I went to Kohls for some ME time. While minding my own business, these ladies kept ending up near me NO MATTER WHERE I WENT. I figured, if they were talking loudly, they didn't mind me listening. They were talking how they couldn't believe their church had a Christmas Eve service. {{I kind of rolled my eyes..((in my pity party again)) because I wish that was all I had to worry about}} I walked over to the bedding and continued to look around. What do you know, THERE THEY WERE AGAIN! They were talking about how a girl who (and I quote) "came to church looking like she was out partying all night. I can't believe she would come to church showing that much skin." **Side note I grew up in a conservative church and I'm thankful for it. No telling what I would be like if I didn't have that structure growing up** I naturally giggled because I've been those women before. I've been THAT judgmental person. I continued to the shoes, and guess who's there? You got it. I overhear them saying how that nobody spoke to her and she sat alone at the back of the church. MY.HEART.BROKE! How can we as "Christians" be this judgmental? Who are we to cast the first stone? How can we treat strangers in the drive-thru windows better than someone at church?

 

 

I am sitting at work just in shock. I can't help but think of the Casting Crowns song "Does Anybody Hear Her".  {{She is running a hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction..She is trying...but the canyon's ever widening..in the depths of her cold heart..So she sets out on another misadventure just to find..she's another two years older and she's three more steps behind}} 

 

 

 

 

With this being said, do we see? Do we hear? It hit me like a ton of bricks. How many people have I passed by because of my judgmental glances? How many lives have I had to chance to "save" yet I chose to keep walking by because of how they looked? [[to clarify I was not raised this way..if you know my mom, you know she has more friends than anyone I know]]

 

Those people we just walk by BELONG to someone. They could be a dad, brother, son, mother, sister, daughter, etc. All they need is for someone to care, for someone to hear. I challenged myself to stop caring about society and how they view people, but to care for people like they were my mom or dad.

 

Happy Friday.

 

 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7