Engaging in meaningful conversation

Having a toddler who is learning more and more speech and actually wanting to engage in conversation is lots of fun! But it can be exasperating sometimes too! Sometimes I find myself wanting to share the meaningful stuff with him but I am not sure what makes sense and how much he is actually getting. Now I know he won't understand deep theological concepts yet but I find myself wanting to share ideas with him and engage him in a way that connects with him anyways.
A few things I have found fun and helpful are:
~ Simple coloring or drawing together
~ Reading
~ Prayer together in the car, at home, at bedtime and anywhere we can fit it in
~ Singing and music to share concepts
~ Asking questions
~ Dancing

But here is a great post I read about how to engage with your kids and it got me to thinking. How do we engage with our children and others around us in meaningful ways? How do you start a spiritual conversation that makes sense to the other person, allows them to open up and you have a great time sharing together?

Suddenly I am more aware of how I engage or wanting to engage others. I would love to hear your ideas out there too!

I thought this was a really great video that explains the basic fundamentals of our faith. What do you think?

One Cent Solution

I thought this was such a hilarious video and a simple way to address the out of control debt here in the US! Check it out and go see them at www.onecentsolution.org

Pray for our Nation

There has been a lot of media initiative for our nation and all the political change coming with election season. Lots of voices from both sides of the issues have been talking (and talking and talking and talking) about issues, what our nation ought to do and who has the right to have a say.
With all the words flying it is easy to get overwhelmed, frustrated and perhaps discouraged. I know I have been some of these emotions and more!
God was whispering to my heart this morning about this and one command keeps coming ... PRAY.
So I have been thinking about prayer. God asks His children to pray as a method of communication, supplication, intercession, praise and thanksgiving and so much more. But in order to reach out to Him in prayer, there has to be some sort of relationship. Whether that relationship is being explored for the 1st time or is a long term friendship, God hears us when we talk to Him. So no matter what... PRAY.

No matter your understanding, persuasion or feelings, God says PRAY
No matter is you are worried, fearful or excited, God says PRAY
No matter is you don't know what to do, God says PRAY

2 Chronicles 7:14
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.

Law of Liberty

I have been studying the book of James since the beginning of the year and digging into the challenging and straight forward little book. Just because something is concise and small certainly doesn't mean it doesn't pack a powerful punch!

This week I have been digging into the concept of the "perfect law of liberty" found in James 1:25 and 2:12. My first question was "what is the perfect law of liberty?" And my second question was "haven't we been set free from the law and following rules?"
So as always, the only way to find true answers is to dig into scripture to interpret scripture. Here is just the surface of what I am finding and what I am learning.

1) What is the "Perfect Law of Liberty?"
When looking at the original language it appears that the law of liberty is referring to the word of God as seen in its completeness from Genesis to Revelation (the law of Moses fulfilled in Christ Jesus) which brings us freedom.
This leads right into my second question and I think of John 8:31-32a (ESV)

 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Jesus used "logos" when speaking of His word which means the Divine expression- Christ himself. So when we abide in him and are truly his disciples, we will know the truth and it will set us free. But wait...

2) Haven't we been set free from the law and following rules?

Simply the answer is yes and no! (Ha Ha Ha, simple right?) We have not been set free from any and all authority as the human heart desires. God made us so that we would always have a boss (or master as He put it). We can either have sin as master of have God as master but we are never our own master.

I have struggled with this concept because I think that the basis on the human condition is the desire to rebel and throw off all authority and be our own boss. So when you accept Christ as the new boss of your life, it contradicts this innate mar on the human heart. I don't want a boss so I have fought in my sin nature with my new spirit to find an out from this new "law of liberty". But what I find is that if I truly abide in Christ, get to know God and walk with Him in obedience, I am living in the law of liberty and it has set me free! Yes, I am choosing to do life God's way (which is really the only way that makes sense and makes it worth living) and that could be viewed as following rules but it is all about my heart. With Christ, I follow and obey because I want to and love him. Sometimes my love for him creates my want to and it is a choice rather than a feeling! This obedience from love is an act of freedom, I am not coerced or forced but actively choose of my own free will. What could be more free than that???

So perhaps we need to redefine freedom and come to a deeper understanding of the "law of liberty". I know that I have only scratched the surface and will continue to learn more!

Just remember:

 Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.

 ~ John 8:36 ESV

If you love running or hate it...

I thought this was too hilarious not to share! I laughed and thought you might like a laugh today as well!

Let Go and let God today

Thought this message in this song was too good not to share! Be encouraged!