Spiritual Messages in Home Improvement Shows

What I learned by watching Love it or List it

Today was not a normal day for me. I did very little today. Not because I felt bad, but because I had a serious case of "Blah". I just didn't feel like doing anything.

I sat and read for the first part of the day but then I started getting a headache and focusing on the page wasn't helping. So I snuggled down with our dog Sugar and turned on the TV. There is nothing on that interests me during the day. I settled for watching stuff on the HGTV channel because it seems to be what many of the women in my life watch (pitiful of me, I know).

So this show Love it or List it comes on and I begin to see a lesson in the episodes. To explain I need to tell you about the show. Within 30 minutes a couple's home is renovated by professionals based on the couple's wish list of changes, and at the same time they are shown by a realtor different homes based on their list of wants. In the end after they have seen the new possible homes and are revealed the changes to their existing home they must decide if they love their old house with the new changes. Or if they still want to list the house and buy one of the new ones they were shown.

I apologize if you know where I am going with this, but for those of you who don't, please stick with me. In a way, this is what happens when Christ is introduced to us. We can accept the help of experts (pastors, teachers, other believers in Christ) and go through the hard work of gutting ourselves and making hard choices and changes to become a Christian and learn to live for HIM. OR, we can keep searching for something that we think will make us happy and feel better about our lives.

Of the many shows I watched (maybe six, again, I know, pathetic), only one couple decided to list their house after the renovations and buy one that had been shown to them by a realtor. In truth, I think they only reason they made that choice is because the husband insisted on keeping something that was unrealistic about their existing home and totally ruined their budget for any other changes. So what choice did they really have after that?

But I digress. My point is that we all start with an existing foundation. For most of us this is provided by our family who raises us and guides us in our morals and forming opinions. We have free will to follow this moral foundation, or to step out onto a different foundation of our choosing as we grow in age and maturity.

So for those of us raised to know who Jesus Christ is, you would think the choice to Love and accept him or walk away from him would be obvious. But it isn't.

Not all people who are brought up going to some form of "church" stick with that choice. Many choose to change their religion or their basis for choices while separating themselves from their families and gaining their independence. The work required to be a Christian, despite the advantages, is too much and they prefer the change to what the world says is easier, better, nicer, prettier.

From my previous post I mentioned that I am uncomfortable with the book of revelations. But God, He is leading me to study it. So I started at the beginning, to hopefully grasp some understanding of the foundation of where John was coming from when he started writing. The first three verses is as far as I have gotten in comprehension and comfort in discussing. So here is what I feel God has shown me: 1)The message of Revelation is from God, passed on to Jesus, and then shared with His "bondservants".  Now the bondservants that John is referring to are the believers of Christ, not just the disciples, but anyone who is willing to give up their own will and follow Jesus. SO yeah, ANY CHRISTIAN. Which means that this Revelation was passed from God the Father to Jesus His son, and communicated by his (Jesus) angels, to the bondservant John. Which means it is for us fellow bondservants as well.

That is just verse 1 folks, but already it leaves a lasting impact on my brain and heart. I am a bondservant. I am a willing follower of Jesus and want to align my will, with his will, i.e. God's will.

2) John confirms who he is as the writer of this message by describing himself as the testifier of the word of God, and Jesus, to all he met. Now why would he do that, why would he describe himself as someone who testified God and Jesus' word. I personally think it is to remind us of how he, John, go to this point of writing down these words for God. Think about it, would you want just anyone to write down what you say? Or would you want someone who has a reputation of sharing your words accurately? Enough said.

3)Here is the swift kick in the gut for me. By this verse God convicted me of how much I have been denying myself from Him by not reading this. "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near." The first thing that grabbed me about this verse is that I have been denying myself blessings by not studying Revelations before now. Because I was uncomfortable and focused on me, I was missing out on Blessings that God has in store for me by reading His word where He wanted me to read. The next thing that jumped at me is that I have not been hearing these words either. So, why is that? Are preachers and Christian speakers or authors intimidated by Revelations as well? Or have I been purposely been turning a deaf ear to anything regarding this section of the word? I am now praying God keeps my eyes and ears to this subject. The last part of this verse is two fold. I am to heed the things I read in Revelations and recognize that the time is near. Now, I am not saying the end of the world is near as so many people believe Revelations is talking about. Instead I believe, that right now, for me personally, God is saying that the time is near that I am going to need to know and understand this book of the Bible.

Heavy stuff, and all because I watched mindless home improvement television today. I love how God does that. I cannot say thank you to Him enough for how he draws me to Him in what other people might see as bizarre or strange ways. I'll take it Lord, and say thank you for your Awesome and Inspiring ways and pray you continue to bless me in any way you see fit.

I pray that these words may in some way speak to you, as God has spoken to me. Thanks for reading.



Blessings from the Father

The gift of words, and the fear of Revelations

 

I have been asked twice, in as many days, why I haven't updated my blog lately. Both times I have answered honestly in that I just haven't felt like it. But as I thought about it, and have prayed about it, I realized I was going by my emotions, and not by God's leading. So this morning as I prayed and read my Bible God gave me a verse to share with a friend, and some insight to share on my blog. And since I am studying to be more open to the suggestions of the Holy Spirit in my life I thought I better follow through with this.

Sometimes when reading the Bible God makes it clear to me that a verse I just read is for someone. Either I need to pray that verse for them, share it with them, or write it down and memorize it on behalf of them so that when I think of them I think of that verse. Whatever the reason, I try to be attentive to the verses God connects in my mind with someone.

Just yesterday a friend of mine asked me to pray for someone dear to them. I used to say OK to such a request, would pray one or maybe two times for that person, and then forget all about the request. But GOD, He has changed that poor habit in me. Now I find HE keeps them in my thoughts and prayers until He decides differently.

This morning as I studied for today, and for this Sunday's lesson with our youth God lead me to a verse for this dear person I am praying for. I knew, within my spirit, that I needed to share that verse with this person, and I did. And the response back was that God's words came just when they were needed and were a blessing. Hmm, imagine that! Now, I am not patting myself on the back for being obedient, because I did not make that person feel better, God did. I was just the messenger. But you know what, I was blessed by being the messenger. In turn I got to be a witness to one of God's miracles. And yes, I believe seeing God touch someone else's life is a miracle.

Now, believe it or not, that little story is not what God gave me, initially, to share on my blog. However He did allow me to use it as an introduction and segue to what he does want me to share. (It is a this point that in a movie you would have that build up of anticipatory music. the DUNT- DUNT-DUH!) 

The book of Revelations is my least favorite book of the Bible. It makes me uncomfortable. Like scary movie uncomfortable. I confess to having never read the entire book at one time, or in order. It just, it gives me the willies.

So when my studying this morning took me to Revelations I really was not pleased. I mean, I love to dig into Psalms, or the letters from Paul. But Revelations is just, ugh.

So my study took me to Revelations 12:17. As soon as I started reading it I realized I would have to go back a few verses in order to understand the context of the verse. Sometimes a spoonful just isn't enough to identify all of the flavors in the food, you know?

So I backed up to the start of chapter 12 which is entitled in the NIV as "the Woman and the Dragon". Now if I didn't know I was reading in the Bible I would think this was going to be one of those great stories or fables where a woman tricks a dragon so she doesn't get eaten. Guess what, kinda-sorta it is. Only this is the Bible, God's word, so it isn't a fable.

To GROSSLY paraphrase, there is a woman about to give birth and this seven headed red dragon appears and is just waiting for her to give birth so that it can eat the baby. Yes, not a pleasant thought I know. So the woman gives birth to a son (Jesus) and he is snatched up to heaven to God before the dragon can get his hands on him. The woman flees to the dessert to a place prepared for her by God, and then a war starts in heaven. Verse 7 says "And there was a war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back."

It goes on to explain that the dragon is the devil and he and his angels are thrown down from heaven to the earth. I, the person who doesn't feel comfortable in reading Revelations, recommend you read chapter 12 for yourself. But the point, the thing I am getting at, is verse 17. "Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring-those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus." SO, we who believe in Jesus are under attack, ALL THE TIME!!!

I have heard that as Christians we are at war, and at times have felt under attack, but until reading these verses, I do not think it was ever as clear to me as it is right now. The moment I gave my life to Christ, back at Easter in 1982, I became a warrior for Christ who is under attack by the devil and his minions. My six year old daughter who became a Christian earlier this year is a warrior and is under attack every second of every day now because she is a believer in Jesus Christ. WHOA! It blows my mind that my baby girl is a warrior. I can see my teenage son and daughter as warriors, but not my baby girl.

So, what am I doing to train her, to train them? How am I training myself? Am I encouraging my fellow believers? Am I strong, like iron, to help them grow stronger like iron? (Proverbs 27:17)

This glaring reminder of my duties as a Christian reminded me that blessings do not always look like blessings. They are not always answered prayers of health, wealth, or happiness. Sometimes it is the prayer to make it through the day by the desperate that is a blessing. Sometimes, when I cry out to my God in pain, it is because I have allowed my faith to weaken and am under attack. When one of my kids has a bad day, did they put on their armor, are they wielding their sword (Bible) on a daily basis? Am I encouraging them to practice with their sword, to strengthen themselves?

 

Revelations is still scary to me, and still makes me uncomfortable. But maybe that is right where God wants me, uncomfortable with what I am reading in his sword. Maybe he is ready to increase the weight of my sword (my understanding of the Bible) and I need to deal with having to learn to lift it.

So I am going to continue to study Revelations as God leads me. And I will continue to write this blog as God leads me. It may not be fun to read, or fun to write sometimes, but I will be as honest and transparent as I can because that is what God is calling me to do. Your prayers are very much appreciated.