I have not yet seen "The Golden Compass," however, I have seen the myriad of emails pleading with me to boycott this movie due to the views of the author. Before I say what I think, Please feel free to check out the following article. It was written by the Minister of Children at my church. http://www.austinstone.org/current/goldencompass

A very good friend and I have been engaged in a several week long discussion about what I read, why I read it, and why I allow certain things in to my house. It has been a wonderful discussion regarding where lines are drawn, and how do we draw them. My friend is concerned about the Harry Potter books. She has not read them, and has seen only the first movie. She is concerned about bringing those in to her home as she has a very intelligent 3 year old who loves to pick up videos and put them in the DVD player. She also is cautious about bringing anything in to her home that may indicate to Satan that he is welcome into that home. My friend's mother is full blooded Japanese and has spent much of her life in that country. Worship of "spiritual" idols is rampant in that culture, and the beliefs held by her family have influenced her to be wary of items that may have spirits clinging to them. This is where our discussion became interesting. Do I believe that Satan's minions can cling to inanimate objects so they can enter our homes and cause disruption? As they are spiritual beings, do they have to cling to anything? Can they arrive in your home in other ways? What is my role as a Christian (and that of my friend as well - she is also a strong Christian) in fighting this spiritual warfare?

Yes, I do believe that spirits can enter our homes and our lives through inanimate objects, however, I also believe that they do not have to be attached to anything other than our own weaknesses. I begin to believe that my friend is more suceptable to attack in this arena because this is where she is weak. Just as I believe that other people fight a battle with sexual sin, or sin with pride...Satan will use them all to distract us from and remove us from God.

On the other hand, I also believe that God can and will help us fight any temptation we are given. He knows much better than we do how to fight spiritual warfare. He has been doing it much longer than we have. God does not ask us to fight with Satan. He asks us to have faith in HIm and He will deliver us (both in salvation, and as we live our lives).

Do I think that praying over a home will protect it for ever from evil spirits enterring and causing problems? No. Does prayer help? Absolutely. There must be some kind of balance in life. Do we cut off all things in our lives that are not directly of God? No...because then we would be cutting ourselves off from the unsaved. What is the point in that? God asks us to be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves. He wants us to be among the unsaved. He wants us to reach out to them. I think that means that people will be in our homes, in our environments and they will bring things with them that we would not normally let in our lives. How do we combat that? With love.

At the end of our conversation, we agreed to pray for each other, and to protect each other in the areas we know are weaknesses for us.

I apply this to "The Golden Compass" as well. I agree with everything written in the article above. I also want to say that he says it in a much more eloquent manner than I can myself.

Christa

You know that you are on the right track when Satan comes on the attack. He sure did this weekend. I was SO beaten up that when it came time to spend time with God, I was distracted and felt distanced from God. I know He was right there...I was having a hard time letting go of me.

On the way home, I began to think about what the issue was today. I wanted to work it all out so that I do not have to spend another Sunday worship service like that one. I pulled out my journal and as I began to write, I realized that Satan had been lying to me all day long. I typed out a list of about 15 lies (and there may have been more) that had been whispered in my ear all day long. All the lies were in conflict with who I think I am, and who GOd knows I am...but affected me just the same. I would like to be better at identifying the enemy's attacks when they are happening so that I can ask for prayer from fellow brothers or sisters and get the attackers to leave!

The good news is that I ended the journaling session with a list of things that God had done for me that day. I know I missed some, but writing out what I could think of at that moment was a balm on my spirit. Somehow those things calmed me and helped ease the upset I had inside.

I need to remember that over the next few weeks and months as I start building my business full time. I am still scared, but I need to make this work. It is either do, or lose everything.

I choose not to lose!!!

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

The first line (all credit to Laura... who wrote Indescribable) of this song makes me think about the beauty of rugged mountains, or the raw beauty of the desert. I contrast that with the soft light found in deep water. THe deepest water is pitch dark and holds creatures we will be able to see (I assume) when we get to heaven. It holds mysteries we cannot even fathom (much like a woman does!).

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

If God knows the names of the stars, how much more would he know my name when I was created by Him to choose to worship Him.
Have you been brought to your knees in worship lately? Have you sobbed because of the awesomeness of God? It is interesting to be in that place. You ARE amazing God!

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

"You see the depths of my heart, and You love me the same"
Wow. I know what is on the surface of my heart and sometimes that is bad enough.

How much do I love my God? Enough to want to love Him more and enough to let Him teach me how much He loves me. To become vulnerable to Him, to open myself up to let go of those things I hold on to for security that are not of Him. To become openly, absolutely dependent upon the God I love. To learn how to live in His glory, His plan and with His strength and love for all His creation.

Wow...that is a big calling. I pray God will help me to continue learning how to become the above person. I am closer than I was, but have a ways to go in completing my journey.

Christa

Currently I am reading "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldredge.

I am touched by how much my heart is responding to the words and encouragement found in the first chapter. The whole point of the book is that God created us to be Male and Female, each with our own strengths. Many books, Christian and Non-Christian, encourage women to adopt masculine traits and ignore those that make us who we are as women. There is a reason we like the romantic movies where women are loving and are rescued by the man. We love being told we are beautiful, and we like to know we are relied upon.

I just recently went through a couple of days worth of conversation where I learned a lot about things that had been hidden in my heart and about my worth to others and to God.

I got a call from someone I used to love who hurt me badly. I got over the heartbreak, and have ended up as friends with this person. The problem is that I still had some hurt and rejection burried in my heart. I did not understand that things this person did while we were in our relationship were reflections of how much he respected me, how much he revered me. I thought he was being distant and was telling me (non-verbally) that I was not worth as much to him because he did not act the same with me as he did with other women.

My affirmations:
1. I am more precious than rubies.
2. I am a daughter of God and am valuable as such.
3. I am much better than I give myself credit for.
4. I am worthy of a wonderful man to marry and spend the rest of my life with.

I can't believe how fast this year is going!

I have signed another lease with my roommate. We are signing from NOvember 2007 to November 2008. I honestly don't think I will be there the entire year and the charge for breaking the lease is not that bad.

Mom and dad are still in the process of their divorce. It is still difficult for all involved. As much as PJ and I don't want to be, we are. It is not as traumatic as it was when I was 8, but it is sad. As I look forward in my life, I would like to be married some day. I want to have kids and such - what I do not want is what my parents had. Matt nailed it right on the head with his marriage series. I want my relationship with my husband to reflect the relationship GOd has with us. I want to be an image bearer. I want that relationship to bless God, which in turn will bless us.

I am excited about my business. I love helping people. I pray all the time that God would help me get through this initial time of struggle. I know that I can help people. I know that I can do everything it takes to help others. I have the desire, and will soon have the licenses to do so.

I know that people out there are drowning. I know that God wants to help them. I just need to get off my duff and work. It is my lack of initiative that has been holding me back. I have been helping a few clients here and there, but I want there to be more. I want there to be so many that I have to quite progressive so that I can help them all.

I have to go now...much earlier than I thought.

Have a good night y'all!

Christa

I just realized that it has been 9 months since I have enterred anything into my blog!

Let me catch you up on a few things that have happened:

1. I have discovered (through an overnight stay in the hospital) that my anemia is pretty bad. Thankfully it is fixable and I will be fine. It is just going to take a little time.
2. James passed away right before Thanksgiving last year. I still miss him.
3. My maternal grandmother passed away on March 13th. I went to Ohio for the funeral and to support mom. I ended up helping her clean out Grandma's room and take things to goodwill.
4. I have reached my 1 year anniversary in Texas. Wow. It really does feel like home!
5. I no longer work with the 2 year olds. I hope someday to get back to working with them.
6. I still sing in the KidStuff band. I like it better. I have even found that I am making up motions as I drive down the road listening to music. **Wow, I really am nuts!**

So that about sums it up.