Sometimes He Calms the Storm...

When I started this blog almost two years ago, it was with the intent of documenting my journey from Mormonism to Christianity. As I continued to post, it became less about my journey and more about perfection. I felt that if what I was going to post wasn’t perfect, then I couldn’t submit the post. It finally felt like too much work to even continue the blog especially since I was learning a new job at work and could barely keep my home in order. By the time I had a few minutes to sit down and post, I didn’t want to have to research the next post. I forgot that this blog was about my journey and not what information I could spout.

Although it is important to know what Mormons believe and have the facts, the facts are not what are going to reach a person who is blinded by Mormonism. After all, a Mormon is told from day one not to read “anti-Mormon” material and considers any of the information that we give them to be propaganda. So we have to reach them in other ways. First of all, you have to build a relationship of trust with the individual you want to pull from Mormonism. But that is for a later post. Right now, I want to explain my long absence.

This summer has just disappeared. In July, I ran my first 5k and enjoyed it so much I signed up for two more which I completed at the beginning of this month. It is amazing to me how appropriate Paul’s use of running a race as an example in Galatians 2:2 & 5:7, 1 Corinthians 9:24, and Hebrews 12:1. One thing I noticed during each of my races, was that there were points where I wanted to just give up and not continue. But by focusing on the goal, I was able to continue and finish the race. The other thing I realized, was that I have been really out of shape and I should have prepared for the races a bit better before signing up for them. In that way, it is a lot like what I was trying to do with this blog.

I was new to the true faith of Christ, and instead of taking the time to study God's Word, I was trying to post after a manner of individuals who had been true Christians much longer than I have. There were many posts that I threw out simply because they did not fit what I felt was appropriate for a Christian blog.  In fact, you may have noticed, I started posting other items such as my daily Grace Gems instead of creating my own post.  It is not surprising that a few challenges coming along caused me to buckle and stop posting.  I apologize for taking shortcuts and trying to look like I am further along in my understanging of Christianity.  After all, my original intent for this blog was to show the creation God is making in me as I walk the Christian path and not to show how much I know about Christianity.  I hope that going forward I can throw my sin of perfectionism aside and simply blog as God permits.

There is a song that is one of my favorites right now. It is called, “Sometimes He Calms the Storm” by Scott Kripayne. Through this beautiful song, God has reminded me that sometimes we have to go through things that we consider to be difficult at the time because it meets His purpose whether we can see it or not. I am not sure that I have come through many of these struggles as gracefully as others I know who have gone through much harder difficulties than I have, but I know that God has had a reason for it and hopefully I am growing in Him.

All who sail the sea of faith
Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark
And gentle winds grow strong

Suddenly fear is like white water
Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing
That our Lord is in control

Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn't mean He will

Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild 
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child

He has a reason for each trial
That we pass through in life
And though we're shaken
We cannot be pulled apart from Christ

No matter how the driving rain beats down
On those who hold to faith
A heart of trust will always
Be a quiet peaceful place

Wise People Radio Interview

I recently was interviewed for a radio program called Wise People Radio. Part 1 of the interview aired yesterday (Saturday 4/17/10) morning. Part 2 will air this next Saturday (4/24/10)morning at 8:30am.

You can hear Part 1 by clicking here.

Additionally, you can hear next week's show at www.kdkr.org by clicking on the listen live button. After Part 2 airs it will be available at the archive link above.

Quote from Brigham Young (2nd President of Mormon Church)

"We must believe that this same Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world, that is for the original sin, not the actual individual transgressions of the people; not but that the blood of Christ will cleanse from all sin, all who are disposed to act their part by repentance, and faith in his name. But the original sin was atoned for by the death of Christ, although its effects we still see in the diseases, distempers and every species of wickedness with which the human family as afflicted (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 153).

What do you believe?

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been stuck on John 20 recently in my bible reading. Today I read the following verses:

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
26 After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."
27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing."
28 Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"
29 Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."

John 20:24-29

Why is it so hard to believe in something that we haven't seen? I know there have been times where I thought it would be so much easier if I had lived when Jesus lived and witnessed first hand His Majesty. But would I have been one of the scoffers, or one of the believers? I hope that I would have been one of the believers, and fear that I would have been one of the multitude yelling, "Crucify Him!"

However, when I make a choice to sin instead of following Christ, or believe the lies that throw me into a self-pitying pool of depression, is that not me yelling, "Crucify Him!"? Even now, God is stripping my and exposing my sins one by one. But even through this, Christ is taking me and saying, "you are Mine!" and scouring each of the sins from my life. I use the word scouring, because He is not just removing the sins that I have embraced for so long, but He is removing them and refining me with fire.

I think the reason that I doubt sometimes as mentioned in my previous post is that I see the other possibly real Christians around me that look like they are not walking through the fires at all. They have everything that we judge to be the perfect Christian life: the kids, the home, the car, the attitude, the missionary work, the homeschool, etc... The list goes on and on.

And then I look at my life thinking here I am trying to trust in God, believing that His work will be done, loving my children wishing I could be at home with them as a good Christian mother would do... but then slowly, I am realizing am I not coveting my neighbor's life? There I go breaking the tenth commandment.

So what should I believe? That I can have my best life now? Or that if I endure, and wait patiently on God, that He will finish the work He has started in me until at last I can stand before Him and hear Him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." I don't think I have a choice in what I believe anymore. I have to believe in Jesus Christ and the promise that He has made that "whosoever should believe in Him [Jesus Christ] should not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16. Not because it is the right thing to do, or because some preacher told me it's how I can get into heaven.

No, it is only because God told me that by trusting in Him and believing the promise of His Son, that I am His and it doesn't matter how much scouring or fire I have to endure, it is no more that I deserve from a just and merciful God who sent His Son to bear the wrath for my sins all the while hearing me joyfully proclaim, "Crucify Him!"...

What do you believe?