The American Dream...?

I have been thinking about this alot lately. What really is the American Dream?

Is it altogether evil, sinful?

Well, even though I am not sure of an exact answer for that, I do know that we as Americans so easily surround ourselves with "things" and pack our homes with "stuff" to what purpose?

To bring a sense of comfort?

A feeling of ease and freedom from discomfort?

Or maybe we think that if we continue to stuff our lives with "stuff" we will be satisfied, and finally reach that place of "Happiness".

* A bigger home,

*a newer car,

* a new wardrobe,

* another baby,

* a promotion at work,

* a different location for living,

*more money in our savings account,

* a better retirement plan....etc.

you fill in the blank, since you know what it is that might be neck in neck with your passion for Jesus.

All these things in of themselves are NOT bad....but it is the potential for them to so easily & without us even realizing how they have become our daily pursuits, the reason we get out of bed & work hard...they become our idols...."things" again are not terrible. But it is the subtle danger of them replacing our FIRST LOVE...Jesus....and our passion that should be filling our hearts so overwhelmingly...that if we lost everything today, we would not crumble....but would continue to stand firm in the faith....and keep a steadfast heart, that we should be totally in love with Jesus, that our "things" whether they be many or be small & few...would ALL FADE in the glorious light of loving Jesus MORE EVERYDAY!! And be willing to let the "American Dream" go....if it means you will love Jesus more, and make HIM MORE BEAUTIFUL to the dying world around us....I mean are you not tired of all the pastors who drive BMW's and wear their $500 suits to church, and have thousands of dollars in their bank accounts, and yet have people in their flocks that are hungry, in great need just to survive that month, struggling to pay their bills, cars that are unreliable, and yet faithfully go to church & serve, and give...it just seems a little unbalanced...at least to me it does. And I am NOT saying that if God has blessed a faithful pastor with wonderful gifts of blessings, that he should not enjoy them & be blessed by them...but I mean, C'mon we all see it around us...the american pastor in general is now a commercialized position to retain....just a say a few fluffy words to tickle the ears of the listeners, and they will rip out their check books, and drop the big bills....so that their ears & their souls may continue to be lulled to sleep in the pews....and the passion for Jesus that should be filling their hearts & pouring out into their day to day life Monday through Saturday is cooled down, and soon becomes only ashes...and some who look at the american church or the person that calls themself a "Christian" today....might be able to see some residue from a passion that was once there...but now it is just ashes in the back of their hearts, that have grown cold & complacent, and sadly comfortable in having NO PASSION....NO FIREY LOVE FOR JESUS anymore.

May we go back to our FIRST LOVE!! May we return to a child like faith and trust, that says "I will give up everything to follow You God, my Savior!!!" And then really LIVE WHAT WE SAY WE BELIEVE!!! May this be the beginning of a stoking of one another's joy of our salvation....

What are you willing to give up in order to make JESUS BEAUTIFUL??

And if you died next week, what would people say about your life as a Christian? Would the first thing they might say be "he/she was sold out for Jesus! It was always clear who that person loved, served & worshiped!! They were not comfortable here on this earth...and had such a clear longing for another home!!" Could anyone say that about you today...while you are still breathing?

Can you search your own heart, and be able to say without a doubt that you are NOT WASTING your life?? Or do you hold back in some reservations??

Whatever your calling in this lifetime...

a pastor,

a missionary,

a teacher,

a mother,

a police officer,

a Judge,

working in a coffee shop,

an auto mechanic,

an owner of a business,

a nanny,

a firefighter,

a husband,

a wife,

a computer geek,

a servant to the lowest of people in the streets.....

whatever it may be...MAY IT BE SAID OF YOUR LIFE, THAT YOUR FIRST LOVE WAS ALWAYS JESUS, AND NOT THE ACCUMILATION OF THINGS....MONEY...POWER....SOCIAL STATUS...GOOD GRADES...EXCELLENCE IN A TALENT OR SPORT....NO NO NO....MAY IT ALWAYS BE YOUR PASSION FOR JESUS!! And in the variety of blessings that God brings along the way in this journey of life, may ALL OF IT BE USEFUL FOR HIS KINGDOM & FOR HIS GLORY ALONE!!!!

May God be able to say of you..."Child you have done well in loving Me, in serving Me, in your obedience to Me & My commandments, in loving others as I did, and in enjoying Me as your Creator & Master....come now into eternal rest."



**This was NOT meant to be a sand blast to pastors or those above me who are well respected in ANY WAY. I have so much respect for my pastors, who have faithfully studied God's Word, and who faithfully preach it week to week! I know the struggle for them is great, and my heart's desire is to keep them daily in our family prayer times...since they are always under great attack to the temptation of being sucked into the "Money making" pastor....and for their purity, for their families who labor alongside them....we love & respect them with a great reverence! But I think if you understood what I was trying to say, you won't have any doubt of that. But if you have any questions, I would love to answer them.**

Go Now And Let Your Light Shine So Bright In This Very Dark & Dead World...Go And Make JESUS BEAUTIFUL through your simple & short life!!! Don't let a day go by that would be considered "wasted"....even if all you do is stay home with your little ones...live godly before them, and SHINE JESUS to them faithfully, even in your failures....let Christ be Who SHINES the MOST BEAUTIFUL in your homes, your work places, your churches, your neighborhoods, your communities, your towns, your county, your state!!!

And let us begin to change the American Dream into making JESUS MOST LOVELY & BEAUTIFUL!!!! May this be the dream that resides in your heart today!!! And NOT THINGS!

Gratefully His daughter....
Thankful for His sweet & bitter providence in my life today!!!