Taking a break for the holidays

I am taking some time off from blogging for Christmas and New Years.

I will be blogging again in 2008! :D

-----Shay :o)

I HATE YOU!!!

Christian -

How DARE you? How DARE you?? I cannot BELIEVE how you have betrayed me!!

All of these years you have had such a lukewarm faith - never witnessing to anyone, never imposing your beliefs on anyone, never being bold about Jesus and what He has done in your life.

And now THIS!

Not only have you shared your belief, you shared it with one who was only HOURS away from being with me for ETERNITY!! That is the ultimate insult.

Whatever possessed you to go visit someone in the hospital anyway?? You never did that kind of thing before.

I just don't even know you anymore.

Lucifer


Do you really understand what happens when someone accepts Christ?

Accepting Christ isn't just something to help you have a better life or feel better - you have truly changed your eternal residence. You have changed your destiny from a place of fiery torment to a place of love, beauty and worshipping God.

Do you really get it?

Picture your darkest moment, your deepest despairing moment. Magnify that by a thousandfold. Add to that heat beyond imagining. Surrounded by demons. Cut off from loved ones. Thirst. Pain. Tormented by the demons that surround you.

There is a book by Bill Wiese called 23 Minutes in Hell. I highly recommend it. The word pictures he uses to describe Hell are striking. (I found my copy at Wal-Mart.) It brings the reality of what Hell is like.

Now, do you know what you do when you share the Gospel with someone? You offer them the chance to escape all of that. To have a wonderful eternity.

Who will you witness to today?

So, you think some sins are worse than others?

Dear Christian -

My, how you did me proud today!

Looking down your nose at that woman you saw on the street corner today. Oh, you knew "what kind of woman" she was, didn't you? How disgusting! "How can any woman do that!" you thought. You quickly crossed to the other side of the street so as to avoid her, but not before you looked her up and down, wrinkling your nose, tsk tsking at her. Oh, you made sure she knew you did not approve of her lifestyle. The cross around your neck, glinting in the sunlight was a nice touch, too.

Did you notice the tear that slipped down her cheek as she lowered her head? No, I thought not. She will remember you for years to come, though.

You would never do something so vile as she does! You are so much better than that! Good for you to not associate with "those kinds" of people!

By the way - she has little education and 2 small children to support. Not that that matters to you. Just thought I would throw that in. Hehehehehehe

I have no problem accepting her into my place. She is my kind of people!

Thanks for another soul to torment!

Lucifer


In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, we find a list of people that will not inherit the kingdon of God. Note that the list lumps together prostitutes, idolaters and thieves with "slanderers" and "swindlers" - so that tells me that sin is sin - and we are all guilty of it.

The next verse (v. 11) goes on to say, "....and that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ...."

No sin is too great for God too forgive. No sin is too horrible for Christ to take away. The only thing that makes me different from the prostitute or thief or whatever is that I am saved. Christ took my sin. And He can take theirs, too.

But it will take Christians who love unconditionally to bring the message of that love to those who need it.

Don't pray. It's okay. Trust me.

Dear Christian,

When is the last time you prayed?

Oh, yes. That nasty little incident with the IRS. I forgot. That has been, what, 14 months ago?

You certainly were on your knees for weeks before that hearing. Praying to God. Praising God. Quoting Scripture to Him. Reminding Him of His promises. Blah blah blah.

Yes, you also gave a few lame prayers of thanks afterwards. Woo hoo. Big deal.

That's okay. I like you better this way. In "non-praying" mode.

Lucifer



Do you pray?

I don't mean the quick one-liners tossed up to heaven every so often. I mean really praying consistently for an extended length of time.

I know it can be hard. I am the homeschooling mom of four kiddos. Just having time alone to think is an accomplishment!

Prayer does things. It accomplishes things. If I have a problem, I rally my Christian friends and family to pray for me. Prayer works more miracles than worry any day of the week!

Matthew 18:19-20 says that if 2 agree and pray about an issue (of course, it must be something not at odds with God's laws), it will be done.

Proverbs 15:29 says He hears the prayer of the righteous (but is far from the wicked).

1 John 5:14-15 says we will have whatever we ask (according to His will) of Him.

Satan does not want us to pray because praying wages war on a spiritual level, and we are in a spiritual battle. Prayer moves the natural world on a spiritual level.

Pray. Pray every day. Pray without ceasing.

You will be surprised at the results if you do.

A few questions answered

I have had a few questions asked of me, so I will take a minute to clear up a few things. :o)

1. Do you really talk to Satan?

Um. No. It is just a literary technique used to make a point.

2. Why should I buy the book if I can read the blog?

The blog is just a sample of what is in the book. The book goes much more in-depth and has much more commentary and self-examination questions. There is also more Bible study.

3. Who publishes your book?

At this point, the book is self-published. For ordering information, you need to contact me at shay.rockhold@gmail.com.

4. I would like to get copies for my church. Do you give quantity discounts?

Yes, I do. Please contact me for more details.

5. Any future plans for more books?

Yes, I am working on another book, Rants of a Homeschooling Mom. In addition, I am planning on a book called Ten More Letters from Satan, due out next year. I am also designing a Bible study/small group study version of Ten Letters from Satan.

I love it when you fight amongst yourselves!

Dear Christian,

Today I overheard you talk about "that" church down the road. "Those people aren't really Christians," you said.

Your reason? Because they use a different style of music than your church does! Their pastor had asked to partner with your church for a community outreach program (*shudder*), but your pastor refused. "After all," he said when he explained it to the leadership in your church later, "they aren't like us. They just have different beliefs."

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Did you know that "that" church stole 5 souls from me last week? (It still burns me up thinking about it.) And they stole the souls of 8 children from me the week before! (Almost as many as your church did that week.) They insist on using the same Bible you do and preaching from it each week. They also reach out to the lost and steal souls from me, just like you do.

But that's okay. By seeing them as "different" and not as "spiritual" because they sue a different style of singing and music, you keep from working together with them and stealing more souls from me!

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Such a trivial thing to let people go to Hell for, but that's okay. I will be sure to tell them that they might have been reached if you had not been so stubborn. It will make their misery so much worse, knowing that they could have avoided their fate - had you taken action.

Thanks for the extra souls!

Lucifer


Why do we let such small issues divide us as churches?

I am not talking about important issues, such as what it takes to get to Heaven.

I am talking about things that really do not matter.

The Bible doesn't tell us that only hymns are holy. Or that singing hyms is the sign of a spiritually "dead" church.

The Bible doesn't say that people who wear jeans to church are not really Christians. Or that wearing a suit and tie is wrong.

These are man-made issues that keep churches from working together. And I think they break God's heart.

------Shay :o)

Great job!

Dear Christian,

Wow! I was impressed today!

There was a lady in the grocery store parking lot asking for money for food. You told her no and walked off, even glancing at the kids she had with her as you did so.

The grocery cart you had full of food made this all the more wonderful. AND the cross you had hanging around your neck was a special bonus.

Did you hear the older child plead her about how hungry she was as you walked away? I cackled with glee when I saw a tear slip down Mom's cheek.

You just make my work easier and easier. The little girl saw your cross, you know. Now she thinks people who wear those things are just plain mean. She is only 6.

Lucifer



Matthew 25:31-46 talks about ignoring those who are hungry, thirsty and in prison:

"Then the righteous will answer him (Jesus), 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did
we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe
you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit
you?'

Then the King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you
did for one
of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for
me.'

Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you
who are
cursed....for I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was
thirsty and you
gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not
invite me in, I
needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in
prison and you did
not look after me.'

They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we....not help you?'

He will reply, '....whatever you did not do for one of the least of these,
you did not do for me.'"

Helping those who are less fortunate is just like helping Christ himself. (The Bible says so. See above.)

I have been approached many times by people wanting/needing money. (My husband says I have "one of those faces" - I guess it's because I smile a lot.) There are times when I simply don't have money on me or cannot help right at that moment, but I will actually give out my number (cell number) or church info (we have a food pantry) and not leave these people hanging.

I have given groceries out. I help as much as I can.

It is our duty to help those in need. Anyone who reads Matthew 25:31-46 and can tell me otherwise with a straight face is living in a fantasy land.

I can hear you now: "How do you know that the person won't spend the money on drugs or booze or whatever?"

I have several responses to that:

• There might be physical signs of drug abuse in the person asking. In that case, giving cash may not be a good idea. However, that doesn't mean you cannot help. Give a gift certificate or offer to purchase groceries for them. if there is a food pantry at your church, offer to help them through that. DON'T ignore the person or send him/her away empty-handed.
• Sometimes I am prompted by the Holy Spirit to give money. Not always. I have emptied my wallet before and given it to someone in a parking lot, along with one of my cards. She broke down and cried in the middle of the lot. So did I. Follow how the Holy Spirit moves you. He knows more than you do. You will be blessed.
• Sometimes I am prompted by the Holy Spirit to NOT give cash, but in each case, I was prompted to do something different - a gift certificate, refer him/her to the food pantry, etc. Follow your leading from the Holy Spirit and do what you should. Do NOT ignore the person or not offer some sort of help.

Now, I will address one concern someone has asked me about before: safety.

In each case, I have been approached in places where the crime rate is pretty high, but I never felt threatened.

However (and this is where prayer and following what the Holy Spirit is telling you is important), if I felt like I was being warned in the Spirit about something, I would heed whatever I felt was being impressed upon me. In that instance, I might simply give a card with the church inforjmation on it and invite the person to seek help there. I don't know. If I get in that situation, I will write about it. :)

The bottom line is this: In any circumstance, there IS a way to help.

So please do.

-----Shay :o)