Standards vs. Convictions

Have you ever wondered what someone meant when they said they were under conviction or that was a conviction in their life? Well, I grew up in church and I often heard my pastor preach on convictions. As I got older I began to think that those convictions had to be a part of my life or belief system for me to be considered a decent person. But then I got older and wiser and I learned to discern why I believed what I believed and I came to a wonderful and glorious conclusion. There is a difference between standards and convictions.

The Webster’s dictionary defines standards as: a model, rule or guide and it defines conviction as: strong belief. So, what does this mean to you or me? Simple: Standards are guidelines you live by. They may have been established by your family, friends, school, or society and you have been taught to adhere to them. Convictions, on the other hand are strong beliefs that you adhere to and to a Christian, they are often what one is willing to die for.

I was raised to believe that a girl was more modest if she didn’t wear pants or too much makeup. I was also raised to believe that a Christian young person would abstain from listening to rock music, attending movies and hanging out with the wrong crowds because to be associated with the world was to denounce your faith. So for years I attended a public school and never wore jeans, pants, shorts and so forth. For years I refused to go to movies with family and friends and for years I would not listen to anything but church music. But did it make me a better Christian—no! I realized that my faith was stronger than the world’s list of dos and don’ts. I realized that I could still serve the Lord while wearing a pair of jeans, although I do believe in being modest. I learned that I wouldn’t go to Hell if I enjoyed a pop song or country music with my family and friends. I have chosen to listen to Southern Gospel music because I love the message and I know it is pleasing to the Lord. I choose to dress modestly so that people will know that I value my body and my testimony.

I was also taught to not participate in an activity that might cause someone to stumble or to question the sincerity of Christianity. Standards are not always based on Biblical principles but convictions will be. The Bible preaches on modesty but no where does it tell a woman she cannot wear pants. The Bible says, "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes" but no where does it tell a Christian they cannot go to the movies. On the other hand, I would use that very passage to remind myself "why" I choose not to watch rated R movies, sexually explicit movies, to view porn, and so forth. The Bible will talk about singing hymns and praises to the Lord but no where does it say a man will be condemned to Hell if he is listening to rock or country music. However, I would use the passage to remind myself to abstain from music and lyrics that encourage a person to live in a manner that is not pleasing to the Lord. In the end: You must know why you believe what you believe.

As a child you can blame it on your parents and/or school but someday you will have no one to blame. Stand up for what you believe in and don't be ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

Now my convictions are a different matter. I will claim the cause of Christ until I die. I have made my profession of faith and have put my trust in the only person that has the power to save—my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I will live a life that I believe is pleasing to Him and when in doubt I will ask the question: What would Jesus do? I will be counted among the believers who fight for a cause. I won’t back down when people ask me what I believe about abortion, homosexuality, premarital sex, and so forth. Yes, those are my convictions—I am not basing my personal opinions on what the world has told me to believe but rather I am believing in the final authority, the written words of Christ.

It is true that we are known by the company we keep. It is also true that we shall be accountable for how we treat God’s children. I have learned a lot through the years and I learned that it’s not always what I say and do that matters but what I believe. I have learned to love the sinner no matter what and to hate the sin.

I’m not sure why I wanted to write on this subject today. Perhaps it is because I’m tired of people telling us how to live by the world’s standards and laughing at us when we choose to live for the Lord. You may never meet me here on Earth but I hope that we will be brothers and sisters in Heaven. If you should meet me and forget me you have lost nothing but if you should meet the Lord and forget Him, then you may lose eternity.Take care and God bless now and forever plus one more day! Always in my thoughts and prayers for an even brighter and healthier tomorrow.

Child's Play

As an adult have you ever wished you could go back in time? Not way back to another era but rather back into the years of your childhood when things seemed less complex. People speak of the inner child or the child within. Well, I am young and full of life. I am always playing and I guess that's what keeps me going. You're going to grow old when you quit playing.

I have precious memories of my childhood when I would play with dolls with my younger sister and friends. There were times when I was playing with matchbox cars or having great adventures in the forests behind my home with my brothers and other children in the neighborhood. As I got older it seeemd I had to put away the childish things but childhood keeps calling.

If you will slow down and take time to enjoy life you will have a moment to release the inner child. I do not have children of my own although I hope and pray that it is in God's plan for me to be a mother some day. But until then I will be thankful that He has given me beautiful niece and nephews and friends with beautiful children as well. A day with any of them will take you into another world and you will forget about all the burdens that weigh you down.

Recently I have been spending a lot of time at my best friend's house. She has children who are my age and between her two daughters she has four grandchildren ranging from 9 months to 10 years. She has three grandsons and one granddaughter. Halie and Gavin are in the picture with me. Halie is five and my little Miss Lovebug. When I am around Halie it is as if the world has stopped turning and you are in a playroom and don't have any cares to beset you. Gavin will be three on St. Patrick's Day and he is my "Mister Blue eyes."

The other weekend Halie wanted to stay at her Nana's so that she could have a sleepover with "Aunt Gigi." This sleepover literally meant sleeping with me on the sleeper sofa. So, how do you have a sleepover with a child? Easy--you follow the child's cues and you play along with her and in the end you have both made precious memories.

I have been babysitting Halie and her older brother Hunter since she was born. I have played with them so much through the years that sometimes I don't think they realize I am an adult. I think they see me as a playmate.

I taught Hunter how to play Candyland and Chutes and Ladders so I thought it fitting to teach Halie. So, I took the games to her Nana's and we set out to play games that would enhance her counting skills and color recognition. At this time, Gavin (3) has joined us so I am diligently teaching him how to recognize colors in Candyland. Later we were in the playroom playing with dolls and in the kitchen. We were serving up pizza and cake, making funny egg sandwiches and spilling tea and coffee everywhere. We were watching The Wizard Of Oz and later we watched Space Buddies.

We leave the playroom and it's off to the foyer to build a fort. Nana gives us sheets for the roof and we take them from a sofa in the entry room to the dining room table. Then we use a large comforter so that we can have "carpet." We crawl into the fort; which by then can accommodate about four or five people comfortably and I begin reading The True Story Of the Three Little Pigs. Halie and Gavin love this story and want me to read it again and again. We pretend like there are ants in the house and we must get rid of them. We pretend like we are being invaded by aliens and we must protect our fort and then we pretend like the fort has turned into a castle and we are princesses waiting to be rescued by Prince Charming. Our adventures just take many twists and turns throughout the evening. The other adults leave us to our playtime because it gives them a chance to visit and they know that the children are having fun and so is "Aunt Gigi."

Later into the evening it is time to give the children their baths. When at Nana's they insist on taking baths there and if I am there they usually insist that I bathe them. Okay, let's go gather up the bathtime toys and get some bubbles going. Halie and Gavin have the time of their life and then the hugs and kisses and goodnights are said and everyone but Halie leaves. She knows she is having a sleepover with Nana and "Aunt Gigi."

We pull out the sleeper sofa and get our selection of movies together. Halie wants to watch Mamma Mia and then Celtic Thunder. Into the last 20 minutes of the final movie Halie falls asleep on my chest. She is snoring loudly and I think to myself: "This was the end of a beautiful day and she will know that another sweet memory was made."

Don't let being a grown-up rob you of having fun. If you have children get out there and play with them. Establish family game nights, interact with your little girl as she plays dress up, plays with Barbies and/or dolls, or in the kitchen. Engage in your son's activities as he plays with soldiers and trucks. Get outside and play ball with your children. Go bike riding with them or get the waterguns out and play until everyone is soaked. Pull the coloring books and crayons out and sit at the dining room table for a while. Put a favorite movie in and pop some popcorn and spend some time with your children. They aren't going to stay little forever!

This is dedicated to my niece and nephews (Jonathan, Marcus, Katherine and Elijah) who are still having fun. This is also dedicated to all the other children in my life who give me an opportunity to have fun and to laugh until my stomach hurts. And this is dedicated to all the parents out there who entrust their children to me.

At the end of the day you have that great sense of having made a difference in a child's life. There is no greater joy than to have a child jump into your arms and hug and kiss you and want to know if you want to play with them. Don't put it off until tomorrow because for many, tomorrow may never come.