nations or swine?

It is a gorgeous Saturday.  Because of days like this, I am reminded again how much God loves me.  How could you experience weather like this and not notice...not want to praise.  

I have written about some of this stuff before.  Thank you for letting me talk through it.  I have been struggling with it more lately...and maybe you have some insight.  if not, then you can just read my musings about it.  

So as any Christian knows, there is this little excerpt in the Bible that we have labeled "The Great Commission."

"And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “ All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”"

[matthew 28:18-20]

So as a follower of Christ and His teachings/commands, this is something that I will do, right?  The definition of "All Nations" has been debated.  Some people think it means you  must leave the United States.  Others (myself included) realizes that we are indeed a nation too...also in great need of Jesus.  So my personal mission field is here.  (Not to say that overseas missions are irrelevant.  they are vitally important, and I am amazed at the people willing to take it on)

 I get this excited urge to go share this with people.  I've been given an unimaginable gift and there are millions of people who have the same gift available to them, but keep turning it down.  It's like they just got an email that says they are the Grand Prize Winner...CALL NOW!  

and they just click delete.  

But then there is this other thing that Jesus said.  And honestly, it's starting to feel like THIS is the position I'm in.  

"Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."

 [or as another translation says]

“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you. "

[matthew 7:6]

Basically what Jesus just got done telling these people is not to judge.  Take the log out of your own eye before you look at the speck in the other guys'.   Then he says this.  

A commentary I read on it says that Jesus is saying that there are those people that are obviously hostile toward God and want nothing to do with him.  And you're not supposed to give what is holy to them.  Because all they'll do is trample it then turn and attack you.  

oh my. 

That's honestly what it feels like sometimes.  I present what is holy, sacred and so special to me to these people that want nothing to do with any of it.  And not only do they shoot down, trample and try to refute everything i say...they attack ME.  

Last night at work, I had a "friendly debate" with some coworkers about Obama's latest decision to support gay marriage.  Whew. they asked me what I thought about that, about gay marriage and then proposed a lot of scenarios, asking if i would change my mind if THAT were the case.  

I can have a friendly debate, no problem.  But in articulating what I believe and sharing what the Bible says and Jesus teaches, am I throwing my pearls before swine or am I going into all the world and preaching the gospel?  

how do i discern which is which?  at what point do i just not engage with these people?  is it ever fair to give up on telling them, because i never know what will prompt change...?

I am really not sure what the answer to that is. I apologize for not having a blog with answers to all of these questions...they are just my thoughts as of late.  
(disclaimer: if any of my non-Christian friends are reading this...No, I don't think you're pigs or whatever...and I have a LOT of respectful, non-Christian friends.  But I will not apologize for being honest and sharing my heart or my beliefs.  I struggle with these things because I care about you AND your heart/life/soul.  If I didn't believe in the cause of Christ 100% or love Jesus and you this much, I'm sad to say, you probably wouldn't even know I'm a Christian...) 

now on to the rest of the blog.       

 

Baby brother is so adorable.  He makes the craziest faces.  And on top of that, he's actually starting to SMILE!  

I LOVE IT. 

   

 SO CUTE! 

 I took Big Sister to the mall and we tried on little hair accessories at Claire's.  She is not one for head-decor, so it came off shortly thereafter.  

 But it was way cute while it lasted.  

 She loves the Carousel.  I know it doesn't look like it, but she really does.  She is just in awe of the lights and music.  And every once in a while, she'll break a faint grin and go, "Oooo."

  

 Sierra likes to snooze in the front seat while I drive.  

She also likes snoozing on the floor.  

She does a lot of snoozing in general.  

"Show me your teeth, K!"

Bathtime with Big Sister is SO much fun.  She laughs, giggles and has so much fun! 

 This girl loves looking at herself in the mirror.  it's really cute.  

And that's that.