Okay...I got it

I know that some people are skeptical about the existence of God and some people just don't/won't believe. I try not to argue with people anymore, but I totally believe and because of this belief I have no problem saying that I desperately want to go to Heaven. For a believer, heaven is leaps and bounds above the alternative. While clearly described as hot all year around, it is not what one would call a must see vacation locale.

Growing up the message was simple. Saved people go to heaven and if you want to go to heaven you need to be saved. Short, simple and too the point. As I got older, people started to tweak the story. I would hear things about people who are more faithful getting bigger blessings when they get to Heaven. (I am still not sure what that means because to be perfectly honest if the "end times" happen the way they read in Revelation, I won't care if I get a shack. It will still be better than eternal flames and damnation. I can't imagine there being a bad spot in a place called Heaven. That is why it is called HEAVEN!) I went to Catholic college and learned about Purgatory. I have heard about Mormons praying for the souls of those who have already died (for them to go to heaven). I have been told that even "saved" people aren't necessarily going to make it. All this just becomes confusing after a while.

So, I have taken what I call the "Faith Like a Child" approach. The idea is that the Bible is right and "if I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth" then I shall be saved. The only other thing I have to do is live like I believe. That is where most people, including myself, mess up. I also don't believe in big and little sins. So I don't care if you are a drug-dealing baby killer with porn playing on the new IPhone that you worship, I am no better than you when I cursed last night or when I seriously considered an acquaintance's suggestion that I use tricky business to get out of paying some of my bills. Lately, I have been entertaining more ungodly thoughts than normal and acting out a little.

So it should have come as no surprise to me when God clearly spoke the following message to me. "Get your attitude in check if you still want to go to Heaven." I went to church and the message was literally titled, "Why are you tripping?". Then, yesterday, I was flipping the channels and landed on Joyce Meyers, who I never watch because I spend all my time analyzing foolish things like the way the lines of her mouth keep going like Heath Ledger in the Batman movie or how ornate her inevitably bedazzled collar is, but I watch and actually listened this time. For what felt like hours, but was more like 10 minutes, she told me to get my attitude together and stop complaining, worrying, and setting myself up to have a bad day by anticipating the worse. Then I got to work today and Bible Gateway verse was, "Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Philippians 2:14.

All I could say was, "OK, God, I got it. You can stop yelling at me know." So, I have spent the entire day working on my attitude. When Boss Lady walked by and made comment about where I had placed my trashcan. I worked on my attitude. When Young Boss repeated the same instructions to me for the 5th time. I worked on my attitude. When Matlock came to my desk and talked to me in his patented condescending tone, I worked on my attitude. When Mother gave me more of her unsolicited advise/wisdom, I worked on my attitude and I have to be honest and say that I have actually had a better day. I have been more productive and more excited about things than I have been in months. I must also mention that I have had no desire to just "go off" on anyone all day despite their best efforts.

It is like I always say, "People may not believe, but they should thank God that I do!"