God sees right through us...
Why does God see our imperfections, our weak spots... our true thoughts?
Because He wants to know us..
That's really what it is about building relationships isn't it? getting down to the real you... Revealing who you really are to the ones you want to be close to. I mean If you wanted to get to know me you'd have to know who I was right?
I was a liar, a hypocrite, a coveter, an adulterer, a drunkard, I was all these things and more.
Now who would want to know me?
See humans we like to think we have someone all figured out, we like to see only surface deep, we like to make our conclusions by the things we hear and yet we choose not to relate even though we are also guilty of sin. But God, our Creator who made us so that we may worship Him. He still wants to know us... so He uncovers our heart laden with sin and sees what we could be.
5/31/11
Woah!
This weekend was unbelievable. God really manifested himself. There was so many things I learned. But one thing that really stuck with me was the thought of prayer. I realized I was not really allowing God to speak back to me. Something that I can't get out of my head was the beginning of Costin's rap about prayer, that is like the only part I really remember, and I don't believe it was a coincidence. I just want to truly pray, and practice what I learned during the retreat. Because God does not need to hear our prayers, cause he knows everything that goes on in our lives, we need to pray so God can show us what we truly need, and to refocus our minds, so that we can see the way God sees our situation.
Deep is the Love of Christ
Deep, deep is the love of Christ
Deep, deep is the love of Christ
There is no other so high and so wide
Deep, deep is the love of Christ
Nations will bow people will tremble
On the day He arrives
Deep, deep is the love of Christ
Deep, deep is the love of Christ
Strong, strong is the love of Christ
Strong strong is the love of Christ
There is no other so high and so wide
Strong strong is the love of Christ
Oceans are calm, seas are silent
When He says, "Be still!"
Strong, strong is the love of Christ
Strong strong is the love of Christ
This weekend, I feel that this idea of God's love being so deep has been hammered into my brain without me fully understanding it. We always use that word deep without knowing how much we depreciate its value (ex: "Yo that's mad deep"). I'm not saying that we use it incorrectly, we just use it too much that we forget what it means for something to be deep.
Deep~ A vast expanse that has not been measured or cannot be measured (ex: Space or time)
The fact that a pure just and holy God can love a sinner like me who constantly falls short of His standards, now that's mad deep.
Lead by Example
One thing that really impacted me this weekend was the fact that we should lead by example. I was able to learn about Josiah and how much of a person of change he was. In 2 Kings 23, we can see the reforms of Josiah.
(v.3) And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.
One thing we really see from this verse is that he performed the correct words of the book and how people saw what he did and how they followed him. Remember that Josiah was fairly young at that moment. He still made a change and he continued to change the old ways.
(v.21-23) And the king commanded all the people, Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant. For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was kept to the LORD in Jerusalem.
Examine yourself and know the truth. Josiah did all that has happened with all of his heart and his soul. He followed God, and only God. Because of his love for God, people really saw what a person he was. If we really love God and follow Him, I know people of our assemblies will follow us and our examples. We need to impact each other through Christ. Josiah was a man of change, and it is my desire to grow in (Luke 2:52) and to be a Josiah of my church.
Lets be a change! :D
(v.3) And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.
One thing we really see from this verse is that he performed the correct words of the book and how people saw what he did and how they followed him. Remember that Josiah was fairly young at that moment. He still made a change and he continued to change the old ways.
(v.21-23) And the king commanded all the people, Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant. For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was kept to the LORD in Jerusalem.
Examine yourself and know the truth. Josiah did all that has happened with all of his heart and his soul. He followed God, and only God. Because of his love for God, people really saw what a person he was. If we really love God and follow Him, I know people of our assemblies will follow us and our examples. We need to impact each other through Christ. Josiah was a man of change, and it is my desire to grow in (Luke 2:52) and to be a Josiah of my church.
Lets be a change! :D
5/30/11
If My People Pray
If my people pray
and reach for me with hearts, that are broken
I will not forget what I've spoken
Come and seek my grace
Heaven will rain, rivers of my grace, overflowing
Night and day my ears will be open..
If my people pray
-Avalon-
"Preachers who are great thinkiers, great students must be the greatest prayers, or else they will be the greatest of backsliders, heartless professionals, rationalistic, less than the least of preachers in God's estimate." -E.M. Bounds
We need to learn the art of prayer, the need to pray daily even we dont feel like it.. we need prayer to form our prespective, our dream, the ministry and our lifestyle. Let Christ speak in your heart and mine's.
and reach for me with hearts, that are broken
I will not forget what I've spoken
Come and seek my grace
Heaven will rain, rivers of my grace, overflowing
Night and day my ears will be open..
If my people pray
-Avalon-
"Preachers who are great thinkiers, great students must be the greatest prayers, or else they will be the greatest of backsliders, heartless professionals, rationalistic, less than the least of preachers in God's estimate." -E.M. Bounds
We need to learn the art of prayer, the need to pray daily even we dont feel like it.. we need prayer to form our prespective, our dream, the ministry and our lifestyle. Let Christ speak in your heart and mine's.
Lead Me to Calvary
You only learn to love people when you look past who they are at the moment and see who they could be. That's what I learned this weekend. By placing value in each individual you come across, you begin seeing the beauty of God's creation. When I came home today I was quickly filled with dread..I don't want to return to the mundane- school, finals, the works..argh. Oh the joy of standardized exams. -_- But you know what? Each moment I'm conscious of God- His existence and His presence, I feel completely at rest. God definitely spoke to me this week, and He answered a prayer from a couple of weeks back- that I would remember the cross and the sacrifice of Christ. Basic, I know, but essential to my heart's failing understanding of faith. Man, he is so good.Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget thine agony,
Lest I forget thy love for me
Lead me to Calvary.
What a wonderful Saviour.
What victory in surrender.
What a beautiful God.
Hey guys
Youth retreat was great! I haven't been able to come for a while because of school. I hope you're alll doing well, and I'll be coming as soon as possible. See ya guys!
Recalculating Route?
Often times in life we find ourselves in the same shoes as the Israelites, it seems like we are spending an awful lot of time out in the wilderness, sitting, waiting, watching for where God wants us to go. But more often than not we get fed up with the waiting, and we limit God to where he has brought us, and are impatient to see where he is taking us. What we see in our forward prospective looks very tempting, and we like the looks of where that road can take us. But in becoming content with the things we see with our perspective, we are limiting the place that God sees with his plan. We can only see the car in front of us, God can see the traffic that's ahead.
Kind of like what Solomon was talking about in Proverbs 3 "5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
What a shame it is when we try to comprehend the overall picture with our infant minds. We try to make our own conclusions and develop our own schemes on how to get where we want to go in life. But in doing so we are only limiting God to the plan that he has in his infinite understanding.
In hindsight it seems better to sit, wait and watch in the wilderness than to be wondering around in your own plans for 40 years.
Here is a good song to sum it all up.
-Alex
Kind of like what Solomon was talking about in Proverbs 3 "5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
What a shame it is when we try to comprehend the overall picture with our infant minds. We try to make our own conclusions and develop our own schemes on how to get where we want to go in life. But in doing so we are only limiting God to the plan that he has in his infinite understanding.
In hindsight it seems better to sit, wait and watch in the wilderness than to be wondering around in your own plans for 40 years.
Here is a good song to sum it all up.
-Alex
5/29/11
Sunday Morning
"Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to Visit the Tomb. Suddenly there was a Great Earthquake! For an Angel of the Lord came down from Heaven, Rolled aside the Stone, and sat on it. His Face shone like Lightning, and his Clothing was as White as Snow. The Guards shook with Fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the ANGEL spoke to the women. “DON'T BE AFRAID!” he said “I KNOW YOU ARE LOOKING FOR JESUS, WHO WAS CRUCIFIED. HE ISN'T HERE! HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD, JUST AS HE SAID WOULD HAPPEN. COME, SEE WHERE HIS BODY WAS LYING. and NOW, GO QUICKLY & TELL HIS DISCIPLES THATHE HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD, AND HE IS GOING AHEAD OF YOU TO GALILEE. YOU WILL SEE HIM THERE
5/28/11
5/27/11
Life lessons
1. Life has no rewind button
We go through experiences. We live and we learn. We can't go back and change things but we can determine to go forward despite the things that happened
2. Life doesn't go according to our plans
We can plan all we want but God is in control and knows how life is going to unwind. Things don't always go the way we planned it but that isn't always a bad thing. God knows what's best for us and allows certain situations in our life so we may learn from it and ultimately it is always our choice how we react to unforeseen events. Every circumstance can be used to God's glory if we choose to do so
3. Life isn't fair
That's right. Often, it isn't fair but let's not start talking fair because then we have to talk about hell. Hell is definitely "fair" in terms of what we deserve but God went above and beyond to give us what we do not deserve : Eternal Life -Jesus Christ so when we are tempted to dwell on "unfair" determine to be grateful for what we do have : Jesus Christ, the One and Only, the Father's best
We go through experiences. We live and we learn. We can't go back and change things but we can determine to go forward despite the things that happened
2. Life doesn't go according to our plans
We can plan all we want but God is in control and knows how life is going to unwind. Things don't always go the way we planned it but that isn't always a bad thing. God knows what's best for us and allows certain situations in our life so we may learn from it and ultimately it is always our choice how we react to unforeseen events. Every circumstance can be used to God's glory if we choose to do so
3. Life isn't fair
That's right. Often, it isn't fair but let's not start talking fair because then we have to talk about hell. Hell is definitely "fair" in terms of what we deserve but God went above and beyond to give us what we do not deserve : Eternal Life -Jesus Christ so when we are tempted to dwell on "unfair" determine to be grateful for what we do have : Jesus Christ, the One and Only, the Father's best
Being a Life Long Learner
Be a life Long Learner.
2 Timothy 4:13 “Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.”
The "parchments" here is the new testament way of saying the scriptures and the "books" are other books that the contemporaries in Paul's day wrote which were non Inspired.
Its truly amazing that Paul in the end of his very life with all that Knowledge, Wisdom, and Understanding, that he is still eager to learn!
5/26/11
5/25/11
Step by Step
This is not my post for the week, but just thought I would share this song taking that it's been on my heart a lot this week. Hope you can be encouraged
later
Worry
Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 : I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to sons of men to be exercised therewith. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
I was meditating on this portion for a while in my study and I learned so much from it.
HIS POSITION: He was king, he was in a position to do anything he wanted, anything that could
entail the maximum amount of enjoyment and pleasure.
HIS PASSION: He gave his heart completely to what he wanted to do.
HIS PURSUIT: He went after what he wanted.
HIS PARALYSIS: He wanted to know everything about everything.
HIS PAIN: He realized this just led to emptiness.
HIS PRICE: Wisdom that was supposed to be used for God's glory, ultimately turned his heart
away from God.
Our paralysis can be the same as Solomon's. We are forced to learn in school and college, because we need that degree to get that job to live. And that's what we should be doing, because ultimately, you need to survive. It's when constant learning, and working leads
to worry and worry leads to distance from God. Then what are we left with. Emptinesss.
All of us are anxious and overwhelmed with the worry of something or another. Just don't
let it stunt your relationship with God.
Together
This is our fellowship. Not any single individuals. Our collective fellowship as a whole.
So let's get to work on the things we talked about tonight...
together
5/24/11
The Family That Prays Together ...
"As Christians we should never neglect or ignore our relationships with the opposite sex. Do you know why? Because God tells us that as Christians we have a built-in level of commitment to each other as 'brothers and sisters' in Christ (1 Timothy 5:1-2). We're family. And while there are limits to how close men and women can be in friendships, we can't shirk our responsibility to care for, encourage, and build up our brothers and sisters." ~ Joshua Harris
Remember to build each other up. God has blessed us with a community of Believers, near and far, that are seeking Him daily, having hearts ablaze with desire to learn more. Call, write, text, read, share, encourage. Keep the fire going in each other! Pray for each other, that your brother or sister should flee from temptation and not stumble. Love one another. Siblings fight, over the big things and the small. But in the end we are all connected by blood. By the blood of the Lamb. Love means forgiveness of wrongs, acceptance of faults and truth in action. A family is a unit and like anything else, can only function when all the parts are working together.
"That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head --Christ-- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." ~ Ephesians 4: 14-16
Remember to build each other up. God has blessed us with a community of Believers, near and far, that are seeking Him daily, having hearts ablaze with desire to learn more. Call, write, text, read, share, encourage. Keep the fire going in each other! Pray for each other, that your brother or sister should flee from temptation and not stumble. Love one another. Siblings fight, over the big things and the small. But in the end we are all connected by blood. By the blood of the Lamb. Love means forgiveness of wrongs, acceptance of faults and truth in action. A family is a unit and like anything else, can only function when all the parts are working together.
"That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head --Christ-- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." ~ Ephesians 4: 14-16
looking forward to the weekend
Ever since we learned the book of Acts in sunday school, I've been fascinated by all the different things that happened in the time of apostles. It was really stunning how God's work was being carried out by Christ's closest people.
In Acts 2:42-44 it says "They(the newly saved people) were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles."
The verse explains what was on the heart and minds of these people who have a new "fire" within them. Their actions point to the fact that JESUS was on their heart! They wanted to know Christ and learn of Him. As we draw closer to youth retreat, I want that to my goal and the hope for every single individual attending =) Let's look to this weekend with a receiving heart.
In Acts 2:42-44 it says "They(the newly saved people) were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles."
The verse explains what was on the heart and minds of these people who have a new "fire" within them. Their actions point to the fact that JESUS was on their heart! They wanted to know Christ and learn of Him. As we draw closer to youth retreat, I want that to my goal and the hope for every single individual attending =) Let's look to this weekend with a receiving heart.
yoo
http://www.metro.us/newyork/all%20usa%20cities/article/869642--harold-camping-the-rapture-did-happen-we-just-didn-t-notice-it
remember this lady?
They are still out there proclaiming what they know to be truth, even though they are probably scolded for it everyday. The supposed day of the rapture past, these dudes are still on the earth, but still they draw their strength from somewhere to keep going. They are determined to make this "truth" known all because of one word. Hope.
They have a hope.
We have a hope too. And what we know to be truth, is actually truth. Jesus Christ is true in our lives every single day. People say truth is relative. Truth may be relative to them, but to us its absolute, its tangible, its visible, its audible.
We know that Jesus will return soon for sure, ("Behold I come quickly" <- Jesus' words not mine.)
So word,
Pick up your baseball bat and stand at the door like the thief gon come tonight.
(It's a figure of speech Charlie, don't perform that action literally.)
remember this lady?
They are still out there proclaiming what they know to be truth, even though they are probably scolded for it everyday. The supposed day of the rapture past, these dudes are still on the earth, but still they draw their strength from somewhere to keep going. They are determined to make this "truth" known all because of one word. Hope.
They have a hope.
We have a hope too. And what we know to be truth, is actually truth. Jesus Christ is true in our lives every single day. People say truth is relative. Truth may be relative to them, but to us its absolute, its tangible, its visible, its audible.
We know that Jesus will return soon for sure, ("Behold I come quickly" <- Jesus' words not mine.)
So word,
Pick up your baseball bat and stand at the door like the thief gon come tonight.
(It's a figure of speech Charlie, don't perform that action literally.)
The Face of Love
I’ve seen your face on stained glass, in colored lights
In pictures of you looking to the sky
You’ve been portrayed a thousand different ways
But my heart can see you better than my eyes
‘Cause it’s love that points the portrait of your life
The face of love
The face of love
You look more like love everyday
I’ve read your words in the pages of your life
And I’ve imagined what you were like
I may not know the shape of your face
But I can feel your heart changing mine
And your love still proves that you’re alive
The face of love
You look more like love everyday
You are the face that changed the whole world
No one too lost for you love
No one too low for you to serve
So give us the grace to change the world
No one too lost for me to love
No one too low for me to serve
Let us see...
Let us be your face
In pictures of you looking to the sky
You’ve been portrayed a thousand different ways
But my heart can see you better than my eyes
‘Cause it’s love that points the portrait of your life
The face of love
The face of love
You look more like love everyday
I’ve read your words in the pages of your life
And I’ve imagined what you were like
I may not know the shape of your face
But I can feel your heart changing mine
And your love still proves that you’re alive
The face of love
You look more like love everyday
You are the face that changed the whole world
No one too lost for you love
No one too low for you to serve
So give us the grace to change the world
No one too lost for me to love
No one too low for me to serve
Let us see...
Let us be your face
overwhelmed
I was feeling overwhelmed this week especially with being sick and youth retreat in a few days, but prayer has been helping. Little by little, God produces solutions for me.. and while that's happening, I've been thinking about what is it that God wants me to know about Him through this overwhelmingness , what is it that He wants to grow in me, and what is it that He wants to show others? Well I'm not going to share right now what I've realized about myself.. but I'll share something I learned about Nehemiah in chapter 1...
God wanted to grow in Him- dependency upon God alone
He wanted Nehemiah to know about His provision
And He wanted to show others- what passion looks like
2 Cor 5:21
"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him"
I've appreciated this verse more so this week as I've been studying what Christ did for us in the great price that He paid for our salvation. He gave His all to rescue us. He bacame NOTHING so that He could give us EVERYTHING. How amazing is this love that we've been given. How blessed are we to be called His daughters and sons. We can never get used to hearing that Christ died for us. It should move us today and tomorrow just as much as it did yesterday and the day before that and the first day we met Him at the foot of the Cross. The beauty of the Cross of Calvary deepens with each day that we walk with Him. The more we know Him and the more we recognize how wretched we really are the more beautiful that Cross appears, the more we can appreciate how amazing His grace really is and how unconditional His love really is. THANK YOU JESUS.
I've appreciated this verse more so this week as I've been studying what Christ did for us in the great price that He paid for our salvation. He gave His all to rescue us. He bacame NOTHING so that He could give us EVERYTHING. How amazing is this love that we've been given. How blessed are we to be called His daughters and sons. We can never get used to hearing that Christ died for us. It should move us today and tomorrow just as much as it did yesterday and the day before that and the first day we met Him at the foot of the Cross. The beauty of the Cross of Calvary deepens with each day that we walk with Him. The more we know Him and the more we recognize how wretched we really are the more beautiful that Cross appears, the more we can appreciate how amazing His grace really is and how unconditional His love really is. THANK YOU JESUS.
5/23/11
The Known God
Acts 17:7 : For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him I declare unto you.
Why devote yourself to someone you don't know? It's purely religious, not personal. It's doing something for the sake of doing it. God didn't create us for the sake of creating us, although it was in His sovereign right to do so. He created us to have a relationship with Him. An honest relationship. Even after Jesus died for us, He did it knowing we would still sin. The cross saved us from sin, it didn't stop us from sinning, and God knew that, and did it anyway. It is a privilege to know God. Not a right. A privilege.
To Do:
I decided to be a good kid and get my to-do list done for this week. :)) Thing is, right now it looks overwhelmingly huge, and its starting to get to me. I desperately wish it was Friday. It's funny, I made my to-do list for the week around 10 today morning and when I read today's devo when I got home, it was all about setting goals, and I think it captures my thoughts perfectly, so check it out:
Dream BIG! Plan SMART!
The Clearer You Goal, The Greater Your Faith....
"For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Luke 14:28
Give yourself tons to do. Pile it on. Accept More responsibilities at work, at home. You get more accomplished when you attempt more. You won't get it all done, but the more you attempt, the more you'll accomplish.
Those Minutes or hours spent wondering "what to do next" are wasting your precious time. There are loads of things in your life that need doing. Make an organized, prioritized list and keep it handy. Don't freak-out about getting it all done, just do one thing after another. Then keep adding to your list. The list will never get done, but a lot of other things will.
You can do whatever you want. You can be whatever you want. You can have whatever you want. First, by Trusting God, His Plan is Best, then, By Doing it, by Being it, by Getting it.... Through Faith & By doing what it takes. By making a list of the steps you need to get there, and then following those steps, one after another.
It's simple. Yea, you've heard it before. But it works.
The Love of God by Mercy Me
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell
The guilty pair, bowed down with care
God gave His Son to win
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin
Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky
Hallelujah
O love of God, how rich and pure
How measureless and strong
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell
The guilty pair, bowed down with care
God gave His Son to win
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin
Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky
Hallelujah
O love of God, how rich and pure
How measureless and strong
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song
In His Time
Lately I've been pretty impatient with God. Throughout my day I usually pray a one-way prayer asking questions or just talking about how I feel at that moment. And I constantly expect an answer of some sort. As I look back at it now, I know that's the problem, I've been expecting too much. I haven't been so patient with God.
And He brought me to this song:
IN HIS TIME, IN HIS TIME
HE MAKES ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL IN HIS TIME
LORD, PLEASE SHOW ME EVERYDAY
AS YOU'RE TEACHING ME YOUR WAY
AND I'LL DO JUST WHAT YOU SAY
IN YOUR TIME.
IN YOUR TIME, IN YOUR TIME
YOU MAKE ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL IN YOUR TIME
LORD, MY LIFE TO YOU I BRING
MAY EACH SONG I HAVE TO SING
BE TO YOU A LOVELY THING
IN YOUR TIME
Romans 5:3,4~
Romans 15:5~
God is a God of patience.
And that's just another reason why we want to be more like Him.
And He brought me to this song:
IN HIS TIME, IN HIS TIME
HE MAKES ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL IN HIS TIME
LORD, PLEASE SHOW ME EVERYDAY
AS YOU'RE TEACHING ME YOUR WAY
AND I'LL DO JUST WHAT YOU SAY
IN YOUR TIME.
IN YOUR TIME, IN YOUR TIME
YOU MAKE ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL IN YOUR TIME
LORD, MY LIFE TO YOU I BRING
MAY EACH SONG I HAVE TO SING
BE TO YOU A LOVELY THING
IN YOUR TIME
Romans 5:3,4~
And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience. And patience, experience; and experience, hope.
Romans 15:5~
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus
God is a God of patience.
And that's just another reason why we want to be more like Him.
5/20/11
5/18/11
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Hola Familia! Lets get some good dialogues and conversations going on this blog...
I am not trying to change anyone's belief or view's with this post but my intent for all who read this is that they would be challenged and encouraged to Seek, Study, and Research the Bible diligently and fervently. Why? Because we cannot afford to be wrong.
The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12-" Now concerning spiritual gifts, I would not have you ignorant. "
Certainly, Spiritual gifts existed in the early church, and their is no historical, exegetical, or logical reason for supposing that they were not intended to exists so long as the church would endure on the earth.
Historical Reason(Church History): The Church for 1800 years believed in all the manifestations of the spiritual gifts. The Catholic and Orthodox Church believed in them for 1500 years. That is everyone from the Apostles, to the Apostles disciples, to the early church fathers, and to the reformers believed in them. It was B.B War-field who was a theologian from Princeton in his book "Counterfeit Miracles" who furnished most of the information and material later used by almost all those who are against the concept of spiritual gifts in the Christian church. He wrote this book in response to a movement which people were abusing the usage of spiritual Gifts. From this point and forward in Church History, the gifts of the Holy Spirit was seldom mentioned and when mentioned, it was negative.
Exegetical and Logical Reason: One of the Chief Objections to the gifts of the Holy Spirit being operative in the Christian church was and is still based on 1 Corinthians 13. They would use the text from 1 Corinthians 13:10 to support their position.
1 Corinthians 13:10-"But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." The word perfect their means in the Greek complete. They say this verse refers not to the termination of the gifts at the second coming of Christ( which is the classical Interpretation) but instead, they say that the perfect means the completion of the New Testament Canon or Apostloic age. Consequently, they conclude that it is unessary for the gifts of the spirit to continue. This is a very weak assumption and speculation not supported by the language or the context of Chapter 13. Even though this is foregin to the greek in the context, B.B Warfeild popularized it and succeeded in sharing it.
Generally, scholarship has held " that which is perfect is come" to mean the second coming of Christ. The context of 1 Corinthians 13 is clarified in Verse 12. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, the Apostle Paul says, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."
Verse 12 teaches that gifts will cease their full manifestation when we see " face to face" and when "we know even as also we are known." Contextually and gramatically, you can't separate this from the second coming of Christ. And the Parellel passage to 1 Corinthians 13:12 is 1 John 3:2-"Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is."
Now of Course there have been and still are abuses of spiritual gifts by some believers, even as there is neglect of these gifts by other believers.
Reference:Dr.Walter Martin
I am not trying to change anyone's belief or view's with this post but my intent for all who read this is that they would be challenged and encouraged to Seek, Study, and Research the Bible diligently and fervently. Why? Because we cannot afford to be wrong.
The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12-" Now concerning spiritual gifts, I would not have you ignorant. "
Certainly, Spiritual gifts existed in the early church, and their is no historical, exegetical, or logical reason for supposing that they were not intended to exists so long as the church would endure on the earth.
Historical Reason(Church History): The Church for 1800 years believed in all the manifestations of the spiritual gifts. The Catholic and Orthodox Church believed in them for 1500 years. That is everyone from the Apostles, to the Apostles disciples, to the early church fathers, and to the reformers believed in them. It was B.B War-field who was a theologian from Princeton in his book "Counterfeit Miracles" who furnished most of the information and material later used by almost all those who are against the concept of spiritual gifts in the Christian church. He wrote this book in response to a movement which people were abusing the usage of spiritual Gifts. From this point and forward in Church History, the gifts of the Holy Spirit was seldom mentioned and when mentioned, it was negative.
Exegetical and Logical Reason: One of the Chief Objections to the gifts of the Holy Spirit being operative in the Christian church was and is still based on 1 Corinthians 13. They would use the text from 1 Corinthians 13:10 to support their position.
1 Corinthians 13:10-"But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." The word perfect their means in the Greek complete. They say this verse refers not to the termination of the gifts at the second coming of Christ( which is the classical Interpretation) but instead, they say that the perfect means the completion of the New Testament Canon or Apostloic age. Consequently, they conclude that it is unessary for the gifts of the spirit to continue. This is a very weak assumption and speculation not supported by the language or the context of Chapter 13. Even though this is foregin to the greek in the context, B.B Warfeild popularized it and succeeded in sharing it.
Generally, scholarship has held " that which is perfect is come" to mean the second coming of Christ. The context of 1 Corinthians 13 is clarified in Verse 12. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, the Apostle Paul says, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."
Verse 12 teaches that gifts will cease their full manifestation when we see " face to face" and when "we know even as also we are known." Contextually and gramatically, you can't separate this from the second coming of Christ. And the Parellel passage to 1 Corinthians 13:12 is 1 John 3:2-"Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is."
Now of Course there have been and still are abuses of spiritual gifts by some believers, even as there is neglect of these gifts by other believers.
Reference:Dr.Walter Martin
We Must Keep Progressing
Hebrews 6:1-8
1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
5/17/11
The prodigal people
Ephesians ch. 2 never ceases to blow me away...the manner in which the Holy Spirit etched the words on the paper and from then on to every believer's heart as they read over their past condition is just astounding.
I mean can we imagine how much of a filthy people we were? Well, don't worry if you cant, v. 3 explains it pretty explicitly...we were in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and mind. We were by default children of wrath!
But God, in His abundant grace and mercy, still chose to love us (v. 4).
Oh, but it doesn't end there...Paul really wants the believers at Ephesus to not forget their past condition, and the Holy Spirit in turn wants us to not forget our past condition.
In v. 12 it reads that we were "were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world."
Guys and girls, we were doomed people... People who chose to go away from the presence of our heavenly Father, and desired to live in our self-seeking ways. But in the end, that only leads to an unfulfilled life...a meaningless life. We had no part in the promise that God gave His people, the Israelites. We were not people to which belonged the "adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises." (Rom 9:4)
But wait a minute...verse 13 says that He's brought us back!
"But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." We, the sinful people, are redeemed, but only through the sacrificial blood of God's only son!
verse 14 says that Christ indeed is our "peace, who made both groups(jews and gentiles) into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall." WOW...
but wait, even this isn't what really strikes me! What really blew me away was when in v. 19, Paul says
"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household."
Praise the Lord...we're partakers in the covenant that was between the Israelites and God alone. We're not only partakers in Christ's suffering, but also in His glory...We're able to come back to God and worship Him once again. We're able because of Jesus Christ.
Let's not forget who we were...but take JOY in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
God bless :)
Just Build
Nehemiah 2:20~
Don't worry about logistics, as long as we keep building, God will do the rest.
Nehemiah 2:17-18~
When Nehemiah reminded the people of all the good things that God had done for them, the people shifted their mind-set and became ready to work. They strengthened themselves.
Nehemiah 4:6~
I've noticed recently that I can do a lot for my church. I used to have this mentality that when I got older, then I would become more responsible. It turns out that I was wrong... who knew? loll
We have to stop being lazy and make an effort to bring change (for the better)
Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build
Don't worry about logistics, as long as we keep building, God will do the rest.
Nehemiah 2:17-18~
(17) Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we [are] in, how Jerusalem [lieth] waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. (18) Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for [this] good [work].
When Nehemiah reminded the people of all the good things that God had done for them, the people shifted their mind-set and became ready to work. They strengthened themselves.
Nehemiah 4:6~
So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
I've noticed recently that I can do a lot for my church. I used to have this mentality that when I got older, then I would become more responsible. It turns out that I was wrong... who knew? loll
We have to stop being lazy and make an effort to bring change (for the better)
A Silent Place
Father, in divine love You lead
Us to silent places where Your absence
Is like a deafening echo that presses against the soul.
With trembling confidence we cling to what we know because we cannot feel.
Our sight is fixed upon that “God-forsaken” cross
Where Your Son knew
That in the darkest hours
Are the deepest works.
Father, in divine love You lead
Us to silent places where Your absence
Is like a deafening echo that presses against the soul.
With trembling confidence we cling to what we know because we cannot feel.
Our sight is fixed upon that “God-forsaken” cross
Where Your Son knew
That in the darkest hours
Are the deepest works.
"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
- Psalm 46:10
When God asks us to be still, there is a second part to that being still. We are not asked to be still and do nothing, we are not asked to be still and worry about our past, present, or future, we are asked to be still and know that He is God. In the stillness, we ought to be reflecting and knowing with firm affrimation that He is God. That is what we should be doing, when we are still ....
May 21 2011
Harold Camping
He is still alive Age 89 His current prediction is that the Rapture will be on May 21, 2011
the picture up top shows he's not to sure about the prediction he made .
Matthew 24:36-44 declares, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father…Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come…So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” the phrase “nor the Son” does not mean Jesus will never know when He will return. Similarly, it is possible that, while Matthew 24:36-44 indicates that no one at that time could know the timing of Jesus’ return. The May 21, 2011, date is proposed by Harold Camping of Family Radio. It should be noted that Harold Camping previously predicted that Jesus would come back in 1994. Obviously, Camping was wrong.
1) Bible nowhere encourages us to attempt to discover the timing of Jesus’ return, and (2) the Bible gives no explicit data by which the timing of Jesus’ return can be determined. Rather than developing wild and speculative calculations to determine when Jesus is coming back, the Bible encourages us to “keep watch” and “be ready
"Come" ...one of God's favorite words
Come let us reason together
Says the Lord
Though your sins are as scarlet
They will be white as snow
Though they are red like crimson
They will be like wool
Wash yourself, make thee clean
Put away evil from mine eyes
Learn to do what is right
Seek justice, walk by my side
-Isaiah 1
PS: pottersclay16 is me, Lisa :)
Says the Lord
Though your sins are as scarlet
They will be white as snow
Though they are red like crimson
They will be like wool
Wash yourself, make thee clean
Put away evil from mine eyes
Learn to do what is right
Seek justice, walk by my side
-Isaiah 1
PS: pottersclay16 is me, Lisa :)
5/16/11
Day I will NEVER Forget
"O What a wonderful, wonderful day
Day I will never forget;
After I'd wandered in darkness away,
Jesus my Savior I met.
O what a tender, compassionate friend
He met the need of my heart;
Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling,
He made all the darkness depart.
Heaven came down
And glory filled my soul,
When at the cross
The Savior made me whole;
My sins were washed away
And my night was turned to day
Heaven came down
And glory filled my soul!"
These lyrics accurately depict how I felt the day I accepted Jesus as my personal savior. It was definitely a day I will never forget. Sometimes, we needa look back on that day to be reminded that we serve an incredible God who is always looking out for us. We gave him our hearts, and all we need to do is TRUST in him.
Day I will never forget;
After I'd wandered in darkness away,
Jesus my Savior I met.
O what a tender, compassionate friend
He met the need of my heart;
Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling,
He made all the darkness depart.
Heaven came down
And glory filled my soul,
When at the cross
The Savior made me whole;
My sins were washed away
And my night was turned to day
Heaven came down
And glory filled my soul!"
These lyrics accurately depict how I felt the day I accepted Jesus as my personal savior. It was definitely a day I will never forget. Sometimes, we needa look back on that day to be reminded that we serve an incredible God who is always looking out for us. We gave him our hearts, and all we need to do is TRUST in him.
To know and be known
"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God and so we are...but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure." 1John 3: 1-3
Tough guy huh: 1 Samuel 26:8-10
Then said Abishai to David "God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not [smite] him the second time"
And David said to Abishai " Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand agaisn't the lord's anointed, and be guiltless?"
David said furthermore "As the lord liveth, the lord shall smite; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle and perish."
David is someone who definitley inspires what it means to be a man of God. He had an opportunity to get rid of his enemy, the one guy who made it an attempt to kill him. I'm sure David was tired of having Saul chase him around, but in this instance he choose not to fight back.
Guys David didn't fight back because he was too scared, he surely wouldn't have entered his camp if he was. It wasn't because he wasn't strong enough either, hey David killed a lion with his bear hands! Even Saul knows that!
No David wasn't wasn't trying to prove that he was tough enough to kill Saul, but a man who follows God!
And David said to Abishai " Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand agaisn't the lord's anointed, and be guiltless?"
David said furthermore "As the lord liveth, the lord shall smite; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle and perish."
David is someone who definitley inspires what it means to be a man of God. He had an opportunity to get rid of his enemy, the one guy who made it an attempt to kill him. I'm sure David was tired of having Saul chase him around, but in this instance he choose not to fight back.
Guys David didn't fight back because he was too scared, he surely wouldn't have entered his camp if he was. It wasn't because he wasn't strong enough either, hey David killed a lion with his bear hands! Even Saul knows that!
No David wasn't wasn't trying to prove that he was tough enough to kill Saul, but a man who follows God!
God Delights In Mercy
Psalm 147:11 :: The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
It's a comforting thought to have that God doesn't give his mercy to us begrudgingly. That
is not the nature of God. God knows we are prone to sin and we aren't perfect. It's also
not the case that he "doesn't mind" giving us His mercy. The truth is He actually takes pleasure
in giving us His mercy. Word.
Hillsong - Your Name High
Your innocence forsaken
Upon that cross
You gave yourself for us
Carried into your freedom
Our broken past replaced in
A second chance
The chains have come undone
Death defied in the Father's love
We are
Living to make Your name high
Jesus
Living to make Your name high
Jesus you
Gave what the world couldn't offer us
Say what they want
Say what they want
We are free
The atmosphere is changing
Oh can You hear the people rising up
In the hope of your freedom
Our former ways are breaking
We seek your face God let your kingdom come
In our praises be
Lifted high
With eyes on high we praise you
And with one voice we come together
Our one desire to praise you
And lift you up in our surrender
With eyes on high we praise you
And with one voice we come together
Our one desire to praise you
Upon that cross
You gave yourself for us
Carried into your freedom
Our broken past replaced in
A second chance
The chains have come undone
Death defied in the Father's love
We are
Living to make Your name high
Jesus
Living to make Your name high
Jesus you
Gave what the world couldn't offer us
Say what they want
Say what they want
We are free
The atmosphere is changing
Oh can You hear the people rising up
In the hope of your freedom
Our former ways are breaking
We seek your face God let your kingdom come
In our praises be
Lifted high
With eyes on high we praise you
And with one voice we come together
Our one desire to praise you
And lift you up in our surrender
With eyes on high we praise you
And with one voice we come together
Our one desire to praise you
5/15/11
Darkness
Matthew 27:45-46
45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
3 Hours. For 3 hours, the lights went out. Total darkness. Up until this point, our Savior Jesus Christ suffered at the hands of men. The pain tremendous, and unimaginable. But it wasn't over. The event that made Jesus so anxious, that made His heart so heavy at the garden, was yet to come. The lights suddenly go out, at the peak of the day when the sun should have been shining at it's brightest. Can you imagine complete darkness? Everyone who was present at the scene, is now at a stand still. We can assume they were paralyzed with fear. His torturers put their weapons at ease. His mockers silence their mouths. It was God's turn. 3 Hours. For 3 hours Christ suffered at the hands of God, His Father. It's one thing to suffer physical and emotional torment at the hands of men, but we can't even begin to imagine what the wrath of God means. In those 3 hours, which must have felt like an eternity, God dealt with all the sins of mankind, on His son Jesus Christ. Jesus' joy was found in looking into His Father's face, but during that time, His Father's face was turned away. The creator of the world who knew no sin, was dealt with as if He was the worst of sinners, so much so that He cries out to His Father asking Him why He has been forsaken. 3 Hours.
... and to think; it was my sins that held Him there.
Truth is, we'll never really know how much it cost Him to free you from sin, but just flip through the leather-back book near your bedside, He says you're worth it.
What an awesome God we serve.
What an awesome God we serve.
CLASSIC JESUS!! Always answering a question with a question?
Luke 10: 25-28
5 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
HOW DO YOU KEEP GETTING THROUGH LIFE AND HOW DO YOU INHERIT IT?
LOVE GOD! :)
Discernment
Discernment- the ability to decide between truth and error, right and wrong.
1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 - but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
Many of us have a discerning heart which is from God. There are those who stick for what is right, what is just, or what is true. Discerning people abstain from any form of evil. We are given the ability to question and to test in order to see what is right. It is the responsibility of every Christian to be discerning. Discernment is not optional for the believer-it is required.
1 John 4:1- Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
John, in this verse, is talking about being careful in what you're being exposed to. Many false prophets go around in this world spreading false information and leading people away from Christ. We shouldn't be apart of that and go with the flow. We need to know whether they are speaking of the truth by testing them.
Jude 1:4 - For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Sometimes believers might not notice who they bring into their churches to speak on Sunday. We sometimes don't stop them from speaking or stop them from continuing with their evil. God wants us to use that spiritual anger without sin. We need to be able to stand up and test them.
Matthew 7:15 - Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
This verse is well known by many.. Exactly as it is mentioned here, false prophets can come secretly into our assemblies and speak blasphemies. We need to be vigilant about these things. God gave us the Holy spirit inside of us that contains discernment.
1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 - but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
Many of us have a discerning heart which is from God. There are those who stick for what is right, what is just, or what is true. Discerning people abstain from any form of evil. We are given the ability to question and to test in order to see what is right. It is the responsibility of every Christian to be discerning. Discernment is not optional for the believer-it is required.
1 John 4:1- Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
John, in this verse, is talking about being careful in what you're being exposed to. Many false prophets go around in this world spreading false information and leading people away from Christ. We shouldn't be apart of that and go with the flow. We need to know whether they are speaking of the truth by testing them.
Jude 1:4 - For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Sometimes believers might not notice who they bring into their churches to speak on Sunday. We sometimes don't stop them from speaking or stop them from continuing with their evil. God wants us to use that spiritual anger without sin. We need to be able to stand up and test them.
Matthew 7:15 - Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
This verse is well known by many.. Exactly as it is mentioned here, false prophets can come secretly into our assemblies and speak blasphemies. We need to be vigilant about these things. God gave us the Holy spirit inside of us that contains discernment.
Nature
I look out the window it’s raining
Even in the rain the birds sing
I look out the window the wind is blowing
But the tree stands still
I look at myself whining about my sorrows
I look at myself falling when the wind blows
What should I do?
Why does the bird sing even when it rains?
Birds actually sing sweeter in the rain
Because they want to attract there mate
Can we sing to in times of rain to attract God?
How is the tree standing?
Even when the winds are blowing hard?
Their roots are firm and deep into the ground
So it may not fall
Is our root firm and deep into the word?
Rain represents sorrow
What were things Job faced?
-ox and donkeys raided by Sabeans
-fire of God fell from heaven or say lightning burned the sheep
-Chaldeans formed 3 bands raided the camels
Think about how much love and affection and work he put into those 11, 500 animals
-Killed the servants
-Jobs’ kids feast a wind hit the house killed them
Now think about how much love he gave to those children
Job would wake up early in the morning sacrificing an animal for each son think they might have cursed God in their hearts and now they got killed instead Job weeping and cursing God
Job 1:20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped
Job worshiped rather than crying in sorrow
Wind represents waver
Mathew 4
Jesus is tested in the wilderness
Jesus didn’t eat for 40 days and 40 nights
Devil in v.3 said “If You are the Son of God,
Command that these stones become bread.”
Jesus in v. 4 “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the from the mouth of God.
At the end Devil in v.8 “All these things I will give You if
You will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said “Away with you, Satan!
For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.
Instead of Jesus wavering He was firm and rooted in the word
5/14/11
So small
We are small, and weak. Let me give you an example:
The Ticonderoga Pencil that I'm Holding in my hand is so small compared to me.
I'm puny compared to my apartment, my apartment is so small compared to my neighborhood. My neighborhood is nothing compared to Yonkers.Yonkers , Is just a small city in Westchester County. Yet Westchester County, is small compared to New York. Yet, New York is just a small state in the United States. The United States is just a small country in Earth. The planet we call "Earth" is just one of the 8 planets in the Solar System. The Solar System is just a part of this Galaxy called the "Milky Way" And the Milky Way is just one of the BILLIONS and TRILLIONS of Galaxies out there in the Universe.
And yet this is why David is saying "
The Ticonderoga Pencil that I'm Holding in my hand is so small compared to me.
I'm puny compared to my apartment, my apartment is so small compared to my neighborhood. My neighborhood is nothing compared to Yonkers.Yonkers , Is just a small city in Westchester County. Yet Westchester County, is small compared to New York. Yet, New York is just a small state in the United States. The United States is just a small country in Earth. The planet we call "Earth" is just one of the 8 planets in the Solar System. The Solar System is just a part of this Galaxy called the "Milky Way" And the Milky Way is just one of the BILLIONS and TRILLIONS of Galaxies out there in the Universe.
And yet this is why David is saying "
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?"
But think about it for a second though, God has all this things to be mindful about but he's mindful about us. I know I stress this a lot but it's just the truth. Jesus, cared & had compassion when he healed the blind man. Jesus cared & raised Lazarus from the dead ! God is so amazing. He made all the beautiful wonders of the world , he made the wonderful flowers that seem to have that amazing smell that attractive sight which brings all of our attention and the smell of it is just wonderful.
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?"
But think about it for a second though, God has all this things to be mindful about but he's mindful about us. I know I stress this a lot but it's just the truth. Jesus, cared & had compassion when he healed the blind man. Jesus cared & raised Lazarus from the dead ! God is so amazing. He made all the beautiful wonders of the world , he made the wonderful flowers that seem to have that amazing smell that attractive sight which brings all of our attention and the smell of it is just wonderful.
Morning
Alright! The blog is back! So, I woke up this morning and it was around 8 am. I've been trying to start a morning bible reading, but could never get it started. It was a great feeling to do it today, and i need to try to to do it on weekdays, before I leave for school. I hope I can do this and I'm praying for you all. -Kevin M
5/13/11
Boxing
1 Corinthians 9:26-" I do not fight like a man beating the air."
This is what we call an allusion and in this verse it is given to boxing. Have you guys ever went boxing before? , maybe we should do it this summer instead of playing basketball :), When you're boxing, it is quite normal while training to strike out at an imaginary adversary for the mere purpose of exercise. This is called, "beating the air." What's amazing is that the apostle Paul wasn't doing no shadow boxing, HE struck real blows at a real adversary! Come on nowww...
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