tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73648836921429049232024-03-13T17:11:16.341-04:00Walk with MeIn This Beautiful JourneyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364883692142904923.post-15639316293882087172013-03-23T15:02:00.000-04:002013-03-23T15:02:49.117-04:00You Can't Earn It<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the midst of writing down a list of what I have learned, I have decided to take a break and focus on one: <b>There is nothing I can do to earn God's forgiveness. </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
I've always thought that I truly believed this (at least for the past four years), but this statement, this <i>truth</i>...it never really hit me. It never really sunk in. I never really understood it. Not until I began to study <i>inductively </i>the <u>covenant</u> made with Abraham.</span><br />
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<i>I still don't fully understand it, but it at least shed some new light on my struggle with God's forgiveness.</i></span><br />
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Genesis 15 begins the covenant between God and Abram. But before that, God makes His promise to him.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
Genesis 12:2-3 says</span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;">"And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;"><span class="verse-num" id="v01012003-1" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: grey; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;">I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;">in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”</span></span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></i>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">Three things are promised to Abram by God: children, a land, and a blessing. He believed God and did whatever was asked of him for decades and decades. But now in Genesis 15, he gets impatient with God because He promised him children yet he and his wife were still childless. He asks God how he's supposed to know that God will keep His promise. So God tells Abram to bring Him a heifer, a goat, a ram, a turtledove, and a pigeon. Abram cut them in half long ways and laid the halves against each other. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">This is the part that I always skipped over because I had no idea what it was talking about. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Back then, this is how contracts were sealed. It's called a blood covenant. You would sacrifice these animals and as the blood from the animals would run together in the middle, the greater party of the contract would walk down the middle of the animals. So as soon as the foot touched the blood it was like they were saying "if I break my part of the deal, you can do this to me. You can kill me and walk through my blood". After the first person walked through, the lesser party of the contract would follow. And as their foot touched the blood, they were saying the same thing. So this had to be a very serious thing.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">Knowing what a blood covenant is and what it actually symbolizes has really been helpful in understanding the next part of this passage. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">So a deep sleep falls upon Abram, which doesn't mean he's resting. It actually means he's having a vision. Then a great darkness fell on him (Genesis 15:12). Which is basically saying that Abram was terrified. So God's part of the deal was children, land, and a blessing. Some of Abram's part of the deal was circumcision, faith, and walking blamelessly before God (Genesis 17:1). So this is why Abram was terrified. He knew that if he or anyone of his descendants failed in any of these, God would cut them in half and walk through their blood. Abram knew he was making a blood covenant with God. I would be terrified too. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>What happens next is awesome.</b> </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">Genesis 15:17 says</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><i>"</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;"><i>When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces."</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;">So in a blood covenant, the greater party goes first. So what went first here is a smoking fire pot. Um, what? In scriptures, smoke was symbolic of God. So in this blood covenant, God walked through first. So God was saying, "if I don't keep my end of the deal; children, land, and a blessing, you can do this to me". So after God walks through, Abram doesn't go through. What goes through instead is a flaming torch. Fire. No where in the scriptures is fire used to talk about human beings. So what is the flaming torch symbolizing? It's symbolizing God again. Instead of Abram walking through, <b>God literally walks through twice.</b> So it's like God is saying, "Abram, if you or your descendants are not perfect, you can do <i>this</i><b> </b>to me". God promised that He would pay if Abram and his descendants were not perfect. So at that moment, Jesus was sentenced to death years later. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;">Generations later, Moses was given the Ten Commandments. And twice a day, they would sacrifice the same animals and sprinkle the blood. God didn't need these sacrifices. But this was them telling God to remember His covenant He made with Abram. They would do this at <i>9 in the morning</i> and about <i>3 in the afternoon</i>. They did this every day for generations and generations and generations. Until Jesus came. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;">After the passover lambs were chosen, Jesus was betrayed on that following Thursday night. He went through a series of mock trials and on Friday, <b>at 9 in the morning</b>, Jesus hung between two thieves. And by reading the scriptures closely, you can see that Jesus died at exactly <b>3 in the afternoon. </b>One of the last things Jesus said right before he died, "it is finished" (John 19:30). The word He used literally meant fulfillment of a contract. Jesus was announcing that the agreement that God had made with Abram, generations before, had been paid in full. Jesus had been offered as God, Himself paying the price for Abram and his descendants' transgressions. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;">I've always been afraid of the Old Testament. It just scared me because I didn't know what it was talking about and the Commandments scared me. But now, I have a new appreciation for the Old Testament. It's an important part of the story (duh). The Ten Commandments were there to remind us that we cannot follow them. We are not perfect. We need a Messiah. Which makes the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus so much more important. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;"><b>God keeps his promises. </b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;"><b>Jesus died for me. </b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363030; line-height: 22px;"><b>It is finished.</b></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364883692142904923.post-47847483327642329372013-01-03T18:47:00.000-05:002013-01-04T22:21:00.084-05:00Learning. Part One.Things I've learned: Not within the past year. I think that's too cliché but let's move forward, shall we?<br />
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<b>1. No matter what you do, the only thing that matters is why you do it. </b><br />
<i>If I do something for any reason other than giving glory to God, then I am doing something terribly wrong and I need to reevaluate what I'm doing. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17)</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><b>2. You can't please everyone. </b><br />
<i>This is a hard one for me. I want to please everyone. But I cannot do that. And I shouldn't do that. I need to focus on a life pleasing to God. (Colossians 3:23)</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><b>3. Know which battles to fight and which ones to stay out of.</b><br />
<i>Not everything is your business. And your presence in an argument can and will make things worse.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><b>4. Think often. But don't over think. </b><br />
<i>It's healthy to think. It keeps your mind moving and exercising. But over thinking has probably created many problems in my life. I've missed many opportunities because I was over thinking situations. I've created situations that ended up badly because I was over thinking. Over thinking is like dwelling. Dwelling isn't such a good thing when it's over something of this world. Let the word of the Lord <b>dwell</b> in you and <b>dwell</b> in the house of the Lord. (Colossians 3:16 ; Psalm 27:4)</i><br />
<b><br />
</b><b>5. Listen. </b><br />
<i>Just listen. Sometimes there isn't an answer and sometimes there are no words worth saying. And there's probably no simpler thing you can do for someone than just listening to them.</i><br />
<b><br />
</b><b>6. Running relieves almost every piece of stress that has been stored in my body throughout the day. </b><br />
<i>I absolutely hate running but for some reason sometimes it is the only thing that makes my day better. Yet, I'll still refuse to go running even when I know that it will make me feel better.</i><br />
<b><br />
</b><b>7. God is greater than my biggest strength. </b><br />
<i>Well, this is a big one. It doesn't matter how big my biggest strength is. I could be able to move Mount Everest with my pinky, run a mile in under 2 minutes, swim under water for days or fly with the birds in the sky and God will still be greater. This may seem simple the way I put it, but it's much harder to remember when you are in your daily routine. </i><br />
<i>God is greater. And I find comfort in that. (1 Corinthians 1:25)</i><br />
<b><br />
</b><b>8. You're not randomly placed where you are right now. </b><br />
<i>There is a reason why you're where you're at. First of all, it's your story. It's not going to be the same as anyone else. If you think you're suffering right now and there's no reason for it, think again. You're suffering for a reason. One day you may be able to use your suffering to help someone else. You may be feeling like you're stuck in a rut and you're not moving forward. There's a reason for that too. You never really know why you're going through things until you've actually been through them. You appreciate the situation more after you've been through it. I've never really figured out why. (Jeremiah 29:11)</i><br />
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</b><b>9. Nothing in this world is perfect. </b><br />
<i>This is probably self explanatory but I think the key word here is "nothing". Sometimes I have this thought that there are some exceptions to this. For example, I act like some things are perfect without even realizing it. I may act like a situation is perfect or even another person is perfect but in reality, nothing is perfect. It's just a distorted thought that I'm not aware of. Jesus Christ is perfect. God's love is perfect. <b>Nothing</b> in this world <b>can</b> be perfect. (Hebrews 7:19)</i><br />
<b><br />
</b><b>10. Complaints can overtake your life very quickly. </b><br />
<i>It's like a sea of quicksand. You get one little part of you caught in the sand and you start sinking quickly. Complaints are also contagious. If everyone around you is constantly complaining, you're prone to start complaining yourself. I constantly have to check my attitude and often have to remind myself to be thankful and quit complaining about little things. (Philippians 2:14)</i><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364883692142904923.post-21819283932196943802011-08-27T15:01:00.001-04:002011-08-27T15:02:26.387-04:00Crisis of ForgivenessI'm always finding myself drawn to forgiveness topics. Does that mean that I have something in my life that needs forgiveness or do I just find forgiveness really important? <br />
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I think it's probably both.<br />
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A lot of times I find it hard to truly understand forgiveness. Just when I think I've forgiven someone I find out that I really haven't.<br />
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So why is it so hard to really forgive someone?<br />
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Well, first of all I believe that forgiveness comes in two steps. The first is <i>choosing </i>to forgive and the second is <i>acting </i>on that decision. I think the first step is the easiest for me and I often find it much harder to act on my decision to forgive.<br />
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Usually it frustrates me when I choose to forgive someone and then I find out that I actually haven't forgiven them.<br />
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<i>(Let me clarify something real quick. When I say that I find out that I haven't actually forgiven someone I don't mean that someone told me that I haven't or whatever. Basically, I've just realized that I haven't forgiven them because I still have bitterness or I still bring up the situation or whatever)</i><br />
<i><br />
</i>Anyway, I've been processing what forgiveness really means so I've been reading articles on the topic. here's one thing that got me thinking...<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">1. I won’t bring the offense up to the </span></span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">person</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">, except for his benefit;</span></span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>2. I won’t bring the offense up to <span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">others;</span> and (hardest of all)<br style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;" />3. I won’t bring the offense up to <span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">myself</span>. I will not go over it and think about it and dwell upon it.</i></span></span><br />
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At first when I read these I thought to myself, <i>"what?" </i>But I think after thinking about them, I understand it better. If I've really forgiven the person then why would I even want to bring the offense up to them? If I brought the offense up to them it would just be like I wanted to get back at them or I wanted them to pay for what they have done. While that could be my first instinct, it's not what forgiveness entails. Forgiveness means to free someone from obligation of a payment or a debt. Pretty much I won't expect them to repay me for what they did.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><br />
When I think of not bringing the offense up to others, I just get stuck. It's part of my story so how does that work? I think there are ways of telling your story without actually bringing up the offense. It's difficult, but I think that's just part of the healing and forgiveness process.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><br />
Bringing it up to myself goes along the lines of bringing it up to others. I mean, the offense happened to me so how do I not bring it up to myself especially when something triggers the thought? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><br />
I think it's possible for the offense to be brought up but it's important to have dealt with it and just let it go. If you let it come to your mind and dwell on it then chances are you really haven't forgiven that offense.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><br />
Sometimes the process of forgiveness takes a long time. And sometimes you have to repeat the steps. Sometimes all it takes is writing a letter, whether you give it to them or not, it's up to you. Sometimes it takes a phone call. Whatever the action is, just do it. I believe you'll feel a lot better when you have completed the "crisis of forgiveness" as James MacDonald would say.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><br />
<i>“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">My capacity for forgiveness is directly related to my comprehension of how much God loves me</span>.</b></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364883692142904923.post-68920489119425452092011-04-29T02:51:00.001-04:002011-04-29T02:55:10.846-04:00Hope #2I don't usually do this but I'm gonna share a journal entry I've written.<br />
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So here it is..<br />
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Tonight I realized that my experience at college so far has been one of finding hope. I honestly didn't have hope at all. I lost trust for everyone; for people. I've been betrayed multiple times and yeah, people could say one of the worst kinds of betrayal but really, betrayal is betrayal and this is just my story. I'm not here to one up someone, especially with my life. I'm just not gong to compare my life to others like that. It's not necessary and that's not why I'm here. <br />
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A while ago I didn't know my purpose in life and I honestly still don't know, but I do know that I'm on the right path to finding my purpose. I also know that I have a desire to share the hope that I've finally found. To share it with those who were like me. Those who have lost hope completely and have no desire to go find it. And some just don't know they need it. Or they don't know what it is. Some just don't have the strength to go find it. <br />
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I'm kind of losing my thoughts right now but I almost feel like going to find hope requires someone to have hope in the first place. I mean if you are going to search for something then you have hope that its going to be there, right? Otherwise you would just give up. At least I would. I guess that's why I think bringing hope to people is important. If you didn't have hope would you do nothing and just be apathetic all your life? <br />
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Some people think they've committed the worst sin and it's impossible to be forgiven. Someone who has murdered or committed adultery, a rapist or a thief probably feel like their sins can't be forgiven but I don't think that's true. I actually don't want that to be true. If it were true, then Jesus dying on the cross wasn't worth anything and the hope is lost. If it were true, I would have been hoping in a lie. <br />
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I'm glad I found hope and I'm glad I can rest in knowing that this hope will never disappoint and it will never fade away. I don't think about it as much as I want to, but why would I keep hope like that to myself? <br />
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Hope that has changed my life. A hope that gave me a purpose. <br />
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Hope in Jesus. <br />
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Honestly, this hope is worth all of the pain that I've ever experienced.<br />
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So there it is.<br />
Welcome back to my thoughts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364883692142904923.post-24251869774149735552010-12-15T23:19:00.000-05:002012-11-13T19:22:43.573-05:00Life Pleasing To God<blockquote>
John Scott says in his book, Living In The End Times, "One of the greatest weaknesses of contemporary Christianity is our comparative neglect of Christian ethics, in both our teaching and our practice. We are known as people who preach the gospel rather than as those who live it."</blockquote>
I'm not real sure how to even begin this blog post after that quote. I feel like it's such a big thing that is happening in today's world. It's like we know what God wants from us but we only do the easy things or we only do the things that we want to do.<br />
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He does say go out into the world and preach the gospel. But He also says to love one another and to practice the things that were talked about in Philippians 4:8-9 so we will become like Him. It is my hope that when non-believers see believers they will feel loved and known and not judged or condemned.<br />
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1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 tells us God's will for us, our sanctification, how we should live a life pleasing to God. <br />
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"For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you." (1 Thess 4:7-8)<br />
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This passage is talking about abstaining from sexual immorality but also to live in love. We are called to love <i>more and more</i>. By love we fulfill the law. We are called to live quietly and walk shamelessly before outsiders.<br />
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Verse 11-12 says, "and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one."<br />
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As said in Romans 2, it's not enough to <i>hear </i>but <i>doing </i>and <i>practicing </i>these things will bring justification. And to reject the giver of the Holy Spirit is like cutting yourself off from the sanctifying power that enables us to be blameless in holiness at the second coming.<br />
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<b>Are you living your life in love?<br />
</b><br />
<b>What thoughts and actions need to change in order for you to please God?<br />
</b><br />
<b>What is God's role in your sanctification?</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Today I'm thankful for:</b><br />
<i>-footie pjs</i><br />
<i>-time</i><br />
<i>-glasses</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364883692142904923.post-69395127625784456122010-12-14T12:33:00.000-05:002010-12-14T12:33:15.035-05:00Obedience<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="270" id="flashObj" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=193902397001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalshortfilmnetwork.com%2Ffight-that-never-ends-p-45-c-8.html%3Fbcpid%3D645226247001%26bclid%3D62635674001%26bctid%3D193902397001&playerID=602757914001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAC_GBAiE~,Ku-VdReEVNvGG8r3Z8n_B7jyHUfeFLO2&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=193902397001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalshortfilmnetwork.com%2Ffight-that-never-ends-p-45-c-8.html%3Fbcpid%3D645226247001%26bclid%3D62635674001%26bctid%3D193902397001&playerID=602757914001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAC_GBAiE~,Ku-VdReEVNvGG8r3Z8n_B7jyHUfeFLO2&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="480" height="270" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><br />
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Ever been in the position where you are constantly fighting a battle? It's like you take four steps forward and five steps back. You never get anywhere and you're always struggling to catch your breath towards the end of the battle. You may have thought to yourself that there has to be an easier way to get through your struggles.<br />
<br />
I always have a hard time letting God take over my battles for me. It's like I'm not listening to Him. He says do one thing and I tell Him that it's stupid and I don't want to do that. Not very obedient, right?<br />
<br />
It's basically saying that I don't trust God enough to believe that He has everything under control and to trust that He makes all things work together for my good.<br />
<br />
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 says, "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.<b> </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete."<br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It's not just actions that can be disobedient. Thoughts are the first step to becoming an action so internal disobedience needs to be eliminated. We are called to obey God. Why would I want to obey anyone else? That's almost like choosing to obey a murderer. I can't trust that a murderer has my best interest at heart.<br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land" (Isaiah 1:19)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What battles are you fighting?<br />
</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Is the battle worth fighting alone?<br />
</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Do you feel freedom when you obey God and allow Him to fight for you?</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Today I'm thankful for:</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>-heat</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>-Scruffy</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>-take home exams</i></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364883692142904923.post-80283081079836099502010-12-12T21:13:00.002-05:002010-12-12T21:21:02.166-05:00Quiet Your SoulI was reading through Psalm 131 yesterday and I thought it was really cool because it kind of relates to the passage I talked about on Friday. It talks about arrogance and pride and what we concern ourselves with.<br />
<br />
I think it's hard to humble yourself every day and to focus on things that are actually going to matter. It's hard to know that I am loved by a God who will never love me less. It's hard to understand that I am loved by the Creator even when I choose to love the world over Him. I also find it unimaginable that God can love me even when I am poor, weak, and broken.<br />
<br />
It's hard not to boast in things when you have completed a hard task or even when you have done something that no one thought you could do. It's hard to keep your heart and your eyes focused on what really matters. And it's hard to think of yourself more highly of others when you get in situations when you may be "better" than them.<br />
<br />
Psalm 131 says, "O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore."<br />
<br />
A lot of times I read passages that require me to do something afterwards and I feel like this passage requires me to just humble myself and know that God loves me for who I am and not for what I do. And know that God, the Creator, has created me for a purpose, for His perfect plan. He desires to <i>just be with me. </i>I feel like this passage is asking us to be content with God's presence, like a weaned child with its mother, just content with simply having their mother's presence.<br />
We can hope in the Lord forever.<br />
<br />
<b>Did you know that God just wants to be with you?<br />
</b><br />
<b>How do you humble yourself in your hectic school or work schedule?<br />
</b><br />
<b>Do you find yourself with the God of peace when you humble yourself?</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Today I am thankful for:</b><br />
<i>-soup</i><br />
<i>-love</i><br />
<i>-sleep</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364883692142904923.post-3203671270587324262010-12-10T21:55:00.002-05:002010-12-12T21:40:50.015-05:00WhateverDo you ever think that being a believer is only about what you do and what you don't do? But what about how we think and how we reason with one another? And what about how we put our belief into practice?<br />
<br />
So what is true? And what is noble and right? What is pure, lovely and admirable? Believers should be reasoning and thinking about such things instead of thinking and worrying about other things that don't matter in the end. <br />
<br />
Philippians 4:8 says "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."<br />
<br />
When the apostle Paul was writing to the Philippians, he commanded them to think about and reason the things of God. Although Paul encourages them to think about these things, he also commanded them to put these things in practice.<br />
<br />
4:9 says, "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">—</span>practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."<br />
<br />
Faith that involves no application is really no faith at all. Paul wants us to think about what is true of God and to apply them to our lives so we can become like Jesus. Once we work toward imitating how Paul lived we will begin to see the God of peace <i>himse</i><i>lf</i> who will be with us. Not simply the peace of God.<br />
<u><br />
</u><br />
<br />
<b>What do you think is true of God?<br />
</b><br />
<b>What do you think is honorable and just?<br />
</b><br />
<b>Do you apply these truths to your life?<br />
</b><br />
<b>How do you see these truths playing out in your life?</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Today I'm thankful for:</b><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">-my memory</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">-sweet friends</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">-the God of peace</span></i></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364883692142904923.post-18378390871289239102010-11-30T23:17:00.001-05:002010-12-17T00:12:26.875-05:00Assured?There are man<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">y times when I find myself doubting my salvation. It's common among believers. We ask ourselves if there is confidence in </span>our relationship with God. It's almost like asking yourself if your spouse is still married to you or if your kids are really your kids. It'd be awful if your kid came up to you asking if you are still their parent.<br />
<br />
So how can we have assurance that we know God saved us?<br />
<br />
1 John 3:16 says "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">By this we know love, that</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">he laid down his life for us, and<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">John writes that we know love because God sent His only Son to die for us. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Religion says that we should love one another to earn a spot in Heaven.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Christianity, a <i>relationship</i> with God, says that He first loved us and enables us to love. By the love we have with one another, the sacrificial love, it's proof that we are following Jesus Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit. </span></span><br />
<br />
In verse 18 it says "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Little children, let us not</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">love in word or talk but in deed and<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">in truth."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We love sacrificially. I show love towards my family not because it will get me to Heaven and not because they did something in return. I love them out of sacrifice and because that is what I am called to do. I love them because Jesus first loved them. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">John continues to write about our confidence in verses 19-24. </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Beloved,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">if our heart does not condemn us,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">we have confidence before God;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;"><b> </b></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">and</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">do what pleases him.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And this is his commandment,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">love one another,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">just as he has commanded us.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">and God</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">in him. And</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Although, it is impossible to love sacrificially 100% of the time, we can still be assured of our salvation through loving others because God first loved us. It's not natural to want to give to others. It's natural to be selfish and it's natural to love others because you want love in return. The Holy Spirit living inside of me is allowing me to love others sacrificially. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So should I doubt my salvation as much as I do? No, I shouldn't. But I most likely will because my flesh will take over. It's important to know that I do have salvation though. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Do you doubt your salvation?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Do you love sacrificially?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Or do you love to get love in return?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Or do you not love at all?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
Here's a little cheesy video for you to enjoy (:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mYt5Af5HU2Y?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mYt5Af5HU2Y?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364883692142904923.post-62706141820860971412010-10-21T13:55:00.003-04:002010-10-21T14:24:37.488-04:00Forgiveness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<object height="266" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1359609996530" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1359609996530" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="266"></embed></object><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So me and Jenna made this video over the summer on project. I'm really liking the idea about forgiveness, I don't know about you though. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just some ways I've experienced God's forgiveness:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>His pursuit for me when I kept pushing him away</li>
<li>His pursuit when I totally ignored Him</li>
<li>Him transforming me from who I was (Ezekiel 36:26)</li>
<li>His steadfast love every day when I decide to put something above Him</li>
</ul>How I've been able to forgive others by experiencing His love:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>lost bitterness towards people who have hurt me</li>
<li>allowed Jesus to work through me. meaning He is ultimately doing the forgiving.</li>
<li>allowed me to cancel a debt. I don't expect anyone to do something for me to repay me for what they have done.</li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Forgiveness is hard. I don't think it's something that happens over night. It's an action <i>and</i> it's a process. You put forgiveness into action when you say that you forgive someone. You make forgiveness a process when you continue to forgive someone each time you remember the hurt done against you. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A lot of people may hope for a different past. Hoping for this doesn't get you anywhere. I've been there. Once you stop punishing the ones who have hurt you, you will begin the process of forgiveness. That's where the healing will begin.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
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God forgave me. Why wouldn't I forgive others?<br />
<blockquote> Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)</blockquote><br />
<br />
<b>Today I'm thankful for:</b><br />
<b></b><i>- my mom</i><br />
<i>- fall leaves</i><br />
<i>- God's steadfast love</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364883692142904923.post-76082747701741259822010-10-06T15:13:00.002-04:002010-11-04T18:07:14.855-04:00Jenga Disaster<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/F0QTar0MEwc?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/F0QTar0MEwc?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
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</div><div>I feel like this video can illustrate my walk with God sometimes. Not such a good thing. I start going through my days in a routine. Without getting in the Word and without waking up and praying. My outside appearance to everyone around me is still the same and no one notices that I didn't start my day with God. Although I notice the changes I don't do anything about it and instead I just ignore that I am sinning against God. People can make comments about me and how I have everything together and how they wish they could have a relationship with God like I do. I start taking pride in having the appearance of this "having it all together Christian" even though I know it's far from the truth. God allows me to run from the truth and allows me to come back whenever I want. It'd be much easier if I would just surrender to Him every day. Instead I wait until something around me starts crashing down. I come to complete brokenness and I reach the point where I turn from the lies I was believing and I turn to God. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I tell myself every time that I shouldn't wait until something around me is destroyed. Yet, I still wait for that to happen. One of these days I will learn that I can't control everything.</div><div><br />
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</div><div><b>Today I'm thankful for:</b></div><div><i>-The season changes</i></div><div><i>-My project roommates and friends</i></div><div><i>-Sunrises</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364883692142904923.post-76420797853164820062010-10-05T23:19:00.001-04:002010-10-08T01:52:10.261-04:00Everlasting LoveSo I was just reading Jeremiah 31 for some reason and verse 3 really stood out to me. That's really no surprise though (:<br />
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<b>"...I have loved you with an everlasting love;"</b><br />
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God is telling us what He really feels about us. His love is intimate and personal. He has always loved us and He always will. His love for us heals. His love gives us life. His love makes us grow. His love for us was there before we were born. His love for us was there before the world was made. It will never end.<br />
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God is the only one who has always loved us. There is no condition. He just loves us no matter what. His love for us is everlasting. It is beyond measure.<br />
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Sometimes I hear people say that God can't always love us because He lets bad things happen to us. God's love is a healing love. And God wants to heal us.<br />
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God never changes. "For I the Lord do not change;" (Malachi 3:6) God is totally dependable. He is love and that never changes.<br />
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"I will put <u>none</u> of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, <b>your healer</b>." (Exodus 15:26)<br />
"He sent out his word and <b>healed</b> them, and delivered them from their destruction." (Psalm 107:20)<br />
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who <b>heals </b><u>all</u> your diseases" (Psalm 103:2-3)<br />
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them <u>all</u>. He <b>guards</b> <u>all</u> his bones; <u>not one</u> of them is broken." (Psalm 34:19-20)<br />
"For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will <b>heal</b>, declares the Lord" (Jeremiah 30:17)<br />
"He <b>heals</b> the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3)<br />
God wants to heal us. He wants what is best for us. In some of the verses above it says "none" or "all". He is giving perfect health to His people. He is looking after them and He always will because He never changes.<br />
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Jesus wants to heal us. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)<br />
"...and he <b>healed</b> them all" (Matthew 12:15)<br />
"When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and <b>healed</b> their sick." (Matthew 14:14)<br />
"...and the power of the Lord was present to <b>heal</b> them." (Luke 5:17)<br />
"When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and <b>healed</b> those who needed <b>healing</b>." (Luke 9:11)<br />
"...and <b>healing </b>every disease and every affliction among the people." (Matthew 4:23)<br />
There are so many verses in the gospels where Jesus is healing people all over. Who would heal someone if they didn't love them or care about them? Who would even think about healing someone if they didn't love them? What makes someone want to heal another person? Possibly because they want the best for that person. What really makes them want the best for them? I'd say it's love. You couldn't possibly want the best for someone if you didn't love them. Maybe people struggle with believing the truth that God can heal them. Maybe they don't know of His healing power.<br />
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"For nothing will be impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)<br />
"What is impossible for men is possible for God." (Luke 18:27)<br />
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us" (Ephesians 3:20)<br />
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God has the power to heal. He has the biggest desire to heal us. He sent His one and only Son to heal us. He would have never done that if He didn't love us with an everlasting, steadfast love.<br />
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What greater love is there than that of God's love for us?<br />
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It's non existent.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0