2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
These are some of the hardest verses for me to remember. I've been through some junk lately and I know I haven't been happy. There have been times I just want to quit. I don't want to go through that misery anymore! But, the way I see it, to give up is to fail. Jesus didn't give up when he was given over to the mob. He didn't give up when they ripped his back to shreds. He never gave up. He did what He was sent here to do. Had he given up, we would be dead right now. So if I gave up, I feel like I would be giving up on Jesus. He has a plan for me and I need to fulfil it. It's the least I can do after what he did for me. If I make it through this trial and I learn something from it, I have succeeded. And I have have gained perseverance. Although I may want to throw everything away, quitting is not an option. It is a failure.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Thought of the Day
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who
Okay, I don't know about you, but if being wordly means being like this, I don't want any part of it. It's disgusting and repulsive! How could you want to be like those people? But then there is a flip side. We are supposed to love them, and love them with an everlasting and never failing love. Just like God loves us. If you proclaim to be a child of God, look at these verses. A child of God would be the exact opposite.
we would be righteous, moral, good, content, we would be truthful, lovers of God, peaceful, humble, inventors of good things, obediant, discerning, trustworthy, loving, forgiving, merciful people. That is what I want to be. So you know what world? You can keep all your nastiness. I don't want it.
Okay, I don't know about you, but if being wordly means being like this, I don't want any part of it. It's disgusting and repulsive! How could you want to be like those people? But then there is a flip side. We are supposed to love them, and love them with an everlasting and never failing love. Just like God loves us. If you proclaim to be a child of God, look at these verses. A child of God would be the exact opposite.
we would be righteous, moral, good, content, we would be truthful, lovers of God, peaceful, humble, inventors of good things, obediant, discerning, trustworthy, loving, forgiving, merciful people. That is what I want to be. So you know what world? You can keep all your nastiness. I don't want it.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Thought of the Day
'18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.'
These verses always inspired me. I, for one, never like to be hated. I try to be the person everyone likes. But after reading these verses, I realized sometimes its good to be hated. Because if the world hates you, then apparently its because you are not of it. They hated Me without a cause.... isn't that ridiculous? Usually there is a reason you hate someone. But Jesus, who did nothing worth hating, was hated without cause. He healed people, He preached, and He boggled peoples minds. He challenged everything they were taught to believe. It's hard for me to hate an all-powerful, loving, merciful God. He loves me despite all my flaws! And trust me, there are many. To know that He took every one of my horrible sins and faults and bore them on that horrible chuck of wood, it breaks my heart. How could you sin and not be sorry? Because of that little sin, you cost one man His life.
These verses always inspired me. I, for one, never like to be hated. I try to be the person everyone likes. But after reading these verses, I realized sometimes its good to be hated. Because if the world hates you, then apparently its because you are not of it. They hated Me without a cause.... isn't that ridiculous? Usually there is a reason you hate someone. But Jesus, who did nothing worth hating, was hated without cause. He healed people, He preached, and He boggled peoples minds. He challenged everything they were taught to believe. It's hard for me to hate an all-powerful, loving, merciful God. He loves me despite all my flaws! And trust me, there are many. To know that He took every one of my horrible sins and faults and bore them on that horrible chuck of wood, it breaks my heart. How could you sin and not be sorry? Because of that little sin, you cost one man His life.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Job 19:16
'He who keeps the commandments keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die.'
Well. I think thats pretty straight-forward. Keep God's rules and you will be okay. Foresake them, and you die. well, we can't always keep his commandments now, can we? We are human! of course we can't! thats why God, in His unfailing love and mercy, sent His ONLY son, the King of Kings, to die a beggars death. How can you look at all that He did for you and just turn your back on Him? It's amazing how easy it can be. We get so wrapped up in the world, that we just forget how much He did for us.
Well. I think thats pretty straight-forward. Keep God's rules and you will be okay. Foresake them, and you die. well, we can't always keep his commandments now, can we? We are human! of course we can't! thats why God, in His unfailing love and mercy, sent His ONLY son, the King of Kings, to die a beggars death. How can you look at all that He did for you and just turn your back on Him? It's amazing how easy it can be. We get so wrapped up in the world, that we just forget how much He did for us.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Proverbs 18:21
'Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.'
Last night I went to Generate. It was amazing. The speaker jumped topics a little bit but one topic really hit me. He showed a video of some famous person who is an athiest talking about how he met a christian. He said the man was very nice, pure, and real. This christian took the time to talk to him. He gave the famous guy a bible, shook his hand and looked him straight in the eyes. But then the famous man with no name said something. He said something to the effect of, 'if the message you guys have is so important and life changing, how could you be cruel enough to not share it?' ......ouch.... that hit me right in the face! I have never been good at sharing with people so after a while I just stopped. I decided to let my life speak for me. Well, right now I don't think my life is telling the right story and sometimes words are needed. I need to be more vocal in my beliefs and stop letting satan deal me empty wallets! So I feel like the verse I posted up at the top goes along with what he was saying. 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue.' The tongue is one of your most powerful weapons! One kind word can totally make someones day, and one wrong word can ruin it. We have the words of everlasting life!!! I don't want to keep them to myself! If you had the cure for cancer, or even war for that matter, would you keep it to yourself? I sure hope not. I would be telling everyone! So don't keep this cure to yourself. Go share it with someone today. :)
Last night I went to Generate. It was amazing. The speaker jumped topics a little bit but one topic really hit me. He showed a video of some famous person who is an athiest talking about how he met a christian. He said the man was very nice, pure, and real. This christian took the time to talk to him. He gave the famous guy a bible, shook his hand and looked him straight in the eyes. But then the famous man with no name said something. He said something to the effect of, 'if the message you guys have is so important and life changing, how could you be cruel enough to not share it?' ......ouch.... that hit me right in the face! I have never been good at sharing with people so after a while I just stopped. I decided to let my life speak for me. Well, right now I don't think my life is telling the right story and sometimes words are needed. I need to be more vocal in my beliefs and stop letting satan deal me empty wallets! So I feel like the verse I posted up at the top goes along with what he was saying. 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue.' The tongue is one of your most powerful weapons! One kind word can totally make someones day, and one wrong word can ruin it. We have the words of everlasting life!!! I don't want to keep them to myself! If you had the cure for cancer, or even war for that matter, would you keep it to yourself? I sure hope not. I would be telling everyone! So don't keep this cure to yourself. Go share it with someone today. :)
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Job chapters 1-2: part 2
1 On another day the angels [a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."
3 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason."
4 "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face."
6 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life."
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"
10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish [b] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
11 When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
Not only did God allow satan to take everything away from Job, but He also let satan inflict Job with sores. So now Job has nothing but sores. Then his wife says, 'are you still holding on to your integrity? curse God and die!!!' wow.... can these women be any more silly? God tells us to count it all joy when we encounter various trials. He doesn't say 'hey, you encoutered a trial! curse me so I can kill you!' Job would rather live and please God than curse God and die... I think I would too. So, my challenge to you today is: When you go through something bad, don't blame God! If you confess to be saved but you never go through trials, something is off. The way I see it, trials are something God uses to make you stronger. A trial would be the effects of satan. He is obviously at work in your life, trying to get you to follow him instead of the One True God. So in rough times, praise God, don't blame Him.
3 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason."
4 "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face."
6 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life."
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"
10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish [b] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
11 When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
Not only did God allow satan to take everything away from Job, but He also let satan inflict Job with sores. So now Job has nothing but sores. Then his wife says, 'are you still holding on to your integrity? curse God and die!!!' wow.... can these women be any more silly? God tells us to count it all joy when we encounter various trials. He doesn't say 'hey, you encoutered a trial! curse me so I can kill you!' Job would rather live and please God than curse God and die... I think I would too. So, my challenge to you today is: When you go through something bad, don't blame God! If you confess to be saved but you never go through trials, something is off. The way I see it, trials are something God uses to make you stronger. A trial would be the effects of satan. He is obviously at work in your life, trying to get you to follow him instead of the One True God. So in rough times, praise God, don't blame Him.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Job chapters 1-2: Part 1
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4 His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom.
Job's First Test 6 One day the angels [a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan [b] also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."
12 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
13 One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. [c] The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
I've been complaining alot. Lately, things have not been working out to my liking. But I have to remember that its all God's plan. Job had a great life full of food, and children, and stuff! I would say his life was going pretty darn well. And then, out of the blue, he loses EVERYTHING. (except his wife.) He has no idea why! He doesn't know that God made a deal with Satan. And after losing everything, is he mad at God? NO! Job worships Him! Wow. When you lose your cell phone, or wallet, or something important, do you fall down and worship God? Most likely not. I know I don't. But Job loses everything and still worships God! It's incredible! Job is one of my biggest role models... We can learn so much from him!
4 His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom.
Job's First Test 6 One day the angels [a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan [b] also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."
12 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
13 One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. [c] The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
I've been complaining alot. Lately, things have not been working out to my liking. But I have to remember that its all God's plan. Job had a great life full of food, and children, and stuff! I would say his life was going pretty darn well. And then, out of the blue, he loses EVERYTHING. (except his wife.) He has no idea why! He doesn't know that God made a deal with Satan. And after losing everything, is he mad at God? NO! Job worships Him! Wow. When you lose your cell phone, or wallet, or something important, do you fall down and worship God? Most likely not. I know I don't. But Job loses everything and still worships God! It's incredible! Job is one of my biggest role models... We can learn so much from him!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Verse of the Day. :)
Proverbs 19:22
"A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones."
I was reading through Proverbs yesterday morning and this verse really stuck with me. The night before, I had a really rough evening. I was extremely down-hearted and just not a happy person. But Solomon points out that an unhappy person does nothing affect other people. It makes them unhappy. So would you rather go around dragging other people down with you? or go around making people smile? I have to say, being happy is way easier than being sad. If I go through a day being sad, it just makes me feel horrible at the end. But when I am happy all day it totally makes me feel useful because I have usually made someone laugh. So here is my challenge for you and for myself. Be happy today. Instead of saying that mean thing, say something nice instead. :)
"A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones."
I was reading through Proverbs yesterday morning and this verse really stuck with me. The night before, I had a really rough evening. I was extremely down-hearted and just not a happy person. But Solomon points out that an unhappy person does nothing affect other people. It makes them unhappy. So would you rather go around dragging other people down with you? or go around making people smile? I have to say, being happy is way easier than being sad. If I go through a day being sad, it just makes me feel horrible at the end. But when I am happy all day it totally makes me feel useful because I have usually made someone laugh. So here is my challenge for you and for myself. Be happy today. Instead of saying that mean thing, say something nice instead. :)
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