Climbing the ladder of His will

We are the Clay

2008-10-16T18:35:00.000-07:00

God is not just in our eyes. But who are we to tell the Master the rules? Who are we to tell the Maker we are a flop?

Fasting

2008-10-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

Have you ever fasted? What is it? What does it mean?
Fasting is giving up something that is most important to you, to seek God and his will. It's usually food that we abstain from for the day or however long. But it can be other things, how about internet....ouch...I think food would almost be easier! Well let me just tell you this, fasting is hard, but it's refreshing, and cleaning. It brings you back into focus, gives you time to read your Bible without feeling cluttered. If you aren't sure that you can do it, then find someone to do it WITH. Eventually you'll find yourself WANTING to fast. It is an experience that brings us closer to God. And is worth it.

Thankfulness

2008-09-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

"In a Christian community thankfulness is just what it is anywhere else in the Christian life. Only he who gives thanks for the little things receives the big things. We prevent God from giving us the great spiritual gifts he has in store for us, because we do not give thanks for daily gifts. We think we dare not be satisfied with the small measures, of spiritual knowledge, experience and love that has been given to us, and that we must constantly be looking forward eagerly to the highest good.Then we deplore the fact that we lack deep certainty, the strong faith, and the rich experience that God has given to others, and we consider this lament to be pious. We pray for the big things, and forget to give thanks for the ordinary small (and yet really not small) gifts. How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from him the little things?"

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

A song

2008-09-21T11:38:00.000-07:00

This is a hymn, yes what some Christians call lame worship. I don't know if I have ever heard words that have struck me like these do:
May the love of Jesus fill me,
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing-
This is victory

Worship

2008-09-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

What is Christian worship? If you lift your hands during a christian contemporary song does that mean you're praising God more than someone who just sings hymns? I say no, there is no reason why music should change our heart feelings of worship, it's all in the heart...yes of course a beat and nice guitar playing may stimulate is to lift our hands...is that wrong? I don't see why...but I do think music causes us to praise God, why not? If nature can, if relationships can, why not music? And why can't lyrics? honestly, the tunes of hymns can drive me to praise God just as much as an electric guitar rockin' to praise words.
So:
A type of music can cause us to praise God more than another, but I don't think we should rely strictly on that...there is place for words of praise. This sounds contradicting to itself...I guess it could be...it's called me doing my best to be openminded. ;-)

Screwtape Letters

2008-08-26T05:50:00.000-07:00

Just today I started reading a book by C.S. Lewis called "The Screwtape Letters". It's about a demon writing to his nephew. Sounds morbid doesn't it? Well it isn't meant to be, in fact it has some very well principles to think through. I just read chapter 1. It is amazing.
Screwtape is writing to his nephew, Wormwood. The general gist of the chapter is this:

"If one gets happy, busy, obsessed, or used to the physical and tangible, then he won't really have time or need for the Spiritual."

The key of Satan isn't necessarily to get us to SIN in the way we think. He didn 't tempt Jesus to go kill his mother, no he tried to get him to FORSAKE his Father, which is the most dangerous sin of all. Satan has done this to MANY believers, those who go to church, but that's it. He has them in his clutches, they think that they are being active in their faith because they go to church, but in reality they are farther from Christ than the guy who works sundays and goes to church on wednesday nights because he can't make it for normal service! He can also deter our course to Christ with Theology, by just knowing the facts and getting distracted in the truth, but without the truth. It would be like if I memorized the whole Bible...wow, great! But I could be a rotten person, see, we can be tricked into just getting the facts into our head and not our life. Worship is another, look at the pharisees, they showed plenty of signs of worship, they prayed and fasted...but they were a brood of vipers. Don't let just worship be "enough" for you. It should overflow into action. (I'm not saying praise and thanks to God isn't good) But Satan will do his best to skew and twist anything that he possibly can. Sitting there every sunday and lifting your hands and singing praises isn't enough. True worship is worship through your life. By being always in submission to God.
Be wary, be very wary....Satan isn't stupid, he didn't came right out and tell Eve he was the devil. He is crafty, and wants us to think that he is not. C.S. lewis said in another one of his books (Mere Christianity, if I remember correctly) that you can't fight a battle you don't believe exists. Think about that, are you daily fighting Satan? It is a battle, a war, who is on the Lord's side?

Shining

2008-08-08T12:02:00.000-07:00

Philippians 2:14-15
"Do everything without complaining or arguing. So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe."
Youth are usually center of attention, will we SHINE like the stars? And if so, what will we shine for? Christ or ourselves?

Seeking

2008-06-30T15:29:00.000-07:00

Are you seeking God? Picture the worst scenario (within reason) would what you value most be lost or endangered? I hope no, that most valued thing should be your glorious relationship with Jesus Christ. Once it's too expensive to do that activity you love most, where will you be? When the family income is lost, will your first love be too? Are you seeking God with all your heart, mind and soul? Will you redevote your life to him now? Will you live each day for God and not yourself, your friends, or your desires? Think about it.

Pharisee and Tax collector

2008-06-05T07:38:00.000-07:00

In the parable of the tax collector and the pharisee, we see God's mercy on the tax collector but not the other. Why? This tax collector had probably done more recognizable wicked things than the pharisee, but why does God still forgive him? Even if the pharisee had kept the sabbath and done all the things he said, he still had the worst sin left. Unbelief. We never think of it that way do we? Unbelief is impossible to be made up for, we can't do enough to cover it up.

Talents

2008-05-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

In the Parable of the five, two and one talents each servant doubles his talent except the last. Even though the one with five worked to get ten and the one with two worked to get four, they receive the same reward! This shows us that God isn't as concerned about the quantity we accomplish with our talents, rather how much we use them.

Humility and Love

2008-05-20T08:11:00.000-07:00

Jesus tells us that the Greatest Commandment is love for God and secondly love for man. Doesn't this tell you that Love is possibly the greatest attribute of a Christian?
Humility is another characteristic that is emphasized heavily in the Bible. God gives grace to the humble. Have you ever met a proud loving person? Of course not. Pride and Love don't mix anymore than light and darkness. Humility is the key to Love.
Philipians 2:4
"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." This is talking about Humility but doesn't this also describe love?

I Corinithians 13:13
"...but the greatest of these is love."

Jesus was loving, but he was a servant too. See the relation? In order to love you need to be humble.

Getting in the way

2008-05-06T07:47:00.000-07:00

Is my life getting in the way of God? Or is God leading me to begin with? These are questions Christians should daily be asking themselves. It's hard to do that, and we should daily be praying for the LORD to open our eyes that we can see where we may not be serving him wholeheartedly or giving the glory to Him where he deserves it.

A life not serving God isn't a life....because life was given to be given back to God in service and love.

Fruits

2008-04-23T08:53:00.000-07:00

I've seen fellow Christians who have a habit that I think is wrong. Sometimes it makes me think, "Well they certainly aren't bearing fruit!"

Matthew 3:8
"Produce fruit in keeping with repentance."

One of my best friends is still struggling with a bad habit, recently he told me that he had no intention of quitting...I really was disappointed, but then less then a week ago, he told me he is fed up with this particular habit and wants to break it so bad. Repentance is the key, it isn't good deeds. It is better to be a struggling Christian then a Pharisee, the Pharisees, were "good" as the world might say, but they didn't repent, they were alway "right", those aren't fruits of the spirit. God doesn't want a good person, he wants someone who he can refine, melt down and remodel...not someone who is already modelled in the image that they think it perfect.

Trials and Tribulations

2008-04-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm going through more trials, big and small, than I want to...you've all been there. What has helped YOU? For me, I know the only thing that will is surrendering fully to God. But isn't that easier said than done? Because the way I look at it is like this: If I can't serve God in the trials, I can't serve him when there aren't any...and also if I'm not going to fully devote my life, well that's just not devotion.

Trials and Philippians

2008-01-29T05:05:00.000-08:00

About two weeks ago I underwent surgery that removed 2 teeth and a gigantic tumor/cyst that had grown in my mouth and around my bottom jaw. Yesterday I went back to the dentist to hear how the surgery had gone and whether or not the tumor was cancerous. It wasn't. But that was the good news. Evidently he was unable to completely remove the cyst so in the end of March I have to go back for more serious surgery where they will grind down my jawbone and remove 3-4 more teeth. In order to get the bone to grow back quickly they will take a portion of my hip and grind it up to assist the healing process. Fun. Through this hard time I have re-thought through my motives and purposes for my life. I come to the conclusion that a life that is only partially parallel with God's will is no life at all. We are commanded to dedicate our every moment to the glory of God. It sounds so hard and it is. But let me tell you now, I have been more satisfied and content in this time of hardship than I ever was before. If we can't live today and be completely joyful than it will never happen unless if we change something in our lives. That something is a 100% dedication to God. Listen to this amazing verse I found in Philippians:
4:6-7
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Webster's defines the word transcend as: To pass beyond; to exceed; to surpass
That is how Paul describes the peace of God, basically unexplainable, scientifically and logically. We as humans have hard time grasping the fact that when we give up our fleshly desires for what we normally don't want, righteousness, our new desires are so much better and actually fulfilled. I have become so convicted that my life needs to be always about doing God's will and not my own. If God is for us, who can be against us?

I forget where I heard this quote but it has 'haunted' me ever since I read it
"The way we live our days is the way we live our lives."

2 Samuel 6

2007-12-05T06:57:00.000-08:00

2 Samuel 6:16
"As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart."
Vs. 23
"And Michal daughter of Saul had no childeren to the day of her death."

These two verses show the power of the mind. I often times think something bad about someone and "despise them in my heart". This seems very unharmful. Well to the other person it isn't harmful as much as it is to you. God can allow something very difficult to happen to you just because of your thoughts. Remember this, your thought life is just as important as you actions. Thoughts lead to actions.

Blog

2007-12-02T15:55:00.000-08:00

I want to strongly encourage you all to visit the following blog:
We want a Christian President! (Christianpresident.blogspot.com)
Kingdom Advancer has started it and it looks to me like a great success! Learn more about canidates than you knew before! I truly benefit from it! You will too! Tell others about it. The next election will determine the future of our country, whether good or bad. Get involved.

Daily Devotions

2007-11-29T05:18:00.000-08:00

I don't remember ever writing about how important it is to have daily devotions. That is the one thing my father emphasizes the most about the life of a believer. Being in fellowship with God every day is very important. It's like a gas station to fill us up with the fuel we need for that day. It forces us to think about Spiritual things and before long you will find that it is not a burden to do. A prayer life along with reading the Bible is a fantastic setup. Have a nice big sheet of paper where you can write requests.

Prayer

2007-11-05T08:21:00.001-08:00

In Sunday School this week we learned about prayer. The teacher tought from Psalm 42 and 43. In these chapters David just pours his heart out to God and longs to be with God. In short, he seeks God with all his heart. We may look at David and say that he wasn't a godly man because of his sin with Bathsheeba. But that is incorrect. In the Psalms he clearly displays his willingness to serve God and his helplessness without God. We need to do the same, if we truly do seek the Lord, namely in prayer, he rewards that. Many times when we I'm not on fire for God I say, "It's not my fault, I can't make myelf desire God." That is a lousy excuse, it should be, "It is my fault I'm not willing."

Trials part 2

2007-10-29T05:17:00.000-07:00

God allows us trials so we go to him and seek his help, but they way we do this is not by continually praying, "God help me.". It may seem to be the right thing, it is, but it's not all. God wants us to seek Him. He doesn't want to see us just seek relief or help, but to devote our soul efforts to God. In short, if you're not willing to live 100% for God, don't expect him to help you through problems. Many times he uses suffering to bring us to our knees so that we are willing to throw away anything that may have a grip on us that's holding us back from serving Him.
C.S Lewis said something to this effect,
"Suffering is God's microphone to deaf world."

Trials

2007-10-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

I have been going through a trial for quite a while. I never understood why. Finally I realized that God was allowing me to suffer so that I would get back on track with him and confess many of my unchanged habits. Recently I have been realizing how much God requires us to change into his image, not into the "Comfortable Christian".

Job Offer

2007-10-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

Being a Christian is a fulltime job, no vacations, countless benefits, full coverage, the best retirement, and a Boss who cares.

Proverbs 28:13

2007-10-01T05:06:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 28:13
"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them find mercy."
If we aren't confessing our sin and asking for forgiveness from God, we shouldn't expect mercy. Daily we should seek forgiveness so that daily we can receive mercy.

Refreshed

2007-09-25T07:26:00.000-07:00

Sometimes in our Christian walk we feel discouraged. Many times. Then suddenly the next day we feel fresh and ready to serve the Lord. I have often given myself the credit for being refreshed when really it's God. When he sees we are struggling and becoming forgetful in what the gospel should mean to us, he lifts us up and gives us a boost. Pray for that every day, a new desire each day to serve God.

Fertile Soil

2007-09-19T05:16:00.000-07:00

I was reading again in my devotional and found a really good thought by John Piper. In order to be ready for God's message on Sunday we should prepare our hearts Saturday night as well as Sunday morning. By praying and asking God to open our hearts to the Word, we can properly accept the message and apply it into our lives. We need to make a sermon more than just a Sunday thing, a life principal.

Opposition

2007-09-13T05:11:00.000-07:00

As Christians we are fighting a daily battle. Don't expect to sit on the sidelines and watch the game. It is a hands on experience. If you find yourself living a comfortable life, no opposition, then you aren't fighting against the sin nature. Get in the battle! Don't make peace with the devil! Get on God's side and give him your life! He will change you, better equip you to fight against sin!

"Bad" Words

2007-09-05T04:59:00.000-07:00

Many people say that words like "darn", "heck", "shoot", and "gosh" are bad words. Well are they? Why do we use these words? To release anger in a word that way we don't scream at a person or hurt some one's feelings. Are these words habitual? Yes, as soon as you stub your toe it's, "darn it". When you cut your finger with a knife because you were careless, "shoot". Immediate reactions, they just come out, you don't have time to think about them. Okay so how is that wrong? Do you ever have curse words floating around in your mind? Especially after working a long day with people who use bad language more than they use good? Then you have to stop yourself from slipping and saying them? That is why these substitutes aren't good, they are the one word that has free pass from your mouth and once the real curse words get in your head it won't be long before they start coming out your mouth. I slipped the other day when I spilled gas on my hand while filling the lawn mower, I've decided to stop saying "shoot".

Parables

2007-08-28T07:35:00.000-07:00

This is an excerpt form a devotional I am currently reading called His Parables.

"The parables are brilliant verbal constructs, traps for the unwary. They begin with common things: workers, master, mustard seeds. But each parable moves in a startling way from the familiar to the unfamiliar. Workers who labor for an hour are paid the same as those who've worked all day; a despised outsider shows more compassion for a mugging victim than do member of God's chosen people. The parables catch us out, force us to admit our petty, unimaginative ways of thinking. They cannot be absorbed passively; we must participate in them. Our response literally completes the story by making it our story....

Through the imagination we enact the fundamental principle that Jeusus came to teach: we must learn to see through the eyes of others. In allowing ourselives to be transported into the experience of others, art takes us our of ourselves, teaches us compassion. And because compassion means "suffering with," the imagination has to take into account the whole of reality including the existence of evil, death, and human folly."

-Gregory Wolfe

Proverbs 18

2007-08-14T06:12:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 18:19,21
"An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."

Offending fellow Christians is a very dangerous thing. We are to work together to serve the Lord. Often times though we find ourselves having offended one another. How does this happen? We should help our brothers and sisters in Christ. And the way we should do that is not by criticizing but by helping eachother in our weak points. It is very frustrating to see a fellow Christian do something you are almost sure to be wrong. Even worse when you confront them about it, they get offended. We shouldn't condemn, just help eachother. Many times though we will find other believers unyielding like a fortified city. Don't be discouraged that many times they get offended. If a fellow Christian is wise, he will listen to what you have to say. The Proverbs say a wise man accepts a rebuke, and learns from it. Sometimes it isn't our fault they get offended, sometimes it is though.

Primary Goal Part 2

2007-08-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

So what is our primary goal as Christians? Is it to do our best to save the world, in other words spread the gospel to every corner of the earth? Is it to become a pastor? Or is it to be really good, so that the unsaved will look at us and want to be like us? Well the answer happens to be choice four: None of the above. Now some may disagree and think that choice one is correct, didn't Jesus say to his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations? Well yes, he did. But that isn't our main focus. That statement sounds a little Bold and maybe wrong too, doesn't it? Well let's see why it isn't wrong, and that to tell the whole world isn't our main focus as a Christian.

In Mark 12: 28-30 it says, "One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, 'Of all the commanments, which is the most important?' 'The most important one,' answered Jesus 'is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all you heart and with all you soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'

From this verse what do we see is our primary goal? To love the Lord with all we got, basically. Is that easy to do? No. It isn't. But after Salvation, the Holy Spirit cultivates a desire to love God in us. That, in and of itself, is assurance of our Faith. Loving God with all of our all is not easy, the Bible never promises an easy life for believers, the sin nature still resists and attempts to fight back.

From all this the question arises: How do we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength? I believe that we must be willing to, that will open the door to allow the Spirit to cultivate that desire to better love and serve God.

James 4:8 is such an encouraging verse to me. "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
We have got to take the extra step to love God. Daily. If we don't live for God daily then we are just making it harder on ourselves to live for Him at all. The Bible says to love God with all your strength. That means giving all we've got to love God and to God.

Some may deduct from this that I am saying we should go live in a cave and read the Bible and pray until we die. Well that's isn't what my point is. Let's look at a verse.
Mark 12:30-31 "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.'"

Think about it, if we love our neighbor as ourselves won't we care about their eternal destination as we do ours? That is when we go to make disciples of all nations. In order to tell others of God, we need to know him first.

Primary Goal Part 1

2007-07-25T05:03:00.000-07:00

Before I dive into this concept I'd like to hear what some of you think about it. I'll start off by posing the question, "What is our Primary Goal as a Christian?"

Contentment

2007-07-16T04:46:00.000-07:00

Contentment isn't being in control, it's knowing that God is.

What we think we need

2007-07-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

I was reading the chapter in 1 Samuel the other day about the Israelites wanting a king, it turned out to be Saul. But this idea of a king wasn't something God wanted for them, they wanted an earthly king to replace the Lord. They couldn't see what was wrong with the idea, they even said that all the other kingdoms had kings yet they didn't. They were trying to fit in. And look what happened.

~Sometimes we think we know what is best for us, but in reality God knows better.

Assurance

2007-06-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel your beliefs and faith is a bunch of lies? Or you doubt your salvation? Satan puts those thoughts through every believers mind. Listen to these encouraging thoughts from Richard Sibbes:
The evidences whereby we may come to know that Christ's judgement in us is such as will be victorius are:
Having reasons of religion the strongest reasons with us, prevailing more than reasons fetched from worldly policy.
Being able to 'do nothing against the truth, but for the truth' (2 Cor. 13.8), the truth being dearer to us than our lives. Truth does not have this sovereignty in the heart of any carnal man.

Meditate

2007-06-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

To engage in contemplation or reflection/ to focus one's thoughts on/ reflect or ponder over/ to plan or project in the mind. These are definitions from Webster's Dictionary for meditate. So when the Bible says to meditate on the Word, do you kind of see what that means? It's kind of like when you play a really good game and then the rest of the day you are thinking about that and how good it was etc.. I usually find myself meditating on my highest priorities. That's a good way to see what exactly are your highest priorities.

Convictions

2007-06-08T05:22:00.000-07:00

Often we hear the expression, "well if that's your conviction that's fine." Or "Different people have different convictions" and sometimes, "we all struggle with different things, what is wrong for me might be okay for you." I used to believe these, because hey, some of us don't struggle with a lot of things. Right? Well how about people who can watch movies with extreme violence, cursing or immodesty? How can they still be Christians? Well I believe many people are just very hardened, violence, language, and immodesty don't go against grain with the Holy Spirit. I think the more we abstain from things that go against the grain, the more things go against the grain. The problem is, we are so hardened that things are tearing us down without us even knowing it. Don't smother the Holy Spirit.

Accessory God

2007-06-05T06:05:00.000-07:00

I have been reading throught Judges, and those of you who have read it would probably agree with me. Many times the Israelites used God as an accessory. They worshipped other gods until they felt they needed God. Then they called upon him. Sometimes they even put God in line with their other idols! Many times in my life I find myself doing the same, putting other things before God but still trying to use Him. But that isn't the way it should be, He should be using us.

Modern Movies

2007-05-29T07:16:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking recently why we watch all the movies we do. What makes a movie BAD? How much cursing is required to make it BAD? How much immodesty is required to make it BAD? How much violence is required to make it BAD? These questions often come up in my mind as well as yours too I'm sure. But why do we watch some movies but then don't watch others? Well either we don't want to watch them or we think they are too BAD. But what makes a movie BAD? Is there a certain dose BAD stuff we can take? Can we handle some of it? Is there a certain dose of drugs we can take? Can we handle some of it? Illegal drugs are bad for the body period. But is there a certain amount of sin that we can 'handle'?

Winning the Battles

2007-05-24T05:20:00.000-07:00

I am still reading the book "A Bruised Reed" By Richard Sibbes. Some of you may remember the post I put about it way back when. But as I read two days ago as well as today, he pointed out a new truth to me. Winning the battles. Often times after a long struggle don't you feel you have lost the battle between what you should do and what your sin nature tells you? Even though you did the right thing, you still feel defeated. Well just remember this, every war has a cost and every victory has a cost. There is still greiving after a battle has been won. Friends have died, you were a bit of a coward, whatever it may be. But why doesn't God just let us win easily, just like he let the Israelites? Well how did the Israelites turn out? I have been reading straight through Judges from Genisis and have you noticed how many times chapters start out with 'and the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord...' they were always going to God for help, and desserting him when they were getting along well. You see when we win a battle with little struggle, we think That wasn't so hard, so I must have done it. We don't give credit to God because it wasn't very difficult for us. But when the battle is hot and raging and we see our chances of winning are going down the tube, we cry out to God and he saves us. But it is still difficult after we call to him, and he helps us. Because after the victory we see how marvelous of a work he did, and we see the power of God. And how we can do nothing on our own.

CCM

2007-05-21T05:18:00.000-07:00

I would like some of your open-minded thoughts on why Christian Contemporary Music is good/bad.

Psalm 139:8

2007-05-18T05:36:00.000-07:00

Psalm 139:8
"If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, though art there."

~Is hell really eternal separation from God?

Resurrection

2007-05-16T05:42:00.000-07:00

The Resurrection doesn't only signify Christ's power. If he hadn't risen from the dead, wouldn't we kind of have doubts about whether he would raise us to be with him eternally? Just something to think about.

It WORKS!

2007-05-14T05:26:00.000-07:00

I have been taking more time, than I want to and than I was, off the computer. And believe it or not, on Sunday I could concentrate better on the sermon. And this morning my devotions were a lot better and stronger because I wasn't burdened with the thought that I only had so much time until that I could work on the computer! Praise the Lord!
(This post is a continuation to the one entitled Staying Focused)

Staying Focused

2007-05-09T05:07:00.000-07:00

Recently some things have been getting in the way of my doing my best in my school, talent, and spiritual life. When this type of thing happens I try to do my best to lay off doing so much of this destraction so that my focus can swivel to be aimed at things that are important. In my situation the distraction was the computer, (not blogging btw) every free moment I got I dashed to the computer. I wasn't even spending time outside. Loads of time on one thing isn't for anybody, it could become an idol. Stay focused.

Cornerstone

2007-05-07T05:24:00.000-07:00

I was reading in 1 Peter today about Christ being our cornerstone. Let me ask you this, how many buildings are you building? It should be just one, with Christ as the cornerstone, but the other buildings, what are their cornerstones?

Thought on 1 Peter 1:24-25

2007-05-03T04:40:00.000-07:00

Man dies. His life is but a vapor. The Word of God is the ladder to the everlasting savior, Chris Jesus, a ladder for the dying man.

1 Peter 1:7

2007-04-25T07:24:00.000-07:00

"That the trial of your faith, being more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it may be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and the glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."
-1 Peter 1:7

Everyone wants to know why they face trials. The answer is simple, to strengthen our faith so that we rely on God. The stronger our faith the more we will trust in God even in the small things. Although for some of us it seems that we always have trials. Is that because we don't trust God except during a hard time?

Now or Never

2007-04-23T05:29:00.000-07:00

I used to think, I'll tithe when I'm older...I'll give money to those who need it when I can afford it...I'll get serious about following God when I am older and more mature. The question is, when are you older? when can you afford it? when are you more mature? You see if we don't start these habits now, then when we get 'older' we'll still use the same excuse because there is no black border that has these words on the other side Now you are older. It doesn't work that way, the longer we put it off the harder it is to put on.

Equality of Sin

2007-04-17T05:08:00.000-07:00

All sin is equal in God's eyes, murder is equal to hate, lying to cursing, it is all sin. Sin is just a word for describing something anti-God. A lot of people may not see it that way but we need to. Sin is powerful, influential and unfortunately contageous. Imagine yourself in God's place. A friend continually offends you, and when you confront about it, they apologize sincerely. But next thing you know they do it again! That's how we are a lot of times with God, we are truly sorry, but then we fall back into sin! It doesn't matter much whether a friend bloodies your nose or kicks you in the shins, it still is hurtful to your relationship. The same with God, the more we offend our relationship with him, the worse off we are. Thankfully our God is a God of Grace and he will love and forgive us no matter what. But that still doesn't let us off the hook. A good friend forgives, but still has the wounds.

Our Bodies- The Lord's Temple

2007-04-13T04:52:00.000-07:00

We all know the story of the Jews using the temple as a market place, and we all know how Jesus reacted. He became very angry and drove the evil out. Are we turning our temple into a market? In other words, are we letting everything come into our body, good or bad, and not caring? Our body is the Lord's Temple, we need to watch what we do with it.

Proverbs 7

2007-03-07T05:42:00.000-08:00

In Proverbs chapter 7 it mentions guarding the things taught to you as the apple of your eye. I believe this is saying that your convictions should be strong and when someone offends them, it is like touching the eye, immediate reflex. As soon as we hear a contradiction we know isn't in line with the Bible, we are ready to defend with verses and such. Not that we are to yell at everyone who goes cussing down the street, but rather be ready with verses to back up these convictions.

Psalms

2007-03-05T05:18:00.000-08:00

I think the Psalms were specifically written to be encouragement and praises to God, a place where Christians go when they are discouraged or delighted in the LORD. Recently they have been a great help to me in my daily life. I don't read them along with my devotional time with the LORD but rather when I feel the Spirit move me to do so.

Holy Spirit

2007-02-27T07:58:00.000-08:00

The Holy Spirit is often overlooked, but it is so valuable to help believers understand the Word and help them through hard times. What are all of your thoughts on this?

Complaining

2007-02-23T05:16:00.000-08:00

Jesus bore so much, yet he didn't complain. We bear a fraction of what he did and we DO complain.
Rather than whine and fuss about having to go to the cross Christ asked his heavenly Father to give him strength to do so. The same is with us, don't complain! Seek strength from God to do His will. That is the best alternative and the one He wants us to take.

I Peter 5:7

2007-02-21T06:15:00.000-08:00

If a little boy has a cut and can't reach the band aids to put on his wound, he normally asks his parent to get down the band aids for him. Sometimes we don't do that though, sometimes when we should go to God with our problems we keep them to ourselves and try to find a stool to reach 'the band aids'. I think we should always not only go to God with our problems but also commit them to Him. He is the ruler, he is the guider of the paths of time, why not trust him with our difficulties?

I Peter 5:7
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Thought from Psalm 62:1

2007-02-19T05:45:00.000-08:00

Psalm 62:1
"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him."

I think that a lot of us rely on things or people to support us when we stumble, but the problem with this is what if God takes that thing or person away? What do we do then? Well, if we rely on God from the beginning, we won't have to come across this problem.

I like it because...

2007-02-16T05:03:00.000-08:00

Many of us out there have watched movies like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. What makes these movies likable, and awesome in our eyes? I think a lot of it comes from all of the breathtaking things, the CG effects, huge armies and gigantic battle scenes, impossible fighting feats and many other things. You know, even though they have all these elements, this isn't really a fabulously great reason to like these movies. I believe that the plot should be the reason why you should put a movie on your 'favorites' list. The reason why I think this way is because what leaves a better impression on you: A great plot or some fantastic scenes in a battle or wonderful special effects. The former is definitely the better of the two, it teaches you a life lesson, something you can apply.
Ok, so by now you are wondering why I am rambling about all of this. The reason is because our lives are patterned the same way, I am not saying those who bravely fought in WWI and WWII and multiple other wars aren't to be respected and put on our 'favorites' list. I simply am stating, a life with a plot and meaning is better than one just to gain popular admiration because you could jump off a wall with a sword swinging around in the air killing Computer Generated creatures. Our lives are to be patterned after Christ, who was the real hero, not the popular 'favorite' among many.

1 John 2:6
"Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."

Idolatry

2007-02-14T10:24:00.000-08:00

Many people don't struggle with idolatry. Well that is they don't think they do. But I believe that everyone does in one form or another. This sin isn't necasarrily just creating a graven for yourself and worshipping it, it is putting anything before God, material or not. I find myself so wanting to do certain things, that I 'cut short' my devotions. This is idolatry, and what I am saying seems harsh. Well let me let you know, it is. Idolatry is one of the most damaging (and common) sins. Not only does it hinder our relationship with Jesus but it attempts to stamp it out. So let me ask you, friend, are you going to sit there while idolatry rips you apart or are you going to do something about it? Survey your life, see what could potentionally be a god to you and deal with it, today.

Holding your Breath

2007-02-12T16:31:00.000-08:00

Holding your breath? What has that got to do with the topic of your blog? Your probably wondering that, in order to answer that I want to tell you what I was thinking the other day(which I do a lot of) when this topic came to mind.
Holding your breath is hard. But it gets even harder when you let out a little air, and a tad more, and just a tinsy bit more...and so forth. It is easiest (not that it is easy at all but anyway..) to hold your breath for the longest time without letting out any air whatsoever. Sin is the same way, the more we indulge in it the more air we let out, and the more we release the harder it is to hold it in. When you stumble and let out a gasp of that spiritual breath, pray and ask the Lord to help you, he will but it will still take some effort on your part to hold the remainder of your breath until He pours his grace on you and refills your lungs and strengthens your muscles.

Sheep following Sheep

2007-02-09T17:19:00.001-08:00

The Bible compares we followers of Christ as sheep and Christ as the Shepherd. He is the one to guide us and the one who tells when and what it is time for us to do.
As some of you may know sheep are somewhat odd animals, I have heard before that if a shepherd holds his foot out in front of the first sheep in a file of them, it will jump and so the next and the next...even after the shepherd removes his foot.
In some ways we are the same, God has a way of dealing with each of us and it isn't definitely going to be the same for all of us. We aren't to follow the sheep ahead of us but rather the Shepherd who is willing and devoted to guide us.

Update

2007-02-04T13:13:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,
I'm sorry I haven't posted for quite a while and haven't visited anyones blog for quite a long time time either. Let me tell you that my blog isn't dead and neither am I, =D I haven't been able to/haven't felt like posting at this point. School is a lot and so are some other things. I will be back though!

Urgent Message

2007-01-23T05:13:00.000-08:00

This is an Urgent Message
Please visit Kingdom Advancer's blog below in my links, there is something there we all need to pray for!

Thought from Psalms 49

2007-01-17T05:26:00.000-08:00

Psalm 49:7-8
"No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him- the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough..."

The Pslamist here is pointing out that we cannot save ourselves, this is very similar to the idea of Romans. I didn't know so many important things were in the Old testament. But it has some good truths just like the New does. Next time someone tells you they're earning their way to heaven, include this verse along with verses from the New testament to witness to them.

Thought from Proverbs 10

2007-01-10T05:58:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 10:11
"The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked."

I want to think about that first part in that verse. The righteous words should be words of life. Words of life, what exactly does that mean? That question can be answered in two ways, in the secular realm and in the spiritual realm. In answer to the secular we would say that it means good people speak good words and bad people have bad language. Now let's go to the spiritual answer. The righteous are speaking of Jesus and the Life he offers, they are overflowing with the gospel! But the wicked speak of the "delight" of violence.

Proverbs 10:19
"When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise."

This seems to counteract the previous verse I mentioned. But I don't think that it does. Rather it states that we need to look for God's guidence in our language. If we don't watch what we say, sin will enter our words.

Global Warming

2007-01-08T05:12:00.000-08:00

Uh oh....I can see you thinking to yourself. Just to calm your nerves this isn't a debate on Global Warming.
Think about his verse for a few seconds before you read the rest of the post.
Proverbs 8:29-30a
"When he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I [wisdom] was the crafstman at his side.
When you think about this verse it doesn't prove or disprove global warming. However, it does tell us one important thing, that God has the boundaries set for where the ocean will extend to. If it stays how it is, then that is the wisest boundary for it. If it comes farther inland, then that is the boundary God has set for it. One thing we are sure of, God wil never flood the whole earth again. So don't worry about global warming, think about things that might be a little more life threatening.

Scripture Memorization

2007-01-06T08:37:00.000-08:00

Alongside with a regular prayer life memorizing verses is part of a fruitful walk with the Lord. You see many verses in Psalms and Proverbs on how important it is to hide the Word in your heart. Without knowing verses witnessing could be very difficult and our convictions won't be as strong because we don't have anything to back them up with. It says in the Bible to be ready to witness at all times, without knowing some good evangilism verses you'd be up a tree! Join me and a few others as we memorize verses in our walk with the Lord. (Click here)

Rigid Stepping Stones

2007-01-05T04:58:00.000-08:00

When disciplining someone or helping one through a difficult sin there is a balance of how to do it. We don't have a set of Rigid Stepping Stones set out for us in the Bible that tells us how to deal with all kinds of sin. However, there is one key verse that really points out the answer to where to draw the line. James 3:6b states that we need to give law to the proud and grace to the humble. Previously when I read this verse it blew over my head. But after watching the Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron evangilistic series I have finally come to an understanding of what this verse is saying. Those who don't recognize there sin need to be shown it by use of the law (Ten Commandments). Once they see it, grace is used to set them free.We don't cram it down their throats!

"To much mercy brings misery" -Richard Sibbes

And I believe that to little mercy creates a heardened heart.

Finally back!

2007-01-02T15:53:00.000-08:00

Well, I am finally back from all the Christmas break. Yikes.
So what did you all do for Christmas break? My brother had a friend up for 4 days, we had a ton of fun playing the Hobbit computer game until 4:30 in the morning!

Christmas

2006-12-24T19:30:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,
I probably won't be posting until after the new year, have a Merry Christmas!!

NEW BLOG!

2006-12-15T10:26:00.000-08:00

Please visit the following blog.
www.combinedgenius.blogspot.com

I am still going to continue with the debate below. =D GOD BLESS!

Debate #1-The Trinity

2006-12-15T04:58:00.000-08:00

I recently had a very small debate on another blog. I wanted to expand that to a full fledged debate NOT an argument. I know there is a lot of disagreement on the Trinity, so I want to debate it with some of you, all are welcome. First of all, what do you think of the trinity?
#1
1) Three seperate beings united as one
#2
2) God is the same as God the father, there is no other.
3) And Christ and the Holy Spirit are just stages of Him.

If you have another belief, just explain it and we'll try to have a decent debate. =D

Thoughts to think about #18

2006-12-14T05:03:00.000-08:00

Church isn't about numbers, it's about relationships with eachother and Christ. So next time you think about how small 25 people in your church is, think on how good a relationship they have with Christ and you have with them.

Prayer-our duty

2006-12-12T07:30:00.000-08:00

This morning I heard on the radio that a pastor recently confessed to being a homosexual. The situation Ted Haggard was a disaster, we don't want this to happen to our pastors. Or any for that matter. I once heard a statistic that 1 out of 4 pastors are addicted to pornography. This is serious, we definately need to pray for pastors and Christians all around the U.S.. I challenge you to add this to your prayer list, I have.

Thoughts to think about #17

2006-12-09T08:10:00.000-08:00

The more I think about it the more I realize how little proof from the Bible I have about many of my beliefs! Shouldn't we be able to back up our convictions and beliefs with scriptures?

Thoughts to think about #16

2006-12-04T05:10:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 42:1-3 'Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.'

"After conversion we need bruising so that reeds may know themselves to be reeds, and not oaks."

-Richard Sibbes (The Bruised Reed)

Thoughts to think about #15

2006-11-30T07:45:00.000-08:00

Today in my history I was reading about the early Spainish and Portuguese explorers to the "New World". I was sobered when I read that they were sent to witness to the natives and instead they would offer them salvation in Spanish (which the natives obviously couldn't understand) and state that if they didn't accept it they would kill them. Then they would storm the natives kill them and take all of their gold and treasure! Sometime later a man by the name of Las Casas went to witness to these natives, sadly they were cold to him because of their previous encounters with the "Christian" explorers.

What kind of a example are we being for those around us?

Thanksgiving

2006-11-25T15:24:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,
I just wanted to ask you all what did you do for thanksgiving?

America's downfall

2006-11-22T07:36:00.000-08:00

I personally believe that America is on its way down. Why are so many people against Christians, hateful towards eachother, racists, thieves, adulterers, murderers, and yet so much more? The first of three reasons I think is because of:

1. Abortion
A. With more and more pro-abortion leaders getting into powerful positions abortion will sky rocket! You think about it, there are already several hundred abortion clinics in the U.S! What will this do to them? The more money that they get, the more they will flourish and the more abortions they will be able to preform.
B. Abortion is killing so many lives! Not only good ones but those who may have been able to make a good change to America!
C. Abortion is turning us cold, the more we get used to it, the less we will fight it! The less we fight it, the worse it gets and the more weak we become. Don't let it get under you, see it for what it is, cold-blooded murder!
D. Abortion gives people the idea that they can do what they want without having to pay consequences! Is this a right outlook on the world? What happens when these people get into authority? We will have an even more ruined economy.

2.Wealth
A. This seems like an unusual reason for the downfall of America, doesn't it? I believe that it is one of the worst! Let's sit down and discuss it for a moment. If you have ever read Proverbs you know that it clearly states that material things bring ruin to a man. Wealth is one. Many use wealth to build a little shell around them as a protection against any disaster that may come their way. When they get an infection, sick, or dent their brand new car, they throw money at it and expect it to fix it.This won't last long, when they run out of money what do they do? They are forced to work, which they don't want to do.
B. When we rely to much on money, our original supports of rhyme and reason go out the window! The old supports our forefathers put up for us to build on have been knocked out of place! Christian base, those who ask for wisdom from God, not money.
C. Debt is part of having too much wealth, not seeing a need to really work and save money just to survive is so dangerous! The 'extra' money is used to try to earn money by buying lottery tickets!Gambling is insane and I believe a God to many people! How many times have you stepped up to the counter and the person in front of you is buying lottery tickets?!
D. People have created a love for money instead of others and the LORD! Why do you think there are those who rob banks, kill people for their inheritance to come, and cheating others for a dollar? Money! People see it as the answer to all their problems, it isn't! Only Christ can solve our problems and give us our real needs!

3. The third and final reason ,I believe, is because of feud and friction in our own country.
A. America is made up of so many different peoples. People from all over the world come here seeing it as a refuge for them. Chinese, Koreans, Africans, Europeans you name it! The problem doesn' lie here, but a step after. So many people are racist. Why can't we allow those of a different country to live in ours? They are many times looking for work just to live! Hate has so filled America into to putting herself above other people! We are all God's, made by Him, and made to serve him, not fight with people just becasue of the skin color or the way they dress, what they eat etc.! There are those who are trying to bust thhe gates of controlling immigration. I am not for illegals, I do not support those trying to get into our country to sell drugs. I am not being racist here, I love these people. They need Christ, and I need to show them him, but for the sake of our country we cannot allow in. I have to go to them.
B. Political friction plays I think the biggest role in the whole thing. We can't even keep our country's leader together and in unition, there are always fights, disagreement, debt, wrong moves and through it we are just stretching the band of unity farther and farther away! We can't even keep our country under control, how do we expect to do help others!?

The last resort America has is Christ. If we refuse Him we will certainly collapse.

Thoughts to think about # 14

2006-11-16T05:53:00.000-08:00

Do you have an internal desire in you to read God's Word and dwell on it all day? Hopefully you do. But I am sure there are some of you out there who don't, you want to but you just don't have it! You are getting frustrated with yourself. Don't worry, none of us can desire the Word on our own. Only the Holy Spirit can give it to us. Go to God pleading for a want to read the scripture, pray everyday and he will give you a zeal for the Bible. Just remember the more we become like Christ the less we are like ourselves. We cannot do this on our own. The more we realize how weak we are the closer we will go to God for strength.

Thoughts to think about #13

2006-11-13T05:07:00.000-08:00

Why were hymns written?
Because of the beautiful meldoy and harmony mix. Don't you agree?
I hope you don't. Hymns were written as a message to Christians, words from past Christians put into the best possible way. Poetry is better than just plain words, isn't it? Poetry put to music is even better. That is what Hymns are, God's word and thoughts from others of those long ago and now. I challenge you to think about the words in these hymns, not just sing. It is a real blessing.

Thoughts to think about #12

2006-11-07T05:25:00.000-08:00

What is your primary goal you want to accomplish in life? That is a pivotal question in all America, and all the world. In Ecclesiastes it says, "Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs." what will you pursue as your target throughout your life? To be a famous musician? Writer? Be wealthy? All these ideals and many more are vain and worthless. Think about it. Man can take nothing with him through death, so what is the use of even accomplishing anything in this life? There is one thing though that is important and everlasting, Salvation through Jesus Christ. With him our life goals can be effective and important. To bring glory to God is more important than to show others how 'good' you are. Christ is life, Christ is light and He is the only one that will stick with us even through death. So why pursue something that is mortal and dies in the most important place and time?
~For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Matthew 6:21

Thought to think about #11

2006-11-02T08:01:00.000-08:00

Have you every looked into Ecclesiastes? Solomon learned one of thes most valuable lessons in life, material possesions+me = unhappiness. Why don't we learn? We always are looking for happiness in things! I challenge you this week to try to find happiness in the LORD not man.

Thoughts to think about #10

2006-10-30T07:56:00.000-08:00

Christ died for us, now can we die for Him?

Thought to think about #9

2006-10-27T07:35:00.000-07:00

In evangilism we need to take the right approach to witnessing. Recently at our church we have been watching the Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron evangilism series. They are excellent, not only do they teach biblically, but they also have real footage of their conversations with the people! They use the same method as Jesus did, using the law to convict the unbelievers and God's grace to heal them. In the story with Jesus and the rich man, Jesus first told him he needed to give up the riches he had in order to serve God. He knew that this was breaking the first two commandments. The man went away sad/convicted! The method is Biblical and it works! If you can get a hold of the Ray Comfort series, DO!

My new blog!

2006-10-26T05:55:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,
I just started a new blog, you can go there by my links. Please check it out!

Thoughts to think about #8

2006-10-25T07:35:00.000-07:00

A man was struggling in his Christian life. He went to God and said, "The cross I am carrying is to big! I can't bear it anymore!" So Jesus took him into a room where many people's crosses were. Jesus said,"Okay go ahead and pick a different one." Some of the crosses reached clear to the ceiling, some were smaller others yet even tinier. The man searched for a suitable one, suddenly he saw a very very tiny one sitting in the corner. He picked it up and brought it to Jesus. "Here's one," he said,"I think I'll take it." Jesus replied, "that's the one you've been carrying."

~sometimes we don't realize how much harder others lives are than ours, we need to learn to be thankful, and to trust God for strength to walk with Him.

Thoughts to think about #8

2006-10-21T06:32:00.000-07:00

I think that Christians should be looking into God's word to find out more about HIM. We can't try to imagine what God would be and what He is without error. I recently looked into the Bible and found a few verses that tell about God:
He is Creator Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
All powerful Matthew 19:26 "Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
The same God Matthew 22:32 "'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,' [God] is not the God of the dead but of the living."
Righteous Judge 2 Thessalonians 1:5 "All this is evidence that God's judgment is right..."
Truthful Titus 1:2 "...God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time."
Our owner 1 Corinthians 7:23 "You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men."
When we try to imagine God and mold an idea of what we think He is without Scripture we are breaking the 3rd commandment, "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything..."

Thoughts to think about #7

2006-10-18T05:40:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 16:3

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. "

~what do you all think about this verse?

Thoughts to think about #6

2006-10-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

Imagine watching a taped football game that you missed due to some school work. Your friend saw the game and told you who the winning team was. Despite having this knowledge you insist that you firmly believe the other team will win. How ridiculous is that? Well sometimes we are the same with God. We say, "I don't think that he is right, and I will go my own way." Tell me what you think.

Thoughts to think about #5

2006-10-12T05:25:00.000-07:00

Many times while sitting on the wooden pews at church I think how much easier it would be to listen to the message if I had a sofa! The Christian life isn't like that though. We cannot expect to have a comfortable life. Think of Paul, when he was Saul, he seemed to have an easy life. But after he was converted and became Paul, he lost that easy life and was constantly being hunted for. Why did he give up that comfortable position? Because of Christ's love, Paul truly realized absolute joy and peace we find in Christ, not comfort but love and true forgiveness.

Thoughts to think about #4

2006-10-09T06:55:00.000-07:00

Obedience is a struggle for all Christians both to God and earthly authorities. It is very difficult to obey the Bible and what The LORD says in it. In Romans 8:6 it says,"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." If we submit to God our mind and the spirit controls it obedience will be easier and we will be more willing. Obey the LORD because of your love for him.

Thoughts to think about #3

2006-10-06T05:56:00.000-07:00

I read in Matthew 21:21 last night as I was preparing for family devotions, "...if you have faith and do not doubt..." This is very powerful to me. Faith isn't sitting back and saying "I trust God will do everything for me."!! Not at all! When you are going into a valley of doubt faith keeps you going, and doesn't say "I give up!". If Jesus had given up when they started to beat Him, what would have happened to us?

Thoughts to think about #2

2006-10-03T17:27:00.000-07:00

I've been learning about atoms and their levels, sublevels, orbitals and all that confusing stuff. That is a very minute but large subject in science, what makes up the protons? and after that? It BLOWS my mind to even think about it. Yet that is so small, imagine how complex even the smallest of creatures must be! It would take eternity to learn all there is to be known, but God made it all with a few words. WOW. That in itself is enough to think about for a lifetime.

Thoughts to think about #1

2006-09-30T16:51:00.000-07:00

"It only took God 6 days to make the universe, and he has been working on our eternal home for more than 2000 years. Man this life is like living in a garbage can compared to what's gone on up there." ~Keith Green

Power of Prayer

2006-09-25T17:40:00.000-07:00

It was early Sunday morning, I had to play piano that day. I got up early (at least for a Sunday morning) about 7:30. We had some friends sleeping over, perfect. No doubt this will be the worst day I’ll play the piano, I just know I’ll make some nasty mistakes. I reflected back on my fourth time playing in church, I had made some errors because I was too confident that I had practiced enough. Oh well I think today will go wel,l I have been practicing for quite a while on these couple songs. As I walked to our church to practice early, I worried a bit. On the very last song I found that I hadn’t had it down as well as I should. O great, I thought. I walked back to the house after about 20 minutes of practice. There was no way that I was ready to play that last number. Near the end of the sermon I prayed, God, I know that I can’t do this on my own. You’ll have to help me, even if I won’t get the credit for my skill, I want you to help me. During the closing prayer, doubt started to overcome me. Suddenly I heard my pastor/father say during his prayer, "All we need is faith the side of a mustard seed." The doubt was swept away, and I felt ready. I played well, almost perfect, I new that God had helped me through. Sometimes He does that, He shows us how weak and helpless we truly are. The more we realize how useless we are without Christ the closer we grow to him. Pray that the Lord will show you how sinful people, even Christians are. The more rotten you feel about your sin the better your relationship with Christ will become. Pray in all things, don’t try to hinder God from to controlling your life, He has given it to you. What do you have that he hasn’t given you? Even talent, gifts in certain areas of life aren’t so people praise you! It is to bring glory to God. Let God humble you by showing you that in and of yourself you are worthless, but with Christ you are everything.

2006-09-14T11:22:00.000-07:00

One think I think about the nowadays Christians is that we have little realization of how sinful we truly are! We here of people who have murdered, raped, robbed etc.. When we see this, our immediate response is, "I'm glad I'm not that bad!" But in reality we are! In the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee in Luke 18 we see a perfect example of someone looking down on others for something they are just as guilty as. Sin is a problem that everyone has, not just 'bad people'. The 'bad people' are the ones who have been discovered in there evil doing. We are just as bad! If we truly look into our life we will see the extreme strength of sin! We are dipping our feet in it, and tasting the bit of temporary sweetness it gives and looking down on those who are drowning in it! We must realize that the reason we are different from them isn't because they are 'the bad people' because everyone knows their sin! It is because we have been saved by grace!