Another question...
Sorry :)
If I am cynical of the brothers and sisters in my Church and get angry with them because they don't really "get" grace the way I do, does that mean I don't love my brothers? "Whoever does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?"
Here I go examining my sincerity again.
I just wish we would come together and learn more and more about God's grace. But that's not my call.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Lawlessness
"And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved."
Question: What is this lawlessness that Jesus is referring to?
Question: What is this lawlessness that Jesus is referring to?
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
This Week's Feelings
I am not consistent in my prayer life. I want to be!! But I'm not. After awhile, praying for someone everyday turns into a routine and eventually it's really just me saying the words to get it in there. Like a time card to turn in. Oi... Why can't I get passed this!?!?!?! It's infuriating. Sometimes I want to suffer, because when I'm in suffering, I seek God, I pray and I don't look to worldly comforts. Why can't I just do what I want to do? Why don't I just sit down, quit medicating my brain with movies, music, blogs, etc and read the Scripture and receive revelation of God's grace?
How can I overcome my fears of people and their opinions of me? I want to be bold about my faith in Jesus. I want to be that picture perfect Christian. I want to be like Jesus!! I hate waiting. I feel lazy! Why doesn't God just talk to me verbally? I only want to do what He wants me to do. Because what He wants is not bondage. I can do whatever He gives me to do. But I set out to do things I'm probably not equipped to do simply because I start thinking "A true Christian would do this..." and so I do it. Perhaps it is a good work, but not a God work. I know who God is. I know He loves me and accepts me unconditionally, but I can't feel it or see it. I'm selfish and lazy! I need to re-dedicate myself!! Seriously. I don't want to do everything right, I just want to do most things right. Then I will feel better. I don't like being humble. I like feeling honorable and worthy.
Anyone relate? lol
I'm not going back to the Law. I'm just writing how I feel this week. :)
How can I overcome my fears of people and their opinions of me? I want to be bold about my faith in Jesus. I want to be that picture perfect Christian. I want to be like Jesus!! I hate waiting. I feel lazy! Why doesn't God just talk to me verbally? I only want to do what He wants me to do. Because what He wants is not bondage. I can do whatever He gives me to do. But I set out to do things I'm probably not equipped to do simply because I start thinking "A true Christian would do this..." and so I do it. Perhaps it is a good work, but not a God work. I know who God is. I know He loves me and accepts me unconditionally, but I can't feel it or see it. I'm selfish and lazy! I need to re-dedicate myself!! Seriously. I don't want to do everything right, I just want to do most things right. Then I will feel better. I don't like being humble. I like feeling honorable and worthy.
Anyone relate? lol
I'm not going back to the Law. I'm just writing how I feel this week. :)
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Bill
I wanted to ask anyone who is led to pray for my great grandma's husband, Bill. The doctors said he only has a few weeks to live as he has liver cancer. However, the cancer doesn't determine whether he lives or dies. Only God controls that. I am praying that our Heavenly Daddy would lengthen his life and allow him to hear the Gospel through me or someone. But I cannot imagine facing death without Christ. The hurt and fear must be horrible. So I just want to pray for him and if anyone would pray, I would greatly appreciate it. And if God is calling me to give him the Good News, then I pray He would give me the boldness to do so. I don't really know Bill. He and my great grandma moved down here to Rock Hill from Baltimore, Maryland a few years ago. Let our Father have mercy on him and give him the hope of eternity with Him and our brother, Jesus. Amen.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Blue
So I changed the color of my blog to blue. To commemorate this momentous event I decided to post Eiffel 65's "Blue".
Faith or Dedication?
Romans 4: 1-8
"What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."
Romans 10:1-4
"Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them (Jews) is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, (they're dedicated) but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, (dedicating themselves) they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes."
Galatians 3:10-13
"For all who rely on works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the Law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." But the Law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us."
"What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."
Romans 10:1-4
"Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them (Jews) is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, (they're dedicated) but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, (dedicating themselves) they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes."
Galatians 3:10-13
"For all who rely on works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the Law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." But the Law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us."
Monday, August 11, 2008
Jesus Fulfilled the Law
"The moment you place the Law of Moses between you and God again, you are negating the finished work of Jesus, for if righteousness could come through the Law, "then Christ died in vain." Christianity cannot be reduced to an impersonal list of do's and don'ts. Jesus' death has fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law of the Old Covenant. The Word of God tells us that the "handwriting of requirements" has been nailed to the cross. Jesus came to fulfill all the requirements of the Law on our behalf, so that the way to God is now opened Hallelujah!
'Pastor Prince, you are saying that we are no longer under the Law. but Jesus Himself said that He did not come to abolish the Law.'
That is exactly right, my friend, but you have to quote what Jesus said completely. he said, "I have not come to abolish [the Law], but to fullfill [it]. Jesus did not sweep the Law under the carpet. He came and fulfilled every requirement of the Law perfectly on our behalf. All that we were unable to do, He did on our behalf. So by Jesus, the Law has been fulfilled!
When you have fulfilled your debt to the bank for the mortgage on your house, my advice to you is to stop sending in your monthly payments because the debt has already been fulfilled If the bank sends you a letter demanding more payment from you, all you have to do is produce the title deed to your home. In the same sense, the debt that you and I owed to the Law has already been fulfilled by our Savior Jesus Christ! Hallelujah! When the devil comes to accuse you with the Law and shows you how you have fallen short and failed, all you have to do is point the the payment that Jesus made on the cross. Christ is your title deed, which is why you are called a Christian today. You are not your own. You have been purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. The Law has no hold over you anymore!
You probably know that the ussue of "nuclear disarmament" is big news in the world today. But are you aware that there is someone more sinister who has already been disarmed? The Bible says that God has 'disarmed principalities and powers.' We know from the book of Ephesians that 'principalities and powers' refer to satan and his cohorts. So the devil has already been disarmed! But do you know what weapon he was wielding before his forced disarmament? let's see what the Word of God says about this:"
Colossians 2:14-15
"Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it."
Taken from Destined to Reign by Joseph Prince
'Pastor Prince, you are saying that we are no longer under the Law. but Jesus Himself said that He did not come to abolish the Law.'
That is exactly right, my friend, but you have to quote what Jesus said completely. he said, "I have not come to abolish [the Law], but to fullfill [it]. Jesus did not sweep the Law under the carpet. He came and fulfilled every requirement of the Law perfectly on our behalf. All that we were unable to do, He did on our behalf. So by Jesus, the Law has been fulfilled!
When you have fulfilled your debt to the bank for the mortgage on your house, my advice to you is to stop sending in your monthly payments because the debt has already been fulfilled If the bank sends you a letter demanding more payment from you, all you have to do is produce the title deed to your home. In the same sense, the debt that you and I owed to the Law has already been fulfilled by our Savior Jesus Christ! Hallelujah! When the devil comes to accuse you with the Law and shows you how you have fallen short and failed, all you have to do is point the the payment that Jesus made on the cross. Christ is your title deed, which is why you are called a Christian today. You are not your own. You have been purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. The Law has no hold over you anymore!
You probably know that the ussue of "nuclear disarmament" is big news in the world today. But are you aware that there is someone more sinister who has already been disarmed? The Bible says that God has 'disarmed principalities and powers.' We know from the book of Ephesians that 'principalities and powers' refer to satan and his cohorts. So the devil has already been disarmed! But do you know what weapon he was wielding before his forced disarmament? let's see what the Word of God says about this:"
Colossians 2:14-15
"Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it."
Taken from Destined to Reign by Joseph Prince
Monday, August 4, 2008
Soaking
I was looking at Lydia's blog the other day and found a great website that plays great music for just relaxing and being still in God's presence. A hard thing for me to do as I constantly want my mind to be occupied with things like internet, books, movies and video games.
But it has really great music on it. There is a song on there currently called "behold" by Alberto Rivera and his wife I believe. It's my favorite.
Enjoy
But it has really great music on it. There is a song on there currently called "behold" by Alberto Rivera and his wife I believe. It's my favorite.
Enjoy
Friday, August 1, 2008
God's Humbling Love
When I'm feeling tired, lethargic or full from eating a good meal, it's in those times when I'm hesitant to seek God's love and believe He loves me. I get anxious when my mood goes down because I'm not feeling strong enough to be really nice or do nice and noble things for people. I don't want to talk to anyone. It's those times when I feel like I'm a worldly, hedonistic, self-seeking slob.
And so I feel even more tired because now I feel unloved. I feel like I am detestable and unfit for any good work. And so comes the treadmill of guilt. I've been lazy and selfish, now I need to up the speed on this treadmill of guilt. I need to do more kind things. I need to boost my mood and feel strong. I need to drink a few cups of coffee or something to improve my mood. God is not pleased with my mood. I need to step it up.
I haven't been praying nearly enough for people. I don't witness enough. I don't do enough good works. I don't love enough people. So now I reflect on my past failures and stupid mistakes and beat myself up so that I will be a better person.
....Just some things I sometimes go through lol. I thought you guys might be able to relate...I know you can. Whether you admit it or not. Whether you like it or not. You are not super-spiritual, nor will you ever be. You have not made that final, once for all dedication where you do everything you are suppose to do and consistently do it.
Sometimes I guess it's just best to rest in the fact that you are scandelously loved by God.
And so I feel even more tired because now I feel unloved. I feel like I am detestable and unfit for any good work. And so comes the treadmill of guilt. I've been lazy and selfish, now I need to up the speed on this treadmill of guilt. I need to do more kind things. I need to boost my mood and feel strong. I need to drink a few cups of coffee or something to improve my mood. God is not pleased with my mood. I need to step it up.
I haven't been praying nearly enough for people. I don't witness enough. I don't do enough good works. I don't love enough people. So now I reflect on my past failures and stupid mistakes and beat myself up so that I will be a better person.
....Just some things I sometimes go through lol. I thought you guys might be able to relate...I know you can. Whether you admit it or not. Whether you like it or not. You are not super-spiritual, nor will you ever be. You have not made that final, once for all dedication where you do everything you are suppose to do and consistently do it.
Sometimes I guess it's just best to rest in the fact that you are scandelously loved by God.
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