I've been trying to get more into the Bible for the last couple months, and once I started looking deeper into it I couldn't help but thirst to read more and more. It's become much more enjoyable to get into it as I realized how much of it really applies, and relates. As much as times are different now then back in Jesus' day doesn't make any of it less true. It's always going to hold to it's standards, and that's what I've found that makes it so incredible to me...
Take a minute to actually think about each of these. If you look deeply into them they are quite humbling.
"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12
Some verses in the book of The Undying Truth:
Thoughts of Job:
"Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job 2:10
"Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?" Job 4:17
"He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted!" Job 5:9
"What is man that you can make so much of him, that you give him so much attention, that you examine him every morning and test him every moment?" Job 7:17-18
"To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man he imprisons cannot be released. If he hold back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose they devastate the land. To him belong strength and victory; both deceived and deceiver are his. He leads counselors away stripped and makes fools of judges. He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist. He leads priest away stripped and overthrows men long established. He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders. He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty. He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the lights. He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them. He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he sends them wandering through a trackless waste. They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards." Job 12:13-25
"Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one!" Job 14:4
Don't act like a Christian. Be one!
Go and serve your King! :)
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Another brillant God thing..
Today was a pretty good day. Although earlier today I could've found a million things to complain about, my mind feels pretty numb right about now, but I'm just gonna jump into it!
This is my second year of track, and this year can't even began to compare to last year for me. Last season, in my mind, couldn't of been a bigger challenge. I can't even began to explain the level of difficulty for me. My shins killed, my [not known at the time] asthma had a good grip on me, and the only place I sought for support, my parents, left me pretty empty and hanging. I was determined to make it through the season, and once I did I found it only to be kind of rewarding. I had pretty much decided at the middle of that season that track wasn't for me, but in a sense I enjoyed it.
Yet again this year I let the same person encourage me to join as last year, Carly Haabala. I had decided that if I was going to take this path again I'd need motivation, and a purpose going into it. I figured out that the biggest struggle of last year was doing it on my own, so I had decided the strength would come from God, and the GLORY would go to God as it should of been prevoiusly. As soon as that was decided God laid His idea of the ultimate motivation at my feet. Cole Haabala. I realized as different as our situtions are, they are also very simular. Struggle, God, and needed strength couldn't and can't be advoided. Cole lives everyday fighting for his life, and living by the strength of God, he certainly can't give up. I realized that if giving up for him is never an option, then I didn't want it to be an option for me.
I must admit this season has been a blast, and I've been releatively healthy up until about two and a half weeks ago when I found out my quad was strained or something of that sort. It's not getting any better, if anything I feel as if it's getting slowly worse. I've been praying before practices that God would give me the strength I needed to complete it and surely he has provided. :)
As I walked out of the "trainer room" and down the hallway with a wrap on my leg, I approached my friend Keely at the drinking fountain. She looked at my leg then asked how it'd been doing. I explained it wasn't getting any better, and she responded that she'd be praying. As she walked away she turned around and said "Actually, I'll pray right now." She rested her hand on my leg, we closed our eyes, and she began to pray for strength, and healing for me. I thanked her, and as she walked away I realized one thing that NEVER crossed my mind was to pray for healing. I knew God could heal it, but I never actually thought of asking Him to heal it. It was definately a reminder from God that I can call upon Him WHENEVER I need him.
Don't forget you can call upon him anytime you need Him too, He's always there! Not only in the good, but in the bad too. He doesn't leave your side for anything. Don't lean away from Him, because He's our solid foundation, and our stable crutch to keep us up. He's got our backs.
"I have a maker. Before my heart, before even time began, my life was in his hands. He knows my name. He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls, and hears me when I call. I have a father. He calls me His own He'll never leave me, no matter where I go. He knows my name. He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls, and hears me when I call. He knows my name. He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls and hears me when I call. He knows my name. He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls, and hears me when I call. He hears me when I call." ~ Rebecca Hanson
This is my second year of track, and this year can't even began to compare to last year for me. Last season, in my mind, couldn't of been a bigger challenge. I can't even began to explain the level of difficulty for me. My shins killed, my [not known at the time] asthma had a good grip on me, and the only place I sought for support, my parents, left me pretty empty and hanging. I was determined to make it through the season, and once I did I found it only to be kind of rewarding. I had pretty much decided at the middle of that season that track wasn't for me, but in a sense I enjoyed it.
Yet again this year I let the same person encourage me to join as last year, Carly Haabala. I had decided that if I was going to take this path again I'd need motivation, and a purpose going into it. I figured out that the biggest struggle of last year was doing it on my own, so I had decided the strength would come from God, and the GLORY would go to God as it should of been prevoiusly. As soon as that was decided God laid His idea of the ultimate motivation at my feet. Cole Haabala. I realized as different as our situtions are, they are also very simular. Struggle, God, and needed strength couldn't and can't be advoided. Cole lives everyday fighting for his life, and living by the strength of God, he certainly can't give up. I realized that if giving up for him is never an option, then I didn't want it to be an option for me.
I must admit this season has been a blast, and I've been releatively healthy up until about two and a half weeks ago when I found out my quad was strained or something of that sort. It's not getting any better, if anything I feel as if it's getting slowly worse. I've been praying before practices that God would give me the strength I needed to complete it and surely he has provided. :)
As I walked out of the "trainer room" and down the hallway with a wrap on my leg, I approached my friend Keely at the drinking fountain. She looked at my leg then asked how it'd been doing. I explained it wasn't getting any better, and she responded that she'd be praying. As she walked away she turned around and said "Actually, I'll pray right now." She rested her hand on my leg, we closed our eyes, and she began to pray for strength, and healing for me. I thanked her, and as she walked away I realized one thing that NEVER crossed my mind was to pray for healing. I knew God could heal it, but I never actually thought of asking Him to heal it. It was definately a reminder from God that I can call upon Him WHENEVER I need him.
Don't forget you can call upon him anytime you need Him too, He's always there! Not only in the good, but in the bad too. He doesn't leave your side for anything. Don't lean away from Him, because He's our solid foundation, and our stable crutch to keep us up. He's got our backs.
"I have a maker. Before my heart, before even time began, my life was in his hands. He knows my name. He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls, and hears me when I call. I have a father. He calls me His own He'll never leave me, no matter where I go. He knows my name. He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls, and hears me when I call. He knows my name. He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls and hears me when I call. He knows my name. He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls, and hears me when I call. He hears me when I call." ~ Rebecca Hanson
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Modesty.
Hey Ladies! :)
Just a quick reminder. Lately thoughts of modesty have been laid on my heart. Dressing modestly is so important as a Christian. The way you dress definitely sends a message out to others. As my relationship with God grows stronger I slowly come to understand, and become more sensitive to this. I've been noticing lately shorts getting shorter, and shorter, and shorter, and lower necklines. Remember how you dress effects more then just you. I wore a sports jacket today. It's a hand-me-down, so it's a little on the smaller size. I hadn't realized that I'd have to keep pulling it down in order for my back not to show when I sat down! It seems like such a small thing, but it really makes a difference. Guys are visual, and they can't always choose what they do and don't see. Have respect for them and for other with the way you dress!
~"Flee from sexual immorality!....Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own for you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 19:20
~"Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense; not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel." 1 Timothy 2:9
~"But I tell you, everyone who has looked at a woman with lust, has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:28
Just a quick reminder. Lately thoughts of modesty have been laid on my heart. Dressing modestly is so important as a Christian. The way you dress definitely sends a message out to others. As my relationship with God grows stronger I slowly come to understand, and become more sensitive to this. I've been noticing lately shorts getting shorter, and shorter, and shorter, and lower necklines. Remember how you dress effects more then just you. I wore a sports jacket today. It's a hand-me-down, so it's a little on the smaller size. I hadn't realized that I'd have to keep pulling it down in order for my back not to show when I sat down! It seems like such a small thing, but it really makes a difference. Guys are visual, and they can't always choose what they do and don't see. Have respect for them and for other with the way you dress!
~"Flee from sexual immorality!....Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own for you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 19:20
~"Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense; not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel." 1 Timothy 2:9
~"But I tell you, everyone who has looked at a woman with lust, has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:28
Monday, April 5, 2010
Easter..
Mmmm..Easter, the sound of familiar hymns, and joyful hearts. This time of year never gets old. I decided for myself it was going to be a new twist. No egg dying, no personalized Easter basket, no egg hunts, no Easter bunny!
Mission:
Instead my plan was to read the Easter story daily from Thursday-Sunday, watch The Passion of the Christ, and encourage my whole family to go to church at 6:00 a.m. with me. The purpose of the plan was to really focus on the meaning of Easter. I felt more in touch with this then I probably ever have.
Mission Status and Reports:
The repetition of the Easter story made it much more clear in my mind, and reminded myself consistently of what Christ had to do for us. I in fact did get my Mom, and Dad to go to church with me that morning, but failed when it came to my brother. Church seemed like much more of a hassle, and stressful for them then I had hoped for it to be, but I could tell they were listening into the message which was my main hope. Although I'm thankful I watched the Passion of the Christ, I am rather curious to know how much of the time I didn't hid behind my pillow. I'm a very visual person when it comes to pain. Watching the man who gave you absolutely everything you have being whipped, spat on, laughed at, and mocked is indescribably harsh! I couldn't help but flinch each time I saw him whipped. I made it through the movie fairly questionable, but managed pretty well until the crucifixion scene. I saw the nail put to his hand, and as hard as I tried to look, my eyes would close. That's the part that hit me the hardest. I cried as I sat there seeing the nails in his hands, and realizing that I was the one who did that to him. I was the one who put him up on the cross. He was up there because of you, and because of me, because of LOVE. I don't even have words to discribe how that makes me feel...
Out of this I learned a whole new degree of the love he has for us. What get's to me is how much I still don't and will never comphrehend the unconditional love he gave...
For now though my GOAL is to try to spread the love I understand, and even more so spread the love I don't understand, and to make a statement for God.
Status of Mission:
Accomplished.
Status of Goal:
A work in progress. (This status will never change, because the goal can never be completely fullfilled.)
Mission:
Instead my plan was to read the Easter story daily from Thursday-Sunday, watch The Passion of the Christ, and encourage my whole family to go to church at 6:00 a.m. with me. The purpose of the plan was to really focus on the meaning of Easter. I felt more in touch with this then I probably ever have.
Mission Status and Reports:
The repetition of the Easter story made it much more clear in my mind, and reminded myself consistently of what Christ had to do for us. I in fact did get my Mom, and Dad to go to church with me that morning, but failed when it came to my brother. Church seemed like much more of a hassle, and stressful for them then I had hoped for it to be, but I could tell they were listening into the message which was my main hope. Although I'm thankful I watched the Passion of the Christ, I am rather curious to know how much of the time I didn't hid behind my pillow. I'm a very visual person when it comes to pain. Watching the man who gave you absolutely everything you have being whipped, spat on, laughed at, and mocked is indescribably harsh! I couldn't help but flinch each time I saw him whipped. I made it through the movie fairly questionable, but managed pretty well until the crucifixion scene. I saw the nail put to his hand, and as hard as I tried to look, my eyes would close. That's the part that hit me the hardest. I cried as I sat there seeing the nails in his hands, and realizing that I was the one who did that to him. I was the one who put him up on the cross. He was up there because of you, and because of me, because of LOVE. I don't even have words to discribe how that makes me feel...
Out of this I learned a whole new degree of the love he has for us. What get's to me is how much I still don't and will never comphrehend the unconditional love he gave...
For now though my GOAL is to try to spread the love I understand, and even more so spread the love I don't understand, and to make a statement for God.
Status of Mission:
Accomplished.
Status of Goal:
A work in progress. (This status will never change, because the goal can never be completely fullfilled.)
Thursday, April 1, 2010
What a good day!
Man, oh, man. I've had such a great last three days. Passion Drama, Two FCA's, One Feild of Faith, One Easter Breakfast, and lots and lots of people who are going through and fighting for the same thing I want, to build a stronger relationship with the Almighty God. The events that filled the last few days completely lifted me up. The literal feeling of being on fire for God is drawing near to me once again, and that's something I always thirst for. I've felt immensely blessed lately. In a way though that's not true. I'm always blessed, and often times in ways I don't even recognize, and lately I've been acknowledging it so much more, amidst all the complaining I've been doing. I'm a pretty open person and willing to share my feelings, and I'm not so much afraid to be weak, so when I'm very questionable about something I tend to complain i.e. track and field. I'm learning that it's so important to use that negative energy and transfer it in the most positive way in whatever you are doing and bring glory and honor to God. This last weekend I complained a ton at a track meet about how questionable I was about being able to complete two 200 meter races. I dwelled on it because I questioned my ability. I pity the people that had to listen to me. When both races were over. I realized how great it was, and how much fun it was, and I couldn't believe I spent that much time complaining for such a simple event that lasted less then 35 seconds. What a waste of time. Instead of building up, I was just tearing everything down, and the complaining got me absolutely no where. It was Satan entering my mind trying to get me to underestimate everything I could, every ability that God had given me! What an insult to him, because even though I am the one who possess the ability it's given to me by God, and it's fed through God. It's a neverending supply of the ability from God. Nothing I do is of myself. I'm hopeless without him. It humbles me. How about you?
I've been looking high and low for my God given talent thinking it'd be something specific, something I wouldn't have to work at to be good at. That's not the case. I may not have talent that I see, but I think there's has to be one God can see, and pray that I use it, but I don't have to have a specail talent to be used by God anyway. All he needs is for me to let myself fall into hands, so he can use me in anyway it pleases him. I don't have to have a talent because God can use me in my weaknesses too. He's all powerful. I want to be leaning on him.
I've been looking high and low for my God given talent thinking it'd be something specific, something I wouldn't have to work at to be good at. That's not the case. I may not have talent that I see, but I think there's has to be one God can see, and pray that I use it, but I don't have to have a specail talent to be used by God anyway. All he needs is for me to let myself fall into hands, so he can use me in anyway it pleases him. I don't have to have a talent because God can use me in my weaknesses too. He's all powerful. I want to be leaning on him.
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