I feel like I just came home from a weekend retreat. I have a lot of things that have been taught to me over the last few months and am now home with my family for Christmas break. Every where I turn something that was said during class comes to mind. Most of the time causing me to change think twice about my actions. Learning is fun and exciting but practicing what you learned is even harder. I don't like admitting that I'm wrong and that I don't know everything even though everyone knows that I am. These next couple of weeks are going to be a bit testing. They already have been. I've seen more of a need for God that I never saw or could see before.
Resting in the Hamock of God's Sovereignty,
Christiana
Monday, December 21, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
What is my motive?
There are many things that we see today that are culturely accepted but not always is it biblical right. We were talking about samson a few days ago in Old Testament HisStory (OTH). How you can see the carnality in Samson the way he viewed his marriage and his gambling. This proposed the question on whether or not gambling is biblically a sin or not. We had about a half an hour class dicussion on gambling and when it becomes sin and ssome other cultural issues that we as christians just automatically think is a sin because our culture accepts it. Like, movies, clothes, music, alcholic drinks, language,...etc.
If you were to place your clothing style, movies, music or favorite books into this diagram, where would it stand before God?
Why is it a sin? Because it falls bellow God's standards! God has standards for a reason. They are not just there to mae out lives miserable or because God doesn't want us to have fun. Heck no!! God made things for us to enjoy, IF we will listen and follow to the standards that has been made with our best intrest and safty in mind! God cares a WHOLE lot for us! When he says something He's not joking around, that's why there are consequences for our actions, our sin needs to be delt with.
Just something that's been on my mind that I thought I'd share!!
The big thing is alocholic beverages. In and of its self the liquid is not a bad thing. Beer, wine or any cooler is okay to drink. To have a cup of wine with a special meal, That's okay! I would do it if I was the legal age and I know of people who do. I'm not saying that because they do it makes okay but to point out a fact. Not if you were to give a bunch of alochol to a girl/boyfriend to consume for the simple reason of getting them to sleep with you, that is where it becomes sin. It's not the action in drinking the alochol that was a sin but the motive or reason for consuming it that was sin. God does say not to get drunk on wine and this would be something that we should take into considerstion when wondering how far is to far. Our teacher drew us a picture:
If you were to place your clothing style, movies, music or favorite books into this diagram, where would it stand before God?
Why is it a sin? Because it falls bellow God's standards! God has standards for a reason. They are not just there to mae out lives miserable or because God doesn't want us to have fun. Heck no!! God made things for us to enjoy, IF we will listen and follow to the standards that has been made with our best intrest and safty in mind! God cares a WHOLE lot for us! When he says something He's not joking around, that's why there are consequences for our actions, our sin needs to be delt with.
Just something that's been on my mind that I thought I'd share!!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
God, Where are you?
Look at the world around you. Does it seem like God is there? All the wars and blood shed that has happened in the past, the thefts that happen daily and the little white lies that snow-ball into a huge lie. You wonder where it all started. You parents might be working their way towards a divorce and it feels like the world is about to end. I know what it’s like. My parents don’t have the greatest relationship either. It really starts to change the way that I view God and what He can do. I immediately put Him into this box and then wonder why He won’t do the things He said He can. He says He’s a loving and compassionate, all-powerful, unchanging God. I immediately ask, if He is so living than why would He cause such a thing as divorce to ever exist or why does the boyfriend have to break up with me now. I was hurt by both, within the same month. The emotion that was there was dragging me down. It was all I ever thought about I had out a lot of trust and faith into my parents and the boyfriend and then suddenly it was gone. The wall of comfort had fallen. I didn’t see God anywhere
God has told us all through out the bible, time and time again, that He is unchanging and that He is with us and promised to never leave.
While the Israelites were wondering through the desert they were wondering where God was and why they had to leave the wonderful place of Egypt. There they had shelter, good food and were enslaved but they didn’t pay much attention to that. I want to show you where God has given us His characteristics and how they played apart in the Israelites lives.
1. The Israelites as slaves in Egypt (Exodus 5)
a. Making bricks with out straw (Exodus 5:5-13)
2. Crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 15)
a. Pharaoh’s chariots charge after them (Ex. 15:4)
b. God is right by me (Joshua1:5)
3. Israelites are hungry (Exodus 16)
a. They only ate manna (Exodus 16:35)
In the days when God doesn't seem present, when things are tougher than you can handle, I can trust in His word. Knowing that when He says that I can trust in Him, I can actually trust Him.God doesn’t joke around with things like these. He doesn’t say anything with out meaning it. I have talked to many people and starting to realize that we can take God at His word. We don’t need and shouldn’t reread into anything that God has said to me. I’m learning more and more as I look at God’s word how reliable and true He really is
God has told us all through out the bible, time and time again, that He is unchanging and that He is with us and promised to never leave.
While the Israelites were wondering through the desert they were wondering where God was and why they had to leave the wonderful place of Egypt. There they had shelter, good food and were enslaved but they didn’t pay much attention to that. I want to show you where God has given us His characteristics and how they played apart in the Israelites lives.
1. The Israelites as slaves in Egypt (Exodus 5)
a. Making bricks with out straw (Exodus 5:5-13)
2. Crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 15)
a. Pharaoh’s chariots charge after them (Ex. 15:4)
b. God is right by me (Joshua1:5)
3. Israelites are hungry (Exodus 16)
a. They only ate manna (Exodus 16:35)
In the days when God doesn't seem present, when things are tougher than you can handle, I can trust in His word. Knowing that when He says that I can trust in Him, I can actually trust Him.God doesn’t joke around with things like these. He doesn’t say anything with out meaning it. I have talked to many people and starting to realize that we can take God at His word. We don’t need and shouldn’t reread into anything that God has said to me. I’m learning more and more as I look at God’s word how reliable and true He really is
Sunday, October 25, 2009
I have been redemed!!
This was a paper that the freshman class was asked to do as an assignment for our Evangelism class. We were asked to write our testamony of how we came to know and accept Christ. I thought that all of you might like to know about it as well!
Here's my story:
I was raised in a Christian Home. We never missed a Sunday church service unless we were sick. It had became a routine that a desired to achieve. I got used to acting good at church but at home I was a total jerk. I had no respect for anyone that I lived with. At church I would say that everything was okay but deep down something was really wrong. I knew what the bible said and had real good knowledge of the crucifixion of Christ but I didn’t realize that what it had to say was written for me. I found it irrelevant to life but because of the way I grew up I just accepted it.
One summer, when I was 12, I went to a girls’ camp in my home town. That week we had a ceremony for the middle school girls. We were instructed to draw a perfect picture and were given all the tools necessary to perform the task but only had one sheet of paper. She was going to judge them and they good would be on onside and the good on the other. So we sat around the camp fire drawing whatever came to mind. I was a horrible drawer but I did the best I could. When I presented my picture to the counselor she told me that it didn’t meet her standards. She told me that all my effort wasn’t good enough. I put 100% into my drawing and it still wasn’t enough? After she looked at all the pictures everyone made it to the bad-side.
There was a penalty for not drawing a good picture. You had to be splashed with water. It was the only way. So she called the first two people up while she stood behind them. They stayed dry but the counselor got wet! The counselor shared just as she took the water for the girls’ bad picture God took the death for out sin when He was on the cross. I was the only way for our sins to be covered in His eyes. We have a chance to either accept it our ignore it. Just like we had one sheet of paper, God has given us one life to accept His gift. With all the things that humans think are good they aren’t good enough to stand before a righteous God. I was beginning to understand that everything that I did, in front of God was filthy rages. How terrible my works must look in front of Him. I went back to my cabin that night with an upset stomach. I had heard this many times before. Why is it not making sense to me?
After wrestling with this for two days it was time to head home. I left camp missing it a lot. I can remember crying and saying that I didn’t want to leave when my mom assured me that I would be returning there next year and that I needed to stop crying. I was trying to forget about the ceremony, but it wasn’t leaving my mind. That was the first time I truly understood Christ’s purpose to His life. I went a whole year of trying to fight this battle between me and God. I was trying to reject Christ and go my own way. Should I just accept it? Is what she was talking about really true? It sounded so good I couldn’t believe that we didn’t have to do anything to earn it. It was a free gift.
There was this struggle inside me that continued for almost a whole year. There was a time where I some time to look at my life. It just wasn’t making me happy. There were many things that I didn’t like and wondered why they happened to me. I was angry with the people around me and felt alone and abandoned. I became overwhelmed with the struggle with in me and gave in! I realized that I wasn’t good enough and needed help to get out of my trouble. I had a friend who I became close to over the previous year while I was faking my relationship with Christ. She wanted to be there for us and made it clear that we could talk to her about anything. She came to my mind one Sunday so I went to church that night looking for. I had to talk to her! I came to church with the intentions of pulling her aside right away but I was afraid so I sat down in the pew and figured that the situation would ware off given time. It wasn’t that important anyway. It didn’t! In fact it became worse. I took a glance across the church, saw my friend and literally ran over to her. I asked if I could talk to her in this voice that made it urgent. We walked out of the sanctuary and into the kitchen and flat out told her that I what I was going through my mind. I knew that I was lost in sin and would not be with my Savior for eternity. I knew that a relationship was what God wanted with me but He was just waiting for me to call on Him for it to begin. I proceeded to talk to God and tell Him my choice and that I wanted to revolve my life around Him. I still have troubles in my life and things that I wrestle with but I am resting assured that Christ is enough for me and that He will be there when I need Him. He is everything that I need and more!
Here's my story:
I was raised in a Christian Home. We never missed a Sunday church service unless we were sick. It had became a routine that a desired to achieve. I got used to acting good at church but at home I was a total jerk. I had no respect for anyone that I lived with. At church I would say that everything was okay but deep down something was really wrong. I knew what the bible said and had real good knowledge of the crucifixion of Christ but I didn’t realize that what it had to say was written for me. I found it irrelevant to life but because of the way I grew up I just accepted it.
One summer, when I was 12, I went to a girls’ camp in my home town. That week we had a ceremony for the middle school girls. We were instructed to draw a perfect picture and were given all the tools necessary to perform the task but only had one sheet of paper. She was going to judge them and they good would be on onside and the good on the other. So we sat around the camp fire drawing whatever came to mind. I was a horrible drawer but I did the best I could. When I presented my picture to the counselor she told me that it didn’t meet her standards. She told me that all my effort wasn’t good enough. I put 100% into my drawing and it still wasn’t enough? After she looked at all the pictures everyone made it to the bad-side.
There was a penalty for not drawing a good picture. You had to be splashed with water. It was the only way. So she called the first two people up while she stood behind them. They stayed dry but the counselor got wet! The counselor shared just as she took the water for the girls’ bad picture God took the death for out sin when He was on the cross. I was the only way for our sins to be covered in His eyes. We have a chance to either accept it our ignore it. Just like we had one sheet of paper, God has given us one life to accept His gift. With all the things that humans think are good they aren’t good enough to stand before a righteous God. I was beginning to understand that everything that I did, in front of God was filthy rages. How terrible my works must look in front of Him. I went back to my cabin that night with an upset stomach. I had heard this many times before. Why is it not making sense to me?
After wrestling with this for two days it was time to head home. I left camp missing it a lot. I can remember crying and saying that I didn’t want to leave when my mom assured me that I would be returning there next year and that I needed to stop crying. I was trying to forget about the ceremony, but it wasn’t leaving my mind. That was the first time I truly understood Christ’s purpose to His life. I went a whole year of trying to fight this battle between me and God. I was trying to reject Christ and go my own way. Should I just accept it? Is what she was talking about really true? It sounded so good I couldn’t believe that we didn’t have to do anything to earn it. It was a free gift.
There was this struggle inside me that continued for almost a whole year. There was a time where I some time to look at my life. It just wasn’t making me happy. There were many things that I didn’t like and wondered why they happened to me. I was angry with the people around me and felt alone and abandoned. I became overwhelmed with the struggle with in me and gave in! I realized that I wasn’t good enough and needed help to get out of my trouble. I had a friend who I became close to over the previous year while I was faking my relationship with Christ. She wanted to be there for us and made it clear that we could talk to her about anything. She came to my mind one Sunday so I went to church that night looking for. I had to talk to her! I came to church with the intentions of pulling her aside right away but I was afraid so I sat down in the pew and figured that the situation would ware off given time. It wasn’t that important anyway. It didn’t! In fact it became worse. I took a glance across the church, saw my friend and literally ran over to her. I asked if I could talk to her in this voice that made it urgent. We walked out of the sanctuary and into the kitchen and flat out told her that I what I was going through my mind. I knew that I was lost in sin and would not be with my Savior for eternity. I knew that a relationship was what God wanted with me but He was just waiting for me to call on Him for it to begin. I proceeded to talk to God and tell Him my choice and that I wanted to revolve my life around Him. I still have troubles in my life and things that I wrestle with but I am resting assured that Christ is enough for me and that He will be there when I need Him. He is everything that I need and more!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
where am I?
I just graduated highschool this last spring and came out to Jackson Michigan to attend New Tribes Bible Institute (ntbi). I was very excited to come out and start! I though I would take it easy at first, ya know just studying the bible and gettin spoon feed all the necessities of life. Then I actually started attending classes to find out that it got into something harder and required more work than I was thinking that I was going to be given.. I had it in my head that it was going to be easier than a university or state college. Althought I have never been to either of these for classes it's just the same amount of effort...... or more!! the studies is so great I have to take naps after lunch so I can focus on my homework because my brain is so tired from the intense studies in the morning. There are days when you are so wrapped up in studying and actually enjoying and wanting to complete it you forget to get sleep! I love it over here!!!!! :)
I have 17 2/3 credits this semester. It's a big number but the load isn't all that bad. Classes are going well and am loving every second of it!!! I did have a biblical foundations class and a Bibliology class which I finished in the middle of Spetember. The classes only lasted three weeks. Now I am in an Evangelism class, Pentateuch class, and Hermaneutics class. God's word is so powerful and so worth the time and energy you put into studying it!
Christiana
I have 17 2/3 credits this semester. It's a big number but the load isn't all that bad. Classes are going well and am loving every second of it!!! I did have a biblical foundations class and a Bibliology class which I finished in the middle of Spetember. The classes only lasted three weeks. Now I am in an Evangelism class, Pentateuch class, and Hermaneutics class. God's word is so powerful and so worth the time and energy you put into studying it!
Christiana
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)