Which Cat Gets the Food?

I have two cats. The older cat is very zen, while the younger is very demanding. They both like people food. When I'm eating, both will lie down nearby, but the older one will lie quietly, trusting that I will not forget to give him some when I'm finished unless it's something that will harm him (like chocolate). The younger one, however, will try to get in my lap, try to take the food, and meow at me so that I don't forget he's there. The younger cat's impatience gets him into trouble, and requires reminders to wait for me to be finished, and to trust that I will not forget him. This happened just a few minutes ago, and gave me this idea.

We are like the cats. We either wait patiently - trusting that the Lord will not forget us when he's ready for us to receive something He wants to give us, or we wait impatiently - doing everything we can to keep God's attention, and crying out to Him impatiently, reminding Him not to forget us.

I strive to act like the older cat, but I know sometimes I act much more like the younger cat.

Both cats got some of my food when I was finished, but the one who waited patiently got some first. When he was finished, he stayed lying beside me, content to lick his paws and give me affection. The younger one immediately ran for his food bowl and got some dry food to eat in addition to what I had given him. He now has no more interest in me, and is lying by the window. (I'm sure there's another lesson in there somewhere too.)
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Yesterday, when I wrote this post, I was astounded. What a connection! God teaches me things when I least expect to learn (like when I'm chillin' on the couch with my cats). How amazing that such different cat personalities could teach me a lesson about patience!

Psalm 27:14 says "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Take heart means don't worry! Trust that God knows what He is doing, and that it will come to pass in His time, when it's meant to. Wait patiently and trustingly.

8 Declarations

We had a guest pastor in church today, and the sermon was amazing, engaging, and moving! I'll break it down into several other posts, but for now, I wanted to do this brief post.

We have to declare life, and not death over our lives. Instead of giving 10 minutes to complain, spend 10 minutes praising God for what He has done, and what He will do.

These are 8 declarations the pastor gave us to speak over our lives every day!

1. Declare God's incredible blessings over your life.
2. Declare that you will experience God's faithfulness.
3. Declare that you will have the grace you need for every day of your life.
4. Declare that it is not too late to accomplish everything God has put into your heart!
1. You don't have to be really young to do this. If you're still alive, there is still time, and God can do all things.
5. Be grateful for who God is.
1. Don't just be grateful for the blessings, but for God Himself.
6. Declare that you will leave a legacy of faith.
7. Declare that you will store up blessings for future generations.
8. Declare that God has a great plan for your life!

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"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." - Proverbs 18:21

The Bible is Not a Menu!

The Bible is not a menu from which we can pick and choose what we want to eat. The whole book is meant for our consumption, even if some of it gives us indigestion. We can't decide to follow some rules and ignore others. God did not give us these rules to be harsh, or to take away our fun. He gave us these rules for our protection, because He loves us, and wants us to be with Him.

We can't just say "Well, this verse doesn't fit with my personal beliefs, so I'll just ignore it." Our beliefs should change if we read something in God's Word that contradicts them. We should learn and grow and change so that we can be close to Him.

Just because we think one sin is less than another, doesn't make it true. We may commit one sin and think "Oh, at least it's not murder," but no sin can enter heaven. We must not consider one sin less than another, and we must ask forgiveness for all sins, no matter how "small" or "inconsequential" they may seem to us.

It's important to read God's Word and absorb it - all of it. That way when Satan tries to tempt us with pretty lies, we will recognize them for what they are, and be able to resist.

Now, remember that when Jesus came to earth the first time, he fulfilled the Old Testament, and that's why we no longer have to make animal sacrifices and such. The lessons and teachings of the Old Testament should not be discarded or disregarded, however.

It's also important to read scripture in context. Now, the Bible can be quoted and misquoted scripture by scripture for teaching, rebuking, correcting, etc. But it's important for us to know the context in which the scripture we're reading is used. After all, though you can eat just a slice of bread, and feel kind of full, it requires other elements to make a meal - and it tastes better too!

For example, I can quote this popular verse by itself.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Or I can go back to verse 20 and quote verses 20-23 together for a more complete picture.

"When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:20-23).

So, while some verses can be used by themselves (like the Proverbs), it is important to remember that we have to read them in context so that we aren't confused about the whole meaning, so that we don't mislead ourselves or someone else with a misinterpretation.

The Bible is not a menu.

That Heartwarming Little House

Little House on the Prairie has captured the hearts of many for generations. It is one of my favorite book series. The television show is good too, but it's not as awesome as the books.

The Little House books have wholesome, Christian family values, and stories filled with adventure. I have always loved books about the journey westward, and while the Ingalls family doesn't go that far west, in my mind the books still count as that sort of adventure. 

The story of Laura Ingalls, her older sister Mary, her younger sister Carrie, and their Ma & Pa, the Little House books follow the Ingalls family in their journey west. Written by Laura, she tells her memories of their search for a place to call home, their adventures with new friends, old friends, rivals, school, Indians, and much more! The Ingalls family faces many hardships, but always remembers to count their blessings, and to trust in God.

This series brought me much joy as a child, though I didn't finish the series until years later. It always made me smile to see how the Ingalls family never really lost hope, even through the struggles they faced.

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"The Lord will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore" (Psalm 121:7-8).

This website features information about Laura Ingalls Wilder. The portion of the website I have linked to has reference to Laura's favorite Bible verses, which I found very interesting!

Monetary Gain

First, I want to be honest. I have read and watched many books and movies with Christian values over the years, and I want to recommend all of them. But in order to bring in some extra money, I want to link the recommendations to the Amazon Affiliates Program.

I hope you will all enjoy my reviews/recommendations of these items, even though they are linked that way, and excuse me for using a few of my blog posts to do so.

So, I wanted to be up front about this, before tackling today's post: Monetary Gain.
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I don't like money. I wish the world worked without it, and that people could survive without it. It would be nice if we just lived in a world where everyone shared responsibilities and the rewards of those responsibilities. I think I'm imagining some sort of cooperative Utopia. Oh well. I can dream!

Anyway, because I'm going into the Amazon Affiliates venture, I wanted to be sure I was doing it with the right heart. I prayed about this before ever deciding to do it, and I feel that I've been given the go-ahead, as long as it doesn't replace the main focus of this blog: to glorify God and understand Him better.

So, what does the Bible say about money?

The love of money is the root of evil, and the desire for it will lead us to destruction.

1 Timothy 6:9-10 - Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

We are supposed to focus on the treasures God gives us rather than the treasures we can find on this earth.

Matthew 6:19-21 - "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

We should be content with what we have.

1 Timothy 6:6-7 - But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

If we serve God with all of ourselves, He will bless us for all to see. He will bless us so that our blessings may be a testimony and a blessing unto others.

Psalm 31:19 - How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.
Proverbs 10:22 - The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.

So, God will bless us when we follow and obey Him. It doesn't mean He will make all of us millionaires, though He certainly CAN! But God wants to bless us, and give us the desires of our hearts. All we have to do is trust that He knows best, and follow the rules He has set for us.

Things Unseen

Today I attended a presentation on cryptids, specifically Bigfoot. The speaker, Mitchell Waite, has been studying Bigfoot full-time since his retirement from the Air Force. He is a cryptozoologist (no degree required) and his website has lots of fun information. The Oxford online dictionary defines a cryptid as "An animal whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the yeti."

Other cryptids include the Loch Ness Monster, the Chupacabra, and Mothman.

I love these mysteries! I have been a fan of the Loch Ness Monster mystery for my whole life. I love the thought that there are still creatures out there that humans haven't really seen yet, or can't explain. I love that there is still so much that we don't know, or possibly can never know!

Now, let's be skeptical for a minute. We've never really seen these things. They're just fables. There's no proof. 

Now that that's over, these are some cryptids that have been found to exist: coelacanth and the giant squid.

There are things out there that can't be seen or explained by normal human means: spiritual things. So, why can't there be creatures we haven't discovered yet? Of course, some creatures were made-up for stories, but some could be based in partial truth. I don't believe that Bigfoot is part-human, but I do believe it's something.

So, my point today is that I believe there are creatures out there that can't be explained. Yet. And we may never be able to explain them. There are things humans aren't meant to know, aren't meant to see. Believing in things only when we see them is a lack of faith.

I'm not saying you have to believe that Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster exist, or that Bigfoot has human DNA. It's good to be skeptical about these types of sightings. But that doesn't mean we can't hope that there are still mysteries out there! God created everything, and only He knows exactly what He created, and when or if humans are meant to discover it.

So, these stories are fun, but searching for these things shouldn't consume our lives, because there are more important things to focus on.

1 Timothy 4:7 says "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly."

I don't think this means we have to stop believing in the possibility of these cryptids, though believing that Bigfoot is part-human/part-animal might be trouble. Our focus, however, should be on God and what He wants us to do, and how He wants us to live, his purpose for our lives, rather than chasing after things and mysteries of this world.

So, this was something interesting that I experienced today, and I wanted to do a post.
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"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible (Hebrews 11:1-3).

Tearful Prayers

I love this quote! "Tears are prayers too. They travel to God when we can't speak." - anonymous

Psalm 56:8 says "Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll - are they not in your record?"

Praise You in This Storm by Casting Crowns says: "Every tear I've cried, You hold in Your hand."

Sometimes, we get so overwhelmed that we can't speak, and sometimes we can't even think long enough to put a string of words together in a prayers. In those times, tears can be prayers too. Sometimes they're just a prayer for God to give you peace so that you can form complete sentences to tell Him what's wrong, and other times they're whole prayers without words.

Choosing a Church

When I moved from the place where I had grown up, I left behind family, friends, and everything familiar. I needed a place to make new friends, so I started with church.

There are many reasons a person may need to find a 'new' church. Maybe you need to leave your old one. Maybe you don't have an old one, but just want to start going to church. Maybe you've moved. Maybe it's another reason all-together. Regardless of the reason, there are several things to consider when looking for a church to call yours.

For me, these are important things to consider when looking for a church:

• Do you know anyone there? If you know people in the community, and they've invited you to church, this could be the easiest way to find one. But you may still need to consider these other factors.
• Is the church welcoming? Are the members friendly?
• Do you feel that you fit in with the people there?
• Where is the location of the church in relation to your home?
• I prefer to start close to my home and then move outward, because I don't have a car.
• Is it the denomination you're looking for?
• I don't think denomination really matters in the grand scheme, but a Pentecostal service is very different from a Methodist service.
• If you don't know which type of service you prefer, denomination hop for a bit, or find a non-denominational church.
• Feel-good sermons - Does the pastor preach against what you know the Bible says is true, just because it sounds good?
• Is there noticeable conflict in the church?
• Lastly, listen to your inner voice - the little voice that tells you what is right and wrong. If you get past the nerves and listen to it, it will tell you if you should go back to a church another week, or move on.

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"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it" (1 Corinthians 12:27).

Tithing

Do we really need to tithe? Yes. And why wouldn't you want to? Tithing is giving back to God.

Leviticus 27:30 - " 'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.'"

Deuteronomy 12:11 - Then to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for His Name--there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the Lord.

Even if you don't have much, give what you can. God expects us to give 10% of all we earn. The word tithe means tenth. In the old days, it meant a tenth of your crops and such would be given to God. Since we no longer make sacrifices, it makes sense to use a tenth of your paycheck. So, when you get a paycheck, bring in your 10%. If you earn $100, you bring in $10. God lets us keep 90% of what we earn to use for our necessities, expenses, and wants. Why wouldn't you give back to God a portion of what He has given to you?

If you don't earn a paycheck right now (like me) just bring in what you can. One dollar on Sundays and fifty cents on Wednesday. Or, bring in a dollar both days. If you can afford to give more, even if you've already given the 10%, give more. The money should go to the church, and help fund things the church will use for God's glory (repairs, mission trips, conferences for the congregation).

In every church I've ever gone to, the pastor has always called for "the offering." It has never just been called tithing. Both words have been used in conjunction. So, what you're doing is giving an offering unto God. If it's used properly, it will go to something for God's glory. If it's not, well, don't think about it. That's on whomever uses the offering wrong. We are responsible for giving unto God, and letting Him deal with the rest.

Now, I've heard some people say that we don't actually have to give money to the church. That's true. We don't have to do anything. God gives us a choice. I've also heard it said that there is no guarantee of return or blessing if we do tithe. I disagree. First of all, there's this verse:

Galatians 6:7 - Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Okay, so this isn't specifically talking about tithing. And it means so much more than physical sowing. But think about it a minute. If we expect God to help us, to give us blessings, we have to give to God. That means giving Him all of ourselves. Everything on this earth belongs to God. Everything we have belongs to God, because we belong to God, because He has given it to us. That includes our finances. So we give a portion of our earnings to God, to His house, for His glory.

Then, there's this verse:

Malachi 3:8-10 - "Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How are we robbing you?' In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse--your whole nation--because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."

Hmm...sounds to me like God is promising blessings there for giving Him tithes.

Perfection

Today, while talking with one of my best friends about how we are works-in-progress, I said "We aren't meant to be perfect. We are only meant to seriously work at being better each day." I was wrong.

In Matthew 5:48, Jesus says - "Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect."

So, we are meant to strive for perfection - God's perfection. How daunting! Yet, how exhilarating! It's a challenge, but I know I feel amazing when I know I have passed a test that takes me a step closer to His idea of perfection.

God's definitions of sin are so strict that He considers hatred to be murder (More on this later!). But, we have to be realistic. As human beings, we will mess up, make mistakes, and fall on our faces. Many times. As long as we are earnestly trying to do what God has told us to do, He will be there to catch us or to pick us up. If we are deliberately ignoring the rules He has set, He will let us fall, and fall hard. It's happened to me. I had to fall into a deep, dark hole for Him to reach me. He had to get me far away from my safety nets for me to reach for Him.

So, it's okay if you aren't perfect. Yet. It's okay if you mess up sometimes, as long as you are earnestly striving to do what God has said, as long as you are seriously following all of His rules, and trying to become that perfect you. But, we should never make the same mistakes twice. We have to learn from our mistakes so that we can get closer to God's idea of perfection.

We are works-in-progress!

Forgiveness

Tiffany and I touched on some of these things in this collaboration. I had a few more things to say about it, and I found some awesome verses too.

Matthew 18:27-30 - "The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.' But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt."

Matthew 18:34-35 (When his master found out what he had done) - "In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

This is a really good example of forgiving others if we want to be forgiven. Because the servant did not forgive another's debts, his master in turn, took back forgiveness of the servant's debts.

Kindness

Yesterday's post was my musing about whether or not there is a limit to how nice we should be to people, especially in regard to speaking up, rebuke, and cutting ties. Today's post is not going to contradict that, but this morning I had a connecting thought.

Are "being nice," and "being kind" different things? Sometimes, I think they are. I found these verses on kindness:

Job 6:14 - Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

Proverbs 11:17 - Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

So...my point from yesterday was: there is a limit to being nice. My point today is: there is no limit to kindness. I don't know if that even makes sense. Let me try to clarify.

We must always be kind to one another. But sometimes being kind to someone requires us to forgo being nice to people. I think sometimes in order to be truly kind, we cannot ignore people's actions against God's commandments just for the sake of being nice, and we must speak up. If we feel that we should speak up, we should pray about it to be sure it's what God wants us to do, and that He gives us the words He wants us to use.

Be Nice

"Be nice to people."

"If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."

I had a random thought when I woke up yesterday. We are always told to "Be nice to people." As Christians, it seems an especially important lesson. But, I wonder, how nice is too nice? Where do we draw the line? Is there a line?

And then I thought "Of course there's a line." We can be nice up to a point, but at some point, I think being nice, or trying to smooth over a situation would be working against God's glory. For example, sometimes it might be necessary to rebuke someone. I know. Someone is getting geared up to scream at me. But, think about it. In the Bible, there are many instances of rebuke from God's servants, and from Jesus himself.

I think the issue lies in knowing when to be nice and when to rebuke, or if we should rebuke, and how to rebuke. Sometimes, we get ahead of ourselves, and our inner voice is screaming "Shut up!" and we still go ahead. So, it's important to listen to God and know if you are supposed to say something, or not. It's also important to know what kind of message to send, not just how to send it.

Anyway, that's what I think. I guess my point is that at some point not saying something might seem like an acceptance of something that goes against God's word, and I think at some point it's okay to stop being "nice" and start speaking up against some of these things. We are not here to please people, or the world. We are here for God's glory. But I haven't completely figured this one out yet...
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Ephesians 4:29-32 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

So, after reading these verses, I think I have a new conclusion. We should always be nice. We should always speak the truth, even if it isn't what someone wants to hear, but we should speak it compassionately, and not in anger or with hatred. We should always choose our words carefully so that what we say will glorify God. But we don't have to condone or subscribe to the things of this world. The thing we have to be conscious of is when and if to speak up. For this, we need wisdom that comes from God, and the Holy Spirit which is in us. Listen to our inner voice, and if it's telling us to shut up, it may not be the right time to speak up about something. It is important to ponder on a situation, and pray about it before saying anything. God will give us the right words to use, if we are meant to say something.

And even if we aren't meant to rebuke someone, at some point I think it would be okay to cut ties with someone. It's important to pray about the situation and really listen, but we don't have to be friends with everyone. Sometimes it's in our best interest (and maybe theirs too) if we step away from the situation. 

Sin Count

I found this article about how many times we can sin. Tiffany and I did another collaboration about it.

We started off discussing a misquote, but I later discovered that according to my NIV it’s not a misquote. The article says “In Matthew 18:21-22, we read, "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” The KJV says “Until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18-22). Seventy times seven is 490. How that has been read may have changed as our definition of those words put together has changed. Regardless of how you quote or translate that verse, the point is not that once you've forgiven so many times, you stop, but that if you want to be forgiven, you continue to forgive for an immeasurable amount of times, as God forgives us.

Tiffany: I don’t agree with ‘once in grace, always in grace.’ If I do something wrong, I’ll have to ask forgiveness for that sin.

GCW: And we have to be sincere in asking forgiveness. It’s not just the words that matter.

Tiffany: It’s more than just a lip-service. It’s called giving him your heart for a reason. You wouldn’t give just anyone your heart. When you give him your heart, you’re giving him your everything, because it’s all connected back to that.

GCW: We’ve been studying Jonah in Sunday school. Somehow, it was a new concept for me, the concept of a merciful God, who is so loving to forgive so many things, over and over. I guess I knew that He is merciful, but it always took a backseat to the idea of His wrath if we mess up.

Tiffany: There is only one thing He won’t forgive. That’s blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 3:28-29 - "Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of eternal sin."

GCW: Can you explain that a little more?

Tiffany: In Matthew 12:32 Jesus says "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." So, it’s where you speak against the Holy Spirit. I always looked at it as making fun of the Holy Spirit, but it can also be lying against, or if someone in the church-house pretends to be speaking in tongues, or like how you can dance in the Holy Spirit, or even being slain in the spirit. Even a preacher pushing someone down when he’s laid hands on that person to pray—

GCW: I’ve had that happen to me before.

Tiffany: I think that would be blasphemous.

GCW: Okay. Thanks. Moving back a bit, what if you sometimes mess up? Like you give your life to God, but sometimes you mess up and do something that had previously been a habit?

Tiffany: God’s not gonna live in a dirty dwelling. God’s gonna come in and clean it out…Once you give your life to God, your language is gonna change, the way you dress is gonna change, your attitude is gonna change. It’s not gonna go on and on. If you’re talking the talk, but not walking the walk behind closed doors, and you keep doing things a Christian wouldn’t do…how many times are you gonna do that before God turns you over to a reprobate mind?

Romans 1:28 - Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

But God deals with each person differently.

Tiffany: It’s not standardized testing. Each person is different. Each person learns differently.

Another one of Satan’s tricks is to get us to think that there is no hope, that there is no possibility that we can be forgiven, healed, and restored.

Tiffany: As long as Satan is trying to get you to think that, there is hope. When God turns you over to that reprobate mind, you don’t care.

GCW: So, when we stop caring about sinning, we’re in big trouble!

What can we do when we are tempted to do things that are not of God?

We can read our Bibles, pray, listen to worship songs, or even remove the thing that is tempting us. In Fireproof, he breaks the computer he was using to look at things that caused him to sin.
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Read our first collaboration here!

Be Aware

In society, we get conflicting ideas: we must care what people think; we shouldn't care so much what people think. Then, as Christians, we must always be aware of how our actions will look to others.

I agree, but I also disagree. We should always act as though God is standing right next to us, because He is. But, we must also pray, and change our hearts, so that our hearts and minds will not lead us to actions that will lead others astray, or give them the wrong impression of God.
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"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" (Colossians 4:5-6).

Supplemental Research

The Bible should be our first source for information, because it is the only source that will tell the complete truth. However, I often find it helpful to use the Internet as a supplement. When I'm researching a specific topic in the Bible, I will often do a Google search to see which verses come up. Of course, I always verify the verses. Sometimes, I will read what other people have said about the topics. It is helpful for me sometimes to see what other people have said, even if it contradicts what I had originally thought. That's how I learn and grow.

One must be very careful when reading other people's opinions about anything, but especially about the Bible. There are ways to manipulate verses and turn them into something that sounds pretty but is corrupted. This is why it is so important to check Bible verses for yourself, read and study for yourself, ask God to teach you, and listen to your own inner voice that tells you what is true, and what is false.
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"...mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple" (Romans 16:17-18, KJV). *I liked the KJV better here* 

"...watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people" (Romans 16:17-18, NIV).

Scripture

"All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16).

It is important to read our Bibles every day and soak up the scriptures. This is also one reason it's important to go to church, because the pastors, teachers, and elders of the church, who have more knowledge and experience will be able to instruct the members of the congregation.

When we imprint the scriptures in our hearts, we will have defense against false teachings, and those who would attack us. I like this verse a lot. The scriptures can be used to teach, train, rebuke, and correct. They prepare us to do the work God has for us. I have found scriptures that were personal to me, that I was able to use to correct behaviors I needed to work on.

Reminiscing

Sometimes we look back on days gone by and think, "They had it easy." But life is life, no matter where you are, or when you lived. Each country, each generation, each people has troubles, and it is not wise to forsake your own blessings in envy of the blessings of others.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 - Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions.

We should appreciate the days we live in, no matter how messed up they may seem to us. Some things may have changed for the worse, but others have changed for the better. God has a purpose for all times, and just because the old days were better in some ways, doesn't mean we should wish for them. 

Even Jesus Got Exasperated with People

I was flipping through the book of Mark the other day, and I came across these verses:

KJV: And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. He answereth him and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. (Mark 9:17-19)

NIV: A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not." "You unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." (Mark 9:17-19)

O faithless generation. You unbelieving generation. How long shall I suffer you? How long shall I put up with you?

I laughed. I could not stop myself. I kind of imagined him rolling his eyes, too. Jesus, who is God's only son, connected to Him through the Holy Trinity, who had endless patience with which to teach and so much love that he gave his life for us, says "How long shall I suffer you?"

So, even Jesus got exasperated with people. But he didn't storm off. He didn't yell, or scream, or curse them. Instead, his endless love prevailed so that God could be glorified: "Bring him unto me." He healed the boy anyway.

Let It Go

Someone at the place I volunteer has been rude to me before, but today she was insufferably rude. I had to walk away from her because I didn't want to say something I would regret, and she kept on with "I always appreciated constructive criticism." If it had actually been constructive criticism, or had she even asked me to fetch a broom (I'd put them away because I thought we were done sweeping) to clean up the mess she'd made, I would have accepted it with a smile.

I had to ask forgiveness when I got home, because I had some awful thoughts, and though it was a joke (mostly), I told one of my friends "I almost hit an old lady today. On purpose."

So, today I have been insulted, infuriated, agitated, irritated, and offended. Just to name a few. I was so stressed out when I got home that I cried. Twice. In keeping with the way I'm still feeling, I wanted to do a post.

These are verses I found that helped me today:

Proverbs 29:8 - Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away from anger.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 - Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
Here, I would like to say that when I was younger, it was very easy to anger me. However, as I've grown, I've become more laid-back, easy-going, and amiable. I can still get irritated easily, but that's mostly if I'm not feeling well. It's usually pretty hard to offend me, as long as you're doing or saying something against me and not someone I care about.

James 1:19-20 - My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

Psalm 37:8 - Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it only leads to evil.

Matthew 6:14 - For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Colossians 3:13 - Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Mark 11:25 - And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive your sins.

Ephesians 4:26-27 - "In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Okay, I'm sure there are many more verses I could find, but I'm feeling less stressed, less angry, and more forgiving now, so I'm gonna stop.

Cry Out to God

I have lost count of the number of times I have cried out to God, and begged him to take my pain, my burdens. There have been times when I didn't even know what I needed, only that I needed something to change. The time-period I'm speaking of is when I really needed to give my life truly and completely to God, but even now, I have moments like these. And God is always there, patiently waiting for us to speak to Him, waiting for us to admit that we can't do it ourselves, so that He can help us.

This song sums up perfectly how I feel when things get so overwhelming that I could scream. Now, I find that singing this song helps me more than screaming, or ranting ever could.
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"I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me" (Psalm 77:1).

Something Cool I Learned About Ruth

Ruth was David's great-grandmother! Wow!

"And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David" (Ruth 4:21-22, KJV).

I'm starting to see why the books of the Bible are placed as they are. Yes. I know I'm a noob. And yes, I used the word noob to reference my lack of Biblical knowledge.

Ruth was always one of my favorite stories in the Bible because it's a love story. Ruth and Esther. Two amazing love stories. Well, when reading Ruth it doesn't seem like such a love story from her side, but Boaz totally took serious notice of her from the start!

Anyway...Ruth and Esther are still two of my favorite women from the Bible. They show courage, duty, honor, and loyalty. They are great role models for Christian girls and women, and a reminder to all Christians (men and women) of how amazing and influential women of God can be!

Waiting

Psalm 20:4-5 - May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests.

Psalm 145:16-19 - You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

There are a lot of things I want to do in my life. Some of them will take time, and I am unable to predict when they might happen, but that's okay. They will happen. Some can't be completely prepared for. That doesn't mean there's nothing I can do while I wait.

While I wait for my hopes and dreams to be realized, I can serve God, worship Him, learn from His Word, and obey His teachings. All of these things will prepare me for what He has planned for me. I know that His plans are even better and greater than anything I could ever dream, and that He is faithful to grant the desires of a heart that truly serves him.

This last verse comes to mind now: "He says, 'Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in all the earth'" (Psalm 46:10).

"Be still" does not mean to freeze, or remain in the same position. It means "Be at peace." God is saying "Calm yourself." Be at peace, and know that God can and will do all that He has promised, beyond our wildest dreams.

Worship Music - What It Should, and Shouldn't Be

I found this article online, about how we shouldn't listen to Christian Rock. It has some good points, but overall, I disagreed with it. For this post, I collaborated with my cousin, Tiffany. We're a little random, and sometimes we don't need to finish a thought, especially if we both agree, so I'll try to make it less disjointed in places. Here is what we discussed:

GCW: In the article, they used secular examples instead of Christian rock. If they're doing that, of course they're gonna find something wrong with the songs. You have to look at the lyrics, song-by-song.

Tiffany: I think a lot of it has to do with where your heart is. Why are you listening to it? If you’re doing it to get as close to the line as you can, there’s something wrong there.

GCW: So, if you’re doing it to worship the Lord, and you ARE worshiping him through the song, with its lyrics and your attitude, then it’s okay.

But Satan will use music to try to influence us.

Tiffany: Lucifer was the music leader. Music is a very influential tool that he knows how to use in order to get you to fall away.

In the article, they say “Music has two purposes: 1) to worship and glorify God; 2) To edify and build up Christians.”

Tiffany: I agree, but not. It also depends on how you’re raised. And is that your belief, or the beliefs of those who raised you?

Subliminal messaging is also a big part of songs. Be aware of the songs you listen to, and the messages they send.

GCW: These days, I prefer to listen to worship music, but I still enjoy listening to some secular music. Some of it is rock. But I am much more aware now of the messages they send, and what message I send to other people by liking the songs.

Tiffany: I like to take secular songs and give them a Christian meaning. Like “Bleeding Love.” There’s a worship video about Christ and his bride, that uses that song. It’s taking back the songs from the devil, and using them for God’s glory.

"ARGUMENT #1 Christian rock can't be wrong. Look at all the people who go forward at the concerts. Look at how popular God has made these bands."

GCW: Well, if your main reason for using this type of music is to draw people out to hear you, then you aren't doing it right. But if you like this type of music, and you are using it to glorify God, to…take the music back, then it’s okay.

Be aware of the people around you, and how they might react to certain songs. If the song speaks to and builds you up in God, you can listen to it later on your own.

Tiffany: If you feel like someone you’re with…like it will cause them to sin, then put on some non-rock Christian music.

So, overall, we agreed that Christian rock is not Satan's tool, as long as Christians are using it to glorify God. Even some secular songs (not just rock songs) can be used for God's glory. It depends on our hearts, intent, and purpose. If we go into anything with the wrong mindset, we can become Satan's tool. We have to always be aware of how our actions look to God, and then the message we're sending to others. If our hearts are in the right place, and we are truly serving God in everything we do, people will be able to see that.

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"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

5 Things I Learned from the Book of Jonah

We're concluding the book of Jonah on Sunday, so I wanted to post this now.

1. God's mercy is abundant!!
2. Even prophets mess up.
3. Even horrible sins can be forgiven.
4. We cannot run or hide from God.
5. If God wants to use us, He will relentlessly pursue us.

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"When God saw what [Ninevah] did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened" (Jonah 3:10).

Daily Reflection

I intended to post once a week, if I was lucky. Instead, this blog (my personal - but not private - journal of musings and reflections) has become a daily task I anticipate eagerly. That's a really good thing, I think.

I had so many thoughts backlogged that it often takes restraint to only post once a day! There were so many topics I wondered about, and wanted to research, but hadn't because of a lack of motivation. Well, now the motivation has found me, and it seems I can't stop. Nor do I want to! I really enjoy writing down topics for further consideration, and then picking the topic that most speaks to me on a given day, and writing a post about it.

This blog has given me a reason (though learning about God is reason enough) to reflect and search my thoughts and feelings, and read the Bible even on days I may not feel like it. And some days I really don't feel like it. I generally want to read my Bible every day, and I am enjoying learning from God's Word much more than I used to, but I still have days where I struggle with simply wanting to watch one of my favorite movies and not think about anything (particularly if I've had a busy day).

We need to commune with God daily. I think we need to read His Word daily too, but I also think that it's okay to miss a day sometimes if you really don't feel the need,. but it's important not to make a habit of it. Though, if your inner voice is telling you to get up off the couch and read your Bible (like mine is as I'm writing this) then you should go do it.

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"Give us today our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11).

Protect Your Heart

I have heard this phrase a lot. "Protect your heart." It is told to girls often to remind them not to get too attached too soon in relationships. I guess that's good advice too, but, it's actually a Bible verse: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23).

This post is the tie-in to yesterday's post about building walls. As soon as she mentioned it, I knew I had to do a post about it. Only, my idea is different from her point.

So, we have established that we have to guard our hearts. This verse has been warped to mean that we have to be careful of who we let into our hearts. I agree, in a way, but I don't mean people. At least, not most of the time. We have to be mindful of the types of thoughts that enter our heart, because if the wrong thoughts get in, it paves the way for Satan to enter.

My thought, then, was this: we need to build walls around our hearts. We have to place each stone carefully, and with purpose. I thought of the stone metaphor because it's what I think of when I think of walls. Each "stone" should consist of something that makes us stronger in God - Bible verses, worship songs, even lessons that have brought us closer to Him.

We need this wall, so that when the enemy comes against us (another tie-in!) we can take a piece of that stone and rock him in the head. Figuratively. We need to build this wall firmly and decisively. Then, we need to tend the wall, and keep it in good order. As soon as a crack appears, mend it. If someone caused the crack and you can't let it go just by talking to God about it, talk to the person about it. Just don't leave the crack. You've heard "Give them an inch, and they'll take a mile." Well, that's true also of Satan. If there is even a centimeter-wide crack in your wall, he will chip and chip and chip away until he has enough room to slither in.

My wall has never been very strong. I love worship songs, and I've always had plenty of those stones. But for a long time, I ignored reading my Bible, and I'm learning that that is the most important thing we can do. The Bible is God's Word! It has been with Him from the very beginning! It's not just a bunch of rules to follow (though those are there too). It's also filled with God's promises and the wonderful things He has done, and will do! So, the more we read and study The Word, the more stones we have to protect us from the enemy! How amazing!

Building a Wall

My Sunday school teacher preached on Sunday, and her message really stuck with me. There were 4 things that really stuck in my mind as I listened, and I wanted to talk about them, and the thoughts that came to my mind.

First, the main point of her message: "Don't let the enemy steal your identity." We have to watch ourselves, and be careful. If we get offended, or angry about something in church (or anywhere), it can cause us to lose who we are in God. It can take away from us as Christians, and wear us down, chipping at our identities.

That's where the second point comes in. We have to "protect what God has done in us." We have to be diligent, and read our Bibles, and pray, and learn to let stuff go, so that it doesn't chip away at what God has built in us. She preached from Nehemiah. God had erected a temple, and they were building a wall to protect it, in spite of the enemy's ridiculing, and attacks. We have to do that in ourselves. She said God has built a wall in us, and we have to protect it from the things that would tear it down. (While she was speaking of this wall, I had a tie-in thought that I'll share tomorrow.)

Third, she said that we have to watch for discord in the church, in the body of Christ. "How dare you come against one another?" We are individuals. But we are also one body! We must stand together, and strong against the enemy. Satan has come against me before to give me doubts about going to this church. It only takes one little thing to plant that seed (of doubt, anger, hurt), and we have to be mindful. We have to take that stuff to God, and pray about it and really listen for His answer. We have to learn to let it go. It doesn't matter if it was an intentional slight or not. We have to change the way we react to it.

And last, but not least, she talked about how the enemy tries to tear us down. "Who are you to be who you say you're gonna be?" This was probably my favorite point. When we give our lives to God, we become His children, and our bodies become His temples.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies" (1 Corinthians 6:19). This verse is talking specifically about sexual immorality, but it applies to other things too. When we speak ill of others, when we allow anger and doubt to cloud our thoughts, we are defiling God's temple. I know all this is easier said than done, but we have to try. And day by day, it'll get easier, until we can't remember why it was difficult in the first place.

God is building something in us, and we have to protect it from the enemy. I am a child of the Living God. He has a purpose for me. And I can tell Satan that I dare to be who God has called me to be, because God has called me for a purpose.

Types of Repentance

We are studying Jonah in Sunday school. Yesterday's lesson was on repentance. The word repentance appears 110 times in the Bible! And there are 7 different original words for repentance! Wow! That's amazing! *Note: The KJV uses the word repentance throughout. The NIV uses other words sometimes.*

The information that came from the lesson is from Dake's Study notes. What I'll be using from that is the original words and their meanings.

So, to start, what is the meaning of repentance? According to Webster's dictionary, it is "the action or process of repenting, especially for misdeeds or shortcomings." Okay. What about just repent? "To feel or show that you are sorry for something bad or wrong that you did and that you want to do what is right." Interesting.

Okay. So, if that's the English definition, and we only have 1 word for repentance, why were there so many original words in the Bible? Let's see what they mean.

nacham (Hebrew - H5162) - to sigh, breathe strongly, to be sorry (Gen. 6:6; Exodus 13:17; Job 42:6; Jonah 3:10)

In Genesis, this word is used to show God's regret for creating man, who grieved Him.

shuwb (Hebrew - H7725) - to turn back (I Kings 8:47; Ezekiel 14:6)

nocham (Hebrew H5164) - regret (Hosea 13:14)

nichuwm (Hebrew H5150) - compassion (Hosea 11:8)

metanoeo (Greek G3340) - to change the mind for the better morally, to change the attitude toward sin (Luke 13:3)

metamellomai (Greek G3338) - to regret consequences of sin, not the cause (Matthew 27:3; II Corinthians 7:8)

In our class, we thought this was the most common type of repentance.

metanoia  (Greek G3341) - a real change of mind and attitude toward sin and its cause, not merely the consequences of it (Matthew 3:8 & 11; 9:13; Luke 24:47)

I think this is the one we are supposed to strive for. We have to change our whole attitude about sin, and strive to do good just for the sake of doing good, rather than out of worry of the consequences.

I didn't write out all of those verses because it's best to read them in context. I didn't talk about every word in detail because this is a journal blog, and I didn't understand every verse they were connected to. But I think it's really neat that there are so many words for repentance, so many types.

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"Jesus answered, 'Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower of Sodom fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will perish'" (Luke 13:2-5).

The Ramp - Human Videos

I have some awesome posts coming up this week, but today's post is going to be about this amazing ministry group.

First: what is a "human video?" I would describe it as a dance that tells a story. I'd be wrong, at least in part.

The Wikipedia page says it's a theater form that combines a lot of elements - music, dance, drama - to convey emotions.

I can't explain it very well, because it's something you need to see!

The Ramp/Chosen do amazing videos. Below is my favorite of their videos, which can be found on their Youtube channel.

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"Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds" (Psalm 149: 3-5).

"Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord" (Psalm 150).