Falling in Love All Over Again

At church a while back, a lady came to speak about a mission trip she'd been on, and she said that something it taught her was "how to fall in love with God all over again."

God is meant to be our first love. He's meant to be not only the savior, but also the lover of our souls. His love is so big it can never be measured. We have to love Him, and understand His love before we can truly love anyone else, including ourselves.

So, what she said resonated within me. I, too, want to fall in love with God all over again each and every day. I don't want to end up in a stagnant relationship with God where everything is the same and I take Him for granted like an old married couple. I want to feel the spark, the new love, that I felt for Him at the beginning, every single time He and I meet.

Do you want to fall in love with God over and over again, so that each meeting with Him is like the first time?

But, how do we do that?

I think the key is not to get complacent. We have to read our Bibles every day. We have to immerse ourselves in His Word, as though it's all new, all exciting. It's all in our attitudes. We have to seek God the way we did when we first found Him (or when He found us).

Just like in a human relationship, it takes work. We have to work at being in love with God. We have to actively want to improve our relationship with Him.

Once we do that, we will begin to look for little ways to fall in love with Him all over again each and every day.
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"The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness'" (Jeremiah 31:3).

A Day for Thanksgiving

We had the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade on earlier today. We weren't watching it all the time. It was just on and we'd watch it as we passed the television. Once, I passed it and thought "What are we doing?"

Thanksgiving isn't supposed to be about parades and balloons sponsored by corporations. Thanksgiving isn't supposed to be about rushing around and beating other people to get the latest deals. Thanksgiving isn't about cooking so much food that we won't be able to walk after we eat it.

So, what is Thanksgiving really about?

Thanksgiving is an American holiday. Only America has this holiday. It's a day for remembering how two peoples, vastly different, came together to help one another and to share food, despite their differences.

It's about spending time with your family, no matter how much food you have or what you do. It's about taking the time to be thankful to God for all that He has blessed us with. On this day, more than any other day, we stop to be thankful for our blessings. But really, we don't have to wait until this holiday to be thankful.

Spend time with your families. Eat some good food. Read a book to the kids. Play a board game that everyone can enjoy. Maybe watch a movie.

But above all, be thankful that you got another Thanksgiving to spend with those you love. And when you pray today, remember how blessed you are, even if someone else gets that deal you're planning to try to kill them over tomorrow.

Be safe over this Thanksgiving holiday, and remember to be kind to people tomorrow, whether you're working or shopping.

God bless you.
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"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever" (1 Chronicles 16:34).

More and More

I've been really busy lately. I got a job. Finally. Thank God. But I've been really busy and tired when I'm not busy. However, as I get more used to it, I'll try to keep up with my blog better. Sorry it's been a while.

Today's post, however, is just going to be a song recommendation. We sang this at church last week, and prior to that, I'd never heard it before. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Wait. What Did He Do?

So, while I was reading in the book of Genesis - which I've finally read all the way through, yay! - I came across some verses that confused me. I am now going to show you the verses along with my thought process. The verses are going to be from the NIV.

Genesis 38:7 - But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the Lord's sight; so the Lord put him to death.
Okay. He was wicked and God slew him. I get it.

Genesis 38:8 Then Judah said to Onan, 'Sleep with your brother's wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.'
Okay. That's a little more strange, but I guess it was common in those days. I get it.

Genesis 38:9 - But Onan knew that the child would not be [considered] his; so whenever he slept with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord's sight; so the Lord put him to death also.
Wait. What? I don't get it! What did he do that was wicked?

I read the verse again, and again, and again, and again. My Bible at the time was a KJV. So, I went to the Bible app on my phone, which I leave set to the NIV. I read the verses again. And again.

I paused. I put down my Bible. I stared at my wall. Then I stared at my blanket. I stared at the wall again. Then I picked up my phone to look at my Bible app again. I changed from the NIV to the amplified Bible. I changed it back to the NIV.

Then, I did the best thing I could have done. I opened the notes section and wrote one word. "Why?"

Why was it wicked? Then I really started to think about it. What did he do that was wicked? He was married to a widow, which wasn't bad.

Finally, it came to me. He was disobedient to his father, and deceitful. And he was using his brother's widow basically as a whore to satisfy him without giving her children to take care of her.

So, why was that so hard for me to figure out?

"It is better for a man's seed to fall in the belly of a whore, than on the ground."

Oh. That quote. That's what messed me up. That's why I was so confused. My mind immediately associated his preventing conception with God slaying him.

Wait. Where is that found in The Bible?

I searched, and searched, and searched. Finally, I just Googled it. Google is my friend.

It's not a Bible verse. Nowhere in The Bible does God say that it is okay to engage in sex with a whore. Nowhere does God say any of that is okay.

So, where is this quote from? Some websites say it might have been influenced from these verses about Onan and his brother's widow, but this quote is not in the Bible. I couldn't find any firm evidence of its origin.

What God does say about this quote can be found throughout The Bible, particularly in 1 Corinthians 6:18-20.

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 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.

So, don't be afraid to ask "Why." You might learn something new. I certainly did.

Also, this link also has a good thought process on this topic.

Advent

So, I read Max Lucado's book In the Manger, and he uses the word Advent. The full title of the book is In the Manger: 25 Inspirational Selections for Advent.

So, my curiosity was peaked. What does the word advent mean in this context?

According to this online dictionary, the word advent means 1) "A coming into place, view, or being; arrival" 2) "the coming of Christ into the world" capitalized.

Huh. I never knew there was a word for that. But now I do! How cool! It's amazing what you can learn without even trying!

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"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to  you; he is the Messiah, the Lord" (Luke 2:11).

Undivided Attention

There areally lots of thinges that can take our time away from God: work, television, hobbies, relationships, etc.

We have to keep an eye on the kinds of things that take up our time. Do they honor God? Do they enable or hinder our walk with Him?

Have they become more important than God? Are they becoming like gods or idols to us?

I have to keep a close eye on the types of shows I watch and the types of books I read.

What gets your undivided attention?

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"You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3).

My Hero

What heroes do you look up to? Policemen? Firefighters? Military? Sports stars?

What about superheroes?
My favorites are Spiderman, Batman, and the X-Men.

Do we try to model our lives after our heroes? If so, who are our heroes? Do they really deserve that title?

What about biblical heroes - the men and women of God who gave their lives up to His service, the ones we should be modelling our lives after? Do we learn from their stories? Do we look up to them?

Jesus is the biggest hero we have. He is our savior. He gave His life so that we could keep ours - eternally.

This song is one of my favorites. My favorite lines are "Show me where my heroes lived the life I'm longing for," and "Help me have the courage to be more than what I am." Sure, some of them lived hard lives. Sure, some of them were persecuted. But some of the biblical heroes lived in God's presence. Got to experience it daily. Some actually walked where Jesus walked.

Who are your heroes?
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"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by work, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Nothing New

Psalm 24:1 - The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

There's a lot of stuff going on in the world today, and if you watch the news, it can get kind of scary. From mothers drowning their children to escalating wars, it seems there is always something new to worry about.

But we don't have to worry. My Sunday school class is reading the book of Isaiah, and one thing we've learned is that there is nothing new under the sun. All that is, was, and all that was, will be again. The most important thing we've learned is that God is in charge now just as He was then, and He is faithful to protect His people. He always keeps a faithful remnant for Himself, and that remnant continues on.

So, whatever is going on in the world today, we just have to remain faithful to Him, listen and watch, and pay attention to His voice, and His plan.

He's got it all under control, whatever is happening.

Don't Pick It Up

I feel like I have to make this post. I don't know if I want to, but I feel like I need to.

Is there someone in your life who irritates you beyond belief? Someone at work? At home? At church? Do they offend you?

There's a lady at my church, and she often rubs people the wrong way. She's offended me before, and I questioned whether or not I should stay at the church. I took a couple weeks off, forgave her the best I could, and stayed. Things are better now, and I think I have a better understanding of her.

Sometimes she likes to sing during the collection of tithes/offerings even though she's tone deaf. This happened a couple weeks ago, and at first, I was cringing, and I wanted it to be over.

But then, I heard a couple ladies near me laughing. I was suddenly angry. How dare they laugh at her? What if she heard them? Then, I realized that I was doing the same thing. Though my laughter didn't spill over, I was laughing on the inside.

Then, God revealed to me that I wasn't really listening to her. I was listening to her with my ears, and not with God's heart. So, I took a breath, and listened again. I heard the song she had chosen. I heard how earnestly she sang the song. And no, her tone didn't get better, but the song was good. I even started singing along. She couldn't sing badly, because she was glorifying God with her song.

So, we have to learn to listen with God's heart instead of our ears. To look with His heart, instead of our eyes. To touch with His heart instead of our hands. To speak with His heart instead of our mouths.

Then, we will be less likely to take offense at the small stuff.

Which brings me to the next point of this post: offense.

People don't usually mean to give offense. Even if they do, we have a choice.

It's called taking offense for a reason. We don't have to pick it up. We don't have to take it away with us. We can just leave it right where it lands. Whether they meant to give offense or not, it is always our choice to take offense.

So, the next time that person at work/home/church bugs you, try responding with God's heart. And the next time someone offers you offense, don't take it.
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"And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes fro God's people in accordance with the will of God" (Romans 8:27).

"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance" (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

More Than...

God loves us more than we can even begin to fathom. If we truly understood His love for us, we would never be able to see ourselves, or Him in the same way again. I think we would truly understand Him and ourselves.

"I am with you wherever, and where you go is where I am."

"Just a face in the city, just a tear on a crowded street, but you were a one in a million and you belong to me."

How amazing is God's love for us! He loves us more than we can fathom, more than we can ever fully understand. Shine for Him, so others can know His love.

I hope this song touches you today.

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"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16, emphasis mine).

Plagued

So, I've started teaching a Children's Church class. I know. Shocking, right? But it's a lot of fun.

Last week we talked about the plagues on Egypt, and I wanted to list them here, because I know that even though I learned about them as a kid, I had long since forgotten all of them.

1. Water to Blood
2. Frogs
3. Gnats
4. Flies
5. Pestilence - sick livestock
6. Boils
7. Hail
8. Locusts
9. Complete Darkness
10. Death of Firstborn

So, we also had to learn why God sent these plagues. Pharaoh continually hardened his heart and wouldn't let the Israelites leave Egypt to go worship God. Until the last plague, Pharaoh wouldn't even listen to his advisers, who wanted him to give in around the third plague.

These plagues showed how mighty God is, and how much He loves His people. After the third plague, the plagues only affected the Egyptians, too.

So, that's what we learned about in Sunday School class. Next week, we're going to learn about the Passover, and how God keeps His promises. I'm thinking of making some unleavened bread for the kids to try too. Should be fun!

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"Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death" (Psalm 68:20).

When We Don't Even Know What We Need

When we don't know what we need, God does. Sometimes He will bless us in ways that surprise us.

I didn't know that I needed to teach Children's Church, but I do. God knew that and provided the opportunity. It's going to be so much fun and I'm going to learn so much!

I didn't know that I needed a brand new, free Samsung tablet, but I did. I knew that my computer was getting old but new ones are expensive. I thought that I might need to get a new one in a year or so. God had other plans. Now, not only do I not yet need a new computer because I can use the tablet, I still have a laptop for when I really need it. God knew all of this.

I can even use the tablet for Children's Church.

I didn't know that I needed to use my dad's old Bible, but I do. I knew that it would be good to get a new Bible, preferably a Study Bible, but I never knew how helpful it would be to have my dad's notes and verses that he highlighted. But God did. I feel like I'm getting to know things about my dad through the verses he marked that I never had the chance to know before. 

I never thought to ask God for any of these things but He has provided them and now that I have them, I can see how much He has blessed me, how much I really needed them.

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"Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple" (Psalm 65:4).

Just as We Are

So, the other night I had a bunch of weird dreams. Just as I was waking up, I must have been dreaming of food because I thought "Why do you want to add cinnamon or sugar when it's perfect just the way it is?" I guess it was oatmeal.

But then it made me think. We do this to ourselves. We always want to better ourselves and that's fine, but often we do it with the wrong motivation: that we aren't perfect just the way we are, that somehow we have to do this or do that to achieve perfection. But whose perfection are we really striving for?

Because if we genuinely want to do something to better ourselves that's great! If we want to learn something to reach toward God's idea of perfection, that's even better! But if we want to do it to impress someone else or because we feel we aren't "good enough," then we need to stop it.

Because we are perfect just as we are, flaws and all, and the only ones we should want to change for are God and ourselves. To become better versions of ourselves.

Just my thought for today.
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"Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God" (2 Corinthians 6:7).

When We Fall Apart

So, I was listening to music while I vacuumed today and this song was playing. It really made me start to think. It's easy to trust God and to praise Him when everything is going good for us, but it's hard sometimes to praise Him when everything is falling apart. We want to blame Him. Yet sometimes things have to fall apart in order for us to be close to God. It's only through our weakness that we can truly see His strength.

The song begins "Why in the world did I think I could only get to know you when my life was good?"

Then the chorus says "'cause my whole world is caving in but I feel you now more than I did then. How can I come to the end of me but somehow still have all I need?"

I find this to be so true. Even when we have nothing except God, we still have everything because He takes care of us.

It seems that when we no longer feel a reason to praise God is when we really need to praise Him, when we really need to trust him.

When we can no longer trust in ourselves is when God shows us how mighty He is.

So, today I'm going to share this song. It is one of my personal theme songs.

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"Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the one who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and He answers me from his holy mountain (Psalm 3:1-4).

Expendable

At church last week, the guest pastor said "We are expendable."

I understand what he meant, but I still don't like it.

If we don't do what God has called us to do, He can get someone else to do it. He doesn't need us, not really. He is God all by Himself. We are expendable.

I don't like that way of thinking. Sure, it's true that if you don't listen to God then He could get someone else to do what you're supposed to, but I've read the book of Jonah, and I know that our God is a God of second-chances.

He may shake up our lives with storms, and put us into really uncomfortable situations, but He will get our attention. We are His children and He wants our obedience. For those who are called, and not just called but chosen for the Kingdom of God, I don't believe we are expendable.

He knows the very number of our hairs. I can't think of anyone I love enough to count the hairs on their head. But He loves us that much. And because He loves those whom He has called, I don't believe we are expendable.

Just my thought for today.
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"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:29-31).

"For many are invited, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14).

Uncommon Sense

"Common sense ain't near as common as it used to be," sings Darryl Worley in his song Keep the Change.

I have often mourned the loss of humanity's common sense.

Example: A person (not me) goes out on the 4th of July, gets deliberately drunk, goes through a sign that says "Road closed," and sets off fireworks in the middle of a National Forest.  A national forest. 

True story. It happened.

But it's not really common sense that we're lacking is it? It's wisdom. We no longer have the kind of wisdom that comes from The Divine. When we, as a society, turn from God, all the wisdom, the discernment, and the things that should be apparent to everyone aren't anymore.

Notice that it's called a sense. Wisdom is meant to be a sense. We can touch, taste, see, and hear, but we can also discern if we have wisdom. With God, we can have wisdom, and if we seek Him daily it can become as helpful to us as one of the other senses we trust so readily.

So really, it's not the common sense that we're lacking because wisdom is anything but common.
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"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you" (James 1:5)

Temper, Temper!

I'm easily annoyed, though less easily now than when I was a teenager. Still, sometimes I do get annoyed. I'm more a passive-aggressive type though (which could be worse).

Still, my temper is much better. It could still use some work though. So, in an effort to learn more, I wanted to post some Bible verses that deal with anger.

However, I have started following this blog, and she has a fantastic post about dealing with anger. So, instead of posting all of the verses, I'm just going to encourage you all to read her post (watch her video too if you want), check out some of her other posts, and follow her too.

Two verses I do want to leave you with are:
Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
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.

How do you manage your anger and walk away when you're about to lose your temper?

We Need a RIOT

This is, so far, my favorite Carman song. RIOT = Righteous Invasion of Truth. And boy, do we need one. We need the righteous truth to invade our society and break the shackles that bind so many people, to open our eyes to the wonder and glory of God.

I hope you enjoy the song.

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"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32).

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (John 14:6).

Well, Rush Me to the Burn Unit

"Have you been called to go out on a limb for God? You can bet it won't be easy. Limb-climbing has never been easy. Ask Joseph. Or, better yet, ask Jesus. He knows better than anyone the cost of hanging on a tree" (Max Lucado, In the Manger).

OUCH!!!!!!!

That one hurt.

Sometimes I don't want to go out on the limb for God because I'm afraid. I'm afraid of the same things over and over again. So I complain. About the same things. Over and over again.

But why should I complain or refuse to do something God has asked me to do when it's nothing like what He asked Jesus to do? Jesus, who knows exactly what it costs to go out on a limb for God.

Ouch.

So, what do I have to complain about when God doesn't ask me to do anything He hasn't already done Himself?
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Remember, even Jesus cried out to God, but He still did what God asked of Him.

"And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' (which means 'My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?')" (Mark 15:34).

Dare to Serve

So, I watched Regency House Party - a documentary/reality show where people live, dress, and behave as though they were in the Regency era - and I noticed a theme that is common in these types of reality shows. People often have a hard time showing respect to those portraying someone of a higher class, especially in the beginning. We're not used to that in our modern day society.

So, I wondered, what's the big deal? You signed up for this experience. You've only been there a day and already you want to quit? Why? It's pride. Their pride gets the better of them, and they act disrespectfully in an effort to keep from losing "who they are."

I mean, I get that serving an upper class, and behaving demurely in that type of situation just rubs a lot of people wrong. The whole class system can still be a bit of a sore subject. Sometimes it is for me too. I don't like the idea of serving someone else or having my own opinion trampled on by someone else.

But then, I thought, isn't that what Jesus did? He's Lord of all, King of kings, and He came to serve, not to be served.

So, what if, in any situation - not just something like a class/hierarchy-based reality show - we chose to serve as Jesus served, not giving up our opinions or being afraid of rubbing someone the wrong way, but didn't deliberately pick fights, weren't deliberately disrespectful, and tried even harder to keep our pride from opening our mouth and letting out anger?

What if we dared to serve as He did, lowering himself from Heaven to Earth, becoming human in the humblest way possible, in order to sacrifice himself for all of us?

What if we sacrificed even for those who hate us, who rub us the wrong way, who make our pride rear up and try to take a swing? What if we dared to serve, especially when we feel like we're "too good for that," recognizing that we really did come from humble, lowly beginnings, and just because we have been elevated into The King's courts, doesn't mean we get to be snobbish?

What if, instead of wondering "How dare they?" we ask "How dare we?"

How dare we not serve as He served?
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Jesus said "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).

Bridging the Gap

"It is man who creates the distance. It is Jesus who builds the bridge" (Max Lucado, In the Manger).

These words really struck a chord within me when I read them. We often feel unworthy, especially when we recall our sins, and the things we have done in the past. We can't possibly understand sometimes how such a wonderful, divine God could want anything to do with us. And so the distance is created.

But God doesn't want distance between us and Him. It's why He sent Jesus to be our Savior. So Jesus could bridge the gap, and we would all have the chance to be close to God.

We have to stop thinking of ourselves as unworthy, and recognize ourselves as God's children. Just as we long to be close to Him, He longs to be close to us. So, we have to be willing to let Jesus bridge the gap so that we can always be close to our Heavenly Father.

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"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts you double-minded" (James 4:8).

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up" (James 4:10).

A Horrific Post

I don't watch horror movies often. I won't go near most of the modern ones.

However, I admit that I do enjoy Hitchcock films, and Stephen King's books and movies from time to time. Sometimes I like to watch creature features, especially ones where humans have tried to "play God," and cannot control their creation and it backfires horribly (Jurassic Park, Frankenstein). I enjoy older "horror" films the most because they usually just make me laugh. Sometimes I like to watch a film that makes me jump. I'm not sure why. Maybe that's a thought for another post.

So, lately I've been volunteering at my local library. One of the jobs I do is cleaning the library materials - books, DVDs, etc. While cleaning the DVDs and Blu-Rays, I come into close contact with horror movies. A couple of quotes/advertisements from two movies (I don't remember the names) caught my attention, and I wanted to talk about that today.

"Sticks in your mind."

This movie was a horror film. It was one with a possessed doll (Not Chuckie) that's gonna haunt your house and try to kill your children. Why would we want to watch that? I mean, if it's a super creepy movie about demons and possession, why would we want that bad stuff to be stuck in our minds?

"Scarier than Hell."

First of all, I seriously doubt that. Seriously. Think about this sentence for a moment. Really think about it. Second, if a movie is scarier than the fiery pit where lost souls are forever cut off from God, why do people want to watch it?

I guess I just don't understand the appeal. I admit to liking movies that make me jump a little. Then again, The Haunted Mansion with Eddie Murphy made me jump, and it's a Disney comedy, so...it doesn't take a lot, which might be one reason I can't watch super scary movies, and prefer the older, tamer ones.

Personally, though, I don't want to watch scary movies about demons or possessed people or dolls. Especially not if it's "Scarier than Hell," or if it's going to "Stick in my mind." I don't want that stuff in my brain. There's enough stuff going on in the world that terrifies me.

Just my thought for today. Leave a comment if you have some thoughts on any of this. 
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"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).

Hosanna

This post, like my post about the word Hallelujah, is going to explore the meaning of a word that I hear a lot, but don't really understand.


Hosanna. There are a lot of songs that use this word. I like to sing songs that use this word. But I don't even know what it means. Oops again.

So, according to this online dictionary, the word Hosanna means "an exclamation, originally an appeal to God for deliverance, used in praise of God or Christ," or "a shout of praise or adoration."


Matthew 21:9 - The crowds that went ahead of [Jesus] and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!"


Mark 11:9-10 - Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the coming of the kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!"


John 12:13 - They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the king of Israel!"

Matthew 21:15-16 - But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, "Hosanna to the son of David," they were indignant. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, 'From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise'?"

So, in the song Hosanna, it says "Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!"

Every time we sing that, it's another way to shout praise and adoration to God. We should praise Him until the whole earth shakes with it.

When We Don't Want to Go

When we don't want to go to church is when we most need to go to church. When we're tired, cranky, or just feeling down is when we need to hear the Word of God the most. Also, at church there are fellow members who can talk with you, and pray with and for you.

It's the place to be, especially when you least feel like being there. It's a place to get rejuvenated through fellowship and teaching.

So, the next time we start to feel like we just don't want to go to church - when we start pouting because all we really want to do is curl up in pajamas under a blanket and not go anywhere - remember that it's where we need to be, because it will help. A lot.

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"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as your see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Jesus said "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20).

I Serve at the Pleasure of The King

The other day, I was reading a story, and a knight said: "I serve at the pleasure of the king." It made me think. What if we took the quote and applied it to God, The King? What if we took this attitude more often, especially in our daily lives?

What does that mean? To me, it means we don't act on our own whims. We wait for God's instructions. We serve Him. We await His timing. We obey His every command. We serve the way we were instructed to serve.

This doesn't mean we can't think or act for ourselves. Yet what if we took God's Word and applied it so firmly to our lives, and stood so firmly rooted in Him, that we wouldn't ever really make a move without Him? What if we truly listened for His instructions and obeyed Him always?

"I serve at the pleasure of The King."
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"Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling" (Psalm 2:11).
"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people" (Ephesians 6:7).

He is More Than We Can Imagine or Understand

I heard this song at church today, and I love it! I don't even know how to express what I felt when I heard the song. So, I'm just going to leave it here for you to enjoy:

He is so much more than we could ever understand.
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"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8).

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End" (Revelation 22:13).

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

"Trust in the Lord will all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Hallelujah

One of the songs we sang in church today made me think of how little I know about the word Hallelujah, and if I'm going to sing it, or say it, I need to know what it means.

So, what does it mean?

The definition of the word Hallelujah is "a shout of joy, praise, or gratitude."

The word Hallelujah means "God be praised."

I really can't believe I never knew that. It's not enough to just repeat what we hear in church. We have to study it, research it, define it, and understand it.

Interestingly enough, in the NIV, I could only find the word "hallelujah" in the book of Revelation.
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"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: 'Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory. For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready'" (Revelation 19:6-7).

Study, Study, Study!

I have a reminder on my phone set to go off at a time when I'm not supposed to be busy that says "Bible Study."

Bible Study.

And yet, I usually only read one chapter. That doesn't mean I don't learn anything, but is it really a "study" if it only takes five minutes?

According to Dictionary.reference.com, the first definition of the word study is "application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge, as by reading, investigation, or reflection."

The KJV says "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

In the NIV, this translates to "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

Well, God's Word is truth, and if we don't study God's Word, we won't really be learning how to obey Him, or what He expects of us.

So, reading counts as "studying." Reading a chapter of the Bible a day is certainly helpful for my learning, but I'm sure I could do better. Much better. I think I (personally) need to step it up and really study God's Word, instead of just glossing over a chapter.

Now, I'm not ashamed to admit that I do skim over the "beget" chapters, but if I ever needed them to do a blog post, I would certainly go back and study them in-depth.

I guess what I'm saying is that it's not enough to just give this our smallest effort. God's Word is the most important thing we could ever read, so we have to take time to study it, to commit concepts and verses to memory, and store them in our hearts. Remember, "studying" includes reflection.

This blog is really good for making me do in-depth studies of concepts and verses, but there is more I could be doing.

How do you study God's Word? Do you take 5 minutes, or an hour?

Imagine That

So, apparently there's a thing called "vain imaginations." And we aren't supposed to do it, but everyone does it.

It's like imagining how a situation could have gone differently if we'd only done this, or said that. And we aren't supposed to, because we don't have control of every situation. I guess it's like trying to take power over something that happened, or responsibility for something that was out of our control.

In the KJV, 2 Corinthians 10:5 says: Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

In the NIV, 2 Corinthians 10:5 says: We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

So, we have to capture our thoughts and wrangle them into submission to Christ, and this applies to so much more than just what we think about other people. It is also necessary to control our thoughts about situations.

Now, it's not saying that your kids can't exercise their imaginations and play with sticks in the yard, pretending they're medieval knights and dragons. This is specifically referring to thoughts that are going out of control. It's referring to controlling our thoughts that try to make us feel guilt over doing or not doing something in a situation. We can't change the past, we can only learn from it and determine not to make the same mistakes.

I think I have more to learn about this concept, but I understand the basics now. I thought I was the only one who did that - imagining how a scenario could have gone differently - but I'm not. And neither are you!

We are not alone in this, and it can be really difficult to get our
thoughts under control, but it's really important. Going over a scenario dozens of times, won't change what happened. It will only bring stress upon our lives. If we find ourselves succumbing to vain imaginations, we should be prepared to tell them no, throw them out, and (possibly) find someone to talk with if they're getting out of control.

As I said, I still have more to learn about this concept, but for today, these are my musings.

Walking with God

This song is really popular with my church's praise and worship team right now.

I can see why. It's such a good song. In God's presence there is light and joy and peace that never, ever, ever ends.

God always walks with us, even when we can't feel Him, even when we're sure we're walking alone. He is always there.
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"For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living" (Psalm 116:8-9).

Get Along

So, I messed up yesterday. I thought I was having a good day, but for some reason I let a little correction really get to me, and I overreacted. Badly. Looking back, I can see how I should have reacted, and even figuring out why I may have reacted the way I did doesn't really make it better.

But we've sorted it out, I've apologized, and I've asked God's forgiveness. The only thing left to do is to make this blog post. No. I'm not giving you details.

As humans, I think it's impossible for us to get along with each other 100% of the time. There will be bumps in the road. There will be misunderstandings and arguments and hurt feelings.

The key, I think, is to know when you're wrong, and be willing to apologize for it, even if it starts something else. Then, ask forgiveness from God for your part in whatever happened. After you've apologized, whether that person accepts or not, whether it resolves the situation or not, let it go. Let. It. Go. Don't badger the other person. Don't take offence if they need time to be mad and run through the course of their emotions. Let it go. Let them have their space. And if it blows over without incident, be thankful.

Sometimes there are things we have to get off our chests, even if it becomes an argument. Sometimes it's the only way we can really understand people. Unfortunately, we don't always address issues when they should be, we don't always let go of things when we should, and sometimes it festers until the only thing to do with it is to let it come out of our mouths.

Should it really get to that point? The point of screaming, and sobbing so hard you can't breathe? Probably not.

We should really be growing in God so that we can handle even the worst situations with grace. But it's not always going to happen, I'm afraid. Sometimes the flesh takes over and all our spirit can do is facepalm.

What do I mean by handling a situation with grace? Well...let's see.

How about the golden rule? - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Luke 6:31).

I don't like to argue with people. Ever. So, usually, I think it through before I say something I'm going to regret. Usually. If I wouldn't want someone to say it to me, I try to keep my filter in place so I won't say it to someone else.

And then there's this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30-31).

And then this one, which I wish I'd remembered yesterday: Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3).

So, what I mean by reacting to all situations with grace is basically this: keep your mouth shut. Take correction. Don't start fights. Listen politely even if the other person is wrong. Stay calm. If someone offends you, give it to God, and ask His help to deal with it. But as children of God, we have to behave differently from everyone else. Remember, that what we do matters, and we have to pray and learn from God's Word so that we can react appropriately in all situations, so that people can see God working in our lives.

That doesn't mean we won't mess up. It happens. It just means that the way we act when we mess up changes too. 

After all, when we know how to behave, shouldn't we behave better? If God holds us to a higher standard, shouldn't we always be striving to meet that standard?

When Bad Customer Service Makes You Want to Scream

It's not often that I find a company that doesn't have a FAQ page on its website that helps me through any technical question I have. It's even less often that I find a company that has bad customer service/support, or whatever they call it.

I'm just going to throw this out there: Twitter's customer support is bad. I don't care if I can tweet about the question. If I can't chat with someone online, call someone, or find a forum or support page that answers my question, it's bad customer service.

What can we do when we have a bad customer service experience? Well, obviously we can blog about it, but what else? Scream about it. Cry about it. I suppose we could curse them out too. But does it really help? Well, blogging helps me because it's therapeutic somehow to put my frustrations down on the page. But does it really help?

It certainly won't solve my problem.

What can we do when that happens? When we're more frustrated at the end of our customer service experience than we were at the beginning?

Personally, when the call is over and my question is still not answered, when my frustration is through the roof, I like to have a bit of a cry until I feel better, and then go back over my question, determine if I can make it more clear, and try again (often hoping the same person won't answer the phone).

When a company doesn't have an email address or a phone number to contact, however, it doesn't feel like I've done all I can to resolve the issue, and it can even feel like resolving the issue is impossible.

I guess today I wanted to talk about things we can do instead of reacting in our frustration. I think it's too much to ask that we never become frustrated when customer service goes bad. So, when we're about to blow our tops, and react badly to bad customer service, we can:

• Pray
• Send up a quick prayer for patience in dealing with a frustrating person or situation.
• Breathe.
• Take a deep breath before saying something we'll have to ask God's forgiveness for later.
• Remain calm
• Often it isn't the support person's fault that we don't understand something
• Hang up and call again.
• If we need to end the call to collect ourselves, we should. Be as polite as possible.
• Bear in mind that if there was a long wait, it could be worse the next time.
• Put them on mute, and then scream.
• Don't scare them by forgetting to press the mute button.

These are just a few that I came up with. Do you have any?

I guess we shouldn't complain about customer service too much though, since "Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart" (Ecclesiastes 7:3). After all, if we're never frustrated, if we're never challenged, we won't be able to learn or grow.

So, the next time we face a challenge with a company's customer support department, let's remember that frustration is actually good for us.

Be Anxious About...Everything?

So, in keeping with my previous post, I wanted to do a follow-up today about anxiety. I wouldn't be writing this today without this post about anxiety. I want to once again recommend this blog. It's awesome. The author is awesome. Some of her posts are about children and family stuff, which doesn't apply to my life right now, but they're still good reads, and every once in a while some posts, like this one ↑ really speak to me, my situation, or what I'm thinking about.

Fear and anxiety are very similar, but not the same. Not exactly. For me, fear is gripping, terrifying, and usually only for a short period, sometimes creating a "fight or flight" response. Anxiety is not as intense, creates nervous energy, but it lasts much longer. Both can cause a lack of sleep, and heart palpitations. In my opinion.

The Bible says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

Now, in some situations, like the one she talks about in her post, anxiety is normal. Being anxiously excited about trying something new, or starting a new job are good reasons to be a little anxious. It's normal. But if the anxiety is keeping you from sleep, it's time to pray about it and place it in God's hands.

After I got all my wisdom teeth taken out, I was having trouble sleeping. There had been a complication during the extraction, and my heart (I have a congenital heart defect) had sped up due to the epinephrine and I couldn't slow it down so they had to put me on oxygen and the laughing gas before they could continue. So, I was having a little anxiety before going to sleep. It was like I was afraid I'd be asleep and not know if something happened to my heart. But that's silly. First of all, I have no control over that, and secondly, it was the epinephrine that caused the problem. My heart doesn't randomly speed up for no reason.

So, one of my dear friends sent me this quote:

When we become anxious about something, the best thing we can do is to lay it at God's feet and leave it there. We pray about it, hand the situation over to Him, and trust that He can and will handle it. And then, leave it with Him. Don't pick it up and look at it; don't worry about it anymore.

Jesus said Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34).

Focus on today. Focus on what you need to do. Whatever you're going through, don't worry so much about it. Do one thing today to help you get closer to getting through it, even if the only thing you can do today is pray about it - especially if the only thing you feel you can do today is pray about it.

God bless you. Have a great Memorial Day weekend. Stay safe, and remember to pray for America's military and their families this weekend.

The Fear that Grips Us

I'm a scaredy-cat. I'm afraid of getting outside of my comfort zone. I'm afraid of going new places by myself. I'm afraid of trying new things by myself. I'm afraid of looking like an idiot. I'm afraid of meeting new people. I'm afraid of being embarrassed. I'm also afraid of spiders...

But I'm working to get outside of my comfort zone. I recently asked to join my church's praise and worship team, and I'm terrified of being up in front of people. A couple Sundays ago, my Sunday school teacher was going to preach, but she was a little sick, so she needed someone to read the longer Bible verses for her sermon. After she mentioned this, she glanced at me twice in class, but didn't ask me. I volunteered. I'm trying to get out of my comfort zone in little ways...well, I guess for me they're big ways...in a safe environment like my church. The Sunday after that, an apostle who attends our church was preaching and had me read verses from the book of Joshua. It was much easier that time, despite having a bit of a cold myself that week.

Currently, I'm also learning Japanese. Recently, my penfriend from Japan suggested that we each only talk in our secondary languages to each other. My first thought was that it would be much easier for him to speak in English than it would be for me to speak in Japanese. I was scared at first, and didn't have a lot to say, but I'm gaining more confidence in my knowledge of Japanese. As I practice, it gets easier for me to speak the language. It was fun speaking only in Japanese for the hour we have to talk to each other.

I'm still not ready to walk up to someone on the street and start a conversation in Japanese. I barely feel comfortable doing that in English!

It's not easy to get me out of my comfort zone. And sometimes it's beyond "not easy." Sometimes it's so difficult I'm absolutely sure I won't be able to overcome the fear. But if the fear is the worst part (and it is), what am I even afraid of?

So, for this post, I want to explore what the Bible says about fear.

To be afraid

The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you (Deuteronomy 19:20).

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he let his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors" (1 Kings 19:3-4).

But the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you" (Daniel 1:10).

All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship (Jonah 1:5).

Fear Not

"It's all right," he said. "Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver." Then he brought Simeon out to them (Genesis 43:23). - The story of Joseph

Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again" (Exodus 14:13).

The Lord said to Moses, "Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon" (Numbers 21:34).

Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you (Deuteronomy 3:22).

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).

And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character (Ruth 3:11).

"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them" (2 Kings 6:16) - By the way, go read this whole chapter. It is so amazing!

The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid (Psalm 27:1).

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? (Psalm 118:6).

Jesus said Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28).

So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows (Matthew 10:31).

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid" (Matthew 14:27).

and said, "Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar, and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you" (Acts 27:24).

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown (Revelation 2:10).

The most well-known verse about fear is probably "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10). In the KJV, this starts with "Fear not."

Now, before I end this post, I want to take a minute to tell you all that no matter how well-meaning, using this verse to "comfort" someone after you know they've just faced a fear - like speaking in front of people - DOES NOT HELP! We already know the verse and all you're doing is making us feel even worse, like we're failing by being afraid. So skip the platitudes, tell us we did a good job or something, and then stop talking about it!

Those were some good verses about fear, though. I particularly liked the Psalms. When God is protecting us, we really have nothing to fear. So, those are my thoughts about fear and the Bible verses I found about fear. I hope you learned something today, just as I did.

I Give Myself Away

So, I am working on the post about Fear. It's just taking me a little while to find all the Bible verses I want to use, and to compile my thoughts and then edit it. Hopefully I'll get it posted sometime next week. In the meantime, I didn't want to leave you guys hanging with no post.

Tadah! A song recommendation!

We can't keep any part of ourselves from God. We have to give ourselves to Him so that we can be used for His glory. In comparison to Him, our selfish desires are insignificant. We have to seek first what He wants for our lives, and be truly prepared to accept that.

I know. So much easier to talk about sometimes.
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"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me'" (Matthew 16:24).

Not Enough Time

Some days it feels like there just isn't enough time to do everything I want. Whether it's a long list of things I have to do, or if part of that list includes things I want to do - like finishing a good book - some days it seems like time just whizzes past.

Today was one of those days. It started off well, and I did manage to accomplish most of the things on my list, but by the time I got to some of them, I noticed it was already nearly 3:00. I couldn't believe it!

When days like today happen, when I start to think there won't be enough time to accomplish everything, I like to take a deep breath, and focus on checking one thing off my list at a time. When I've accomplished a few more things after my initial "It's that time already!?" I take another deep breath, and then really consider if something on my list really needs to be done today.

If it absolutely does, I do it. If not, if it's not something so urgent that my day would be incomplete without it (like a blog post) or my house might fall down around my ears if I don't do it, then I reevaluate if it's something that actually needs to be done today. If it still needs to be done today but it doesn't need to be done this second, I take a break. I pick up that book I'm reading, and go through another chapter. Then, when I feel calmer, more relaxed, and less panicked about the time, I check another thing off my list - like folding the laundry.

It's all about perspective. Our lives today can be so fast-paced that it's easy to panic if we look at the clock and realize we haven't done as much as we wanted. But it's nice sometimes to reflect on what's really important on our lists - spending time with family and friends, taking a walk in the cool evening air, playing with your kids or your pets (whichever you have), or just taking a quick moment to breathe and thank God for another marvelous day, even if it's been a little stressful.

It's not good to get too busy. We must sometimes make the time to breathe and listen to God's still, small voice.

Today, I wish you all joy and peace. Remember to breathe.
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"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, [Jesus] said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest'" (Mark 6:31).

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Update: Right now it looks like I'm going to be doing my next research post on fear. However, I'm going to take my time with it and do the research properly. I have started a rough draft, however.

Readers' Choice

Hello everyone!

Today's post is going to be a little different. I want this blog to be interactive. I don't always want to just be throwing information, or my thoughts and opinions at you.

Also, I'm having a little trouble deciding what to research for my next post. Ultimately, I want to study all these things, but I have to narrow it down. That's where you come in. Poll time! Out of these next topics, what would you most like to learn more about?

• Angels
• The armor of God (multiple posts)
• The 10 commandments (multiple posts)
• Baptism
• Fear

In addition to this poll, I wanted to know if there are any topics or verses I haven't covered or talked about yet that you'd be interested in seeing on my blog. I'm interested to see what my readers are curious about.

So, please leave a comment here or on my Facebook page to let me know which topic you want to read about next, and if there are any other topics you want to see. Thanks!

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Today's verse of the day on my Bible app: 

"Instead, speaking the truth with love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ" (Ephesians 4:15).