Monday, August 30, 2010

Congrats!

Yesterday, my friend Christina came to Elevation with me. She has not been to church in 16 years. She accepted Christ as her Savior. It was amazing to be a part of that moment. To take a VIP to the Next Level table and get her hooked up with a Bible and then head to the VIP tent and get her hooked up with a t-shirt... oh, and we had cake this week to wrap up our series "The Invitation". Christina can't wait to come back. I was telling Brandon about it Sunday night. He tweeted it. I tweeted Pastor Steven Christina's story. He retweeted it. I sent it back to her. She said "I'm famous!" I let her know that I just wanted her to know that people who do not even know her are stoked for her!

I am thinking about starting my own eGroup. I would lead a group on the Bible reading plan that I am on right now. God has put this own my heart, and I am super excited about doing it!

On another note. I am going through something right now that I do NOT want to talk about, but would appreciate it if you would pray for me. Please pray that God give me strength. Thank you!


Have a wonderful Monday!

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Genesis

Hey! Glad you are here to read my blog today! I have a ton of updates for you! I will be starting in Genesis 33, and plan to finish Genesis in 45 today!

In Genesis 33, Jacob and Esau meet for the first time in years. I love the interaction between them. Esau runs to Jaob, embraces him and they cry! The last time before this that you hear about Esau's relationship with his brother, Esau was plotting to kill Jacob. No one knows what changed in Esau's heart. I imagine that God must have changed Esau's heart of time.

Genesis 34 confused me! I went online and read the Message version of this chapter. It was much easier to understand. While reading chaptr 34, I was very confused as to why Jacob's family would have even acknowledged Shechem's family. I was astonished when they made a deal with his family. Then, I get to the end where Dinah's brothers murder the whole town while they are ALL still sore from being circumsiced... per the request of Dinah's family. I am still very confused, and shoked by this chapter. Read it!

Genesis 38 was very interesting to me. Especially the end. The things that woman do to become pregnant surprise me. Tamar knew that her father-in-law was coming into the area, she dressed as a prostitue so that he would sleep with her. She became pregnant and had twins. Tamar had been unable to have children from her husban and brother-in-law.

Cameca is Jehovah Witness. They do not celebrate birthdays. I asked her why, and she said that in the Bible there are two birthday celebrations. Someone dies at each of them. Well, in Genesis 40, I read the first birthday celebration and death. It was Pharaoh's birthday, and he had the cheif baker hanged.

The story of Joseph and his brothers from chapter 42 - 45 was very intersting to read. Joseph played many mind games with them. At the begining of chapter 45, I was a little confused. I was no longer confused when he told his brothers, and sent them off with wonderful things and gave them the best of Egypt! I did love how he wept at he sight of his brothers!

I have decided to finish Genesis right now! I am excited. This is going to feel like a huge accomplishment for me!

From Genesis 45 to 50, Joseph's father dies. He is buried with Rachel. Before he died he blessed Joseph's children. And, Genesis ends with Joseph's death. He died at 110, and was buried in Egypt.



Gensis 50:19-21
19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

apologies

I just wanted to post for y'all. I am still alive. I am in a bit of a funk right now. I got behind with camp, and have a few things going on. My plan is to get back in the game this weekend.

:D Thanks y'all.

Monday, August 16, 2010

A few updates

Mark
I am noticing that Mark is a much faster pace version of Matthew. I am enjoying that. I love when Jesus calms the storm.

Mark 5:21-43 was great. Everyone is telling Jesus that the girl is dead, they were laughing at Jesus. I love how Jesus handled that situation. He tells her to get up, and she stands up and begins walking around! Don't you just love Jesus! :)

2 Corinthians
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the suffereings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 2 Corinthians 1:2-5

2 Peter
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you form being ineffectie and unproductie in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8


I hope you have a wonderful night, and a lovely day tomorrow! I will be babysitting tomorrow night, which means I will have some time to truly sit down and focus on reading when the kiddo's go to sleep, but will not be able to post until later!

As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord

I am beginning in Joshua 21.

Right now, I am praying for a couple things, one being patience. Reading Joshua 22, the Lord fulfills a promise that he made to these men. I read this and remind myself that God always comes through, and I have no reason to doubt or become impatient in a situation.

"And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us that the Lord is God" Joshua 22:34

I love everything about Joshua 23. Read it! "... because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised" Joshua 23:10

Joshua 24:16-18 is awesome. Joshua is telling his people about how their forefathers worshiped other gods, and that Joshua was going to worship the God and that they had a choice to make. Joshua 24:16-18 is them declaring why they are going to worship the God!

Hello!

What a day! I woke up an hour late. I was on time to work. There was a terrible wreck on 77 in Gold Hill, which gave me the pleasure of sitting in traffic for an hour and move less than a mile. I made a U-turn in the middle of Carowinds Blvd. and try to get on 77N another way. I got to school an hour late, and class had let out early! So, I turned back around and went home. I got struck in traffic once again! I am home now.

Tonight, I am going to be reading from Joshua.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Good Morning!

Good Morning! I hope that you are doing well. I am sad that my body would not allow me to sleep in. School starts tomorrow and I was hoping to be able to sleep in, before the long day ahead of me tomorrow. I am up. And, I plan on doing some reading before I have to get ready for church. Last night, I attended this meeting about a new worship experience that Elevation is going to begin! I am totally excited!!!

Genesis
I am beginning in Genesis 25, and plan to read to Genesis 32

I will never get over the importance of every ones names in the Bible. Rebekah and Isaac had twins. Esau (meaning hairy) was born hairy, and Jacob (meaning grasping the heel/deceiving) was born grasping Esau's heel.

It is interesting to see that Isaac made the same mistake as his father. He did not trust God enough to tell everyone that Rebekah was his wife. This is just another example of how we should always place complete faith in the Lord.

Not only do I love how every ones name has a purpose, I love how they fulfill that purpose. Jacob means deceiving, and he deceived his brother twice; stealing his birthright, and his blessing. Isaac could not bless both of his son's.

So Jacob sered seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. - Genesis 29:20 How precious is that?

I can't believe what Laban did to Jacob. My bible says in the notes that Jacobs senses were probably dulled because of the feast, and that is why he did not realize that Leah was not Rachel. Jacob ended up having to work fourteen years for Rachel.

In Genesis 30, Leah was able to give birth to several sons for Jacob. Rachel became jealous that she could not bare her husband any children, so gave her husband to her maidservant and had a child. Leah was no longer conceiving, so she gave Jacob to her maidservant her gave birth to another child. I had to laugh to myself while reading this, because I could not imagine passing my husband around so I could one up my sister. I mean, Jacob was sleeping with four women.

Jacob ends up running away from Laban, who begins to feel differently towards Jacob. Laban catches up with him. Rachel stole Laban's gods. She was sitting on them as Laban was trying to look for them. Rachel told her father she was on her period and that is why she could not stand up (Genesis 31:35). Jacob wrestles with God and his name is changed to Israel, meaning wrestles with God (Genesis 32:28)

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Mark

Mark 2:6-7, Now some teachers of the law were siting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He is blasheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone? - This is such a reminder that not only does God see all that we do, he hears our thoughts. It is not any better to think certain things!

Mark 2:17, On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." - We all have that to be thankful for, because if Jesus came to have dinner with the righteous, we would not have the life that we are able to have today.

Jesus healed many. My favorite healing of Jesus is the healing of the man with the crippled hand on the Sabbath. Although, Mark did not go into as many details about the healing as Matthew did, I still love reading about it!

Though you have not seen him, you love him...

1 Peter starts off very powerfully!
Praise be to the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you, who through faith is shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. -1 Peter 1:3-5

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. -1 Peter 1:8-9

"But the word of the Lord stands forever." 1 Peter 1:25

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed" 1 Peter 2:24

To every girl who woke up this morning not feeling beautiful, who feels like to be beautiful enough for society she has to cake on the make up and wear fancy clothes... Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4

1 Peter 3:8-22 is all good. Take a moment to pull your Bible out and read it. Peter wrote it perfectly, there is nothing I can say about what he wrote, besides how true it all is. Christ died for us!

If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or theif or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 1 Peter 4:15-16

"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers - not becuase you must, but becuase you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve" 1 Peter 5:2

James

I have a lot to say about James 1!

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything James 1:2-4 Yes, You read that correctly. James wrote that when you are being tempted and tested, consider it pure joy! That is a statement that very hard to live out. But, it is so true that the outcome is so worth it!

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:5-8 How true is that! We should never doubt the power of God! I posted earlier today about Genesis 24 when someone is praying a powerful prayer to God; basically giving God instructions on how to reveal a woman to him. Before he is even finished praying, God places that woman in front of the man! God is amazing. We should never doubt, and always believe in our prayers.

And back to the debate about temptation... When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;... James 1:13

To my friends who are quick to become angry... "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" James 1:19

Personal Confession:The other day, God was speaking to me. I mean, truly speaking to me. Everything I heard, everything I read, was God screaming at me. I made excuse after excuse. I acknowledged that it was Him speaking to me, but ignored what He was saying because it was not something that I wanted to hear. Well, James 1:22-25 just smacked me in the face.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.

In verse 22-23 was like seeing the hand come at me, verse 24 was the smack, and verse 25 was the sting after. I pray that God can give me a more obedient heart. I want to follow His word, but being the strong-willed person I am, am foolish enough to think that I can do this on my own....


James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. When I read this, I immediately thought of what Pastor said a few weeks ago. Pastor said "Just don't pick up the phone when Satan calls." (This was week one of our Christ Alone series)

James 5:7-9 e patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! That is so true. God is watching and listening to everything we do and say.

"As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy" James 5:11

Philemon

I read the introduction to Philemon, before reading it. I am glad that I did, because I would not have gathered what I was suppose to without reading it.

Paul is writing a letter to Philemon. Onesimus was a runaway slave that Paul led to faith. Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon even though he was a great help to Paul. Paul was writing to Philemon to ask him to forgive him for running away, and to love him as a brother in Christ.

I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. vs. 6

Titus

I love Titus 2:9 "and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."!!

11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
15These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
- Titus 2:11-15

It teaches us to say "no" to ungodliness and worldly passions... This statement goes directly back to the talk about gossip in my last post!
who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good and again, Jesus Christ gave himself for US!!! We are better than talking about people, better than any temptation placed in front of you!

Another amazingly rich book! I just love the Bible!

Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all of this

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 Whatever you have planned today, you can do it! God has equipped you with everything you need to take on today! (I am saying this to myself, as I attempt to tackle twenty chapters of reading today!)

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immorality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:8-10 There are so many rich things within those verses. not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace!!!

2 Timothy 2:7 "Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all of this"

2 Timothy 2:9 For which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained Wow! How powerful is that statement!

2 Timothy 2:13 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. Erin and I were talking about something along these lines last night. Especially the last statement "if we are faithless, he will remain faithful..." Erin said that God is so amazing, that He loves each and everyone of us. But, he does not only love us when we become a Christian. If we never speak His Word once, or pray to him... He still loves us! How amazing is that!

These words need to be memorized by everyone in my work, and probably every person!
Avoid godless chatter because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 2 Timothy 2:16
. I use to love to gossip. It was such a terrible situation. I had to be talking about someone always! look at her shoes, what is she wearing, she needs to put some make up on, what was she thinking... I think that I have gotten better. I still will listen to gossipy conversations, but I (try) not to participate. I am going to begin to memorize this verse, because it is true. I want to be as close to Jesus as possible, and He would not be very proud of me taking about anyone!

As I continue reading, Paul does not stop with that one comment. If that was not enough to convict you, he keeps on going! Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." 2 Timothy 2:19.... Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels" 2 Timothy 2:23... And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful 2 Timothy 2:24

In 1 Timothy, Paul wrote "fight the good fight of faith" and today, I read in 2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith"



2 Timothy was such a rich book! I am so glad that I took time today to devote myself to reading that book!

Genesis and Psalm

Just a few comments on a few chapters of reading I got in yesterday in Genesis.

I love how generous the Hittites were towards Abraham. Abraham tried so hard to pay them, but they would not accept the money from him. (Genesis 23)

I was reading Genesis 24, and thinking that it sounded familiar. I don't know if Pastor did a sermon on it, but when I got to vs. 14, I knew I had read this chapter before. My favorite part of this chapter is vs. 15. God answered his prayer before he was even done praying! :) God just makes me smile.

I love Psalm 21. My favorite verse in Psalm 21 is Be exalted O Lord, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might. vs. 13

In Psalm 22 David wrote about he has always believed in God and had faith in Him -but his temptations were eating at him. But, he still had faith in the Lord. He still believed that the Lord was going to save him. - Sometimes, I feel like there are not that many people who still have faith in the Lord when they are being tempted. They completely give up. So, reading about David always trusting in the Lord, it gives me hope that it is possible to trust in the Lord no matter what

And the Plan for today is...

Hey! I hope all is well with you!

This is where I am currently at in my reading:
Genesis 25
Joshua 20
Job 22
Psalm 21
Proverbs 13
Isaiah 21
2 Timothy 1


This is where I should be in my reading:
Genesis 31
Judges 7
Job 31
Psalms 31
Proverbs 31
Isaiah 31
Mark 3
1 Peter 4
1 Corinthians 15 (woohoo!! There is one book I am ahead in!!)
Yes, You are only counting 9 books. I am totally confused, becuase the plan is telling me to read Acts again?)

Books I completely missed:
Titus 1-3
Philemon 1
James 1-5


My plan for today:
Complete 2 Timothy
Complete Titus
Complete Philemon
Complete James
Mark 3
1 Peter 4
That is 20 chapters between 8:30 (now) and 3:00 (when I have to get ready for church)!


Dear Lord, I pray that you give me the ears to hear Your Word, and eyes to see Your Word and a heart that understands Your Word. I am excited about what I have to learn in today's reading. I am so thankful that you put the desire in my heart to read the Bible in eight months, not only for the growth within myself, but the people who are growing through my experience! -Amen

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Wrapping up 1 Corinthians

I babysat last night, and finished 1 Corinthians... EARLY! :) 1 Corinthians really spoke to me. There is a lot of personal reflection in this post!

In 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 Paul is writing about people who sinned and how they were punished, then he says 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
I believe this to be very true. I do not think that God will tempt us beyond what we can handle. Now, I have gotten into many debates/conversations about Does God tempt us? or Does God give us what we need to get through the temptation? Either way, He will always provide a way out! I love my God! It is so comforting to know these truths, that God will always be by my side.

1 Corinthians 11:13-16 was very interesting to me. Paul stated that for a man to have long hair is disgraceful, but it is glorious for a woman to have long hair. I do not know if I should read more into that or consider it as just a message to Corinth.

I have received communion many times at church. But reading 1 Continthians 11:23-26 makes the meaning of it all so real. I read about it in Matthew the other day. Reading it again truly put EVEN MORE emphasis on the importance of communion. I am so thankful for the life that I am able to have through Christ.

1 Corinthians 12 is a chapter that I must memorize. This chapter has come up countless items in conversation and I have to fumble through my Bible. I at least need to memorize that spiritual gifts = 1 Corinthians 12.

I love Paul's illustration in 1 Corinthians 12:15-21. "But in fact God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be." vs. 18

1. I love how spec ally handcrafted by God I am. It makes me feel so undeniably beautiful and important.
2. I love the illustration this is towards how we are all individually unique to the church and Kingdom of God!

When I read 1 Corinthians 13:11, I immediately thought about how this related to becoming a Christian. I know that for me, my life was literally one way one day, and the polar opposite the next. I had a shopping problem...addiction, and the next day and ever since, I have little to no interest in shopping. I listened to rap and rock, and I had no interest in it the next day. I wanted to listen to 91.9 and 106.9 and praise God constantly!

The talk in 1 Corinthians 14 about tongues confused me.

1 Corinthians 15:20-21 is so true. I read it several times to truly let it sink in. I know that Christ has risen from the grave, but I never want to take that for granite. I think that it is so easy to just shrug it off our shoulders Christ died and rose again - therefore I can live without sin, and go into heaven free of cost. So, I can still do (fill in the blank). But, It is so much more important. There is so much more to it. I never want to take it for granite.

1 Corinthians 15:33 truly spoke to me. I am in a situation, and everything I read lately is along those lines, screaming at me that I am making a mistake.

I just loved 1 Corinthians 15:58. "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Have a wonderful day!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Signing off

I am proud of myself. Finishing Matthew and Acts made me feel like I am truly getting somewhere.

I leave you with this tonight.

A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly. Proverbs 14:29

I need to read every verse in the Bible about patience. I am impatient in more than one area of my life. I also took this verse to be about speaking before thinking about what you are about to say. That is very tricky.

Have a lovely night!

Acts 26 :D

I have a lot to stay about Acts 26 alone!

In Acts 26, Luke goes into detail about his history before knowing God, coming to know God, and his life after that. I did not know these things about Paul. He went around punishing people in their synagogue. I love how Paul describes Jesus coming to him.
12"On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[a] 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
15"Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?'
" 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 16'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'


In Acts 26:19 says, "So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. I just love Paul. God spoke to him, and he completely changed his life in that moment! I want to be this obedient towards God's vision to me!

But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. -Acts 26:22 This is so true. We all have God's help day in and day out. That is real and true!

I love Acts 28:3-6. Paul is making a fire, and this snake wraps itself around his arm. Everyone is thinking that Paul must be a murderer and has not escaped justice. Paul shakes his arm, and the snake falls off into the fire. :) How good is God?!!!

I am on a roll tonight! I just finished reading Acts. I could not get into Acts in the beginning, but could not put it down in the end!

Matthew

So, I actually got ahead, in reading Matthew! It is one of my favorite books of the Bible. I love reading about Jesus. :) Makes me all warm and fuzzy. Today, I actually listened to a sermon from Pastor Andy Stanley at North Point in Atlanta, GA. The sermon was about why God sent Jesus to Earth to die for our sins. It was truly amazing. My favorite thing that he said was that when someone asks him to explain the Trinity, he tells them that he can't. He will respond by saying, "Jesus openly talked about it, but never explained it." I like that.

Anyway.

The parable f the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) confused me. I had no idea what to take about it...

I could read Matthew 26-28 again and again. It gives me chills, and heart ache and hope all in one. It is so powerful.

I still have a hard time wrapping my head around Matthew 27:46. Jesus calls out to God and asks, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?". I asked Cameka about it today. I asked, "Jesus knew what was going to happen, right? I know that he was in pain, but.... Was Jesus doubting God?" The best way that she could explain it was that it was like someone who has terminal cancer. They know that they are going to die, but they do everything they can to live longer.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Fight the good fight of the faith

1 Timothy
"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing" 1 Timothy 2:8

I feel as if 1 Timothy 4:11-12 is speaking straight to me! "Command and teach these things. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity."
I want to set an example through everything I do. I think I am on the right road! I pray I can only grow from here!

1 Timothy 6:7-10 is so good. I am thankful that God set me free of my love for money. It was this time last year that I was running around all of the malls blowing all of my money. I would literally spend $100 shopping on my lunch hour at the mall, then go shopping that night. It was insane. I blew through all of my savings and then some.... I praise God for setting me free of that, and allowing me to trust Him in all ways, but most importantly, financially!

-Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. - 1 Timothy 6:17

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 6:12-19 is so true. Paul writes about sexual immorality. He states that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, our body was bought at a price, and we should honor God with our body. All so true!

1 Corinthians 7 was a very interesting chapter. Paul speaks on marriage, divorce and being single. It is a must read, I believe!

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
1 Corin. 8:6

Matthew && Acts

Hello! I am going to split this up into several posts. But, before I get started, I would like to welcome one of my best friends, Ellen to the journey of reading the Bible in 8 months. We were talking about it on our way to Newspring, and she decided to join Candace, Kristina and I! I am excited.

Matthew
This is a shout out to my sister. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind... and love your neighbor as yourself. It is from Deut. 6:5 but referenced in Matthew 22:37-38. :)

Acts
"So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers" Acts 16:5 - When I read this I think about Elevation, how fast we are growing. It is truly by the Grace of God. Also, when Ellen and I visited Newspring, Pastor Perry Noble spoke about how every summer their numbers drop significantly, and this summer they have only risen. How awesome is God. I am truly blessed to be a part of Elevation!

I was reading through Acts 16:16-21 and was a bit confused. I read it again, and it made sense. The fist time I read it, I skimmed over the beginning where it mentions the slave girl was trying to profit off of her proclaiming Paul's teaching. I was so confused why Paul would command the Spirit to leave her. Until, I read it again, and she was only shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, whoa re telling you the way to be saved," to make money. This just goes to show how sometimes I need to slow down, and make sure I am getting the whole story.

Reading this passage, I could not find a favorite verse. It is all good.
19Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." 21(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
22Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
24"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'
29"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill. 30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
32When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." 33At that, Paul left the Council. 34A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

I love verse 19 and 20. They were so interested in hearing Paul speak. I also love verse 32. Some were unsure about Paul's teaching, but others wanted to hear more!

I love Paul's obedience in Acts 18:9. God came to him and told him to stay, and continue speaking. So, Paul stayed for a year and a half!

I love what Paul has to say in Acts 20:22-36. Paul dedicated his whole life to testifying to the gospel of Jesus. It is truly amazing. I only pray that I can say these same words as I am dying. :)

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

With God All Things Are Possible

I am still working on catching up. On the way home from work, I was not in the best mood. All I could think about was how I just wanted to sit on my couch and watch tv. I knew that I needed to read my Bible more than I needed to watch tv... So, here I am. :)

I just love Romans.
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." Romans 13:8
"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on disputable matters" Romans 14:1
"If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." Romans 14:8
"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." Romans 16:20

1 Corinthians
I have never read this book before. From the introduction in my Bible, I am excited about what this book has to bring to my life. The only part of this book I know is, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8... which is my most favorite passage in the whole Bible.
"For in Him you have been enriched in every way - in all your speaking and in all your knowledge" 1 Cor. 1:5 This is so true. In Christ, I have been enriched in every way.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

The parable of the lost sheep is beautiful. Jesus says that if someone has 100 sheep and one wanders off he will leave the 99, and search for the 1, and that he is happier about that 1 sheep than the 99 who did not wander off.

"In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost" Matt. 15:14

God does not abandon his followers, he zealously seeks the lost. That is something worth smiling about.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

He who has ears, let him hear

My friend, Ellen and I were talking the other day about how many times the Bible records that Jesus had to go alone and pray. We love the image of our Father's Son needing to get away from everything and pray. It reminds us that we, also, need to get away and pray.
"After he had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came he was there alone," -Matthew 14:23


As I read the story of Jesus walking on the water, and calling Peter out with him... I can only think about how relevant the winds picking up and Peter loosing faith and beginning to sink is to my life. How often do I lose faith in the Lord, and begin to sink? Before the winds picked up, Peter was walking on water with Jesus...

Monday, August 2, 2010

My God turns my darkness into light

Newspring was amazing! I loved Pastor Perry Noble's sermon on "I love my church" because I truly do love my church! ^

So, last week I posted a question about Matthew 9:9 where Matthew and Jesus meet. I asked my friend/co-worker Cameca. She did not have an answer for me. I just love her to death. She skimmed the Gospel's this weekend to find an answer for me. Every time Jesus and Matthew, Mark, Luke and John meet, this is how it is written. Actually, when referencing themselves anytime, they refer to themselves in the third person. It helped me, hope it helps you! (Thanks Meca!)

Psalms
Psalm 18 is beautiful. David refers to God as his Rock several times. I love the image of God as the Rock because He is firm, solid, and immovable. Psalm 18 is a glorifying prayer by David to God.
"Some durst in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm." Psalm 20:7-8 I love worshiping my God, who I can be confident in!

Proverbs
"Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
MMMMMMmmmm That is good. So many of us (I confess, a year ago, I was out at the mall every night blowing every dime I had on clothes) find so much pride in money. The amount of money we have in our bank account is worthless to God, He doesn't care if we have $1,000,000,000,000,000,000 or $10. It is all about how we worship Him.
I wish I had read Proverbs 12:9 when I was a teenager.
Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.
God made me (and you) for a specific reason. I will never understand why I spent so much time as a kid trying to be someone else!


Isaiah
Isaiah 14-20 where Prophecies against various places. It was hard to read many of these chapters because it seems like these couldn't possibly apply to us these days. But, I have to remember that there are many parallels between our times and the time that Isaiah wrote this book. The prophecies teach us that God is patient, God rules over all nations, we must be obedient to God's Word, and God has the last word in all things.


Matthew
Matthew 12-1:13 is just astonishing to me. I can't imagine what life would be like today if we still lived like this. The Pharisees began to plot how to kill Jesus because He healed a man's shriveled hand on the Sabbath. I love how Jesus responded to them.
He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. - Matthew 12:36-37. Working with all women, there are many times that we become careless with our words. I am going to start living this truth. I will be condemned for my careless words.
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. - Matthew 12:40
But the one who received the seed that feel on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. - Matthew 13:23. I pray that I will forever be the seed that fell on good soil and is well rooted.

I need to stop here for the night! No babysitting tomorrow. I will be completely caught up tomorrow!


On a completely different note: A few months ago, I kept hearing "The Words I Would Say" by the Sidewalk Prophets EVERY time I would turn the radio on. I am not exaggerating when I say that. It made me think of someone who used to be very near and dear to my heart. I ended up messaging him to just send him the lyrics, let him know that I was praying for him daily, and such. Well, the song is playing again every time I turn on the radio. I am praying that God gives me a clearer explanation on what He is saying to me through that song. I don't know if I need to get in touch with this person again. I kind of don't want to. :/

Sunday, August 1, 2010

"Look up at the heavens and count the stars"

I had a really tough week. It isn't even worth talking about, but... because I started the week on the wrong foot, my whole week was off. I did not read any until Thursday. So, I am trying my hardest to catch up, and still get out of this everything I should. My friend Kristina has joined me on this journey! She isn't following "Prof. Horner's Bible Reading System! But, she is rocking it!

So, this post will be set up into a few installments. I hope you are able to stick with me again. Starting on Monday, I will be waking up at 6:00am to get my reading in before the day starts!

Genesis
In Genesis 12:13 Abram tells his wife to tell everyone she is his sister, so that he will be treated better (for her sake...) By doing this, he showed his lack of faith in God's plan. He later suffered the consequences. When I read this, I know that there are situations in my life where I do something, to play it safe, which ultimately means I do not trust in God's greater plan. This is something that I am trying to work on. I know that God has a plan and it is far better than I could ever imagine. I pray that God will give me patience and more strength to trust in His greater plan, and not take the safe road!
I loved reading Genesis 15. God and Abram were having a conversation on trusting in the Lord. This is a conversation that I know we all have had with God. God constantly says to us "Do not be afraid. I am your shield, your very great reward." We have no reason to doubt the Lord. He is great, He is almighty, and He will bring us through everything. He hears our deepest needs, and hears our prayers!

Joshua
As I have posted before, I have trouble with the history in battles, and genealogy. Joshua 12 is a list of the defeated kings. A note in my Bible says. "Why list all these victims?" It says that it s a praise-song declaring the message: 'LOOK AT ALL GOD HAS DONE! Behold the once proud kings who feel to our God!" How powerful is that? To me, it gives me a reason to read the list of kings! :)

Job
"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth." Job 19:25 I love how Job's despair turns quickly into hope. He began to look into the future and understand that "I myself will see Him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!" vs. 27

Psalms
In Psalm 13 David crys out to the Lord and says "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hid your face from me?" vs. 1. By vs.5 David is crying out "But I trust in your unfailing love: my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for he has been good to me." It was interesting to read this after reading Job 19, because Job battled with the same problem. He was in complete despair in the beginning of the chapter and by the end he was expressing his unfailing trust in the Lord. In moments when we are lacking in trust, we need to remind ourselves that we can trust in the the Lord's unfailing love. He has been good to us!
Recently, a lady from work was explaining to me that when the Bible mentions a hill or a mountain, it may actually mean the church. I was a bit confused by this. Reading Psalm 15:1, I began to understand what she was meaning a bit more. "Lord, who may dwellin you sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?"
Psalm 16 is truly beautiful. "Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge." "Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also Will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

Tonight, I am going to NewSpring with my brother Corey, and friend Ellen. I am stoked! I will leave you with this, and finish the post soon!

Much Love, and God Bless.