Something to Study

I've been learning how to study the Scriptures inductively. The lady who taught me how warned me that it would be easy to get caught up in the "doing" of it. Little did I know just how easy it would be. I was very excited because I was seeing so much deeper into Scripture than I had ever seen before. I was learning all kinds of things during my study time, yet something happened, and studying lost its joy for me. I could not understand why my zeal was dwindling, and then I realized that I was approaching God as something to be studied - not someone to be loved. Of course we should study God! Of course we should dig deeper into Scripture, but we should not forget to fall in love with God.

I took a break from studying for a little while, and started reading the Gospel of John. Scripture says we love God because He first loved us. I wanted to renew my zeal and passion for Christ, so I thought I had read about the ways that Christ loved us. The greatest, most enthralling love story of all time is found in this book! And best of all, it is mine! How He loves me! I am but dust compared to Christ; nay, I cease to exist compared to Him... BUT HE LOVED ME! I was not seeking Him, BUT HE SOUGHT ME! I was separated from Him because of my sin, BUT HE RECONCILED ME! I was perishing, BUT HE RESCUED ME! I had nothing to offer Him, BUT HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR ME! I am created; He is eternal, YET HE LEFT HIS THRONE AND BECAME LIKE ME SO THAT HE COULD RESCUE ME! There is no greater Being by which one can be loved, and there is no greater love than the love of God! I am loved by Christ! It is not a chore to read about this Man!

 A girl who gets a letter from her lover never loathes reading it. She can barely breathe while she reads it because of her excitement. If you have gotten caught up in studying and have lost your zeal, take time to "kindle afresh the gift of God"(2 Tim 1:6). Fall in love with God again. Think about what He has done for you! We should not think of reading God's Word as a chore; we should hardly be able to keep our minds off the things of God! Study the Word, and take care that you do not study to merely increase your knowledge. Study to increase your zeal for God and love for others. May we not get caught up in studying a thing, but loving our God.

Worthwhile

My last post was on standing in awe of God's creation and what He's done. This film will cause you to do just that!  "God of Wonders Exploring The Wonders Of Creation, Conscience, And The Glory Of God" is an eighty-five minute film that will amaze you! "God of Wonders" is a breathtaking tour of God's  creation wonders, visible and invisible, and the greatest wonder of all- His redeeming love!

Stand in Awe

Have you ever looked at a small thing that God created, such as a seed, that made you realize the vastness of God? Have you ever marveled at how the seasons take place in order year after year, or have you ever tried to wrap your mind around how a small egg and sperm contain every bit of information for an individual human being? Do you wonder how their are no exact repetitions in snowflake designs or human DNA codes? Have you ever looked at your eye and thought about all that it does? Your eyes are constantly transferring information to your brain and interpreting it! You have to trust your eyes whenever you drive. If they relayed incorrect information to your brain, or if they were too slow at relaying it, you could wreck! Your eyes interpret so much information almost instantaneously! No one has a pair eyes exactly yours! Do you ever consider why your body can repair itself, why your heart beats rhythmically, or why you can remember?

 It amazes me to look at creation, yet how much greater, and complex is The Creator of all things! His ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours we can not even begin to grasp who He is.

Have you ever contemplated the awesomeness of God? Has His infinite power ever baffled you? Did you ever feel as though your brain would explode when you considered that God has always been and will always be? Think about who He is and stand in Awe!

The Power of God
*Hebrews 12:29 "our God is a consuming fire."
*Jeremiah 10:12 "It is He who made the earth by His power, who established the world by His wisdom; and by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens. When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth;
¹³ He makes lightning for the rain, and brings out the wind from His storehouses."

*Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

*Hebrews 10:31 "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

The Wisdom of God

*1 Corinthians 1:25 "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

*1 Corinthians 3:19 "For the wisdom of the world is foolishness before God. For it is written, ' He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE  WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS'";

*Isaiah 55:8-9 "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord.'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'"

The Holiness of God

*1 Peter 1:6 "For it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.' "

*Isaiah 6:3 "And one called out to the another and said, ' Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of host, the whole earth is full of His glory."

The Goodness of God

*Psalm 38:4 "O taste and see that the LORD is good: how blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."
*Psalm 107:1 "Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, For His loving kindness is everlasting.

The Kindness, Love, and Mercy of God
*Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
*Romans 2:4 "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of god leads you to repentance?"
*John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

Stand in awe of this AWESOME GOD with me! Praise His name for His wonderful works! Fear the LORD and tremble before him! He is worthy to be praised!

⁹ 

The Untold Story

There is a silent Holocaust taking place in America. Millions of babies are aborted every year! The only people who know these babies' stories may be the mother and the doctor, but God knows about these lives that are murdered. In fact, He formed these babies and gave them a soul. May this song stir you to action! Speak up for those who are never given a trial! We can not be silent while the innocent perish! We must pray! We must speak! We must Act!

Verse 1
Tiny heartbeat

(A life size replica of a first trimester baby in the womb )

Tiny toes
What you'll look like
No one will ever know

Tiny fingers
No one will ever hold
Your precious life is a story
That will never be told

Verse 2
An empty cradle
You would have used
An empty table
That is missing you

An empty hole
In your mother's heart
An empty role in the world
That is your part

Verse 3
Without a trial
No chance to defend
They decided death
Was your sentence

Your lifeless body
Was thrown away
No tombstone

To mark your grave

Verse 4
Your baby may not
Have a voice
No one may ever
know your choice

But for every act
You will ever do
God will demand
An account from you

Verse 5
Is someone missing
From your world
A baby boy
Or a little girl

There is no sin
God can not forgive
Have faith in Him
And you will live


If you haven't already, be sure to watch Ray Comfort's film on Abortion, 180.  I posted it on my blog in a former post entitled: "One Million Views in 22 Days". Please encourage all your friends to view this short film. They can view it for free at 180themovie.com. Be creative and think of ways to support life in the womb!

Awkward Silence

You are having a conversation with someone, and it comes to a halt abruptly because neither of you can think of anything to say. You feel awkward because it was not a natural end to your conversation.  So what do you do? What should you say? Or should you say anything at all?

Your mind may be scrambling for something to say, but maybe you don't need to say anything. If you can't think of something to say that is of value, you'll find yourself saying things that you will regret. I think it is better to say nothing than to force conversation that is unnecessary and unfruitful.
Proverbs 10:19 says, "Where there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise."

If our words are fewer, our transgressions will be fewer. The less we speak, the less opportunities we afford our mouths to transgress. In Matthew 12:36 Jesus says, "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgement." We should use our lips with caution. We will not just have to give an account for unkind words but careless, idle words that do not edify. This is a sobering thought to me.

Maybe we could use a bit more of some good ol' awkward silence. The next time you do not know what to say, pray and ask God to show you whether you should speak or be silent. Ask Him what to say. Be sensitive and keep the Scripture in mind. He will show you what to say if you are His. Remember, silence is okay. Psalm 141:3 says, "Set a gaurd, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips." May God set a guard over our tongues, and may we be quick to listen and slow to speak!