Hey, here are some new blogs for y'all to check out!
*Musings of a Twig --musingsofatwig.blogspot.com (a friend)
*Comforts of the Heart --comfortsoftheheart.blogspot.com (sister...her travel blog)
*Stepping Heavenward -- heavenly-steps.blogspot.com (ME!! My travel blog!)
*The Left Behind -- theleftbehindgirls.blogspot.com (Bug and little sis...the ones not traveling the globe :D)
read em, enjoy em, laugh and cry! :)
-becca
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Nobody breathe
Whatever you do, don't breathe, or this may not work any more!! For some beautiful reason, we are now able to post. Let's hear it for Bug and Becca's blessed computer!! :-D Which FINALLY decided to be agreeable!
Well, there is so much to catch up on since the last post. Life has been moving along, slowly at times, but as of late it has been FLYING by at an alarming pace. My sister leaves for her study abroad program in about 15 days. After that i'm sure time will slow down, then speed back up again as I get ready to leave.
I can't think of anything brilliant to say, but still, I shall post regularly now! Yay!
blessings,
-Becca
Well, there is so much to catch up on since the last post. Life has been moving along, slowly at times, but as of late it has been FLYING by at an alarming pace. My sister leaves for her study abroad program in about 15 days. After that i'm sure time will slow down, then speed back up again as I get ready to leave.
I can't think of anything brilliant to say, but still, I shall post regularly now! Yay!
blessings,
-Becca
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Na 2007
Hey everybody,
Holly posted a few days ago about the New Attitude Conference sermons that you can download for free. I would highly recommend doing so. I finished the last of the 7 sermons yesterday. They are SO amazing! I took tons of pages of notes, and I know I will refer to them often. We all can grow in the area of discernment.
Well, I finished my first final this morning. Only ONE MORE then i'm done with highschool for good! It's so weird to be thrust into a completely new peer group. Sometimes weird peer group, sometimes veiwed as rebellious, sometimes seen as the bright young generation that will change this country. For better or worse, i'm not really sure which. If most college age students are like those here at this college, we should be afraid. Very afraid. This generation is turning out weak-spined, politically correct, liberal, tolerant adults. Besides the fact that 95% of them smoke and drink, never you mind how old they are. Underage drinking doesn't matter once you are in college. You're an adult once you start calling your teachers "Professors" and you are automatically mature once you can walk out of class and never return any time you wish. Nobody cares about homework, and only once during the term does every single student enrolled for the class actually show up. And that's final's week. Ipods and cellphones get more attention then the lecture does. "Do as little as possible. Just enough to get by" is probably the motto of this generation. Forget learning. Forget applying yourself. The reason you are in this class is to squeeze out a C if possible. Since when did a "C" become a passing grade? In highschool, tears and frustration followed receiving such a low score, but now it's become the goal for most students. Forget the "A". And the "B". What's the lowest score I can get and still pass? A "C". So students spend more time figuring out how little they can do, then on homework. Ok, you can skip 5 classes, not turn in 6 homework assignments, and bomb at least 2 quizzes, and you've got a pass. Yay. Welcome to college.
-becca- ;-)
Holly posted a few days ago about the New Attitude Conference sermons that you can download for free. I would highly recommend doing so. I finished the last of the 7 sermons yesterday. They are SO amazing! I took tons of pages of notes, and I know I will refer to them often. We all can grow in the area of discernment.
Well, I finished my first final this morning. Only ONE MORE then i'm done with highschool for good! It's so weird to be thrust into a completely new peer group. Sometimes weird peer group, sometimes veiwed as rebellious, sometimes seen as the bright young generation that will change this country. For better or worse, i'm not really sure which. If most college age students are like those here at this college, we should be afraid. Very afraid. This generation is turning out weak-spined, politically correct, liberal, tolerant adults. Besides the fact that 95% of them smoke and drink, never you mind how old they are. Underage drinking doesn't matter once you are in college. You're an adult once you start calling your teachers "Professors" and you are automatically mature once you can walk out of class and never return any time you wish. Nobody cares about homework, and only once during the term does every single student enrolled for the class actually show up. And that's final's week. Ipods and cellphones get more attention then the lecture does. "Do as little as possible. Just enough to get by" is probably the motto of this generation. Forget learning. Forget applying yourself. The reason you are in this class is to squeeze out a C if possible. Since when did a "C" become a passing grade? In highschool, tears and frustration followed receiving such a low score, but now it's become the goal for most students. Forget the "A". And the "B". What's the lowest score I can get and still pass? A "C". So students spend more time figuring out how little they can do, then on homework. Ok, you can skip 5 classes, not turn in 6 homework assignments, and bomb at least 2 quizzes, and you've got a pass. Yay. Welcome to college.
-becca- ;-)
Friday, June 08, 2007
Have you been walking on a surface that’s uncertain
Have you helped yourself to everything that’s empty
You can’t live,
This way too long,
There’s more than this,
More than this
Have you been standing on your own feet too long
Have you been looking for a place where you belong
You can rest,
You will find rest
Let this old life crumble,
Let it fade,
Let this new life offered be your saving grace,
Let this old life crumble let it fade,
Let it fade
Have you been holding on to what this world has offered
Have you been giving in to all these masquerades it will be gone,
It will be gone
Are you carrying the weight too much,
Are you running from the call
Saturday, June 02, 2007
New Attitude Conference
I’ve never been…but I plan to go someday! The New Attitude Conference is a weeklong conference started by Joshua Harris for Christian teens and young married couples. This year the conference was attended by 3,000 people this last week! Well, you may wonder why in the world you even CARE about this, but….*drumroll*…ALL of the lectures during this conference are FREE to download! I highly recommend you do so…I downloaded all of them and have already listened to three! They’re very powerful, let me assure you! The topic for the seminar was “Discernment”. The list of speakers and they’re topics are as follows:
Joshua Harris: Discernment
Mark Dever: Discern Your Doctrine
Albert Mohler: Discern your Culture
C.J. Mahaney: Discern Your Heart
Eric Simmons: Discern the Grey matter
John Piper: Discern what pleases God: Himself
John Piper: Discern what pleases God: Personal Obedience
C.J. Mahaney: Discern how to Apply
All of these men are strong, godly leaders…Their messages are right on! You can download the messages here: http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2007/05/new-attitude-messages-available-for-dowload/
However…since I know it takes forever to download all of these messages I am willingly offering to burn anyone a CD if you want one….Just leave a comment or drop me an email and I’ll get you a disk as soon as possible! (Tips Accepted) ;)
In Christ-
Bugz
<"...But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I've lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him. I want to know Him!">
Joshua Harris: Discernment
Mark Dever: Discern Your Doctrine
Albert Mohler: Discern your Culture
C.J. Mahaney: Discern Your Heart
Eric Simmons: Discern the Grey matter
John Piper: Discern what pleases God: Himself
John Piper: Discern what pleases God: Personal Obedience
C.J. Mahaney: Discern how to Apply
All of these men are strong, godly leaders…Their messages are right on! You can download the messages here: http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2007/05/new-attitude-messages-available-for-dowload/
However…since I know it takes forever to download all of these messages I am willingly offering to burn anyone a CD if you want one….Just leave a comment or drop me an email and I’ll get you a disk as soon as possible! (Tips Accepted) ;)
In Christ-
Bugz
<"...But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I've lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him. I want to know Him!">
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Emotional Purity I
Today we start a new topic under the “guys” series. A very important topic. If you’ve never considered the importance of emotional purity then listen up. As girls we are more naturally dependant than guys. However, we tend to throw that dependence in the wrong direction, namely, at guys. How have we become dependant? I can come up with many ways, but I’d just like to highlight this one: We become dependant on guys when we let our worth be founded in them.
Our emotions and feelings aught to be grounded upon the knowledge that we are created and loved by GOD… NOT that you have a string of guys who are head-over-heels-for-you. Is that your identity? Is that where your worth comes from? Sadly, many girls cling to that as their confidence. “I must be okay because so-and-so likes me…” But what if no one seems to appreciate you? Let me tell you what happens….if your confidence and security is founded on the recognition of guys and not on God then you’re in for trouble. Why? Simple fact: Girls go frantic if they are not loved. We were MADE with that inner NEED to be loved. However, if we search for it in the wrong places, desperation hits. Girls destroy themselves with eating disorders and other frenzied attempts to somehow be WORTH something if they feel they are unloved!
Well….good news…those feelings of despair are completely unnecessary. It is simply essential that you look in the right place. Don’t look to guys to satisfy your need for love. Look to God! He MADE you and LOVES you! But we all know that…right? Or is that assurance simply something you hold in your head and never let it reach your heart? Can you really say with confidence that it does not MATTER what guys think about you because the love of the LORD JESUS CHRIST is sufficient?
Ladies...STOP trying to fulfill your need for love in the acceptance of guys! God is all you need. He is your portion. He has enough love and more to fill your every longing. During these years as teenagers we are setting the pattern for the rest of our lives. Make it your habit to go to God FIRST. Don’t search after the praise of men….I can promise you, you will come up empty and be more desperate than before.
I know most of you reading this blog are strong Christian women. However, this is an area where we all struggle. If you do struggle with seeing your worth as only what guys make of you, remember: Christ loved you enough to die for you. He bought your soul. He ransomed you from eternal death. He granted you everlasting life. That’s a bit more than any guy I know can claim! Wouldn’t you rather have the everlasting, unending love of the King of the Universe? HE is worthy of your heart. Anchor your confidence on that rock!
God bless!
Bug
P.S. I apologize for slipping away from posting as often as I should…I hope you will find it in your worthy hearts to forgive me!
Our emotions and feelings aught to be grounded upon the knowledge that we are created and loved by GOD… NOT that you have a string of guys who are head-over-heels-for-you. Is that your identity? Is that where your worth comes from? Sadly, many girls cling to that as their confidence. “I must be okay because so-and-so likes me…” But what if no one seems to appreciate you? Let me tell you what happens….if your confidence and security is founded on the recognition of guys and not on God then you’re in for trouble. Why? Simple fact: Girls go frantic if they are not loved. We were MADE with that inner NEED to be loved. However, if we search for it in the wrong places, desperation hits. Girls destroy themselves with eating disorders and other frenzied attempts to somehow be WORTH something if they feel they are unloved!
Well….good news…those feelings of despair are completely unnecessary. It is simply essential that you look in the right place. Don’t look to guys to satisfy your need for love. Look to God! He MADE you and LOVES you! But we all know that…right? Or is that assurance simply something you hold in your head and never let it reach your heart? Can you really say with confidence that it does not MATTER what guys think about you because the love of the LORD JESUS CHRIST is sufficient?
Ladies...STOP trying to fulfill your need for love in the acceptance of guys! God is all you need. He is your portion. He has enough love and more to fill your every longing. During these years as teenagers we are setting the pattern for the rest of our lives. Make it your habit to go to God FIRST. Don’t search after the praise of men….I can promise you, you will come up empty and be more desperate than before.
I know most of you reading this blog are strong Christian women. However, this is an area where we all struggle. If you do struggle with seeing your worth as only what guys make of you, remember: Christ loved you enough to die for you. He bought your soul. He ransomed you from eternal death. He granted you everlasting life. That’s a bit more than any guy I know can claim! Wouldn’t you rather have the everlasting, unending love of the King of the Universe? HE is worthy of your heart. Anchor your confidence on that rock!
God bless!
Bug
P.S. I apologize for slipping away from posting as often as I should…I hope you will find it in your worthy hearts to forgive me!
Elisabeth Elliot
I have begun reading "Passion and Purity" by Elisabeth Elliot. The least I can say is that it has impacted me greatly. Every chapter has revelations to me and lines of profound wisdom.
"The greater potential for good, the greater the potential for evil."
The more I studied this statement, the more real it became to me. In severely wrong situations there is a greater potential for standing out in your firm beliefs. When there is a chance for you to shine in your moral beliefs and stand firm in your spiritual convictions. There will be hard choices to make. There will be a great potential for evil. But where there is evil, there is also a chance to do good. There is a chance to be faithful. When such a situation arises...what will you do? Will you realize your options and take the rough but rewarding path? Or will you ignore the ability to rise above the struggles? The choice is solely yours!
Bethi
"The greater potential for good, the greater the potential for evil."
The more I studied this statement, the more real it became to me. In severely wrong situations there is a greater potential for standing out in your firm beliefs. When there is a chance for you to shine in your moral beliefs and stand firm in your spiritual convictions. There will be hard choices to make. There will be a great potential for evil. But where there is evil, there is also a chance to do good. There is a chance to be faithful. When such a situation arises...what will you do? Will you realize your options and take the rough but rewarding path? Or will you ignore the ability to rise above the struggles? The choice is solely yours!
Bethi
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Psalm 18:28-36
One of my favorite Psalms in the Bible
"You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
My God turns my darkness into light.
With Your help I can advance against a troop;
With my God I can scale a wall.
As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a sheild for all who take refuge in Him.
For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
And makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
He enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
My arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me your shield of victory,
And Your right hand sustains me;
You stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me,
So that my ankles do not turn."
Psalm 20:7-8
"Some trust 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."
blessings,
-becca
"You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
My God turns my darkness into light.
With Your help I can advance against a troop;
With my God I can scale a wall.
As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a sheild for all who take refuge in Him.
For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
And makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
He enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
My arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me your shield of victory,
And Your right hand sustains me;
You stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me,
So that my ankles do not turn."
Psalm 20:7-8
"Some trust 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."
blessings,
-becca
Thursday, May 24, 2007
plans, nerves, and prayers
So perhaps you all want to know how my plans are going for Germany thus far! We will get back to EVERYBODY posting (hint hint, byrde and bug) and continuing w/ the topic of emotional purity probably sometime after the weekend! :-)
The other day I went to AAA with my dad to purchase my plane tickets and get some info on safety issues, best routes to take, possibly buying a Rail pass, etc. It all turned out to be way more confusing then I thought it would be. For those of you who don't know, I am going to a Bible school in Germany for 6 months. I have never flown before, much less gone on a trip completely alone. Purchasing tickets has proven to be very complicated because I have to be at the school at a certain time, not a day before or after. We are discussing the various cities I could fly into, whether Zurich or Berlin or Munich or some other place. Whether to take a continous flight just to save me the trouble and nervousness of changing planes. Whether to purchase a Rail pass with however many days I need it for, which is very hard to determine, since I have no idea what I'm going to be doing over Christmas break. Whether to buy a one way ticket because I may go on to England for the duration of the school year, or a round trip ticket. There are so many things to consider, and so many things I could worry myself over. To be honest, there is not a day that goes by where I don't think about how in the world I'm going to make it to school safely. And whenever I see a plane fly by overhead, I think to myself, "that will be me in 4 months. Flying off into the great unknown." :-)
You could pray for me, that I will remain sane and be able to make all the necessary decisions in a timely fashion.
And I have to make tons of packing desicions as well. Which laptop to take, which camera to take, how to keep everything safe as I jump from plane to train to ferry to bus, and all the traveling on the weekends. How to pack all my shoes (lol), winter clothes, church clothes - (including really nice ones for the banquets), and all my CDs. ;-) I may just have to purchase an iPod. hehehe. And all the different money issues, credit cards or travelers checks or such...and then safe places to keep all of that while I run around. Ah.
ok, enough of that. I AM really excited, don't get me wrong!! it's just all very overwhelming! ;-)
Well, back to our AMAZING topic next week!
blessings,
-becca-
The other day I went to AAA with my dad to purchase my plane tickets and get some info on safety issues, best routes to take, possibly buying a Rail pass, etc. It all turned out to be way more confusing then I thought it would be. For those of you who don't know, I am going to a Bible school in Germany for 6 months. I have never flown before, much less gone on a trip completely alone. Purchasing tickets has proven to be very complicated because I have to be at the school at a certain time, not a day before or after. We are discussing the various cities I could fly into, whether Zurich or Berlin or Munich or some other place. Whether to take a continous flight just to save me the trouble and nervousness of changing planes. Whether to purchase a Rail pass with however many days I need it for, which is very hard to determine, since I have no idea what I'm going to be doing over Christmas break. Whether to buy a one way ticket because I may go on to England for the duration of the school year, or a round trip ticket. There are so many things to consider, and so many things I could worry myself over. To be honest, there is not a day that goes by where I don't think about how in the world I'm going to make it to school safely. And whenever I see a plane fly by overhead, I think to myself, "that will be me in 4 months. Flying off into the great unknown." :-)
You could pray for me, that I will remain sane and be able to make all the necessary decisions in a timely fashion.
And I have to make tons of packing desicions as well. Which laptop to take, which camera to take, how to keep everything safe as I jump from plane to train to ferry to bus, and all the traveling on the weekends. How to pack all my shoes (lol), winter clothes, church clothes - (including really nice ones for the banquets), and all my CDs. ;-) I may just have to purchase an iPod. hehehe. And all the different money issues, credit cards or travelers checks or such...and then safe places to keep all of that while I run around. Ah.
ok, enough of that. I AM really excited, don't get me wrong!! it's just all very overwhelming! ;-)
Well, back to our AMAZING topic next week!
blessings,
-becca-
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
indoctrination
This has nothing to do with our little series that we are going through right now, but I just have to post about this. Today in Psychology class we watched a video about the Project Laramie (look it up). It is basically about gays and how they are so discriminated against, etc. I am so boiling mad right now I could hit something. After the video was over, the proff opened it up to class discussion. More then one student quoted the Bible about how God is love and all these hate crimes are really coming from "religious" people. Hence why i'm so mad. :)
I can practically garauntee you that none of the students in my class had ever even read the Bible once. Or if they had, they just picked out the verses they wanted to pay attention to.
Yes, God is love.
But I guess they didn't read any verses about God's wrath.
And hell.
And God's jutice.
And holiness.
And how the wages of sin is death.
Christians could be coming up on some major perrsecution. We have to stand up for what we believe, no matter what the cost.
We are to be loving, kind, and compassionate, but do not tolerate sin.
-becca-
I can practically garauntee you that none of the students in my class had ever even read the Bible once. Or if they had, they just picked out the verses they wanted to pay attention to.
Yes, God is love.
But I guess they didn't read any verses about God's wrath.
And hell.
And God's jutice.
And holiness.
And how the wages of sin is death.
Christians could be coming up on some major perrsecution. We have to stand up for what we believe, no matter what the cost.
We are to be loving, kind, and compassionate, but do not tolerate sin.
-becca-
Monday, May 21, 2007
Chivalry is dead...
...and women killed it.
Let's be honest. The sore truth that chivalry is dead isn't just the guys fault. We ladies have contributed to it as well. From not acknowledging kind acts that are done for us, or refusing to let them be done to us altogether, we are sending a message that we don't need gentlemen to be chivalrous.
I can't read a man's mind, but I know what goes through some girls heads when they witness a guy being nice to another girl. Come on now ladies, let's be honest. Sometimes we go "Awwww, that's so sweet!" But other times we say, "He must really like her." *whisper* "They must be sweet on each other." Or, "He only does that for her, what a jerk." Now tell me what guy wants to bring about those kinds of reactions when he does something nice. They have to be careful that their actions aren't all towards one girl, but they have to spread it around evenly, or we flip and pout and gossip.
So, all it takes is eye contact and a nice 'thank you', or when he offers to help carry something, let him. Even if you think you can handle it, let him be a man and help you! It's easy...and fun!! :-)
And PLEASE do not think that if he helps you, he is madly in love. ;-)
-Becca-
Let's be honest. The sore truth that chivalry is dead isn't just the guys fault. We ladies have contributed to it as well. From not acknowledging kind acts that are done for us, or refusing to let them be done to us altogether, we are sending a message that we don't need gentlemen to be chivalrous.
I can't read a man's mind, but I know what goes through some girls heads when they witness a guy being nice to another girl. Come on now ladies, let's be honest. Sometimes we go "Awwww, that's so sweet!" But other times we say, "He must really like her." *whisper* "They must be sweet on each other." Or, "He only does that for her, what a jerk." Now tell me what guy wants to bring about those kinds of reactions when he does something nice. They have to be careful that their actions aren't all towards one girl, but they have to spread it around evenly, or we flip and pout and gossip.
So, all it takes is eye contact and a nice 'thank you', or when he offers to help carry something, let him. Even if you think you can handle it, let him be a man and help you! It's easy...and fun!! :-)
And PLEASE do not think that if he helps you, he is madly in love. ;-)
-Becca-
Friday, May 18, 2007
Quote
“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”
~Audrey Hepburn
I really liked this quote. I'm not sure why - but it really caught my attention. Although I believe Audrey Hepburn meant this in a very secular way, I immediately viewed it in a very special way. It is true that it is always valuable to see the good in others first and foremost. Ephesians 4:29 (Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.) whole heartdely agrees with her statement about speaking only "words of kindness." However I know not how she meant her last phrase: "...and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." However, for me as a Christian, this statement holds a great and completely true statement. We never walk alone. Christ is always present. Never does he leave us, nor forsake us. Our God, who is SO mighty to save, is always there. He never leaves us. Never forgets about us. Never overlooks us. Never. Our prays never fall apon deaf ears. We can approach this horrid and sin-infected world with that comforting knowledge. "Sin no longer has a hold on me, for I have been bought with the blood of Christ!"
<>Byrde<>
~Audrey Hepburn
I really liked this quote. I'm not sure why - but it really caught my attention. Although I believe Audrey Hepburn meant this in a very secular way, I immediately viewed it in a very special way. It is true that it is always valuable to see the good in others first and foremost. Ephesians 4:29 (Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.) whole heartdely agrees with her statement about speaking only "words of kindness." However I know not how she meant her last phrase: "...and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." However, for me as a Christian, this statement holds a great and completely true statement. We never walk alone. Christ is always present. Never does he leave us, nor forsake us. Our God, who is SO mighty to save, is always there. He never leaves us. Never forgets about us. Never overlooks us. Never. Our prays never fall apon deaf ears. We can approach this horrid and sin-infected world with that comforting knowledge. "Sin no longer has a hold on me, for I have been bought with the blood of Christ!"
<>Byrde<>
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Silence
Okay, this is a really random post, but I can't think of anything else to write about. And, since I'm here in the lab, I might as well post something! ;-)
Silence...the lost art of the century. I don't know about you, but I like listening to music and so does the rest of my family. We have music playing in the bathroom as we get ready in the mornings. We have music playing in the kitchen to entertain us while we do the dishes. We have music playing in the living room, for just random occasions. We have music playing in the car, the radio or CDs blaring country music, rock, or pop. Conversations take a back seat to the throbbing bass, as nobody wants to shout over the loud music. Conversations halt abruptly when a favorite song starts playing on the radio. When talking ceases, up goes the music.
Turn off your radio. Your iPod. Your CD player. Just be silent for just a few minutes during the hustle and bustle of your daily life. Take time to listen to God and to talk to Him. Talk to other people. Converse. Or just be silent. Enjoy the scenery when you drive. Think about Scripture as you do the dishes instead of that Chris Daughtry song that just started playing on the radio. Engage in normal human conversations with no background music. What a novelty!
God speaks to us in the silence of our hearts.
-Becca-
Silence...the lost art of the century. I don't know about you, but I like listening to music and so does the rest of my family. We have music playing in the bathroom as we get ready in the mornings. We have music playing in the kitchen to entertain us while we do the dishes. We have music playing in the living room, for just random occasions. We have music playing in the car, the radio or CDs blaring country music, rock, or pop. Conversations take a back seat to the throbbing bass, as nobody wants to shout over the loud music. Conversations halt abruptly when a favorite song starts playing on the radio. When talking ceases, up goes the music.
Turn off your radio. Your iPod. Your CD player. Just be silent for just a few minutes during the hustle and bustle of your daily life. Take time to listen to God and to talk to Him. Talk to other people. Converse. Or just be silent. Enjoy the scenery when you drive. Think about Scripture as you do the dishes instead of that Chris Daughtry song that just started playing on the radio. Engage in normal human conversations with no background music. What a novelty!
God speaks to us in the silence of our hearts.
-Becca-
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Distortion of Beauty
Society these days has set a standard for beauty that very few women can acheive without killing themselves in the process.
You must be size 0.
Or, even better, -10.
It doesn't matter if you puke after every time you eat,
Or if you just don't eat at all.
Skinny is beautiful,
No matter what the cost.
And it's not just the ladies who have been given a harmflul standard. Pump yourself full of steroids, men. The more muscles the better. Your shirt has to stretch over your muscles, and you must be taller then me. And we aren't the only ones who have to be skinny. You must be just as slender as me, but don't let your ribs show, cuz that ain't sexy.
How in the world did this happen? How come young girls especially are being forced into this mentality that skinny=beautiful? What happened to God's perfect design and that He made you just the way you are?
"Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder, and the One beholding you has tailor made you to His liking."
And that is all that matters.
Don't let the world's standards for beauty influence you. All those emaciated models out there aren't real. They are a figment of America's mind. And you must fit that imaginary ideal, or you are worthless.
Everyone has something they don't like about thier body.
"My legs are too fat."
"My nose is too long."
"My hair is too frizzy."
"My lips are too thin."
So we cake on the makeup. Layer after layer. I've heard that guys don't like women wearing lots of makeup. But you know what? Who are we trying to be like? Those sexy models who all guys think are hot. And we want to be hot too...in the eyes of men.
We forget the eyes of God. Please, please, please, do not forget HE made you the way you are. HE made your legs that way (you can excercise), HE made your nose that way, HE made your hair that way (you can wear hair gel), and HE made your lips that way too! Amazing, isn't it?
Keep pressing onward, and forget the world's standards! You are beautiful in God's eyes.
~becca~
You must be size 0.
Or, even better, -10.
It doesn't matter if you puke after every time you eat,
Or if you just don't eat at all.
Skinny is beautiful,
No matter what the cost.
And it's not just the ladies who have been given a harmflul standard. Pump yourself full of steroids, men. The more muscles the better. Your shirt has to stretch over your muscles, and you must be taller then me. And we aren't the only ones who have to be skinny. You must be just as slender as me, but don't let your ribs show, cuz that ain't sexy.
How in the world did this happen? How come young girls especially are being forced into this mentality that skinny=beautiful? What happened to God's perfect design and that He made you just the way you are?
"Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder, and the One beholding you has tailor made you to His liking."
And that is all that matters.
Don't let the world's standards for beauty influence you. All those emaciated models out there aren't real. They are a figment of America's mind. And you must fit that imaginary ideal, or you are worthless.
Everyone has something they don't like about thier body.
"My legs are too fat."
"My nose is too long."
"My hair is too frizzy."
"My lips are too thin."
So we cake on the makeup. Layer after layer. I've heard that guys don't like women wearing lots of makeup. But you know what? Who are we trying to be like? Those sexy models who all guys think are hot. And we want to be hot too...in the eyes of men.
We forget the eyes of God. Please, please, please, do not forget HE made you the way you are. HE made your legs that way (you can excercise), HE made your nose that way, HE made your hair that way (you can wear hair gel), and HE made your lips that way too! Amazing, isn't it?
Keep pressing onward, and forget the world's standards! You are beautiful in God's eyes.
~becca~
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Respect 2
Okay, so I finally am able to post!! YIPPEE!! I'm actually in my college's computer lab right now...I got an account set up and everything. yay. SO, I'll try to post at least 2 times a week. ;-) It's better then not at all, right?
I'm going to take off from Bryde's post about respecting guys. It is so important not to look down on them, as she said. I think an important part of that is not ratting about them or talking badly about guys to your girlfriends. I know this is supposed to be a post about singleness, but it is so important for when you are married, or in a relationship. DO NOT talk badly about them behind their backs. Or, for that matter, don't gossip at all. It's that easy, but so crucial.
And another thing, guys really do have feelings. Just like you, words hurt, but just because they don't get as emotional as you, does NOT mean that you aren't hurting them. Don't ever say, "Take it like a man", or "He can handle it, he's a guy." It may be true in some cases, but seriously. Just don't do it. :)
I would post some Scripture verses about gossip, but I don't have my Bible with me. Look up some passages about gossip. And ladies, Let's control our tongues!! :-) Our biggest weakness, no?
~becca~
I'm going to take off from Bryde's post about respecting guys. It is so important not to look down on them, as she said. I think an important part of that is not ratting about them or talking badly about guys to your girlfriends. I know this is supposed to be a post about singleness, but it is so important for when you are married, or in a relationship. DO NOT talk badly about them behind their backs. Or, for that matter, don't gossip at all. It's that easy, but so crucial.
And another thing, guys really do have feelings. Just like you, words hurt, but just because they don't get as emotional as you, does NOT mean that you aren't hurting them. Don't ever say, "Take it like a man", or "He can handle it, he's a guy." It may be true in some cases, but seriously. Just don't do it. :)
I would post some Scripture verses about gossip, but I don't have my Bible with me. Look up some passages about gossip. And ladies, Let's control our tongues!! :-) Our biggest weakness, no?
~becca~
Monday, May 07, 2007
Singleness: Respect
Respecting guys. Hmmmm...I guess I'm getting tired of hearing: "MEN!" or "Guys - they're such idiots!" Seriously, when did woman ever get elevated above men? Often in Junior High guys really DO seem like jerks. But aren't we also? Maturity is the same for girls as it is for guys. However, most scholars say girls mature faster, that doesn't mean that girls mature FURTHER, just FASTER. If they annoy you, give 'em time. They'll grow out of it. If not, then you know they aren't worth spending time with. Girls have their problems too, if a guy annoys you, take a second to look at yourself and realize that you do stuff that he doesn't like too! Maybe he thinks you talk too much, or have this super annoying giggle, or always agree with people. Girls are made to compliment guys, let's not get all wrapped up in somehow thinking we are better. We need to respect guys!
Just some things to think about...
Byrde
Just some things to think about...
Byrde
Monday, April 30, 2007
Be Thou My Vision
This is one of my favorite Hymns! Take a second to think about it!
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
In Him,
Byrde
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
In Him,
Byrde
Thursday, April 19, 2007
21 Ways to Comfort the Hurting
After the tragedy at Virginia Tech yesterday, one of my favorite bogs, Girltalk, linked to an article by John Piper. Piper wrote this article after the attacks on Sept. 11. Its title is: 21 ways to help the hurting. I thought this was a very effective outline to help reach out to people who have been hurt by tragedy…True, not many of us know anyone who was directly affected by the shootings, so just file this list away in your mind for the time when you CAN use it!
1. Pray. Ask God for his help for you and for those you want to minister to. Ask him for wisdom and compassion and strength and a word fitly chosen. Ask that those who are suffering would look to God as their help and hope and healing and strength. Ask that he would make your mouth a fountain of life.
James 1:5. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
Deuteronomy 32:2. "May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distil as the dew, as the gentle rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb."
Proverbs 13:14. "The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death."
2. Feel and express empathy with those most hurt by this great evil and loss; weep with those who weep.
Ecclesiastes 3:1. "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven . . . A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. . . . A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing."
Romans 12:15. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."
3. Feel and express compassion because of the tragic circumstances of so many loved ones and friends who have lost more than they could ever estimate.
John 11:33-35. "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, 'Where have you laid him?' They said to Him, 'Lord, come and see.' Jesus wept."
Luke 19:41-44. "When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, 'If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.'"
Luke 7:11-17. "Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, 'Do not weep.' And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, 'Young man, I say to you, arise!' The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, 'A great prophet has arisen among us!' and, 'God has visited His people!' This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district."
4. Take time and touch, if you can, and give tender care to the wounded in body and soul.
Matthew 8:14-15. "When Jesus came into Peter's home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him."
Mark 1:40-41. "And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, 'If You are willing, You can make me clean.' Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him."
Luke 10:30-37. "Jesus replied and said, 'A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, "Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you." Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?' And he said, 'The one who showed mercy toward him.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Go and do the same.'"
5. Hold out the promise that God will sustain and help those who cast themselves on him for mercy and trust in his grace. He will strengthen you for the impossible days ahead in spite of all darkness.
Psalm 34:18. "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Isaiah 41:10. "Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."
Psalm 23:4. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
2 Corinthians 1:3-4. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
2 Corinthians 1:8-9. "We do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead."
6. Affirm that Jesus Christ tasted hostility from men and knew what it was to be unjustly tortured and abandoned, and to endure overwhelming loss, and then be killed, so that he is now a sympathetic mediator for us with God.
Hebrews 4:15-16. "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted [or "tested" which makes the application larger!] in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Isaiah 53:3-6. "He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him."
7. Declare that this murder was a great evil, and that God's wrath is greatly kindled by the wanton destruction of human life created in his image.
Exodus 20:13. "Thou shalt not murder."
Genesis 9:5-6. "Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man's brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man."
Deuteronomy 29:24-25. "All the nations will say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?' Then men will say, 'Because they forsook the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.'"
8. Acknowledge that God has permitted a great outbreak of sin against his revealed will, and that we do not know all the reasons why he would permit such a thing now, when it was in his power to stop it.
Deuteronomy 29:29. "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law."
Romans 11:33-37 "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen."
9. Express the truth that Satan is a massive reality in the universe that conspires with our own sin and flesh and the world to hurt people and to move people to hurt others, but stress that Satan is within and under the control of God.
Job 1:6, 12, 21-22; 2:6-10. "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. . . . Then the LORD said to Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.' So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD. . . [After losing all his possessions and his ten children Job says] 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD. Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God. . . . [After a second meeting in heaven] the LORD said to Satan, 'Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.' Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. . . . Then his wife said to him, 'Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!' But he said to her, 'You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?'"
Job 42:2, 11. "I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. . . . Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the LORD had brought on him.
Luke 22:31-32. "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."
2 Corinthians 12:7-9. "Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me - to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."
Compare the following two perspectives on the cause of Jesus' death.
Luke 22:3-4 "Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them."
Acts 4:27-28. "Truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur."
10. Express that these terrorists rebelled against the revealed will of God and did not love God or trust him or find in God their refuge and strength and treasure, but scorned his ways and his Person.
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2. "Finally, brethren, pray for us . . . that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith."
Galatians 5:6. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love."
Galatians 5:16. "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."
James 4:1-4. "What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
11. Since rebellion against God was at the root of this act of murder, let us all fear such rebellion in our own hearts, and turn from it, and embrace the grace of God in Christ, and renounce the very impulses that caused this tragedy.
Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight."
Psalm 9:10. "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You."
Psalm 56:3. "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You."
12. Point the living to the momentous issues of sin and repentance in our own hearts and the urgent need to get right with God through his merciful provision of forgiveness in Christ, so that a worse fate than death will not overtake us.
Luke 13:1-5. "Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, 'Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.'"
Revelation 9:18-21. "[As a judgment of God] a third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. . . . The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols . . . and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts."
Revelation 16:8-9. "The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory."
13. Remember that even those who trust in Christ may be cut down like these thousands who were in New York and Washington, but that does not mean they have been abandoned by God or not loved by God even in those agonizing hours of suffering. God's love conquers even through calamity.
Romans 8:35-39. "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, 'FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG, WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.' But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
14. Mingle heart-wrenching weeping with unbreakable confidence in the goodness and sovereignty of God who rules over and through the sin and the plans of rebellious people.
Lamentations 3:32 "For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness. For He does not afflict willingly Or grieve the sons of men."
Genesis 45:7 [Joseph said to his brothers who sinfully sold him into Egypt] "God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance."
Genesis 50:20 [Joseph says to his fearing brothers] "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive."
Other texts on the absolute sovereignty of God over all things: Ephesians 1:11; Isaiah 46:9-10; Lamentations 3:37; Amos 3:6; Proverbs 16:33; Exodus 4:11; 1 Samuel 2:6-7; 2 Samuel 12:15-18; John 9:2-3; James 4:15; 1 Peter 3:17; 4:19; Matthew 10:29.
15. Trust God for his ability to do the humanly impossible, and bring you through this nightmare and, in some inscrutable way, bring good out of it.
Romans 8:28. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Lamentations 3:21-24. "This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I have hope in Him.'"
2 Corinthians 1:8-9. "For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead."
2 Corinthians 4:17. "Momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison."
16. Explain, when the time is right, and they have the wherewithal to think clearly that one of the mysteries of God's greatness is that he ordains that some things come to pass which he forbids and disapproves of.
The clearest example is his ordaining that his Son be killed.
Acts 4:27-28. "Truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur."
See the Appendix titled "Are There Two Wills in God? Divine Election and God's Desire for All to Be Saved," in The Pleasures of God (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Press, 2000), pp. 313-340.
17. Express your personal cherishing of the sovereignty of God as the ground of all your hope as you face the human impossibilities of life. The very fulfillment of the New Covenant promises of our salvation and preservation hang on God's sovereignty over rebellious human wills.
Mark 10:24. "The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, 'Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' They were even more astonished and said to Him, 'Then who can be saved?' Looking at them, Jesus said, 'With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.'"
Jeremiah 32:40. "I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me."
Hebrews 13:20-21. "Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen."
18. Count God your only lasting treasure, because he is the only sure and stable thing in the universe.
Psalm 73:25-26. "Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
19. Remind everyone that to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21-23. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. . . . I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better."
2 Corinthians 5:7-9. "We walk by faith, not by sight - we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him."
20. Pray that God would incline their hearts to his word, open their eyes to his wonders, unite their hearts to fear him, and satisfy them with his love.
Psalm 119:36. "Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to gain."
Psalm 119:18. "Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law."
Psalm 86:11. "Unite my heart to fear Your name."
Psalm 90:14. "O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."
21. At the right time sound the trumpet that all this good news is meant by God to free us for radical, sacrificial service for the salvation of men and the glory of Christ. Help them see that one message of all this misery is to show us that life is short and fragile and followed by eternity, and small, man-centered ambitions are tragic.
Acts 20:24. "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."
Titus 2:14. "[Christ] gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."
Philippians 1:21. "To live is Christ."
~God Bless~
Bug
1. Pray. Ask God for his help for you and for those you want to minister to. Ask him for wisdom and compassion and strength and a word fitly chosen. Ask that those who are suffering would look to God as their help and hope and healing and strength. Ask that he would make your mouth a fountain of life.
James 1:5. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
Deuteronomy 32:2. "May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distil as the dew, as the gentle rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb."
Proverbs 13:14. "The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death."
2. Feel and express empathy with those most hurt by this great evil and loss; weep with those who weep.
Ecclesiastes 3:1. "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven . . . A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. . . . A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing."
Romans 12:15. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."
3. Feel and express compassion because of the tragic circumstances of so many loved ones and friends who have lost more than they could ever estimate.
John 11:33-35. "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, 'Where have you laid him?' They said to Him, 'Lord, come and see.' Jesus wept."
Luke 19:41-44. "When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, 'If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.'"
Luke 7:11-17. "Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, 'Do not weep.' And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, 'Young man, I say to you, arise!' The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, 'A great prophet has arisen among us!' and, 'God has visited His people!' This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district."
4. Take time and touch, if you can, and give tender care to the wounded in body and soul.
Matthew 8:14-15. "When Jesus came into Peter's home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him."
Mark 1:40-41. "And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, 'If You are willing, You can make me clean.' Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him."
Luke 10:30-37. "Jesus replied and said, 'A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, "Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you." Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?' And he said, 'The one who showed mercy toward him.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Go and do the same.'"
5. Hold out the promise that God will sustain and help those who cast themselves on him for mercy and trust in his grace. He will strengthen you for the impossible days ahead in spite of all darkness.
Psalm 34:18. "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Isaiah 41:10. "Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."
Psalm 23:4. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
2 Corinthians 1:3-4. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
2 Corinthians 1:8-9. "We do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead."
6. Affirm that Jesus Christ tasted hostility from men and knew what it was to be unjustly tortured and abandoned, and to endure overwhelming loss, and then be killed, so that he is now a sympathetic mediator for us with God.
Hebrews 4:15-16. "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted [or "tested" which makes the application larger!] in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Isaiah 53:3-6. "He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him."
7. Declare that this murder was a great evil, and that God's wrath is greatly kindled by the wanton destruction of human life created in his image.
Exodus 20:13. "Thou shalt not murder."
Genesis 9:5-6. "Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man's brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man."
Deuteronomy 29:24-25. "All the nations will say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?' Then men will say, 'Because they forsook the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.'"
8. Acknowledge that God has permitted a great outbreak of sin against his revealed will, and that we do not know all the reasons why he would permit such a thing now, when it was in his power to stop it.
Deuteronomy 29:29. "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law."
Romans 11:33-37 "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen."
9. Express the truth that Satan is a massive reality in the universe that conspires with our own sin and flesh and the world to hurt people and to move people to hurt others, but stress that Satan is within and under the control of God.
Job 1:6, 12, 21-22; 2:6-10. "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. . . . Then the LORD said to Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.' So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD. . . [After losing all his possessions and his ten children Job says] 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD. Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God. . . . [After a second meeting in heaven] the LORD said to Satan, 'Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.' Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. . . . Then his wife said to him, 'Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!' But he said to her, 'You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?'"
Job 42:2, 11. "I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. . . . Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the LORD had brought on him.
Luke 22:31-32. "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."
2 Corinthians 12:7-9. "Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me - to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."
Compare the following two perspectives on the cause of Jesus' death.
Luke 22:3-4 "Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them."
Acts 4:27-28. "Truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur."
10. Express that these terrorists rebelled against the revealed will of God and did not love God or trust him or find in God their refuge and strength and treasure, but scorned his ways and his Person.
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2. "Finally, brethren, pray for us . . . that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith."
Galatians 5:6. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love."
Galatians 5:16. "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."
James 4:1-4. "What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
11. Since rebellion against God was at the root of this act of murder, let us all fear such rebellion in our own hearts, and turn from it, and embrace the grace of God in Christ, and renounce the very impulses that caused this tragedy.
Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight."
Psalm 9:10. "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You."
Psalm 56:3. "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You."
12. Point the living to the momentous issues of sin and repentance in our own hearts and the urgent need to get right with God through his merciful provision of forgiveness in Christ, so that a worse fate than death will not overtake us.
Luke 13:1-5. "Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, 'Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.'"
Revelation 9:18-21. "[As a judgment of God] a third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. . . . The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols . . . and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts."
Revelation 16:8-9. "The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory."
13. Remember that even those who trust in Christ may be cut down like these thousands who were in New York and Washington, but that does not mean they have been abandoned by God or not loved by God even in those agonizing hours of suffering. God's love conquers even through calamity.
Romans 8:35-39. "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, 'FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG, WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.' But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
14. Mingle heart-wrenching weeping with unbreakable confidence in the goodness and sovereignty of God who rules over and through the sin and the plans of rebellious people.
Lamentations 3:32 "For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness. For He does not afflict willingly Or grieve the sons of men."
Genesis 45:7 [Joseph said to his brothers who sinfully sold him into Egypt] "God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance."
Genesis 50:20 [Joseph says to his fearing brothers] "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive."
Other texts on the absolute sovereignty of God over all things: Ephesians 1:11; Isaiah 46:9-10; Lamentations 3:37; Amos 3:6; Proverbs 16:33; Exodus 4:11; 1 Samuel 2:6-7; 2 Samuel 12:15-18; John 9:2-3; James 4:15; 1 Peter 3:17; 4:19; Matthew 10:29.
15. Trust God for his ability to do the humanly impossible, and bring you through this nightmare and, in some inscrutable way, bring good out of it.
Romans 8:28. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Lamentations 3:21-24. "This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I have hope in Him.'"
2 Corinthians 1:8-9. "For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead."
2 Corinthians 4:17. "Momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison."
16. Explain, when the time is right, and they have the wherewithal to think clearly that one of the mysteries of God's greatness is that he ordains that some things come to pass which he forbids and disapproves of.
The clearest example is his ordaining that his Son be killed.
Acts 4:27-28. "Truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur."
See the Appendix titled "Are There Two Wills in God? Divine Election and God's Desire for All to Be Saved," in The Pleasures of God (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Press, 2000), pp. 313-340.
17. Express your personal cherishing of the sovereignty of God as the ground of all your hope as you face the human impossibilities of life. The very fulfillment of the New Covenant promises of our salvation and preservation hang on God's sovereignty over rebellious human wills.
Mark 10:24. "The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, 'Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' They were even more astonished and said to Him, 'Then who can be saved?' Looking at them, Jesus said, 'With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.'"
Jeremiah 32:40. "I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me."
Hebrews 13:20-21. "Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen."
18. Count God your only lasting treasure, because he is the only sure and stable thing in the universe.
Psalm 73:25-26. "Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
19. Remind everyone that to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21-23. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. . . . I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better."
2 Corinthians 5:7-9. "We walk by faith, not by sight - we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him."
20. Pray that God would incline their hearts to his word, open their eyes to his wonders, unite their hearts to fear him, and satisfy them with his love.
Psalm 119:36. "Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to gain."
Psalm 119:18. "Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law."
Psalm 86:11. "Unite my heart to fear Your name."
Psalm 90:14. "O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."
21. At the right time sound the trumpet that all this good news is meant by God to free us for radical, sacrificial service for the salvation of men and the glory of Christ. Help them see that one message of all this misery is to show us that life is short and fragile and followed by eternity, and small, man-centered ambitions are tragic.
Acts 20:24. "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."
Titus 2:14. "[Christ] gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."
Philippians 1:21. "To live is Christ."
~God Bless~
Bug
Quote
This is an excerpt from a sermon by John Piper called The Beautiful Faith of Fearless Submission. It is more for married women, but I think there is something for all of us to learn! And might as well start learning to submit now, because as we all know, it is no easy task to learn!
“The deepest root of Christian womanhood mentioned in this text is hope in God. “Holy women who hoped in God.” A Christian woman does not put her hope in her husband, or in getting a husband. She does not put her hope in her looks. She puts her hope in the promises of God. She is described in Proverbs 31:25: “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.” She laughs at everything the future will bring and might bring, because she hopes in God. She looks away from the troubles and miseries and obstacles of life that seem to make the future bleak, and she focuses her attention on the sovereign power and love of God who rules in heaven and does on earth whatever he pleases. She knows her Bible, and she knows her theology of the sovereignty of God, and she knows his promise that he will be with her and help her strengthen her no matter what. This is the deep, unshakable root of Christian womanhood. And Peter makes it explicit in verse 5. He is not talking about just any women. He is talking about women with unshakable biblical roots in the sovereign goodness of God—holy women who hope in God.” –John Piper
blessings,
~becca~
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2007/2088_The_Beautiful_Faith_of_Fearless_Submission/
“The deepest root of Christian womanhood mentioned in this text is hope in God. “Holy women who hoped in God.” A Christian woman does not put her hope in her husband, or in getting a husband. She does not put her hope in her looks. She puts her hope in the promises of God. She is described in Proverbs 31:25: “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.” She laughs at everything the future will bring and might bring, because she hopes in God. She looks away from the troubles and miseries and obstacles of life that seem to make the future bleak, and she focuses her attention on the sovereign power and love of God who rules in heaven and does on earth whatever he pleases. She knows her Bible, and she knows her theology of the sovereignty of God, and she knows his promise that he will be with her and help her strengthen her no matter what. This is the deep, unshakable root of Christian womanhood. And Peter makes it explicit in verse 5. He is not talking about just any women. He is talking about women with unshakable biblical roots in the sovereign goodness of God—holy women who hope in God.” –John Piper
blessings,
~becca~
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2007/2088_The_Beautiful_Faith_of_Fearless_Submission/
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