How much power does the Christian have? Do we have the same power that Jesus displayed while He was on the earth?
I love the verse in Acts 1, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
This verse is referring to Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended and came into all the Christians there were there for the first time.
Acts 2 states, "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them."
These tongues were other languages. As someone in the crowd said, "Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?"
It would have been like if a church group was on a missions trip now to Europe and all of a sudden they could all speak in German, French and any other language that they needed to at that time in order to communicate the gospel.
In this instance, the power of the Holy Spirit enabled them to speak in other languages without having previously learned them. The church then grew rapidly as a result! The Holy Spirit enabled them to break through the language barrier with other races and nationalities, so that all people could hear the gospel, in one instant.
Acts 2 says, "About three thousand were added to their number that day." Can you imagine?! That would be quite a revival meeting. lol :)
Acts 4 says, "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all."
The early church grew incredibly rapidly. Peter was known for speaking very boldly everywhere he went, because it was not just him speaking, but the Holy Spirit was speaking through him.
And we have the same power that the early church had, that Peter had, that Jesus had.
Romans 8 says, " And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you."
Did you catch that? The same Spirit, the same power, that raise Jesus from the dead is in us!
It has become so cliche to say, "God lives in me." But what does that really mean?!
"Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. You are not your own, you were bought at a price."
Often times people say we are not capable to doing the miracles that Jesus or the disciples did. Well why not? We have the same Spirit inside of us do we not?
We are capable of doing everything that Jesus and the disciples did.
We only have to have faith.
Mt. 17 says, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Nothing. Do you believe that?
Jesus said, "You do not have because you do not ask."
James 1 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."
I believe this concept can be applied to anything we might ask for in prayer, not just wisdom. If we believe, fully believe, that God is capable of giving us whatever we ask for then our prayers will be much more effective.
However, this does not necessarily mean things like a new car, unless we are actually desperately are in need of one. The more we pray, the more we know what God wants for us and what things to ask him for.
James 5 says, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Before entering prayer, we need to confess any sins recently committed and forgive anyone we need to.
Mt. 6 says, "If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Therefore, going into prayer with a clear conscious and with no bitterness is crucial if we want our prayers to be answered.
Luke 10 says, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."
Do we really believe this?
May God increase our faith. A man said once to Jesus, "Lord I believe, but help me in my unbelief." Amen!
Lord Jesus help us all in our unbelief!
May God fill you with power this week! Peace be with you :)
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Money, Riches and Fame
Why is the love of money the root of all evil?
In my previous blog I posted a video about how some rap artists sold their soul to the devil in order to become rich and famous.
Why does money have such a hold on people? What is so alluring about money that music artists would be willing to sell their soul for it?
Money represents power. Money represents greed and lust. If you have money, you can have everything you ever wanted.
Money enables you to have things in excess.
Having excessive money opens the door to the worship of material things, drugs, and the idolization of people and pleasure.
Money can cause one to love the world.
1 John states, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them."
Also Jesus says:
“Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Why does Jesus say this?
Look at Hosea 13:
"I cared for you in the wilderness,
in the land of burning heat.
6 When I fed them, they were satisfied;
when they were satisfied, they became proud;
then they forgot me."
This is the current state of America if you think about it. We have forgotten God for the most part because we are fed and happy and comfortable. And proud is our middle name.
We need to be careful of letting things replace God.
Nothing compares to know Christ.
May we not let things or money cloud our view of how amazing God is.
Amen? Peace be with you :)
In my previous blog I posted a video about how some rap artists sold their soul to the devil in order to become rich and famous.
Why does money have such a hold on people? What is so alluring about money that music artists would be willing to sell their soul for it?
Money represents power. Money represents greed and lust. If you have money, you can have everything you ever wanted.
Money enables you to have things in excess.
Having excessive money opens the door to the worship of material things, drugs, and the idolization of people and pleasure.
Money can cause one to love the world.
1 John states, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them."
Also Jesus says:
“Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Why does Jesus say this?
Look at Hosea 13:
"I cared for you in the wilderness,
in the land of burning heat.
6 When I fed them, they were satisfied;
when they were satisfied, they became proud;
then they forgot me."
This is the current state of America if you think about it. We have forgotten God for the most part because we are fed and happy and comfortable. And proud is our middle name.
We need to be careful of letting things replace God.
Nothing compares to know Christ.
May we not let things or money cloud our view of how amazing God is.
Amen? Peace be with you :)
Satan in Our Music
I have seen other videos very similar to the one posted below, and I do think there is a lot of truth to these speculations.
Satan in heaven was the minister of music to God before he fell. He was essentially the choir director. So why would he not still try to speak through music? Music is very powerful. It speaks to the soul. That is why worship of God with Christian music can lead to the most powerful and intimate moments between us and God.
Satan knows the power of music, and he wants to harness that power for his own ends. And he is at an all time high doing that right now. May God give us eyes to see and ears to hear and wisdom.
Be careful what you listen to.
Watch this.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hngxXlhHPVg&feature=related
(You know what's ironic, the radio in my car has not worked for oh, about the last 6 years. So I have not really listened to pop radio for 6 years! That apparently was a huge blessing in disguise. I had NO IDEA it was getting this bad. I pretty much just listen to Hillsong worship music 24/7 lol. God is good! He has certainly been protecting me!)
Satan in heaven was the minister of music to God before he fell. He was essentially the choir director. So why would he not still try to speak through music? Music is very powerful. It speaks to the soul. That is why worship of God with Christian music can lead to the most powerful and intimate moments between us and God.
Satan knows the power of music, and he wants to harness that power for his own ends. And he is at an all time high doing that right now. May God give us eyes to see and ears to hear and wisdom.
Be careful what you listen to.
Watch this.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hngxXlhHPVg&feature=related
(You know what's ironic, the radio in my car has not worked for oh, about the last 6 years. So I have not really listened to pop radio for 6 years! That apparently was a huge blessing in disguise. I had NO IDEA it was getting this bad. I pretty much just listen to Hillsong worship music 24/7 lol. God is good! He has certainly been protecting me!)
Prophecy in Daniel
http://www.redicecreations.com/article.php?id=8390
This video is regarding a treaty that was signed in 2009 for a "world government."
I would like to pull in some verses from the second half of Daniel. Granted most of it is very confusing, but there are a few jewels that seemed to make sense to me.
In Daniel the anti-Christ is described as having "a mouth that spoke boastfully." Dan. 7:8
Daniel 9 says, "He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation.
How long would two presidency terms be? 8 years. The middle of the "seven" would be coming up, theoretically.
Daniel 11:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUbf3purr_E
Another interesting article....
http://linguaphiles.livejournal.com/4100971.html
watch this....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39btKqMiqiQ&feature=related
Another slightly crazy video but interesting....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i19_KLzrMoE&feature=related
The chairman of the armed services committee said, "The nuclear devices missing from the old Soviet Union that had gotten into terrorist hands....we could loose 10's of millions of people in the next decade due to nuclear strikes on U.S. soil." (sounds like the movie Iron Man)
-could be the reason for these "coffins?"
Also a good video....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=376uDH0T2MY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQQqYb4CIEE&feature=related
This video is regarding a treaty that was signed in 2009 for a "world government."
I would like to pull in some verses from the second half of Daniel. Granted most of it is very confusing, but there are a few jewels that seemed to make sense to me.
In Daniel the anti-Christ is described as having "a mouth that spoke boastfully." Dan. 7:8
Daniel 9 says, "He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation.
How long would two presidency terms be? 8 years. The middle of the "seven" would be coming up, theoretically.
Daniel 11:
The King Who Exalts Himself
36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUbf3purr_E
Another interesting article....
http://linguaphiles.livejournal.com/4100971.html
watch this....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39btKqMiqiQ&feature=related
Another slightly crazy video but interesting....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i19_KLzrMoE&feature=related
The chairman of the armed services committee said, "The nuclear devices missing from the old Soviet Union that had gotten into terrorist hands....we could loose 10's of millions of people in the next decade due to nuclear strikes on U.S. soil." (sounds like the movie Iron Man)
-could be the reason for these "coffins?"
Also a good video....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=376uDH0T2MY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQQqYb4CIEE&feature=related
Unexpected
Mt. 24 "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left."
Jesus will come suddenly.
1 Thess. 5 "Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."
"Peace and safety," we say that all the time. How could we possibly be in the last days because everything is so peaceful and safe right? Well, who knows. Time will tell....
Jesus will come suddenly.
1 Thess. 5 "Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."
"Peace and safety," we say that all the time. How could we possibly be in the last days because everything is so peaceful and safe right? Well, who knows. Time will tell....
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
When is the Rapture?
I would argue that the rapture is neither pre-trib nor post-trib. The Biblical evidence points that it will actually be in the MIDDLE of the tribulation.
In Revelation there are first 7 seals, then 7 trumpets, and lastly, 7 bowls.
1 Cor. 15 says, "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the LAST trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."
Now look at Rev. 11,
The kingdom of the world is the church. We are God's kingdom here. That is when the rapture will happen.
So we will see some craaaazy stuff before Jesus comes for us church. The first 6 trumpets will be quite scary indeed.
In regards to the anti-Christ, he actually will not come to power until after the trumpets. So we, the church, actually will never see him. So that is good yes? I was thinking he might be revealed soon but then I did more research. The "trumpets" have to be sounded first. I don't think they will be literal trumpets, but I can't be sure lol.
In Revelation there are first 7 seals, then 7 trumpets, and lastly, 7 bowls.
1 Cor. 15 says, "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the LAST trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."
Now look at Rev. 11,
The Seventh Trumpet
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.”
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.”
The kingdom of the world is the church. We are God's kingdom here. That is when the rapture will happen.
So we will see some craaaazy stuff before Jesus comes for us church. The first 6 trumpets will be quite scary indeed.
In regards to the anti-Christ, he actually will not come to power until after the trumpets. So we, the church, actually will never see him. So that is good yes? I was thinking he might be revealed soon but then I did more research. The "trumpets" have to be sounded first. I don't think they will be literal trumpets, but I can't be sure lol.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Christianity vs. Religion
What makes Christianity different from other religions?
In any other religion it is about man pursuing God. Only in Christianity does God pursue man.
That is why it has to be true.
Our finite minds cannot compute the ridiculousness of grace. It seems so unfathomable to us because that is not how our world works. If someone sins against you, they have to pay.
We do not naturally understand this concept of forgiveness, of letting go.
How can a holy God, the creator of everything let our sins go?!
It does seem to good to be true, but the fact is, it still is TRUE.
All we have to do is recognize the opposite of what our natural bent tells us, that we do not have to do anything to earn our way into heaven but trust that Jesus' gift is all we need.
Man could not have made up something so ridiculous. And it is. I know it is. That is why it is also so amazing!
We do nothing; God does everything.
Any other religion was created by man. Any other religion consists of a series of steps and good deeds you have to do to earn your way into heaven. Any other religion IS WRONG.
Only Christianity is THE TRUTH.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth the life, no one can come to the father except through me."
And you cannot be in the middle. Jesus said, "You are either for me or against me." You have to pick one, either you love him or hate him. The choice is yours.
Choose life, that you might live. Amen :)
In any other religion it is about man pursuing God. Only in Christianity does God pursue man.
That is why it has to be true.
Our finite minds cannot compute the ridiculousness of grace. It seems so unfathomable to us because that is not how our world works. If someone sins against you, they have to pay.
We do not naturally understand this concept of forgiveness, of letting go.
How can a holy God, the creator of everything let our sins go?!
It does seem to good to be true, but the fact is, it still is TRUE.
All we have to do is recognize the opposite of what our natural bent tells us, that we do not have to do anything to earn our way into heaven but trust that Jesus' gift is all we need.
Man could not have made up something so ridiculous. And it is. I know it is. That is why it is also so amazing!
We do nothing; God does everything.
Any other religion was created by man. Any other religion consists of a series of steps and good deeds you have to do to earn your way into heaven. Any other religion IS WRONG.
Only Christianity is THE TRUTH.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth the life, no one can come to the father except through me."
And you cannot be in the middle. Jesus said, "You are either for me or against me." You have to pick one, either you love him or hate him. The choice is yours.
Choose life, that you might live. Amen :)
The End
Luke 21:
The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times
5 "Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
(All the false propehts and people who have wrongly said it was the end before.)
10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
(WWI and WWII, the earthquack in Haiti, Japan....famine in Africa, famine now in the mid-west due to the drought, tsunami in New Orleans, SE Asian, Japan, and now Hawaii...)
12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 "
(The underground church in China, the middle east, all over the world Christian are already being persecuted. He was most likely referring to Acts in this statement, how his own disciples would be persecuted.)
"And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.
20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 "
Rev. 18:4, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receieve any of her plagues." (America has many major cities. I believe Babylon spoken of in Rev. 18 is America)
"For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. (tsunamis) 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.....
34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
The parable of the 10 virgins. Some had oil and went into the banquet, the rapture, and others did not. The full meaning of this parable is a mystery.
May God be with us all!
Who Will You Vote For?
PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO AND CONSIDER IT (I believe it is pretty accurate and spot on)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKB3b3OFvmU
Rev. 18:4 says, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues."
I believe Rev. 18, the fall of Babylon, is referring to the U.S.
Also, keep this video in mind when you go to vote.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RWHdQBMgb4
Obama is mocking God because the Bible is the innerrant word of God, it was God breathed. For him to say it is ridiculous is full on mocking God. Rev. 13:5, "The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name....." And the next step, warning to all of us, "He was give power to make war against the saints and to conquer them." Look up Rev. 6:9, the next seal may be upon us.
Verses to look into.....
Daniel 8:23-25
1 John 2:18
1John 2:22
1 John 4:2-3
Galatians 1:8-9
Second Thessalonians 2:3
Revelations 13:2-4
Revelations 13:7
Revelations 17:9
Matthew 2:1-2
James. 5:12
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKB3b3OFvmU
Rev. 18:4 says, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues."
I believe Rev. 18, the fall of Babylon, is referring to the U.S.
Also, keep this video in mind when you go to vote.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RWHdQBMgb4
Obama is mocking God because the Bible is the innerrant word of God, it was God breathed. For him to say it is ridiculous is full on mocking God. Rev. 13:5, "The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name....." And the next step, warning to all of us, "He was give power to make war against the saints and to conquer them." Look up Rev. 6:9, the next seal may be upon us.
Verses to look into.....
Daniel 8:23-25
1 John 2:18
1John 2:22
1 John 4:2-3
Galatians 1:8-9
Second Thessalonians 2:3
Revelations 13:2-4
Revelations 13:7
Revelations 17:9
Matthew 2:1-2
James. 5:12
The GRE and Life Being Hard
I ironically ran across this song just a half hour before I took the GRE today, and praise God for this song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=BJi_7f1cpbk&feature=endscreen
Best lyrics of any song ever!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=BJi_7f1cpbk&feature=endscreen
Best lyrics of any song ever!
Wish it could be easy (yes indeed!)
Why is life so messy (exactly, why is it? It's not black and white like we wish it would be :(
Why is pain a part of us (Amen!)
There are days I feel like
Nothing ever goes right (uh huh)
Sometimes it just hurts so much :(
But You're here
You're real
I know I can trust You (Amen :)
Even when it hurts
Even when it's hard
Even when it all just falls apart
I will run to You
Cause I know that You are
Lover of my soul
Healer of my scars
You steady my heart
I'm not gonna worry
I know that You got me
Right inside the palm of your hand
Each and every moment
What's good and what gets broken
Happens just the way that You plan
But You're here
You're real
I know I can trust You (Amen! God is always good, no matter what)
Why is life so messy (exactly, why is it? It's not black and white like we wish it would be :(
Why is pain a part of us (Amen!)
There are days I feel like
Nothing ever goes right (uh huh)
Sometimes it just hurts so much :(
But You're here
You're real
I know I can trust You (Amen :)
Even when it hurts
Even when it's hard
Even when it all just falls apart
I will run to You
Cause I know that You are
Lover of my soul
Healer of my scars
You steady my heart
I'm not gonna worry
I know that You got me
Right inside the palm of your hand
Each and every moment
What's good and what gets broken
Happens just the way that You plan
But You're here
You're real
I know I can trust You (Amen! God is always good, no matter what)
So true! "What's good and what gets broken happens just the way you plan." Amen :)
I was hoping for an answer today via how I did on the GRE about my move to Australia. I got my answer.
I'll be there in a month lol.
Can I just say, the GRE is the most ridiculous test ever. lol, just that there is the standardized test still when we're out of undergrad school is odd. Didn't we outgrow the whole having to know everything phase? Like why if my BA is in English and I wanted to get into a possible Communications Masters at CSUF specializing in Journalism would I need to know Trigonometry?
Also the people at the testing site were incredibly rude, so a warning for anyone else needing to take the GRE. Also, they don't let you take food or water into the testing room, very odd I thought.
So Australia.
May God open the doors that need to be opened, like for me to find a good family to live with etc.
I think God is calling me to the program at Hillsong's Grad College to get a Master of Arts in Christian Studies. I am super excited about some of the classes offered!
Cool Classes I will get to take....
Ethics in Context, Christian Thought and Culture, The Sociology of Christian Community (I love Sociology!), Psychology of Leadership, Theory and Practice of Evangelism, Social Engagement, Theology and Practice of Prayer, Christ in the Power of the Spirit, Theology and Popular Culture, and the one I am most looking forward to learning more about and exploring, Gender and Leadership....yes!
I have always known God made me a leader, but I also always wondered why he made me a woman and a leader lol. Cause typically women are not in leadership in church. So I will explore that more.
I suppose my ultimate goal would be to be a Junior High Youth Pastor.
I absolutely loved my youth groups in high schools. There is nothing better then bonding with good Christian friends and going on fun trips together! Those were the best times of my life and my best memories.
I also love the thought of being right there at the gate of every young person I would interact with.
We step through a gate when we are in junior high. We start to make the patterns then that we will follow the rest of our lives.
That is when our psyche's are forming. When our personalities and thoughts and ethics are forming.
It is a very exciting time to be sure!
I suppose that is why I love working with 2 year olds and jr. highers, because, as Townsend says in Boundaries, those are the experimenting phases of life. The times when we set out on our own and explore the world! The time when we are the most daring! I love this time in the human life!
May God guide the way for me in the future! Amen :)
My Pride and Becoming Broken
What is pride? What makes us have pride? How does God feel about pride?
My all time favorite passage from Scripture is Phil. 3....
Paul says:
Paul states that any credit to his name does not matter in the light of Christ. In Is. God says, "Your righteous deed are like filthy rags," meaning anything good we do that we think we can brag about in actuality is not good. Our intentions are always bent for evil before we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Even in giving food to a homeless person, does that not boost your own pride and make you feel really good about yourself? Everything we do has an underlying motive that is selfish and sinful. No deed we do is completely good.
Paul says that he considers these good things about him garbage; in Greek the correct translation would be crap actually. Why does he say this? Because if we focus on our accomplishments and think that will get us into heaven we are actually very far from the kingdom of God.
I loved Kenton's sermon this Sunday at Mariners Church. He said, "If you're looking at yourself thinking, 'You know I'm a pretty good person. I do good things. I think I should have no problem getting into heaven.' Then Jesus would say to you, 'You are very, very far from the kingdom of God.' But if you look at yourself and say, 'I know I am broken. I am beyond a sinner and I desperately need a savior.' Then you are right there. You are where you need to be."
Jesus said, "I did not come to save the healthy but the sick," meaning he came to save those who think they need to be saved. Many people do not think they need to be saved, and so will not be, sadly.
Thus pride comes before a fall. When we exalt ourselves we will be brought low. A good saying for this is, "Bend the knee or have it broken, either way you're going down."
I will share my story about how my knees were broken by God.
In high school I was a bit prideful, a bit arrogant. I thought I had it all going for me. I was always rather attractive so I had no problem getting any guy I liked to like me. I was smart. I graduated with a 4.3 GPA. I was athletic. I was possibly the best shooter on my basketball team. I was a great singer and sang in school assemblies.
But what did all this do for my walk with God? I was close to him in high school but not very close.
It was when I went to college, Biola, a private Christian college, that God broke my knees and humbled me to draw me closer to him.
I did not get asked out once at Biola, well not until a month before graduation. Needless to say that was quite humbling. Any guy I liked didn't seem to be interested in me. I was in Torrey, an honors program they have, and was surrounded every day by people 10 times smarter then I thought I was. I was still a good singer but in the choir at Biola I may as well have been singing with the angels! lol They were far superior to me in how well they sang. I could never have been as good as they were. I was on an intramural basketball team but we lost just about every game we played. It was still fun but also quite humbling.
So God took away my idols slowly and painfully; idols of vanity, pride, success, intelligence, people pleasing, my voice, my athletic ability, everything that I found my identity in.
He stripped it all away so that all that was left was me. And I had to figure out who I was without all of those trappings and masks and faces.
He had to make me realize that HE was all I needed when He was all I had in the end. I realized that nothing else really matters. Only knowing Jesus and falling more and more in love with Him is what matters. Sitting at Jesus' feet and taking in all he has to say is better then anything anyone else could say to me.
Like in Ecclesiastes written by Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, I can say my accomplishments were all just "a chasing after the wind."
The only thing that matters in this life is knowing Christ and being in an intimate relationship with Him.
Ecc. concludes with Solomon saying:
"Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind."
In the end, that is all that matters.
After all, "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Amen? Amen!
May God strip you of your idols and identities in order to humble you so that you can see Him for who is really is when you see yourself for who you really are.
Like a potter molding a clay pot, pray for him to mold you. It will be painful, but it will also be worth it.
God be with you! May God bless you!
My all time favorite passage from Scripture is Phil. 3....
Paul says:
No Confidence in the Flesh
"If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless."
Paul is listing his credentials basically in this passage. A modern day version of this would be if someone were to say; I was Bill Gates' son and grew up with having everything I ever wanted. I studied at Harvard and have 2 B.A's, 3 Masters degrees and a doctorate. I have about 5 cars, all brand new. And I have never lied to my parents, never done anything horribly wrong. I have always been a model citizen.
He goes on to say, "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead."
Paul states that any credit to his name does not matter in the light of Christ. In Is. God says, "Your righteous deed are like filthy rags," meaning anything good we do that we think we can brag about in actuality is not good. Our intentions are always bent for evil before we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Even in giving food to a homeless person, does that not boost your own pride and make you feel really good about yourself? Everything we do has an underlying motive that is selfish and sinful. No deed we do is completely good.
Paul says that he considers these good things about him garbage; in Greek the correct translation would be crap actually. Why does he say this? Because if we focus on our accomplishments and think that will get us into heaven we are actually very far from the kingdom of God.
I loved Kenton's sermon this Sunday at Mariners Church. He said, "If you're looking at yourself thinking, 'You know I'm a pretty good person. I do good things. I think I should have no problem getting into heaven.' Then Jesus would say to you, 'You are very, very far from the kingdom of God.' But if you look at yourself and say, 'I know I am broken. I am beyond a sinner and I desperately need a savior.' Then you are right there. You are where you need to be."
Jesus said, "I did not come to save the healthy but the sick," meaning he came to save those who think they need to be saved. Many people do not think they need to be saved, and so will not be, sadly.
Thus pride comes before a fall. When we exalt ourselves we will be brought low. A good saying for this is, "Bend the knee or have it broken, either way you're going down."
I will share my story about how my knees were broken by God.
In high school I was a bit prideful, a bit arrogant. I thought I had it all going for me. I was always rather attractive so I had no problem getting any guy I liked to like me. I was smart. I graduated with a 4.3 GPA. I was athletic. I was possibly the best shooter on my basketball team. I was a great singer and sang in school assemblies.
But what did all this do for my walk with God? I was close to him in high school but not very close.
It was when I went to college, Biola, a private Christian college, that God broke my knees and humbled me to draw me closer to him.
I did not get asked out once at Biola, well not until a month before graduation. Needless to say that was quite humbling. Any guy I liked didn't seem to be interested in me. I was in Torrey, an honors program they have, and was surrounded every day by people 10 times smarter then I thought I was. I was still a good singer but in the choir at Biola I may as well have been singing with the angels! lol They were far superior to me in how well they sang. I could never have been as good as they were. I was on an intramural basketball team but we lost just about every game we played. It was still fun but also quite humbling.
So God took away my idols slowly and painfully; idols of vanity, pride, success, intelligence, people pleasing, my voice, my athletic ability, everything that I found my identity in.
He stripped it all away so that all that was left was me. And I had to figure out who I was without all of those trappings and masks and faces.
He had to make me realize that HE was all I needed when He was all I had in the end. I realized that nothing else really matters. Only knowing Jesus and falling more and more in love with Him is what matters. Sitting at Jesus' feet and taking in all he has to say is better then anything anyone else could say to me.
Like in Ecclesiastes written by Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, I can say my accomplishments were all just "a chasing after the wind."
The only thing that matters in this life is knowing Christ and being in an intimate relationship with Him.
Ecc. concludes with Solomon saying:
"Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind."
In the end, that is all that matters.
After all, "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Amen? Amen!
May God strip you of your idols and identities in order to humble you so that you can see Him for who is really is when you see yourself for who you really are.
Like a potter molding a clay pot, pray for him to mold you. It will be painful, but it will also be worth it.
God be with you! May God bless you!
Raising Children
I have been working with kids for 14 years of all ages.
The most important thing I have learned from all that is that whatever you believe about a child they will become.
If you believe a child is an angel, that child will then act like an angel, seriously.
But if you believe they are a demon of some sort, perhaps a spawn of Satan, they will then act that way.
It is a self fulfilling prophesy.
If you think about your child, "Oh there is nothing special about him or her." Then they will never do anything special.
But if you say to your child every day, "You know that you are special don't you? And I love you so much. And God has something for you to do in your life that nobody else can do." If you say that they will be valedictorian in no time!
I know this from personal experience. All it took when I was 14 was for my grandma to say those words to me over and over.
And I stopped hanging out with the wrong friends. I stopped getting in trouble and sneaking out at night and lying to my mom.
In school I joined every club I could, took every class in the Honors or AP level, joined the school choir, was on the basketball team. I joined MUN, a debate club we had at our school, and Senior year became the Senior class vice president.
I did everything! All because someone told me I was special and would do great things someday.
I am telling you it will do wonders for your own children.
My grandma also has a pretty cool story about when she was teaching junior high English.
The principle called her into his office one day. She was shaking she was so nervous that he was going to say she did something wrong. But he said to her, "What did you go with Bobby Pearly?" She said, "What do you mean?'' He said, "He just came into my office, voluntarily, and laid down his switch blade and when I asked him why he just said Mrs. Sypherd. Now what did you do to him!?"
My grandma said, "I just told him he was special everyday and that God had something for him to do that nobody else could do."
The principle was shocked. "That's it! That's all you did?!"
Yes, that was all she needed to do. And that is all any of us need to do with the next generation.
What if as teachers, parents, youth workers, mentors, we, instead of disciplining a kid for being bad we rather told them they were special all the time and called them an angel so that in so doing we could transform them into an angel.
This is a revolutionary concept I know, but I grew up knowing that this was how one needed to work with kids, so kids always loved me in my jobs with them.
The fact is, if kids do not get positive attention they will seek negative attention. They demand attention somehow, especially the extroverted ones. So tell them they are special and praise them everyday so they do not have to get desperate and get in trouble for you to notice them. Find something good in them, some talent, some skill. Every child has something special about them. You just have to find it and laser in on that good thing inside of them. Nurture it, encourage it, make it grow, and you will see them blossom into the most beautiful flower!
This is basic human psychology. In marriages, if either spouse thinks the other is not good they might then become not good.
But if both spouses think the other is an angel, or as close to one as they could be, what would that do with our marriages?
Tell the people closest to you that you think they are an angel and see what it does!
May God bless you! :)
The most important thing I have learned from all that is that whatever you believe about a child they will become.
If you believe a child is an angel, that child will then act like an angel, seriously.
But if you believe they are a demon of some sort, perhaps a spawn of Satan, they will then act that way.
It is a self fulfilling prophesy.
If you think about your child, "Oh there is nothing special about him or her." Then they will never do anything special.
But if you say to your child every day, "You know that you are special don't you? And I love you so much. And God has something for you to do in your life that nobody else can do." If you say that they will be valedictorian in no time!
I know this from personal experience. All it took when I was 14 was for my grandma to say those words to me over and over.
And I stopped hanging out with the wrong friends. I stopped getting in trouble and sneaking out at night and lying to my mom.
In school I joined every club I could, took every class in the Honors or AP level, joined the school choir, was on the basketball team. I joined MUN, a debate club we had at our school, and Senior year became the Senior class vice president.
I did everything! All because someone told me I was special and would do great things someday.
I am telling you it will do wonders for your own children.
My grandma also has a pretty cool story about when she was teaching junior high English.
The principle called her into his office one day. She was shaking she was so nervous that he was going to say she did something wrong. But he said to her, "What did you go with Bobby Pearly?" She said, "What do you mean?'' He said, "He just came into my office, voluntarily, and laid down his switch blade and when I asked him why he just said Mrs. Sypherd. Now what did you do to him!?"
My grandma said, "I just told him he was special everyday and that God had something for him to do that nobody else could do."
The principle was shocked. "That's it! That's all you did?!"
Yes, that was all she needed to do. And that is all any of us need to do with the next generation.
What if as teachers, parents, youth workers, mentors, we, instead of disciplining a kid for being bad we rather told them they were special all the time and called them an angel so that in so doing we could transform them into an angel.
This is a revolutionary concept I know, but I grew up knowing that this was how one needed to work with kids, so kids always loved me in my jobs with them.
The fact is, if kids do not get positive attention they will seek negative attention. They demand attention somehow, especially the extroverted ones. So tell them they are special and praise them everyday so they do not have to get desperate and get in trouble for you to notice them. Find something good in them, some talent, some skill. Every child has something special about them. You just have to find it and laser in on that good thing inside of them. Nurture it, encourage it, make it grow, and you will see them blossom into the most beautiful flower!
This is basic human psychology. In marriages, if either spouse thinks the other is not good they might then become not good.
But if both spouses think the other is an angel, or as close to one as they could be, what would that do with our marriages?
Tell the people closest to you that you think they are an angel and see what it does!
May God bless you! :)
Sunday, October 28, 2012
The Fall and Feminism
At the fall, Eve ate the fruit first and it was primarily her fault. :)
Thus the reason now for man being the "head" of the family as Paul states should be the case.
He says that is how it is how it should be intrinsically, because it was Eve that was the one deceived at the fall, not Adam. So I will explore this.
1 Timothy 2:13-14 says, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man....For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner."
I have heard interpretations of this that Paul could have been speaking to a particular woman in the church that may have been to dominant at that time. However, he makes a universal statement that Adam, who stands for all men, was "not the one deceived." It was "the woman who was deceived."
Eve was the primary one who sinned at the fall. Her sin was that she wanted to become like God.
After all that was the bait that Satan threw at her right?
Women are Never Content
I was telling my grandma about this theory today and she was laughing cause she knows it's true.
To this day women, we know this, we always want more, in everything! We want a better house, a better spouse perhaps, a better area to live in, we wish our kids were better, wish our jobs were better. We are never ever satisfied!
This was the sin of Eve at the fall and we continue to have this attitude to this day. Eve wanted more. She was not content with her current state. She thought the grass was greener on the other side. Women how many of you think this every day? About everything? Be honest with yourselves.
Men: Passivity and Idolization
And what was Adams' sin?
Passivity.
He just stood there while she died essentially. People have asked the question about the Holocaust and Hitler. How could people just let him get away with all that?!
Passivity. Adam did it at the fall and men continue to be passive when they should fight for what they believe in or what they love to this day.
Satan's lie then and now is, "You can't really do anything anyways, so just check out."
So men check out and become passive via video games or TV and let the world go on around them.
The second sin of Adam was choosing Eve over God.
He most likely thought, "Well she's pretty hot and I don't want to be in this garden all alone." So he ate the fruit. But he knew EXACTLY what he was doing.
Eve was deceived, and so was gullible, as us women can still very much be. But Adam knew that he was completely disobeying God, but he consciously chose Eve over God.
And men to this day idolize women, and chose women over God.
Why else is the pornography industry a multi-billion dollar industry and prostitution still exists? Because men choose women over God.
I once read that even 70% of pastors in the church struggle with pornography.
Men this should not be.
As long as you continue to do that it will greatly hinder your walk with God.
May you pray today that God would break the chains of sexual addiction and pornography, so that you can rise up and be the godly men that all of us women need you to be. Amen women? Tell your men how much you need them.
He can help you to stop, you just have to ask Him. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"
Lastly I will explore this concept of man as the head of the household.
Why did Paul say man is the head of the household?
Let me start with God's command to husbands first.....
Husband Love Your Wives
Ephesians 5 says, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies."
So before any of you men use Eph. 5 as an ego trip or for a way to gain control over your wives, look closely at this passage.
Husbands are supposed to be willing to DIE for their wives. That is a very tall order if you ask me. He does not say wives should be willing to die for their husbands. Did you notice that? The husband is supposed to mirror Christ to his wife and love her "as Christ loved the church." So you are supposed to be Jesus pretty much. I can imagine that would be pretty hard, but it is the goal Paul set out for husbands.
A good example of someone actually doing this is Abraham Lincoln. His wife, as most know, was the worst and most belligerent wife ever probably. But he was always kind towards her, always patient, never abusive. And why? Because he was a devout follower of God, and he knew it was his command from God to love her "as Christ loves the church."
Submission
And now the command for the ladies. :) Eph. 5
"Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything."
I know women, modern day feminists, throw the whole Bible aside just because of this ONE verse. However, note ladies, what does it say just the verse before this? Eph. 5:21, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."
So it is not just women submitting, it is also men. We are to submit to each other. However, I find it comical that Paul seemed to think he needed to say it AGAIN to the ladies, because how hard is it to submit for us? Right?
We want to do things our own way. I know since I was two I would not, literally, let my mom brush my hair or pick out my clothes. I have always been very stubborn, very self-sufficient, very independent. But we are to submit to our man.
Paul says the husband is "the head of the wife." Why is this? Well first of all, man was created first. Secondly, it is true that woman was the one who was deceived and fell first.
Satan's Lies to Women
In order to prevent us from killing ourselves spiritually Paul and God knew we would need our husbands direction to help us see the truth. Every day Satan is sitting on the shoulder of every woman telling her stuff. ALL DAY! Men did you realize this was happening? It is.
Satan is after the women relentlessly. My theory is he does this because women have the power to bear children and greatly influence the next generation. He knows if he can get at the future of our nation, our world, he has to infect the women with lies first. He is a strategist and he is very, very smart. I suppose if I were trying to take over the world I would target the women first too.
Everyone knows the phrase, "If momma aint happy, aint nobody happy."
This phrase has very deep implications. It means that we as women have very much influence wherever we are. We set the tone or mood in a room. We set the tone in a relationship. We set the tone with our children. If Satan can take the women down, he has taken the family down.
Thus the biggest deception from Satan to our culture, FEMINISM. I had intended to write a book on this topic someday because, obviously, I am very passionate about it.
I hate what feminism is doing to our culture, and we need to see the truth. Women do not want to be working. If we were honest with ourselves we would say, no, it was much better when we could just be stay at home moms and enjoy being with our kids all day.
Woman's Curse
But the curse for woman at the fall was in her inter-personal relationships.
Gen. 3 says, " To the woman He said,
I love the old Disney movies because in them the princess is locked in a castle and prince charming has to charge in and save the day and slay the dragon! Yes go men!
Is this movie not symbolic of what is actually happening in relationships?
Satan has every woman locked in a tower, and he very much tries to keep her under his control, through fear, insecurity, whatever.... women you know what he uses on you. (Share your struggle with your husband so that he can know how to fight for you.)
The man then has to overcome his natural bent towards passivity and storm the castle and slay the dragon! It is only after he does this that will he get the girl.
The problem is many marriages begin before the man has slayed the dragon, so the dragon, Satan, lives on in their marriage.
Fight as a Team
Look at your marriage now and ask, "What is our dragon? What needs to be slayed?" And work on slaying Him, Satan, together. "Two are better then one for they have a better return for their labor. If one falls down, his friend can help him up." That is my favorite verse in regards to a marriage. You are a team. Act like it.
Women we need you men to fight for us. God made you stronger physically and that is symbolic that you are also stronger spiritually and mentally.
Paul does refer to women as "the weaker partner." And yes we are. As much as we don't like to admit it and be vulnerable, we are so so much weaker.
Closing
May God increase our wisdom more and more on interpersonal relationships and marriage.
May God bless you all in your marriages today and pray for him to give you eyes to see.
And women, learn to submit, learn to listen to your husbands, because often times, they actually do know better then you think you do.
Amen? Amen! Grace and peace to you! God Bless! :)
Thus the reason now for man being the "head" of the family as Paul states should be the case.
He says that is how it is how it should be intrinsically, because it was Eve that was the one deceived at the fall, not Adam. So I will explore this.
1 Timothy 2:13-14 says, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man....For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner."
I have heard interpretations of this that Paul could have been speaking to a particular woman in the church that may have been to dominant at that time. However, he makes a universal statement that Adam, who stands for all men, was "not the one deceived." It was "the woman who was deceived."
Eve was the primary one who sinned at the fall. Her sin was that she wanted to become like God.
After all that was the bait that Satan threw at her right?
Women are Never Content
I was telling my grandma about this theory today and she was laughing cause she knows it's true.
To this day women, we know this, we always want more, in everything! We want a better house, a better spouse perhaps, a better area to live in, we wish our kids were better, wish our jobs were better. We are never ever satisfied!
This was the sin of Eve at the fall and we continue to have this attitude to this day. Eve wanted more. She was not content with her current state. She thought the grass was greener on the other side. Women how many of you think this every day? About everything? Be honest with yourselves.
Men: Passivity and Idolization
And what was Adams' sin?
Passivity.
He just stood there while she died essentially. People have asked the question about the Holocaust and Hitler. How could people just let him get away with all that?!
Passivity. Adam did it at the fall and men continue to be passive when they should fight for what they believe in or what they love to this day.
Satan's lie then and now is, "You can't really do anything anyways, so just check out."
So men check out and become passive via video games or TV and let the world go on around them.
The second sin of Adam was choosing Eve over God.
He most likely thought, "Well she's pretty hot and I don't want to be in this garden all alone." So he ate the fruit. But he knew EXACTLY what he was doing.
Eve was deceived, and so was gullible, as us women can still very much be. But Adam knew that he was completely disobeying God, but he consciously chose Eve over God.
And men to this day idolize women, and chose women over God.
Why else is the pornography industry a multi-billion dollar industry and prostitution still exists? Because men choose women over God.
I once read that even 70% of pastors in the church struggle with pornography.
Men this should not be.
As long as you continue to do that it will greatly hinder your walk with God.
May you pray today that God would break the chains of sexual addiction and pornography, so that you can rise up and be the godly men that all of us women need you to be. Amen women? Tell your men how much you need them.
He can help you to stop, you just have to ask Him. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"
Lastly I will explore this concept of man as the head of the household.
Why did Paul say man is the head of the household?
Let me start with God's command to husbands first.....
Husband Love Your Wives
Ephesians 5 says, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies."
So before any of you men use Eph. 5 as an ego trip or for a way to gain control over your wives, look closely at this passage.
Husbands are supposed to be willing to DIE for their wives. That is a very tall order if you ask me. He does not say wives should be willing to die for their husbands. Did you notice that? The husband is supposed to mirror Christ to his wife and love her "as Christ loved the church." So you are supposed to be Jesus pretty much. I can imagine that would be pretty hard, but it is the goal Paul set out for husbands.
A good example of someone actually doing this is Abraham Lincoln. His wife, as most know, was the worst and most belligerent wife ever probably. But he was always kind towards her, always patient, never abusive. And why? Because he was a devout follower of God, and he knew it was his command from God to love her "as Christ loves the church."
Submission
And now the command for the ladies. :) Eph. 5
"Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything."
I know women, modern day feminists, throw the whole Bible aside just because of this ONE verse. However, note ladies, what does it say just the verse before this? Eph. 5:21, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."
So it is not just women submitting, it is also men. We are to submit to each other. However, I find it comical that Paul seemed to think he needed to say it AGAIN to the ladies, because how hard is it to submit for us? Right?
We want to do things our own way. I know since I was two I would not, literally, let my mom brush my hair or pick out my clothes. I have always been very stubborn, very self-sufficient, very independent. But we are to submit to our man.
Paul says the husband is "the head of the wife." Why is this? Well first of all, man was created first. Secondly, it is true that woman was the one who was deceived and fell first.
Satan's Lies to Women
In order to prevent us from killing ourselves spiritually Paul and God knew we would need our husbands direction to help us see the truth. Every day Satan is sitting on the shoulder of every woman telling her stuff. ALL DAY! Men did you realize this was happening? It is.
Satan is after the women relentlessly. My theory is he does this because women have the power to bear children and greatly influence the next generation. He knows if he can get at the future of our nation, our world, he has to infect the women with lies first. He is a strategist and he is very, very smart. I suppose if I were trying to take over the world I would target the women first too.
Everyone knows the phrase, "If momma aint happy, aint nobody happy."
This phrase has very deep implications. It means that we as women have very much influence wherever we are. We set the tone or mood in a room. We set the tone in a relationship. We set the tone with our children. If Satan can take the women down, he has taken the family down.
Thus the biggest deception from Satan to our culture, FEMINISM. I had intended to write a book on this topic someday because, obviously, I am very passionate about it.
I hate what feminism is doing to our culture, and we need to see the truth. Women do not want to be working. If we were honest with ourselves we would say, no, it was much better when we could just be stay at home moms and enjoy being with our kids all day.
Woman's Curse
But the curse for woman at the fall was in her inter-personal relationships.
Gen. 3 says, " To the woman He said,
“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”
The curse was in our bearing children and our relationship with our husbands. I believe the curse in labor pains continues the whole time the child is alive. I always say for an argument when people ask, "Why would God create us when he knew we would fall," "Why do people continue to have children when they know full well that child is going to curse them when they are a teenager." Seriously.
So women are cursed with great difficulty in raising children. So now women hide at work. The feminists want us all to think that this is the re-birth of women and we are becoming stronger. On the contrary, we are all running now. We are running from love, from family, from connection. We go to the cubicle world and we feel safe there and at peace because it is so stoic.
But women, we need to stand and fight. Fight for our families, for our children and our husbands.
Satan has taken the women out. He has taken them to work. Then they get home and they are so tired and have nothing left to give. Thus marriages are falling apart. Thus the divorce rate is up to 60%. Thus children in America and all over the world are falling apart and watching MTV and there is an epidemic of teen pregnancies and STD's. All because women wanted to go to work. I'm serious. I think only I can speak so plainly and boldly about this topic because I am a woman. But I know you men have been thinking all this all along. :) I see it all so clearly.
Perhaps God has opened my eyes to this truth. I pray he opens all of your eyes as well.
Women in Prison
I love the old Disney movies because in them the princess is locked in a castle and prince charming has to charge in and save the day and slay the dragon! Yes go men!
Is this movie not symbolic of what is actually happening in relationships?
Satan has every woman locked in a tower, and he very much tries to keep her under his control, through fear, insecurity, whatever.... women you know what he uses on you. (Share your struggle with your husband so that he can know how to fight for you.)
The man then has to overcome his natural bent towards passivity and storm the castle and slay the dragon! It is only after he does this that will he get the girl.
The problem is many marriages begin before the man has slayed the dragon, so the dragon, Satan, lives on in their marriage.
Fight as a Team
Look at your marriage now and ask, "What is our dragon? What needs to be slayed?" And work on slaying Him, Satan, together. "Two are better then one for they have a better return for their labor. If one falls down, his friend can help him up." That is my favorite verse in regards to a marriage. You are a team. Act like it.
Women we need you men to fight for us. God made you stronger physically and that is symbolic that you are also stronger spiritually and mentally.
Paul does refer to women as "the weaker partner." And yes we are. As much as we don't like to admit it and be vulnerable, we are so so much weaker.
Closing
May God increase our wisdom more and more on interpersonal relationships and marriage.
May God bless you all in your marriages today and pray for him to give you eyes to see.
And women, learn to submit, learn to listen to your husbands, because often times, they actually do know better then you think you do.
Amen? Amen! Grace and peace to you! God Bless! :)
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Worship
I made some videos of my fav worship songs with motions I made up just for fun :) God bless!
God With Us
http://youtu.be/Y0Klq2WaTy4
God With Us
http://youtu.be/Y0Klq2WaTy4
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