I love a story Francis Chan tells often of how God answers his prayers. He said he was out golfing with friends one day but wasn't doing as well because he didn't have some special driver. So he was praying about it and that he would want one. Then the next day he was preaching at a church and the pastor there randomly gave him exactly that, what he had been praying about. Pretty awesome for sure. It just showed him that God really cares about him. :)
And here is my own little miracle story. Mine is about how I met Ben. I had moved to Kansas City to live with a friend about 4 years ago. My fiancé had died about 5 months before that. I was missing him and feeling very single and alone. On Valentine's Day I went to get notecards at CVS to write Bible verses on to memorize. I saw all the cute Valentine's Day gifts and was thinking how sad it would be that no one would be getting one for me that year. I went home and started crying in my car. I was asking God to please bring me another great guy like my fiancé that had died. Then I emailed my now husband along with some other random guys on a dating website, just a simple "hey how are you?" Two weeks later Ben emailed me back, we talked on the phone, and I knew just after that first phone conversation that he was God's answer to my prayer. I knew he was the one. They say when you know you know and I did. I was overjoyed. I remember thinking while talking to him on the phone, "Wow finally! Finally a guy who loves God as much as I do!" He read some poems to me that he wrote to God and I could see he really, really loved God. I actually was balling as he read them because I was so amazed how perfect he was for me. lol
So that was my biggest answer to prayer. That I cried out to God for something and two weeks later God answered my prayer.
But a lesson in that is that you can't just pray for something and do nothing yourself. Like you can't pray that God will send you a wife or husband and not at least try an online dating site or go somewhere where you might meet someone. You have to do something and God will do the rest. :) Amen. May God answer at least one of your big prayers too so you can know how much he loves you too! God bless! :)
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Francis Chan Sermons are Great!
Just listened to two challenging sermons by Francis Chan in the past couple days. In one he was saying how important it is to love God over money, which I know, but it's always good to be reminded of that. He was saying how filthy rich any of us in America are and how can we ever complain about not having enough money when most of the world only makes like $2 a day? Seems like it would be more than that and hopefully it is, but that was a good point and a good reminder :)
And then today he was making a great point that it doesn't matter how intelligent we are, would people be able to say of us that we walked like Jesus?
Hopefully that could be said of me with my Jesus packet making. But maybe I lack the boldness that Jesus had and I should talk to people face to face. It's always hard to know what to do, cause it seems that people these days more than ever like their space and privacy, so dropping tracks in random places might be best, instead of physically handing them to people and trying to talk to them. Sometimes face to face evangelism only makes people hate Christianity even more, so that's not good. :( But Jesus didn't really do that actually. He mostly gave sermons and spoke to crowds. He didn't do a lot of one on one conversations with people, except the woman at the well. So to live like Jesus would be to teach large crowds. Some are able to do that in pastoring churches and others do that in writing in a blog like me lol.
It works I think :) And maybe this blog writing is reaching more people than if I did speak in public to large crowds, who knows. I guess I won't know till I get to heaven, and then maybe I will meet all of you who have read my blog and hear how it hopefully helped you in your walk with God.
But no matter what, I think God is pleased with me and what I have done and hopefully He will say to me one day that I lived pretty close to how Jesus did. Hopefully :) May God bless you all!
And then today he was making a great point that it doesn't matter how intelligent we are, would people be able to say of us that we walked like Jesus?
Hopefully that could be said of me with my Jesus packet making. But maybe I lack the boldness that Jesus had and I should talk to people face to face. It's always hard to know what to do, cause it seems that people these days more than ever like their space and privacy, so dropping tracks in random places might be best, instead of physically handing them to people and trying to talk to them. Sometimes face to face evangelism only makes people hate Christianity even more, so that's not good. :( But Jesus didn't really do that actually. He mostly gave sermons and spoke to crowds. He didn't do a lot of one on one conversations with people, except the woman at the well. So to live like Jesus would be to teach large crowds. Some are able to do that in pastoring churches and others do that in writing in a blog like me lol.
It works I think :) And maybe this blog writing is reaching more people than if I did speak in public to large crowds, who knows. I guess I won't know till I get to heaven, and then maybe I will meet all of you who have read my blog and hear how it hopefully helped you in your walk with God.
But no matter what, I think God is pleased with me and what I have done and hopefully He will say to me one day that I lived pretty close to how Jesus did. Hopefully :) May God bless you all!
Monday, September 26, 2016
Song 9: God is Marvelous
(I was inspired to write this after watching a Francis Chan sermon. He talks a lot about how much the church kind of sees God as common, but we should always be in awe of Him. Amen :)
You are holy, set apart
Totally different
Than anything I've known
You are special, marvelous
Totally amazing
For everything you've done
I don't wanna take you
for granted
Or forget to stay
in awe of you
I don't wanna think you
are common
May I always, always
worship you
You are radiant, glorious
Far above all of us
You are perfect, excellent
Everything you do is just
I don't wanna take you
for granted
Or forget to stay
in awe of you
I don't wanna think you
are common
May I always, always
worship you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmfgyXCarQI
You are holy, set apart
Totally different
Than anything I've known
You are special, marvelous
Totally amazing
For everything you've done
I don't wanna take you
for granted
Or forget to stay
in awe of you
I don't wanna think you
are common
May I always, always
worship you
You are radiant, glorious
Far above all of us
You are perfect, excellent
Everything you do is just
I don't wanna take you
for granted
Or forget to stay
in awe of you
I don't wanna think you
are common
May I always, always
worship you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmfgyXCarQI
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Song 8: To My Daughters
I wanted a better song to sing to my girls besides rock a by baby, where the poor baby always ends up falling from a tree. Such an odd song really :( God bless!
My precious girl
You are so loved
You are so special to me
There are three words
To really say how I feel
I love you, I love you
I love you
Your eyes, your smile
You shine just like a star
Your tiny hands and feet
Are so adorable
I love you, I love you,
I love you
You are the perfect gift from God
You bring me so much joy
I love to see you dance and sing
Everything you do is so cute
I love you, I love you
I love you
I would do anything for you
I'll always, always protect you
You will never be alone
I pray that God will guide you
I love you, I love you
I love you
Me singing it on youtube...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd7C8rjlDvE
My precious girl
You are so loved
You are so special to me
There are three words
To really say how I feel
I love you, I love you
I love you
Your eyes, your smile
You shine just like a star
Your tiny hands and feet
Are so adorable
I love you, I love you,
I love you
You are the perfect gift from God
You bring me so much joy
I love to see you dance and sing
Everything you do is so cute
I love you, I love you
I love you
I would do anything for you
I'll always, always protect you
You will never be alone
I pray that God will guide you
I love you, I love you
I love you
Me singing it on youtube...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd7C8rjlDvE
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Song 7: Stay in Hope
Hope brings Joy, Joy brings strength
God make me strong with my hope in you
Hope is power, hope brings life
Lord I wanna stay in faith and hope
I don't wanna doubt you
And what you can do in me
I wanna live hopeful
That great things are ahead
I don't wanna live my life hopeless
I wanna believe I can do All things
with you
Hope is faith, faith God loves
God help me never lack in faith
Hope fills me, with your peace
Lord I know you will always provide
I don't wanna doubt you
And what you can do in me
I wanna live hopeful
That great things are ahead
I don't wanna live my life hopeless
I wanna believe I can do All things
with you
God make me strong with my hope in you
Hope is power, hope brings life
Lord I wanna stay in faith and hope
I don't wanna doubt you
And what you can do in me
I wanna live hopeful
That great things are ahead
I don't wanna live my life hopeless
I wanna believe I can do All things
with you
Hope is faith, faith God loves
God help me never lack in faith
Hope fills me, with your peace
Lord I know you will always provide
I don't wanna doubt you
And what you can do in me
I wanna live hopeful
That great things are ahead
I don't wanna live my life hopeless
I wanna believe I can do All things
with you
Song 6: Show Me How
So many people don't have hope
So many people don't have faith
So many people are so lost
We gotta show them the way
So many people are in pain
So many people don't get loved
So many people are alone
God they need your help today
So show me how
To reach the lost
Show me how
To light the way
Show me how
To shine your love
Cause your love is what they need
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3gzeahbaSw
So many people don't have faith
So many people are so lost
We gotta show them the way
So many people are in pain
So many people don't get loved
So many people are alone
God they need your help today
So show me how
To reach the lost
Show me how
To light the way
Show me how
To shine your love
Cause your love is what they need
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3gzeahbaSw
Friday, September 23, 2016
Song 5: God I'm Sorry and Thank you
The 5th song I wrote :)
God I'm sorry for the times
When I seem ungrateful
I'm sorry for the times
When I complain
I know that you have blessed me
Again and again
And I wanna take some time
Just to say
Thank you, Thank you
Thank you for all you've done for me
Thank you, Thank you
I pray that somehow I can repay you
God I'm sorry for every time
That I sinned and grieved you
I thank for how you forgave me
I know that you love me
Despite all I have done
And I need to take some time
Just to say
Thank you, Thank you
Thank you for all you've done for me
Thank you, Thank you
I pray that somehow I can repay you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oCkwo4uheM
God I'm sorry for the times
When I seem ungrateful
I'm sorry for the times
When I complain
I know that you have blessed me
Again and again
And I wanna take some time
Just to say
Thank you, Thank you
Thank you for all you've done for me
Thank you, Thank you
I pray that somehow I can repay you
God I'm sorry for every time
That I sinned and grieved you
I thank for how you forgave me
I know that you love me
Despite all I have done
And I need to take some time
Just to say
Thank you, Thank you
Thank you for all you've done for me
Thank you, Thank you
I pray that somehow I can repay you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oCkwo4uheM
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Judging Others vs. Reminding Others
Is there a difference between judging others and simply reminding people what the Bible says? Yes.
What is the difference?
With judging you are condescending and acting like you have it all together while pointing the finger at someone else. That is wrong of course. Jesus said "Take the log out of your own eye before you try to take the speck out of your brother's eye." Often times people do this because they actually want to forget about their own sin, so they focus on your sin instead of their own. That is what the Bible is talking about when it says "judge not lest you be judged. For you do the very things that you judge others for...." If we are being a hypocrite in our judging, and doing what we are telling others not to do, that is what the Bible says we are to never do. That kind of judging is never ok.
But sometimes we do need to remind each other of what the Bible says, when the Bible is clear that something is wrong, because we tend to forget, or we never heard it in the first place.
Here is one of my favorite verses, what Paul said to Timothy before he died, "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."
So sometimes Christians are supposed to correct and rebuke others. This could be applied just to pastors, but since pastors now aren't directly involved with their members for the most part, which is sad, we kind of have to pastor each other. And in order to correct and rebuke another one would have to judge.
And lastly this passage is the clearest example of when "judging" is ok in the church:
1 Cor. 5:1-12
"It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.
So Paul is saying we are not supposed to judge those who aren't saved, because as the Bible says, they are slaves to sin and in a sense cannot help it. But for those who are saved, we are supposed to call them out on things.
God calls us to be accountable to what we know, or to what we should know. For those who consider themselves saved, God expects us to act like we are. Paul says many times, "Walk in a manner worthy of your calling." None of us are perfect, but we can try to do the best that we can do. We can try our best to follow what the Bible says we are to not do, and what we are to do. Amen.
May God bless you all!
What is the difference?
With judging you are condescending and acting like you have it all together while pointing the finger at someone else. That is wrong of course. Jesus said "Take the log out of your own eye before you try to take the speck out of your brother's eye." Often times people do this because they actually want to forget about their own sin, so they focus on your sin instead of their own. That is what the Bible is talking about when it says "judge not lest you be judged. For you do the very things that you judge others for...." If we are being a hypocrite in our judging, and doing what we are telling others not to do, that is what the Bible says we are to never do. That kind of judging is never ok.
But sometimes we do need to remind each other of what the Bible says, when the Bible is clear that something is wrong, because we tend to forget, or we never heard it in the first place.
Here is one of my favorite verses, what Paul said to Timothy before he died, "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."
So sometimes Christians are supposed to correct and rebuke others. This could be applied just to pastors, but since pastors now aren't directly involved with their members for the most part, which is sad, we kind of have to pastor each other. And in order to correct and rebuke another one would have to judge.
And lastly this passage is the clearest example of when "judging" is ok in the church:
1 Cor. 5:1-12
"It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.
2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?
3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this.....
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
So Paul is saying we are not supposed to judge those who aren't saved, because as the Bible says, they are slaves to sin and in a sense cannot help it. But for those who are saved, we are supposed to call them out on things.
God calls us to be accountable to what we know, or to what we should know. For those who consider themselves saved, God expects us to act like we are. Paul says many times, "Walk in a manner worthy of your calling." None of us are perfect, but we can try to do the best that we can do. We can try our best to follow what the Bible says we are to not do, and what we are to do. Amen.
May God bless you all!
We Can Do More Than We Think :)
It really is amazing all the things we are capable of. Satan tries to keep us feeling like we can't do anything, but we can do anything we put our mind to! "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Amen!
About 4 years ago I started my blog. I never thought my writing was good enough for others to read it, but who knew people would like reading what I write. :)
And I never thought I would publish a book but I self published a bunch about 3 years ago. They are on Amazon.com for any interested. :) I haven't sold many but it's still cool that I did that.
I never thought I could make dresses but I did that a few months ago and I like the dresses I made. :)
I never thought I could make purses but I did that recently too. They are simple but still cool.
I hadn't even tried writing a song for the last 17 years, because I always thought that was too hard, but now today I wrote 4 in one day. Granted they are pretty simple but it's still cool. :)
So never limit yourself. Never say that you can't do something. Just try and you might surprise yourself.
We are all capable of a lot more than we realize. We all can do almost anything that we dream of doing. If you put forth enough effort, you most likely can accomplish whatever it is that you want to accomplish.
May God bless you all!
About 4 years ago I started my blog. I never thought my writing was good enough for others to read it, but who knew people would like reading what I write. :)
And I never thought I would publish a book but I self published a bunch about 3 years ago. They are on Amazon.com for any interested. :) I haven't sold many but it's still cool that I did that.
I never thought I could make dresses but I did that a few months ago and I like the dresses I made. :)
I never thought I could make purses but I did that recently too. They are simple but still cool.
I hadn't even tried writing a song for the last 17 years, because I always thought that was too hard, but now today I wrote 4 in one day. Granted they are pretty simple but it's still cool. :)
So never limit yourself. Never say that you can't do something. Just try and you might surprise yourself.
We are all capable of a lot more than we realize. We all can do almost anything that we dream of doing. If you put forth enough effort, you most likely can accomplish whatever it is that you want to accomplish.
May God bless you all!
Song 4: I Love You Jesus
Climbing up this mountain
Longing to see your face
To feel your voice surround me
Like a mighty rushing wave
I want to see your glory
And forget the world behind
I long to be just me and you
And rest in your love and grace
I love how you love me
I love how you comfort me
I love you Jesus
You're all I want
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om9akxw-z-k
Longing to see your face
To feel your voice surround me
Like a mighty rushing wave
I want to see your glory
And forget the world behind
I long to be just me and you
And rest in your love and grace
I love how you love me
I love how you comfort me
I love you Jesus
You're all I want
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om9akxw-z-k
America America
Here is my somewhat comical rewrite of our famous America the Beautiful song:
Oh beautiful we are no more,
For we are deep in sin,
For we do all the things that God
has already condemned
America! America!
We're headed straight to hell
God is displeased with us right now
From sea to shinning sea :(
Oh beautiful we are no more,
For we are deep in sin,
For we do all the things that God
has already condemned
America! America!
We're headed straight to hell
God is displeased with us right now
From sea to shinning sea :(
The Characteristics of a Christian
I think it's important I write something to define what a Christian is, according to what the Bible says. There seems to be much confusion over that in our church today.
Is being a Christian just praying a prayer for God to come into your heart and that's it? No. That prayer should be accompanied by an actual repentance over your sin first. And that is only the beginning to it all. If you don't try to live a holy life after that, that prayer you may have prayed does not mean anything.
If you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, does that alone make you a Christian? No. That's part of it, but that isn't the whole thing. That also is only the beginning to it all.
What is the whole thing to being a Christian? When can someone really for sure know they are saved?
Here are some characteristics of what a true genuine Christian will look like, according to how the Bible describes that a Christian will be:
1. They will be grieved over their sin. They will agree with what the Bible says sin is. When they sin, they will repent and try to do better in the future. They will be convicted by the Holy Spirit when they sin.
2. They will have a heart to tell others about Jesus. If you REALLY believe that Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven and you know that most of America doesn't really believe that, you will try as much as you can to try to tell others about Jesus. Even if you are too afraid to make any attempt at sharing the gospel, the desire will still be there, if you are really saved. Because that was the great commission given to ALL of us by Jesus.
3. You will try to love others as best as you can. When you don't love others as you know God would want you to, you apologize and try to make amends.
4. You forgive others when they hurt you. The Bible literally says if you cannot forgive others who hurt you, God will NOT forgive you. That's pretty serious.
5. You have a desire to know God. You have a desire to listen to sermons even if you can't make it to church. You have a desire to listen to worship music and keep your focus on God as much as you can. As Paul said, "Set your mind on things above."
6. You are repulsed by vulgar movies and shows. You are repulsed when people around you talk in a vulgar and sick way. And in general you are angry about sin. This is righteous anger, like what Jesus felt when he turned the tables in the temple.
7. You recognizes that the Christian walk is not just about what you don't do, but it is also about what you do as well. Like the Bible says, "Faith without works is dead." You try to help others and love others and make the world a better place. I know many non-Christians do this, and that is great, but if someone is truly a Christian, they will for sure try to do good to others as well.
If you have any others that are important that I forgot, feel free to mention it in a comment.
God bless! :)
Is being a Christian just praying a prayer for God to come into your heart and that's it? No. That prayer should be accompanied by an actual repentance over your sin first. And that is only the beginning to it all. If you don't try to live a holy life after that, that prayer you may have prayed does not mean anything.
If you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, does that alone make you a Christian? No. That's part of it, but that isn't the whole thing. That also is only the beginning to it all.
What is the whole thing to being a Christian? When can someone really for sure know they are saved?
Here are some characteristics of what a true genuine Christian will look like, according to how the Bible describes that a Christian will be:
1. They will be grieved over their sin. They will agree with what the Bible says sin is. When they sin, they will repent and try to do better in the future. They will be convicted by the Holy Spirit when they sin.
2. They will have a heart to tell others about Jesus. If you REALLY believe that Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven and you know that most of America doesn't really believe that, you will try as much as you can to try to tell others about Jesus. Even if you are too afraid to make any attempt at sharing the gospel, the desire will still be there, if you are really saved. Because that was the great commission given to ALL of us by Jesus.
3. You will try to love others as best as you can. When you don't love others as you know God would want you to, you apologize and try to make amends.
4. You forgive others when they hurt you. The Bible literally says if you cannot forgive others who hurt you, God will NOT forgive you. That's pretty serious.
5. You have a desire to know God. You have a desire to listen to sermons even if you can't make it to church. You have a desire to listen to worship music and keep your focus on God as much as you can. As Paul said, "Set your mind on things above."
6. You are repulsed by vulgar movies and shows. You are repulsed when people around you talk in a vulgar and sick way. And in general you are angry about sin. This is righteous anger, like what Jesus felt when he turned the tables in the temple.
7. You recognizes that the Christian walk is not just about what you don't do, but it is also about what you do as well. Like the Bible says, "Faith without works is dead." You try to help others and love others and make the world a better place. I know many non-Christians do this, and that is great, but if someone is truly a Christian, they will for sure try to do good to others as well.
If you have any others that are important that I forgot, feel free to mention it in a comment.
God bless! :)
Homosexuality is a Sin
I haven't written about homosexuality too much because I am annoyed myself that Christians seems to just focus on abortion and homosexuality. There are other issues they should focus on trying to fix too like racism and poverty, of course. But I will write my two cents about it. I just wrote a brief post on how sad I am that subliminal messages about homosexuality are now all over the media! In youtube adds, on TV shows etc. It seems like homosexuality is every where and people are proud of it. But I don't think it's something that people should be proud of. What happened to people feeling shame over sin? And yes homosexuality is a sin. I can't believe how far America has fallen in our morality. What happened to censorship? What happened to us actually trying to do good things?
Here are the two main verses that show why homosexuality is a sin:
Romans 1:25-27, "They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error."
1 John 1:6 "If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth."
To live in perpetual unrepentant homosexuality is a sin and it is to walk in darkness. Granted all people sin, but to be a practicing homosexual is to be living in perpetual sin. Christians mess up and sin but then repent and turn the other way, at least for a time. This has been the pattern in my own life. When I sin I recognize that what I did was wrong, feel grieved over it, repent and try to do what is right, and stop doing what I know is wrong. The issue is if someone does not even recognize when sin is sin and does not try at all to stop doing it. That is what it is to live in darkness.
Here are the two main verses that show why homosexuality is a sin:
Romans 1:25-27, "They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error."
Romans 1 lays out the downfall of a society and how it can fall into more and more sinful ways. First it says that these people just didn't glorify God or give him thanks, which has been America for a very long time. Then their hearts were darkened. Then they worshipped idols instead of God, which in current America that is like when we worship our cars or clothes or just money. Then they engaged in various sinful sexual acts. And then the last step is engaging in homosexual sinful acts, as Romans 1:27 talks about.
Here is another good verse:
1 John 1:6 "If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth."
To live in perpetual unrepentant homosexuality is a sin and it is to walk in darkness. Granted all people sin, but to be a practicing homosexual is to be living in perpetual sin. Christians mess up and sin but then repent and turn the other way, at least for a time. This has been the pattern in my own life. When I sin I recognize that what I did was wrong, feel grieved over it, repent and try to do what is right, and stop doing what I know is wrong. The issue is if someone does not even recognize when sin is sin and does not try at all to stop doing it. That is what it is to live in darkness.
I understand that even some Christians want to fight me when I write about homosexuality because maybe they have a friend that is gay. But that doesn't make it any less of a sin. If I had a friend that robbed banks all the time would that make robbing banks ok? No, of course not. Homosexuality is a sin because the Bible says that it is.
And why is it so serious? Because it essentially represents the height of the downfall of a society according to Romans 1. And that is why it makes me so sad that it is all over American media now. It just shows that we have fallen pretty much as low as we can now. We have hit rock bottom morally.
Yes I understand that homosexual people have a reason for being gay. It was usually because they were molested by someone of the same sex or in a violent way by someone of the opposite sex. But I was a victim of sexual molest too and that didn't make me gay, because I CHOSE to not be. Anyone can chose to not sin, if the Spirit of God really is in them.
I understand it seems almost 100% of our current American society was molested in some way as kids, but that doesn't excuse current sin. I know when we are victims at an early age it makes us more weak in certain areas and we are more prone to certain sins, but we are still held responsible by God for any sin we commit. All of us will have to give an account to God on that final day for every single thing we did and said. I take that very seriously, and everyone else really should too.
God is holy. He loves us, but he also hates our sins. To turn a blind eye to homosexuality is to ignore sin. To say that it is ok is to be in error. And it is a disservice to any friend that might be caught up in it. Because if they really think nothing is wrong with it, then they are at odds with God and are not walking in God's grace without even realizing it.
I do not mean all this in an attacking way, but people need to wake up and warn people. It is like how I have heard in sermons, that if you're friend had cancer wouldn't you tell them if they didn't know and tell them how they could be cured??? It is the same with sin.
If our friends are sinking in their own sin and we know the antidote, Jesus Christ and believing in Him, shouldn't we tell them?
The first step to being saved is to see your own sin as sin. Then you can see that you need a savior. But if you are not able to see your own sin as sin how can you say you know God? Because once the Holy Spirit is in us we agree with everything the Bible says and we see sin as sin more clearly. To not be convicted about sin is to not be saved. If we are saved, we will be convicted about any sin we commit and we will feel the need to repent to God about it.
My prayer is that God may use my words to bring a bit of holiness back to America and any who read it. May we value righteousness and hate sin again, as we should and as America used to. May we guide others in gentleness though and not hatred. May we love others back to purity, because it is God's kindness that leads us to repentance, and share the GOOD news that Jesus CAN save them from themselves and from sin. They don't have to be slaves any longer. God can set them free! In Jesus' name Amen.
May God bless you all and I love you all!
Song 3: Shine Through Me
I wanna come alive
I wanna have your joy
I want my face to shine
with your love
I wanna be like you
I wanna have your peace
I want the world to know
you live in me
Shine through me
Shine through me
Let my hands be your hands
Let my smile be your smile
Let my love be your love
Cause it's all about you
And not about me
I wanna be a light
I wanna walk like you
I wanna change the world
with your strength
I wanna show your love
I wanna forgive like you
I want to save the lost
just like you
Shine through me
Shine through me
Let my hands be your hands
Let my smile be your smile
Let my love be your love
Cause it's all about you
And not about me
Yeah it's all about you
And not about me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViRi10QXm5o
I wanna have your joy
I want my face to shine
with your love
I wanna be like you
I wanna have your peace
I want the world to know
you live in me
Shine through me
Shine through me
Let my hands be your hands
Let my smile be your smile
Let my love be your love
Cause it's all about you
And not about me
I wanna be a light
I wanna walk like you
I wanna change the world
with your strength
I wanna show your love
I wanna forgive like you
I want to save the lost
just like you
Shine through me
Shine through me
Let my hands be your hands
Let my smile be your smile
Let my love be your love
Cause it's all about you
And not about me
Yeah it's all about you
And not about me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViRi10QXm5o
Song 2: I Just Rest
I come before you tonight
I am tired
I am worn out
And I need to see your face
I need you to wrap your arms around me
And tell that I'll be ok
Father I am thirsty
for a touch of your grace
Cause this world is so so hard
This world is so lost, so torn
And I need to feel your peace
This world is not my home
This world is full of pain
This world is filled with anger, filled with hatred
And I need to feel your love
So I just rest in your love
I just rest in your peace
I just rest in your goodness
For you are my only
Harbor from the storm
I just rest in your provision
I just rest in your kindness
I just rest in your holiness
And you are the only
One I want to see
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfJUIrirujU
Song 1: Just Gotta Believe
I was inspired by the movie coming out by Hillsong United "Let Hope Rise" to try to write songs again. I wrote some in high school when I was 14 right after I got saved. I even got to sing one for my church that our worship pastor put music too. Pretty cool. So here is the first one I've written in about 17 years. :) Maybe it could play on the Fish someday. That would be great!
(If you have any connections to producers etc. feel free to email me at angel28oc@gmailcom.)
Just Gotta Believe
You tell me that you love me
You tell me that I'm special
I just gotta believe
Just gotta believe
You tell me I can do great things
You tell me you believe in me
I just gotta believe
Gotta believe
I gotta have faith that I can move mountains
Faith that I can do miracles
Faith that you will help me
in whatever I go through
I gotta have faith I'll make a difference
Faith that I can reach the lost
Faith that I can show love
no matter how I feel
I know that you are wonderful
I know that you watch over me
I just gotta believe
Gotta believe
I know you gave your life for me
I know you live inside of me
I just gotta believe
Gotta believe
I gotta have faith that I can move mountains
Faith that I can do miracles
Faith that you will help me
in whatever I go through
I gotta have faith I'll make a difference
Faith that I can reach the lost
Faith that I can show love
no matter how I feel
I gotta have faith
Gotta have faith
I gotta have faith
Gotta have faith
And here's me singing it :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m85RqdPyWRA
God bless!
(If you have any connections to producers etc. feel free to email me at angel28oc@gmailcom.)
Just Gotta Believe
You tell me that you love me
You tell me that I'm special
I just gotta believe
Just gotta believe
You tell me I can do great things
You tell me you believe in me
I just gotta believe
Gotta believe
I gotta have faith that I can move mountains
Faith that I can do miracles
Faith that you will help me
in whatever I go through
I gotta have faith I'll make a difference
Faith that I can reach the lost
Faith that I can show love
no matter how I feel
I know that you are wonderful
I know that you watch over me
I just gotta believe
Gotta believe
I know you gave your life for me
I know you live inside of me
I just gotta believe
Gotta believe
I gotta have faith that I can move mountains
Faith that I can do miracles
Faith that you will help me
in whatever I go through
I gotta have faith I'll make a difference
Faith that I can reach the lost
Faith that I can show love
no matter how I feel
I gotta have faith
Gotta have faith
I gotta have faith
Gotta have faith
And here's me singing it :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m85RqdPyWRA
God bless!
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Life and Growing Cold
For any that need a muse when writing, as in some inspiration, try turning on some Hillsong worship music and write with that. Ever since I started my blog about 4 years ago I almost always write with Hillsong worship music playing in the background. I think there really is something to worship bringing in the presence of God, making demons of doubt or writers block flee, and the Holy Spirit giving you words to say. It really is beautiful and so much fun. If you have never tried writing with worship music playing, try it, and just see what God might lead you to say. :) You can write it in a private journal or start a blog. :) For 13 years of my life I just wrote in a private journal, but I'm glad I started writing in a blog, because maybe what I write can help others. God willing.
I was just watching a Francis Chan sermon and man he is so much like me. I think he is a sanguine personality and that's mostly what I am. He was talking about how criticism from others kept him from saying everything he knew God wanted him to say, because he cares to much what people think of him. And how he started to doubt himself. And yes when I get criticism about my writing I tend to just stop for awhile. But I wish what others say didn't put out my fire, but it tends to. :(
He also was talking about how he used to be so much more in love with Jesus than he is now, and I can relate. I remember when I was in college, going off somewhere by myself, sitting down in the grass, and just singing worship songs to God, whatever songs came to my mind. And I just had such a wonderful feeling that I was so in love with God then and that there was nothing else I would have rather done than that.
But then life happened. More sins on my part happened, with relationships. I had some hard jobs. Moving a lot. A death of a loved one. And I kind of lost that flame and love for God, little by little. I suppose the hard things made me get angry at God. It's easy to feel in love with God when life is going good, but when hard times hit it's hard to not get confused about things. It's hard to not wonder about the nature of God, and what he is really like. Why would he let certain things happen? Is he a good God? Does he really care about me?
And then for whatever reason over the last year I keep having these odd thoughts like what if it all isn't even true. Just kind of in the back of my head. Life, what if someone just wrote the Bible for fun but it wasn't inspired by God. Someone was just writing a book like any other book. So pray for me in that if you can. I don't know what it is really. Charismatics would say it's a spirit of doubt or something. Could be spiritual attack and Satan getting me to stop making my Jesus packets and stop writing so much. It's also most likely just because I'm not in church much and my focus is more on my kids now than on God. I rarely go to church because it's hard with kids, and they seem to have a panic attack if I leave them in child care. I watch sermons online some but sometimes my 2 year old won't let me in a sense because she wants to watch her shows. So life with God definitely changes after having kids. I love my kids, but I miss how things used to be with me and God too. Paul does say that a married woman is concerned about the affairs of her family and not just God. And yes, that happens.
Francis Chan said "When is the last time that you went up the mountain just to be with God? To be in his presence?" And I was thinking, a long time. I suppose when I listen to Hillsong worship music it kind of takes me up the mountain to where God is in a sense. But when you have kids it's hard to get alone with God and be able to sing like I used to.
He talked about how fruit just naturally comes when we remain in the vine. There have been times in my life when I listened to sermons almost all day, and then other times where I've gone a month without listening to one, which are the hardest times.
And to wrap this up, the lesson in all this is always listen to sermons. Always stay in a Bible study if you can. And small groups are so much more meaningful then just church. It helps to actually talk to other believers. In church there is no talking so it's not the same really. I really think church should just be all worship and small groups and everyone can get a DVD to watch at home of a sermon, because whatever is seen in a sermon could be seen at home.
Anyways, stay connected to the vine, Jesus and the church. And try to not loose faith when hard times happen. Make sure you know at least one person who's faith is stronger than yours and who can pull you up and back into faith when you slip.
God bless! :)
I was just watching a Francis Chan sermon and man he is so much like me. I think he is a sanguine personality and that's mostly what I am. He was talking about how criticism from others kept him from saying everything he knew God wanted him to say, because he cares to much what people think of him. And how he started to doubt himself. And yes when I get criticism about my writing I tend to just stop for awhile. But I wish what others say didn't put out my fire, but it tends to. :(
He also was talking about how he used to be so much more in love with Jesus than he is now, and I can relate. I remember when I was in college, going off somewhere by myself, sitting down in the grass, and just singing worship songs to God, whatever songs came to my mind. And I just had such a wonderful feeling that I was so in love with God then and that there was nothing else I would have rather done than that.
But then life happened. More sins on my part happened, with relationships. I had some hard jobs. Moving a lot. A death of a loved one. And I kind of lost that flame and love for God, little by little. I suppose the hard things made me get angry at God. It's easy to feel in love with God when life is going good, but when hard times hit it's hard to not get confused about things. It's hard to not wonder about the nature of God, and what he is really like. Why would he let certain things happen? Is he a good God? Does he really care about me?
And then for whatever reason over the last year I keep having these odd thoughts like what if it all isn't even true. Just kind of in the back of my head. Life, what if someone just wrote the Bible for fun but it wasn't inspired by God. Someone was just writing a book like any other book. So pray for me in that if you can. I don't know what it is really. Charismatics would say it's a spirit of doubt or something. Could be spiritual attack and Satan getting me to stop making my Jesus packets and stop writing so much. It's also most likely just because I'm not in church much and my focus is more on my kids now than on God. I rarely go to church because it's hard with kids, and they seem to have a panic attack if I leave them in child care. I watch sermons online some but sometimes my 2 year old won't let me in a sense because she wants to watch her shows. So life with God definitely changes after having kids. I love my kids, but I miss how things used to be with me and God too. Paul does say that a married woman is concerned about the affairs of her family and not just God. And yes, that happens.
Francis Chan said "When is the last time that you went up the mountain just to be with God? To be in his presence?" And I was thinking, a long time. I suppose when I listen to Hillsong worship music it kind of takes me up the mountain to where God is in a sense. But when you have kids it's hard to get alone with God and be able to sing like I used to.
He talked about how fruit just naturally comes when we remain in the vine. There have been times in my life when I listened to sermons almost all day, and then other times where I've gone a month without listening to one, which are the hardest times.
And to wrap this up, the lesson in all this is always listen to sermons. Always stay in a Bible study if you can. And small groups are so much more meaningful then just church. It helps to actually talk to other believers. In church there is no talking so it's not the same really. I really think church should just be all worship and small groups and everyone can get a DVD to watch at home of a sermon, because whatever is seen in a sermon could be seen at home.
Anyways, stay connected to the vine, Jesus and the church. And try to not loose faith when hard times happen. Make sure you know at least one person who's faith is stronger than yours and who can pull you up and back into faith when you slip.
God bless! :)
Monday, September 19, 2016
Reflecting on Verses
I was watching Francis Chan just now talk about the Holy Spirit and Pentecost. I was thinking how back then there was a need for Christians to speak in many languages, because there were so many languages spoken in that region. But now most of the world knows English, thanks to TV and movies. So hopefully anything I write can be read by people all over the world. There isn't as much of a need to speak many languages now. That's how I see it at least.
Here are some verses that are applicable to me right now that would be good for me to meditate on. Sometimes I look up the 100 most important Bible verses or best verses to memorize etc. And then if I feel led to think or write about some I do. It's been awhile since I did that, so here are my current thoughts on some of God's thoughts to us. :)
Ephesians 2:8,9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
This is a very important one for me now. It is hard to keep the balance of doing good deeds but not thinking that our works save us. I know in my mind that I'm saved by grace but maybe my actions of working a lot and making lots of my Jesus packets show that sub consciously I think I'm saved by my works? I don't know. And perhaps that has led to boasting on my part which isn't good. No matter what we do, it can never compare with what Jesus did for us. So I need to always remind myself of that.
Here is another very applicable verse for me now:
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart ,and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
I generally don't tend to think of God this way, maybe because my parents had such high expectations of me. But I generally don't think of God as gentle and that his burden is light. I feel like He expects a lot of me and for me to do a lot, which he does in a way, but then there are verses like this. There is "To whom much is given much is required" but then there is "my burden is light." Perhaps it is that when we are feeling lazy we need to hear that much is required of us, and when we feeling overwhelmed we need to remember that God is gentle and his yoke is easy.
Isaiah 40:30-31
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
And my last thought it about hope. I think in this current roller coaster my husband and I have had, over buying a house and where and having things not work out, it made me think about hope. I think people tend to not want to hope or get their hopes up about things because then what if things don't work out? And yes that is a reality of life, that things often don't work out, but that does not mean we should never be hopeful about anything.
When we hope we fly above Satan's attacks. When we STAY in hope we are indestructible in a sense. Even if one thing doesn't work out we can hope for another thing. If we stay down we are zapped of our strength. "The joy of the Lord is your strength." And when you stay in hope you can "soar on wings like eagles." You can rise above it all. You can stay happy, even when things don't work out.
What really is key is that our hope needs to be in God that he will make our dreams come true somehow. "Delight yourself in the Lord and he shall give you the desires of your heart." What we may think at one time is a desire of our heart may not be in the future. It helps to have a broader perspective. We may think we want something now but if we were to get it, we might realize we didn't want it.
This is applicable to houses not working out for us, I love how Joel Osteen always says, "If you get stuck in a traffic jam maybe God is saving you from an accident down the road." Like if you hadn't gotten stuck in traffic maybe you would have had an accident. Maybe if Ben and I had bought any of the houses we were wanting we would have had a massive accident with them somehow. Maybe a foundation would have been bad or something would have broken on the house, who knows.
Our goal now is to get a two bedroom apt. that has a great view of a river up by my mom. I was thinking about a month ago, how often does a person get to live on a river. They don't have any 3 bedrooms so that might be kind of hard, but being on a river will be pretty cool. It's a one chance in a lifetime opportunity. So instead of thinking of what didn't work out, I need to redirect my thoughts to the positive of what will work out. And eventually we will buy the house. We will just wait for our tax return so we have more money to work with, which will be better because then we can get everything we need for the house like a washer dryer etc.
So in the end it probably will be better. "Good things come to those who wait" is a popular phrase. And hopefully that will be true for us.
May God bless you all! :)
Here are some verses that are applicable to me right now that would be good for me to meditate on. Sometimes I look up the 100 most important Bible verses or best verses to memorize etc. And then if I feel led to think or write about some I do. It's been awhile since I did that, so here are my current thoughts on some of God's thoughts to us. :)
Ephesians 2:8,9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
This is a very important one for me now. It is hard to keep the balance of doing good deeds but not thinking that our works save us. I know in my mind that I'm saved by grace but maybe my actions of working a lot and making lots of my Jesus packets show that sub consciously I think I'm saved by my works? I don't know. And perhaps that has led to boasting on my part which isn't good. No matter what we do, it can never compare with what Jesus did for us. So I need to always remind myself of that.
Here is another very applicable verse for me now:
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart ,and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
I generally don't tend to think of God this way, maybe because my parents had such high expectations of me. But I generally don't think of God as gentle and that his burden is light. I feel like He expects a lot of me and for me to do a lot, which he does in a way, but then there are verses like this. There is "To whom much is given much is required" but then there is "my burden is light." Perhaps it is that when we are feeling lazy we need to hear that much is required of us, and when we feeling overwhelmed we need to remember that God is gentle and his yoke is easy.
Isaiah 40:30-31
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
And my last thought it about hope. I think in this current roller coaster my husband and I have had, over buying a house and where and having things not work out, it made me think about hope. I think people tend to not want to hope or get their hopes up about things because then what if things don't work out? And yes that is a reality of life, that things often don't work out, but that does not mean we should never be hopeful about anything.
When we hope we fly above Satan's attacks. When we STAY in hope we are indestructible in a sense. Even if one thing doesn't work out we can hope for another thing. If we stay down we are zapped of our strength. "The joy of the Lord is your strength." And when you stay in hope you can "soar on wings like eagles." You can rise above it all. You can stay happy, even when things don't work out.
What really is key is that our hope needs to be in God that he will make our dreams come true somehow. "Delight yourself in the Lord and he shall give you the desires of your heart." What we may think at one time is a desire of our heart may not be in the future. It helps to have a broader perspective. We may think we want something now but if we were to get it, we might realize we didn't want it.
This is applicable to houses not working out for us, I love how Joel Osteen always says, "If you get stuck in a traffic jam maybe God is saving you from an accident down the road." Like if you hadn't gotten stuck in traffic maybe you would have had an accident. Maybe if Ben and I had bought any of the houses we were wanting we would have had a massive accident with them somehow. Maybe a foundation would have been bad or something would have broken on the house, who knows.
Our goal now is to get a two bedroom apt. that has a great view of a river up by my mom. I was thinking about a month ago, how often does a person get to live on a river. They don't have any 3 bedrooms so that might be kind of hard, but being on a river will be pretty cool. It's a one chance in a lifetime opportunity. So instead of thinking of what didn't work out, I need to redirect my thoughts to the positive of what will work out. And eventually we will buy the house. We will just wait for our tax return so we have more money to work with, which will be better because then we can get everything we need for the house like a washer dryer etc.
So in the end it probably will be better. "Good things come to those who wait" is a popular phrase. And hopefully that will be true for us.
May God bless you all! :)
Persevere
This is from a devotional I wrote about 3 years ago :)
Phil. 2:12, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”
What does this verse mean? Does it mean we need to be afraid of “losing our salvation?” Perhaps. There were the seed on the rocky soil and the seed among the thorns that didn’t make survive. There will be seeds, or people’s faith, that spring up for a time but don’t last. Does that mean that these people lost their salvation or that they were never saved to begin with? It’s hard to say for sure.
Paul says that you are to “work out your salvation.” This does not mean that we are saved by our deeds. We are saved by faith alone. But as James says, “Faith without deed is dead.” If we have faith, we WILL have deeds, as in we will love others. Our tangible love will show that we are saved. Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, IF you love one another.” Amen. And Love is showed in action. Love is not a feeling only. Love is doing things for others. Love is doing good deeds for others. That is why “faith without deeds is dead.”
This is how we work out our own salvation. Paul says that we are to test ourselves and see if we are really in the faith. So many people THINK they are saved when they really are not. Jesus said many on that day will say “Lord, Lord” etc. and He will say that he NEVER knew them.
So we can’t just expect to float down a lazy river of faith. Faith is not being lazy and complacent. Our faith shows itself in what we do. Jesus said that we will know other Christians by their fruit. If you aren’t bearing any fruit, how do you know for sure that you are saved? We need to be bearing fruit and in so doing we work out our own salvation. Amen. May God help us to bear a lot of fruit and show love to others.
Reflection Questions
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In what ways is my faith evident in what I do?
__________________________________________________________________
If other people were able to follow me around 24/7, would they be able to tell that I am a Christian?
__________________________________________________________________
What good things am I doing for others to show them love?
__________________________________________________________________
Am I ever lazy in my faith? How can I not be lazy in my faith?
__________________________________________________________________
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Saturday, September 17, 2016
Home Buying Struggles
My hubby and I have had 7 failed attempts at buying a home lol. I thought I would write this to maybe encourage some of you that have also had such struggles and also to share all that I have learned.
Our first attempt was a double wide mobile home in Midland on an acre of land. But our payment would have been $1600 a month and the land didn't look very pretty. Plus we were concerned about Ben's job lasting. This was about 2 months before the oil boom crashed recently, so praise God we didn't get that.
The I started looking into houses that we could get a USDA loan on out by my mom here in Austin. We then found LGI homes in Jarrell. We were all set up for that but then they decided Ben needed to get an Austin job first. So we got an apartment here instead. Then we were set up in Manor but Ben wanted to switch it to Kyle, TX. But then our loan didn't work out. Something about Ben's income not qualifying for that area. There are all kinds of rules when it comes to loans.
Then I looked into some other options. DR Horton houses in Austin's colony, which could have worked but Ben didn't feel the area was very safe. Then I looked at DR Horton homes in Hutto. We almost qualified but our income to debt ratio didn't work for the home we wanted.
And so now we are looking into getting a used home. We are planning to use a USDA loan on a house in Hutto that will be more affordable. I think we just needed to figure out also what we want our monthly payment to be and what city we want to be in forever. Big decision obviously. But the main thing that's great is Hutto, TX is the 4th safest city in the entire U.S. woohoo!
The great thing about USDA loans for any who don't know is it's zero down and it covers the closing costs. All that's needed is the earnest money which is one percent of the house amount. Pretty cool. It has to be a home in a rural area. It may seem unwise to not have a down payment, but after calculating things I realized our payment would only be about $40 better per month even if we paid like 10k down. So down payments don't help a whole lot.
So a used house might work out for us soon, hopefully. Please pray that we can get something. If not we might get an apartment again, but it would be nice if we could finally get settled somewhere permanently. May God open doors for us. May God bless you all!
Our first attempt was a double wide mobile home in Midland on an acre of land. But our payment would have been $1600 a month and the land didn't look very pretty. Plus we were concerned about Ben's job lasting. This was about 2 months before the oil boom crashed recently, so praise God we didn't get that.
The I started looking into houses that we could get a USDA loan on out by my mom here in Austin. We then found LGI homes in Jarrell. We were all set up for that but then they decided Ben needed to get an Austin job first. So we got an apartment here instead. Then we were set up in Manor but Ben wanted to switch it to Kyle, TX. But then our loan didn't work out. Something about Ben's income not qualifying for that area. There are all kinds of rules when it comes to loans.
Then I looked into some other options. DR Horton houses in Austin's colony, which could have worked but Ben didn't feel the area was very safe. Then I looked at DR Horton homes in Hutto. We almost qualified but our income to debt ratio didn't work for the home we wanted.
And so now we are looking into getting a used home. We are planning to use a USDA loan on a house in Hutto that will be more affordable. I think we just needed to figure out also what we want our monthly payment to be and what city we want to be in forever. Big decision obviously. But the main thing that's great is Hutto, TX is the 4th safest city in the entire U.S. woohoo!
The great thing about USDA loans for any who don't know is it's zero down and it covers the closing costs. All that's needed is the earnest money which is one percent of the house amount. Pretty cool. It has to be a home in a rural area. It may seem unwise to not have a down payment, but after calculating things I realized our payment would only be about $40 better per month even if we paid like 10k down. So down payments don't help a whole lot.
So a used house might work out for us soon, hopefully. Please pray that we can get something. If not we might get an apartment again, but it would be nice if we could finally get settled somewhere permanently. May God open doors for us. May God bless you all!
Sunday, September 4, 2016
A Poem about Children
Children
So helpless
So fragile
So often hurt by those bigger than them
Brought into a sinful and broken world
God help them
Crying out for someone to love them
Dependent, helpless
Stumbling to find their way in the world
Learning to walk, to be their own person
Trying to be strong and independent
But still needing love so much
Wanting to be seen
Wanting to be cherished
Cute, lovely, amazing
Silly, clowns, charming
Such a beautiful amazing creation of God
Such beautiful smiles and beautiful eyes
So happy, so simple
Content easily with playing with a wrapper
So much potential
So much life
Precious, Beautiful, Amazing
Children
So helpless
So fragile
So often hurt by those bigger than them
Brought into a sinful and broken world
God help them
Crying out for someone to love them
Dependent, helpless
Stumbling to find their way in the world
Learning to walk, to be their own person
Trying to be strong and independent
But still needing love so much
Wanting to be seen
Wanting to be cherished
Cute, lovely, amazing
Silly, clowns, charming
Such a beautiful amazing creation of God
Such beautiful smiles and beautiful eyes
So happy, so simple
Content easily with playing with a wrapper
So much potential
So much life
Precious, Beautiful, Amazing
Children
Starting a Church in Manor, TX
Watching sermons by Francis Chan has me thinking. Maybe me and Ben can start a church in Manor, TX soon woohoo! We are moving there in about 3 months in our new home, and as of now there's only like a few tiny churches there. That would be so cool!
I would want it to run like what Paul talks about in 1st cor. 14 where each person can share a story or suggest a song etc and Ben and I would just moderate it all. Like have people take turns sharing etc.
I've always been frustrated that American church is just like a rock show and then a lecture. I want to see church done differently. Maybe we can start a movement of that lol. Who knows.
Lectures typically go in one ear and out the other, but light bulbs come on when there is discussion. It can be scary, cuz what if someone criticizes what you say, but it can be fun too! Church wasn't meant to be just a show. It was meant to be a family. Maybe the church we start really can feel like a family. woohoo! Pray for us for that please.
And this is the sermon that inspired me :) Check it out! It's great! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APbQbrgv69g&app=desktop
When I was at my college, Biola, Francis Chan was by far my favorite chapel speaker. No one else I heard was so passionate about God and so obviously in love with God. If you want to hear a passionate, super on fire sermon that will put you on the edge of your seat, listen to that. Francis Chan is awesome! Because he reminds us very well that God is awesome :)
I was thinking for baptisms we could use a kiddy pool in our backyard or maybe even the living room. Then I was thinking how odd that would be to have wet people in the living room lol. And then I was thinking, that's why baptism is what it is. We all remember when we were sopping wet in our clothes after our own baptism. Baptism is to symbolize how completely different we are supposed to be after getting saved. It's like everyone else is walking around with dry clothes and we are walking around sopping wet. And I suppose that could be to symbolize how Jesus said "streams of living water will flow from within you." In in not of it.
And here's a poem on that:
The Church
Called to be different
Drenched in wet clothes like after a baptism
when everyone still has dry clothes
Changed, different
Drenched in the love of God and the passion of the Holy Spirit
Dripping water everywhere we go
Having water to drink for any that are thirsty
Constantly being showered down with a water hose of love from God
Never dry, never thirsty, never lonely
Always filled up with the love of God
Passionate, on fire, witnesses
Pouring love on others like a bucket of water
Till it drenches them all over and they really, really feel God's love
Finally, maybe for the first time
We the Church
Called to be Different
Lights in the world
So many walking around in the dark
Bumping their heads on random objects
In pain, lost, without hope
Scared, alone
But we are a light to show the way
A light in the dark
Showing where true joy is and LIFE
The light of the world, a city on a hill
But we hide in our garages and our houses
Put the garage door down as soon as we get home
Is that how it was supposed to be?
Why the isolation? Why the hiding? America?
Dive in!
Dive into humanity!
Get out there!
Put yourself out there
Stop being afraid
Stop hiding
From the world, from love, from connection
Be all that God wants you to be!
Start a Church
Reach the lost!
Feed the sheep!
Help people come alive!
And find hope and love and life
Make disciples of all, as many as you can
God spoke to you once that you would do something great
You know in your heart he has GREAT plans for you
To make a difference
To do something amazing
So step out!
Step out in the spot light
Stop being afraid
Start a Church
"What can man do to me"
"If God is for me who can be against me."
Amen.
May God bless you!
Lectures typically go in one ear and out the other, but light bulbs come on when there is discussion. It can be scary, cuz what if someone criticizes what you say, but it can be fun too! Church wasn't meant to be just a show. It was meant to be a family. Maybe the church we start really can feel like a family. woohoo! Pray for us for that please.
And this is the sermon that inspired me :) Check it out! It's great! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APbQbrgv69g&app=desktop
When I was at my college, Biola, Francis Chan was by far my favorite chapel speaker. No one else I heard was so passionate about God and so obviously in love with God. If you want to hear a passionate, super on fire sermon that will put you on the edge of your seat, listen to that. Francis Chan is awesome! Because he reminds us very well that God is awesome :)
I was thinking for baptisms we could use a kiddy pool in our backyard or maybe even the living room. Then I was thinking how odd that would be to have wet people in the living room lol. And then I was thinking, that's why baptism is what it is. We all remember when we were sopping wet in our clothes after our own baptism. Baptism is to symbolize how completely different we are supposed to be after getting saved. It's like everyone else is walking around with dry clothes and we are walking around sopping wet. And I suppose that could be to symbolize how Jesus said "streams of living water will flow from within you." In in not of it.
And here's a poem on that:
The Church
Called to be different
Drenched in wet clothes like after a baptism
when everyone still has dry clothes
Changed, different
Drenched in the love of God and the passion of the Holy Spirit
Dripping water everywhere we go
Having water to drink for any that are thirsty
Constantly being showered down with a water hose of love from God
Never dry, never thirsty, never lonely
Always filled up with the love of God
Passionate, on fire, witnesses
Pouring love on others like a bucket of water
Till it drenches them all over and they really, really feel God's love
Finally, maybe for the first time
We the Church
Called to be Different
Lights in the world
So many walking around in the dark
Bumping their heads on random objects
In pain, lost, without hope
Scared, alone
But we are a light to show the way
A light in the dark
Showing where true joy is and LIFE
The light of the world, a city on a hill
But we hide in our garages and our houses
Put the garage door down as soon as we get home
Is that how it was supposed to be?
Why the isolation? Why the hiding? America?
Dive in!
Dive into humanity!
Get out there!
Put yourself out there
Stop being afraid
Stop hiding
From the world, from love, from connection
Be all that God wants you to be!
Start a Church
Reach the lost!
Feed the sheep!
Help people come alive!
And find hope and love and life
Make disciples of all, as many as you can
God spoke to you once that you would do something great
You know in your heart he has GREAT plans for you
To make a difference
To do something amazing
So step out!
Step out in the spot light
Stop being afraid
Start a Church
"What can man do to me"
"If God is for me who can be against me."
Amen.
May God bless you!
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