WOW though Rena said it...these verse describe our current culture to a tee. How sad is it that throughout history, societies have fallen because we as humans want to be in control rather than given God control and allowing him to help us through life. Why can't we learn? God is very patient with us! Especially seeing as I can think of many times throughout history that cultures fell to sin and destruction because they didn't heed God's commands, nor did they acknowledge his love, or him at all.
Lets see similarities... between Babel, Rome, USA uh, scary thought. Babel fell into disarray and confusion and people could no longer understand each other. Rome went from the height of power, prestige, and a huge empire to crazy rulers, and losing everything. USA is going down this path now, we need God more then ever, yet we as a nation keep turning away from him and pushing him out of our lives. Why is it that we think that it is easier to do as we please and then
realize the consequences of our actions, words , thoughts rather then
listening first and following God's plan and live like he would have
us live. You would think that since we have the freedom to choose we
would pick God's way and stop fighting him and fight the real battle
against sin.
God please help us to turn back to you! Father, help this nation and your world to realize how much we need you and how we can't choose the right path with out you leading us. We are sinners by nature but Father please help us return to you and be as children who hang on those they love. Please rebuild our families , rebuild our schools and teachers, rebuild our relationships with one another, and rebuild our governments with you at the center. The only way in which we can escape what has happened to other societies throughout history is to have your forgiveness and grace and move forward with you is command.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Romans 1:18-32
Romans 1:18-32 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.25 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.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death,they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
The depravity of human beings to not only destroy themselves, but to destroy each other is all together to evident in our society and the world. We remove God from schools and then blame him for the horrid violence that has recently plagued schools. We remove God from our societies and wonder where he is when things go terribly wrong. It is so easy for use to give into all that our flesh desires.
We have exchanged God for the newest iphone, the coolest car, the TV, and Hollywood. Reality stars, actors, politicians, and sports athletes become our heros and our gods. The world in its great wisdom has found easier and quicker ways to issue the planet into oblivion. Christians, are cast as stupid, silly, and weak. Christ becomes a ploy used by sports stars to be seen as humble and politicians to justify their opinions. God leaves the world to stumble over itself. Lets it become a mess. Why?
Firstly because we choose wrong. Rather then standing by the truth God had given us, we fell, we eat the apple. And this act is repeated through out the ages of humanity by each and every one of us. We choose ourselves at some point over God. Christ is the only one who lived a blameless life, the only one who turned away from the apple and choose God's truth.
Second God leaves us because he created us with the ability to choose. We have freedom to follow his ways or our own. Its only when we give up our own freedom and choose to put ourselves under God, that he really steps into our lives and starts changing things.
Even those of us that choose God, who search after his truth, find ourselves constantly pulled towards sin. Its far too easy to do what we want and rely on our own power. It is a fight. A war with many battles, some of which we will probably loose. But praise God, we have him on our side and even more importantly he is there to pick us up when we do fall down. No man made god, no hero (no matter how great) can do that.
The depravity of human beings to not only destroy themselves, but to destroy each other is all together to evident in our society and the world. We remove God from schools and then blame him for the horrid violence that has recently plagued schools. We remove God from our societies and wonder where he is when things go terribly wrong. It is so easy for use to give into all that our flesh desires.
We have exchanged God for the newest iphone, the coolest car, the TV, and Hollywood. Reality stars, actors, politicians, and sports athletes become our heros and our gods. The world in its great wisdom has found easier and quicker ways to issue the planet into oblivion. Christians, are cast as stupid, silly, and weak. Christ becomes a ploy used by sports stars to be seen as humble and politicians to justify their opinions. God leaves the world to stumble over itself. Lets it become a mess. Why?
Firstly because we choose wrong. Rather then standing by the truth God had given us, we fell, we eat the apple. And this act is repeated through out the ages of humanity by each and every one of us. We choose ourselves at some point over God. Christ is the only one who lived a blameless life, the only one who turned away from the apple and choose God's truth.
Second God leaves us because he created us with the ability to choose. We have freedom to follow his ways or our own. Its only when we give up our own freedom and choose to put ourselves under God, that he really steps into our lives and starts changing things.
Even those of us that choose God, who search after his truth, find ourselves constantly pulled towards sin. Its far too easy to do what we want and rely on our own power. It is a fight. A war with many battles, some of which we will probably loose. But praise God, we have him on our side and even more importantly he is there to pick us up when we do fall down. No man made god, no hero (no matter how great) can do that.
Romans 1:12&16
So I am going to look at two verses 12 and 16
12 that is, you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.
This verse strikes me. I just spent a good long night wih my best friend Levi. Most of the night we talked about the things that we both have been struggling with. We talked till two in the morning poring out each others hearts to each other. After we woke up this morning I realized how much I need a good friend that has strong belief. Then I read this verse Romans 1:12 " that is that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each others faith". After I had read this it really hit me we can't go thru this world with out someone to help. If we try to fight the battle that is given to us, whatever it is; lust, wanting of what ever, we can't fight it alone. That why we need The Lord to help us fight. Along with The Lord it is a great help to have a friend that is going thru the same stuff as you, that way you both can keep each other on track. I just want to close in prayer about this:
Thanks you Lord for this day, thank you also for my frenid Levi, he has helped me a lot with finding out what I need to do. Lord I pray that I can be come the strong place in someone's life, and also help me to be come the friend that I want to be. Amen.
The second verse is 16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
This is kind of a cool verse we can tell people about he good news of God, but we should not beat our selfs if they do not except it just keep trying. So if we do that the next time that you get that push to go and talk to some one different, just do it, and leave the rest up to God to do the rest. Also don't think of what others will thing. Because it does not matter what they think but what God thinks.
12 that is, you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.
This verse strikes me. I just spent a good long night wih my best friend Levi. Most of the night we talked about the things that we both have been struggling with. We talked till two in the morning poring out each others hearts to each other. After we woke up this morning I realized how much I need a good friend that has strong belief. Then I read this verse Romans 1:12 " that is that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each others faith". After I had read this it really hit me we can't go thru this world with out someone to help. If we try to fight the battle that is given to us, whatever it is; lust, wanting of what ever, we can't fight it alone. That why we need The Lord to help us fight. Along with The Lord it is a great help to have a friend that is going thru the same stuff as you, that way you both can keep each other on track. I just want to close in prayer about this:
Thanks you Lord for this day, thank you also for my frenid Levi, he has helped me a lot with finding out what I need to do. Lord I pray that I can be come the strong place in someone's life, and also help me to be come the friend that I want to be. Amen.
The second verse is 16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
This is kind of a cool verse we can tell people about he good news of God, but we should not beat our selfs if they do not except it just keep trying. So if we do that the next time that you get that push to go and talk to some one different, just do it, and leave the rest up to God to do the rest. Also don't think of what others will thing. Because it does not matter what they think but what God thinks.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Romans 1:8-17 Reminds me of Camp...
Romans 1:8-17 Reminds me of how I feel about camp. I love the people and the atmosphere at camp and long to see them. I pray for my sisters and brothers and camp family on a regular basis even though I am no longer working there and many of us dont see each other very often. Camp was one of the first places I felt that I could be an encouragement to others and also encourage kids through what God did threw me. However, like Rena, I think that most of this feeling of longing to see people is mostly selfish. I want to feel as if I am needed and as if I am doing something with a purpose, I also selfishly love the being with people who are like minded and who want to love kids.
Rena I will be praying for you. I also feel that I need to grow in prayer and faith so I ask that you also pray for me. Thanks for being a support and a loving sister!
Rena I will be praying for you. I also feel that I need to grow in prayer and faith so I ask that you also pray for me. Thanks for being a support and a loving sister!
Monday, February 4, 2013
Romans 1:8-17 (Rena)
Romans 1:8-17
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
"I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift..." I've never really prayed for this. I understand the longing that Paul describes. The deep heartfelt longing to see someone. Even in now with facebook, blogs, cell phones, and skype, there is nothing that compairs to physically seeing someone face to face. There is a realness to it that can not be duplicated, even with all our technology.
Still when I do venture homeward to see family or even just travel to see friends. I never pray that I would be able to do this so I can impart a spiritual gift, that we can encourage each other in faith. I'm more interested in just seeing people, in getting from them some satisfaction that I'm indeed loved. Or I feel some obligation to go and be a good daughter, a good sister, a good friend. But to truely pray that I might do something, not for my sake, but for the growth of another. That we might together, despite our fallen human nature, grow closer to God, is never really been a part of my prayer.
I am continually struck by my need to grow deeper in prayer. Deeper in my faith. I hope that you will pray that I might be open to God's teaching in my life, that I would come more often in prayer before Him. And pray that although we are seperated by distance, that when we do see each other that we would be more intentional with our time.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
"I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift..." I've never really prayed for this. I understand the longing that Paul describes. The deep heartfelt longing to see someone. Even in now with facebook, blogs, cell phones, and skype, there is nothing that compairs to physically seeing someone face to face. There is a realness to it that can not be duplicated, even with all our technology.
Still when I do venture homeward to see family or even just travel to see friends. I never pray that I would be able to do this so I can impart a spiritual gift, that we can encourage each other in faith. I'm more interested in just seeing people, in getting from them some satisfaction that I'm indeed loved. Or I feel some obligation to go and be a good daughter, a good sister, a good friend. But to truely pray that I might do something, not for my sake, but for the growth of another. That we might together, despite our fallen human nature, grow closer to God, is never really been a part of my prayer.
I am continually struck by my need to grow deeper in prayer. Deeper in my faith. I hope that you will pray that I might be open to God's teaching in my life, that I would come more often in prayer before Him. And pray that although we are seperated by distance, that when we do see each other that we would be more intentional with our time.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Romans 1:1-7 (Theo)
So I like verses 5 when it talks about getting grace and apostleship
That kind of reminds me of youth group, we were talking about what happens when the Holy Spirit gives you one of these nudges to go talk to someone that you don't know you and does not have Christ in their life. I can tell you that most of the time we put the voices in our head out and then we don't act on them.
It is kind of like running the first steps are the hardest and then it get easier.
If you feel the nudge to go and talk to someone new, go and see what could happen, the worst thing that could happen is they just blow you off like your Crazy, but you crazy, crazy for Christ that is.
I challenge each one of us to talk to someone and see what could happen.
That kind of reminds me of youth group, we were talking about what happens when the Holy Spirit gives you one of these nudges to go talk to someone that you don't know you and does not have Christ in their life. I can tell you that most of the time we put the voices in our head out and then we don't act on them.
It is kind of like running the first steps are the hardest and then it get easier.
If you feel the nudge to go and talk to someone new, go and see what could happen, the worst thing that could happen is they just blow you off like your Crazy, but you crazy, crazy for Christ that is.
I challenge each one of us to talk to someone and see what could happen.
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