Sometimes I and a lot of people don't understand the ways of God. A lot of people question God. A lot of aethists and science try to disprove God. The only way to truely understand God is to have a relationship with him. However, understanding God is totally different than just believing in God. If you understand God, then your aligned with God. You understand the decisions made by Him for you. You don't always have to agree with certain things, but you understand that what happens in life or whatever path life takes you is a path known and set by somebody higher than you. He is the ultimate decision maker. And if you understand Him, then you trust Him. If you trust Him, then you seek Him. Everything else becomes sort of numb when you trust God. The ways of this world become numb. Politics, violence, hurt, pain, suffering, sin....it just all becomes numb because you know that this life is just not the only life. This is just a flash before you enter eternity. And this life is just a testament before the ultimate judgment. God is forgiving, but were you truely sorry. There's a difference between being just sorry and repenting.
God does not want us to just believe in Him, but to understand Him as well. God has not hidden Himself from us. He gave us Jesus and his Word. He gave us the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is what helps you develop convictions. The Spirit leads us to the Truth. If we continue to question why God allows certain things to happen in life, you begin to question God's authority. Doubting only leads people to become double minded. Remember, God is always watching.
James 1: 5
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Again and Again
Acts 16:29-33
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they SPOKE THE WORD OF THE LORD to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were BAPTIZED.
Over and over and over again, the Bible, Jesus Christ, John, Paul, emphasize hearing the Word of the Lord, coming to faith, repenting, and being BAPTIZED!!
These are the steps to becoming a Christian and a lot of people don't believe this and I don't understand how they don't believe this when the Bible is very clear. Show me where in the Bible it says that you can pray Jesus into your heart and be saved? Where does Jesus say this? Where does Paul say this? The Bible will mention being saved through grace or faith, but in each of those passages its referring to either baptism after this, or being clear on those that were saved prior to the 1st coming of Jesus Christ (e.g. Abraham being saved - who was not baptized). The old and new testaments are complete different. Read it, study it...its clear.
This is me just being BOLD. Jesus was bold and scared a lot of people. I'm just trying to be more like Jesus.
A lot of religous faiths also emphasize baptism or christening for a child. There is no mention in the Bible for this. Children are already saved. Jesus Christ welcomed and blessed children during His ministry. Mark 10:13-16 reveals an interesting incident involving children.
"And they began bringing children to Him, so that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, 'Permit the children to come to Me; and do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter in at all.' And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands upon them."
I was baptized when I was a baby, but this was something the Catholic church emphasized. Not the Bible.
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they SPOKE THE WORD OF THE LORD to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were BAPTIZED.
Over and over and over again, the Bible, Jesus Christ, John, Paul, emphasize hearing the Word of the Lord, coming to faith, repenting, and being BAPTIZED!!
These are the steps to becoming a Christian and a lot of people don't believe this and I don't understand how they don't believe this when the Bible is very clear. Show me where in the Bible it says that you can pray Jesus into your heart and be saved? Where does Jesus say this? Where does Paul say this? The Bible will mention being saved through grace or faith, but in each of those passages its referring to either baptism after this, or being clear on those that were saved prior to the 1st coming of Jesus Christ (e.g. Abraham being saved - who was not baptized). The old and new testaments are complete different. Read it, study it...its clear.
This is me just being BOLD. Jesus was bold and scared a lot of people. I'm just trying to be more like Jesus.
A lot of religous faiths also emphasize baptism or christening for a child. There is no mention in the Bible for this. Children are already saved. Jesus Christ welcomed and blessed children during His ministry. Mark 10:13-16 reveals an interesting incident involving children.
"And they began bringing children to Him, so that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, 'Permit the children to come to Me; and do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter in at all.' And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands upon them."
I was baptized when I was a baby, but this was something the Catholic church emphasized. Not the Bible.
Prayer
It has taken most of my life to finally realize that if I need the Lord, then I just need to call Him. Sounds kind of like a no-brainer, but for some reason, I spent most of my time with the Lord dealing with personal requests. I think we all do this a lot. I have prayed pretty much my whole life. I've only been a Christian for about a year now though, but I've always prayed. I have prayed very specifically at times and I have prayed in the bigger picture at times, but I have always prayed. What I did not necessarily pray about, though, were of "things to come." I think many of us tend to pray about the “here and now” or "me" issues, or the things that we want "to come," not necessarily asking the Lord to reveal what He is doing "concerning the work of My hands."
Why is this so important to understand? When I see verses that say to "ask" the Lord for something, then I know that must be His will. Instead of just focusing on the issues in our immediate path, we should ask the Lord about what He is doing down the road. He has a plan for all of us. Sometimes I get down or depressed when things go wrong, but I know that this is all in His plan now for me. I have been immensely blessed and have had huge increases in my own level of faith because I have learned to ask the Lord "of things to come" and have seen Him answer through circumstances or situations that have come to pass. My role is to ask, then to pray for wisdom and discernment in how to go forth in what He shows me.
We need to know that the Lord is more than willing to reveal things to us, if we are seeking Him with all of our hearts. As I grow in my walk with Christ, He will teach me His ways and mold my character into more of His image. When we spend time in His Word, we begin to see how verses take on a completely new meaning to us personally. This is the Word of God, and that's the first thing you have to believe. If you don't believe that the Bible is the Word of God, then you have little faith and it's impossible to take the next steps.
Why is this so important to understand? When I see verses that say to "ask" the Lord for something, then I know that must be His will. Instead of just focusing on the issues in our immediate path, we should ask the Lord about what He is doing down the road. He has a plan for all of us. Sometimes I get down or depressed when things go wrong, but I know that this is all in His plan now for me. I have been immensely blessed and have had huge increases in my own level of faith because I have learned to ask the Lord "of things to come" and have seen Him answer through circumstances or situations that have come to pass. My role is to ask, then to pray for wisdom and discernment in how to go forth in what He shows me.
We need to know that the Lord is more than willing to reveal things to us, if we are seeking Him with all of our hearts. As I grow in my walk with Christ, He will teach me His ways and mold my character into more of His image. When we spend time in His Word, we begin to see how verses take on a completely new meaning to us personally. This is the Word of God, and that's the first thing you have to believe. If you don't believe that the Bible is the Word of God, then you have little faith and it's impossible to take the next steps.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Just another day
I remember listening to a Paul Oakenfold track back in college titled "Just Another Day" by Skip Raiders and spun by Oakenfold himself. It is just another day. Like any other day. That's what it feels like.
Well, this weekend I have a 4 day weekend. I was off yesterday and I have Monday, the 4th, off as well. I was thinking about taking a road trip somewhere, but decided to just stay in town and relax. I'm actually pretty bored. So bored that sometimes I open up my laptop and do some work. Pretty sad.
So I found a new coffee shop called Copper Coin in Woodstock which is a really cool place. About 3 times as big as Starbucks and the coffee is decent. I really like coming here (where I'm writing from) because of the atmosphere though, not really the coffee. It's right in the middle of old town and there's usually some form of live music or stand up that I like to watch. I think this is my new hang out. Hopefully they survive.
Random note...but I officially miss my turntables. I had all the gear and I really thought I would hang on to them for a long time. I must have been desperate for some money or something when I sold them. Not sure what I was thinking then. But I miss just messing around with them and blending music. I remember blasting the music in my dorm room and everyone partying in my hall. Fun times. It didn't feel like it was just another day then.
Well, this weekend I have a 4 day weekend. I was off yesterday and I have Monday, the 4th, off as well. I was thinking about taking a road trip somewhere, but decided to just stay in town and relax. I'm actually pretty bored. So bored that sometimes I open up my laptop and do some work. Pretty sad.
So I found a new coffee shop called Copper Coin in Woodstock which is a really cool place. About 3 times as big as Starbucks and the coffee is decent. I really like coming here (where I'm writing from) because of the atmosphere though, not really the coffee. It's right in the middle of old town and there's usually some form of live music or stand up that I like to watch. I think this is my new hang out. Hopefully they survive.
Random note...but I officially miss my turntables. I had all the gear and I really thought I would hang on to them for a long time. I must have been desperate for some money or something when I sold them. Not sure what I was thinking then. But I miss just messing around with them and blending music. I remember blasting the music in my dorm room and everyone partying in my hall. Fun times. It didn't feel like it was just another day then.
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