So, many of us say that we believe in the Bible. We believe in its word and power, but do we know what that means completely. I don't think so.
Do we, in our souls, believe that Jonah survived in a "Large fish." Or that there was a huge flood and all the animals were divided into pairs? Sure, we pass these stories off to kids as a way to capture their imagination and keep them interested, but can us "grown ups" say that we believe? (I can call myself a grown up because I am finally 21 . . . ) It's a hard question to answer because we want to say yes, but deep down I don't think that we are sure.
The same goes with Jesus . . .
Do we want to believe in Jesus because he captures our imagination? Or because he really truly walked this earth.
Here is some interesting letters. Just a point.
http://www.seriousbible.com/generalquestions
Hey if Jesus is real, how can the old testament be false?
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."John 3:36
The entire Bible is directed towards the savior, Jesus. I'm just sayin'.
God Bless.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Gift of Grace?
Soo, It's been a while and I've had a lot of cool things I've read and wanted to share and write about - This kind of follows up with one of our last Bible Studies we had on the discussion about RIGHTEOUSNESS
We know we have been given the gift of GRACE ... and that can't be taken away, no matter what we do.
" What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that the grace may increase?" (Romans 6:1)Of course not! We would be doing things we shouldn't with the excuse or back of plan of "It will all work out, I'll be forgiven for whatever I do". This is doing things with the wrong intentions and proving you're not thankful for that we have been given, what has been done for our sake.
This gift shouldn't be taken for granted but should be embraced. This was done for us so that we may have a new and better life.
Our old selves were crucified with Christ and sin was gone! We no longer are tied down and enslaved by sin! Sin is not in control of our lives, it is not our master because we are under grace not law. We were once slaves to sin and now we are to Christ. Isn't that amazing that we didn't have to do anything to receive this it was merely given because we are loved that much? That blows my mind!! There are so many more benefits we get from where we are now, in Gods hands. Take advantage of the Grace and don't give in to evil desires - only offer what you have to God!
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
Dead to sin . . . and alive in Christ
Let's try to live up to this and show through our faith that the gift of grace was meant for us! God speed . . .
<3 LNV
We know we have been given the gift of GRACE ... and that can't be taken away, no matter what we do.
" What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that the grace may increase?" (Romans 6:1)Of course not! We would be doing things we shouldn't with the excuse or back of plan of "It will all work out, I'll be forgiven for whatever I do". This is doing things with the wrong intentions and proving you're not thankful for that we have been given, what has been done for our sake.
This gift shouldn't be taken for granted but should be embraced. This was done for us so that we may have a new and better life.
Our old selves were crucified with Christ and sin was gone! We no longer are tied down and enslaved by sin! Sin is not in control of our lives, it is not our master because we are under grace not law. We were once slaves to sin and now we are to Christ. Isn't that amazing that we didn't have to do anything to receive this it was merely given because we are loved that much? That blows my mind!! There are so many more benefits we get from where we are now, in Gods hands. Take advantage of the Grace and don't give in to evil desires - only offer what you have to God!
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
Dead to sin . . . and alive in Christ
Let's try to live up to this and show through our faith that the gift of grace was meant for us! God speed . . .
<3 LNV
Monday, June 29, 2009
There is hope
I am reading a book right now titled A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink. I picked it up on a whim while waiting for a delayed plane in Denver. I have begun to fall in love with what this book is saying. I haven't gotten that far into it yet, but it's all about how right brain thinkers are on the rise. Gone are the days of needing a super logical, decisive brain. The doctors and lawyers are changing their job descriptions because their jobs are not so decisive any more.
So, what does this have to do with Jesus?
Now, many people are searching for a spiritual side of life. They are searching for meaning. Many more artists are on the rise and many more are claiming to be spiritual whatever that means to them . . .
I think that this opens a door for Jesus. He has an opportunity to be seen for what he is. Maybe this is a new era of Religion.
So, what does this have to do with Jesus?
Now, many people are searching for a spiritual side of life. They are searching for meaning. Many more artists are on the rise and many more are claiming to be spiritual whatever that means to them . . .
I think that this opens a door for Jesus. He has an opportunity to be seen for what he is. Maybe this is a new era of Religion.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
What Else Do We Want?
In 1 Corinthians 4
* 1 COR 4:7-8
I may not have interpreted this the correct way but it makes me think of this . . .
-What do I want that I don't already have? AND if I have what I want, than why am I acting like I didn't receive it? This causes us to be boastful because we are being satisfied by something else other than God. (aka- still missing something and aren't truly happy) How can we act like all is well without God?
For example, this is something I want to make sure I don't do, as hard as it can be sometimes:
WANT= Happines
BF= Happy/Satisfied
GOD= ??
Where does that leave God? There's no space for him. I wouldn't need Him, to satisfy anything. (Like Andrew has said- when we are happy do we usually need God?)
While it's ok to be happy now that I have a boyfriend (Andrew) I can't distract myself with the fact that I should be satisfied by God, FIRST! He should be what fills me up, then all the rest falls into place. Having a boyfriend should be the "icing on the cake" if you will. And having a Godly "guy" haha like Andrew in my life is truly a blessing,and to be able to share this relationship we have with GOD with eachother makes everything work well, and the way it's supposed to.
It should be:
WANT= Happiness
GOD= Happy/Satisfied
BF= Shares in happiness/God relationship
I just want those of you in relationships to really take this seriously. As I think I have spoken about previously, you have to have a relationship with Him before one with anyone else, or it just won't be successful. Girls especially, be in everything for all the right reasons, and make decisions accordingly --> I'll be listening to my own advice as well as I go through life and make decisions.
<3 LNV
P.S. Andrew is out in Yellowstone! He'll be back soon :(
* 1 COR 4:7-8
I may not have interpreted this the correct way but it makes me think of this . . .
-What do I want that I don't already have? AND if I have what I want, than why am I acting like I didn't receive it? This causes us to be boastful because we are being satisfied by something else other than God. (aka- still missing something and aren't truly happy) How can we act like all is well without God?
For example, this is something I want to make sure I don't do, as hard as it can be sometimes:
WANT= Happines
BF= Happy/Satisfied
GOD= ??
Where does that leave God? There's no space for him. I wouldn't need Him, to satisfy anything. (Like Andrew has said- when we are happy do we usually need God?)
While it's ok to be happy now that I have a boyfriend (Andrew) I can't distract myself with the fact that I should be satisfied by God, FIRST! He should be what fills me up, then all the rest falls into place. Having a boyfriend should be the "icing on the cake" if you will. And having a Godly "guy" haha like Andrew in my life is truly a blessing,and to be able to share this relationship we have with GOD with eachother makes everything work well, and the way it's supposed to.
It should be:
WANT= Happiness
GOD= Happy/Satisfied
BF= Shares in happiness/God relationship
I just want those of you in relationships to really take this seriously. As I think I have spoken about previously, you have to have a relationship with Him before one with anyone else, or it just won't be successful. Girls especially, be in everything for all the right reasons, and make decisions accordingly --> I'll be listening to my own advice as well as I go through life and make decisions.
<3 LNV
P.S. Andrew is out in Yellowstone! He'll be back soon :(
Monday, June 22, 2009
Not Yet Mature
In 1 Corinthians 3
We are humans and are all still immature in our faith/spiritual life . . . we can't yet handle all that it entails. Will we ever be able to fully understand?
God is key in our life and we need him for any and everything. If we try to do some things on our own we will always find there is a vital piece missing, and as a result of that, we will remain unsuccessful without Him. We need Him, and I think we all know that, we just don't face it sometimes.
God laid down a foundation for us. Our job is to build upon it in the right way. We are not supposed to ignore what God has done for us and try to lay a foundation of our own.(Making other things our foundation instead of God- putting other things before God). We would be destroying God's work and His gift/grace for us. It won't work!
Foundation: Faith in God --> all we are to live by and if we try to replace it by other things to make our life "complete" than we aren't living up to God's plan and purpose for our lives . . . he gave us this foundation for a reason! We can't make anything else our main focus over God, or all will go wrong.(Like materials things, etc.) Can you think of anything that you have placed before God, or put in His place ?
* 1 COR:10-11
<3 LNV
We are humans and are all still immature in our faith/spiritual life . . . we can't yet handle all that it entails. Will we ever be able to fully understand?
God is key in our life and we need him for any and everything. If we try to do some things on our own we will always find there is a vital piece missing, and as a result of that, we will remain unsuccessful without Him. We need Him, and I think we all know that, we just don't face it sometimes.
God laid down a foundation for us. Our job is to build upon it in the right way. We are not supposed to ignore what God has done for us and try to lay a foundation of our own.(Making other things our foundation instead of God- putting other things before God). We would be destroying God's work and His gift/grace for us. It won't work!
Foundation: Faith in God --> all we are to live by and if we try to replace it by other things to make our life "complete" than we aren't living up to God's plan and purpose for our lives . . . he gave us this foundation for a reason! We can't make anything else our main focus over God, or all will go wrong.(Like materials things, etc.) Can you think of anything that you have placed before God, or put in His place ?
* 1 COR:10-11
<3 LNV
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Selfless Act of Giving
Andrew and I decided to jump into the book of 1 CORINTHIANS! So, here goes . . .
Just as Paul was called to be an apostle of Jesus, by Gods will, some of us are also called to do great things.(1 COR:1) Those that are called, people give thanks to because they bring light to others. They will venture off to serve equipt with all knowledge they need and lacking in nothing. (Makes me think of James 1:4"Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything".
What comes to mind when reading the first part of Chapter 1 is Missionaries! They are called from God and therefore impact so many lives. It truly has to be the will of God for someone to lay down their life for not only God, but everyone. It is a very self-less life. Missionaries are setting a good example for all of us, because shouldn't we all be living that way anyway? Thinking of others instead of ourselves first, giving to give and not ask anything in return, and making a difference in someone's life . . . aren't those all things everyone wants? I think that defines being truly happy!
Keep Andrew in your prayers as he is prepping for life in the Mission field, and pray for me to have it on my heart.
<3 LNV
Just as Paul was called to be an apostle of Jesus, by Gods will, some of us are also called to do great things.(1 COR:1) Those that are called, people give thanks to because they bring light to others. They will venture off to serve equipt with all knowledge they need and lacking in nothing. (Makes me think of James 1:4"Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything".
What comes to mind when reading the first part of Chapter 1 is Missionaries! They are called from God and therefore impact so many lives. It truly has to be the will of God for someone to lay down their life for not only God, but everyone. It is a very self-less life. Missionaries are setting a good example for all of us, because shouldn't we all be living that way anyway? Thinking of others instead of ourselves first, giving to give and not ask anything in return, and making a difference in someone's life . . . aren't those all things everyone wants? I think that defines being truly happy!
Keep Andrew in your prayers as he is prepping for life in the Mission field, and pray for me to have it on my heart.
<3 LNV
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Listening is Key
On that same note, Andrew had a point! :)
Often times we find ourselves reading the bible like we read a textbook for school. We skim and don't really comprehend and then we aren't able to apply what we read because we didn't learn anything.
The Bible holds such powerful and important things to live by. God's speaks to us through it, and how are we going to "just read" to say we did? Or how can we read it and then just put it away and go on with our "lives"? It is worthless to us unless we do what we are being told, follow what we are being called to do. . .
It is like a resource to us to grow stronger in Christ and it is given to us, why are we not taking better advantage of that? Well, that's because we find excuses not to do it (too tired, not in the mood, too busy, not cool, don't have it with me, and the list goes on) I know we can all relate with this in some way.
But, the point is, it's not a textbook it is a subject we should be genuinely interested in if we plan to live our life God's way, the only way!
Let's try to read with more enthusiasm and really understand what we are reading. Andrew and I decided the best way to do this is by keeping a journal log and writing down our thoughts, comments, notes, and prayers. It is my favorite way of taking all of God in and putting what I learn to good use. It's great because you can refer back to it at anytime. What are some other ways?
<3 LNV
Often times we find ourselves reading the bible like we read a textbook for school. We skim and don't really comprehend and then we aren't able to apply what we read because we didn't learn anything.
The Bible holds such powerful and important things to live by. God's speaks to us through it, and how are we going to "just read" to say we did? Or how can we read it and then just put it away and go on with our "lives"? It is worthless to us unless we do what we are being told, follow what we are being called to do. . .
It is like a resource to us to grow stronger in Christ and it is given to us, why are we not taking better advantage of that? Well, that's because we find excuses not to do it (too tired, not in the mood, too busy, not cool, don't have it with me, and the list goes on) I know we can all relate with this in some way.
But, the point is, it's not a textbook it is a subject we should be genuinely interested in if we plan to live our life God's way, the only way!
Let's try to read with more enthusiasm and really understand what we are reading. Andrew and I decided the best way to do this is by keeping a journal log and writing down our thoughts, comments, notes, and prayers. It is my favorite way of taking all of God in and putting what I learn to good use. It's great because you can refer back to it at anytime. What are some other ways?
<3 LNV
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