Memory Verse of the Week: Romans 8:38-39

As a child I would stay awake at night horrified of one thing. Not the spooky monsters lurking in my closet or even the thought that a scary bug could be crawling in my bed. One thing haunted my thoughts and tortured me: death. 

But not just death, but what happens after death.

The Bible, however, has assuring words for those thoughts. 

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This verse assures us that nothing, not even death can separate us from God's love. There never has to be another sleepless night. Memorizing this verse will help vanquish the insane thought that we may not be with Jesus when we die. 

Music Monday: Do Something

"God is good"
"All the time"
"And all the time"
"God is good"
That's a common phrase Christians say and although we believe it, sometimes we look around and honestly wonder, "God, if you are 'good' and perfect then why is there so much pain?!?"
I know I find my self wondering that a lot. But one of the reasons God made us is to do good works that he prepared before time (Ephesians 2:10). We are His hands and feet so we need to DO SOMETHING about the pain in the world.
This song is a perfect anthem for the Christians of the this age to stop complaining about the evil in the world and to start doing something.

When We Act Like Doctor Manette

[If I have gotten any info wrong on the wonderful novel mentioned below, bear with me, I have only read it once and you need to read it more to grasp the whole concept.]


In the novel A Tale of Two Cities there is a character named Doctor Manette and he is thrown in jail for eighteen years, however he was thought to be dead. In Book the First of a Tale of Two Cities, Doctor Manette is “Recalled to Life” because as it turns out, he’s not dead! … Well, he's not physically dead. Mr. Lorry and Doctor Manette’s teenage daughter, Lucie, go to get him from where he is being kept.

Doctor Manette has lost it. When Mr. Lorry and Lucie find him, he doesn’t even call himself Doctor Manette, but the name of the tower he was previously residing in. And to add to all that, all he does day and night is make shoes. Fast forward five years and Dr. M is a normal person living with his daughter safely in another city. However he still keeps his old shoe making bench and tools and he isn’t exactly sure what happened to him the years before. Besides all that, though, he is happy with his daughter.

This is Dickens though, and the book is three hundred something pages long so that’s not the happy ending of Dr. Manette. One night after Charles Darnay marries Dr. Manette ’s daughter, Dr. Manette  relapse or “backslides” as Christians call it. He returns to making shoes for nine whole days. Eventually his friends, Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross have to destroy his shoe maker bench and bury his tools.

You may be wondering why I’ve just summarized a snipped of a Charles Dickens book. Well I’m reading it in English class so this is just like a study guide for me. Just kidding. I am writing about it because in some way I feel like the story of Doctor Manette can be an allegory for Christians. You may be wondering “how?” Or you may already have an idea of what I’m about to say.

Before we were saved and became Christians, we were dead in our trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1) just like how Doctor Manette was dead (not physically but mentally, similar to how we’re not physically dead, just spiritually). However, someone came to get us: Jesus. So we are saved from our condition of being dead not because of anything we did, but only because of Jesus.

Jesus brought us from being a crazy dead person and into a family (similar to how Doctor Manette was in a family with his daughter). We no longer need to go back to shoe making or our sinful addictions. Over time we learn that Jesus saves us from our addictions because we are a new creation.

I love how Colossians 3:1-17 talks about us being a new person in Him.

Colossians 3:12-14 (NKJV)

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

We are called God’s “holy and beloved” so we become something more now that we are made alive in Him. As Christians we are to put on all of the attributes of God. Ephesians 5:1 says we are to be "imitators of God". That doesn’t mean we don’t sin, because we are not God, but we are new creations.

But… something happens… at least it happens to me. I am free from this sin, this thing that’s been a hold over my life for years and suddenly… suddenly I don’t know what to do and I find myself sliding back into the swamp of sin and shame and guilt, wondering what just happened???

The Bible calls this “Backsliding” and it happened to the Israelites time and time again. Just like how Doctor Manette went back to his shoemaking, I go back to my old addiction. So what’s the answer? Lucky for us the beginning of Colossians 3 explains it. Just like Doctor Manette’s shoemaker’s bench had to be destroyed, we have to put sin to death.

Colossians 3:1-7 (NKJV)
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. (Bold added)

But easier said than done right? How do you kill your “members which are on the earth”? Well I have something hopefully encouraging to say: YOU can’t! Encouraged? Let me finish that: YOU can’t, but God will.

And how does He put your sin to death? With a little thing we call the armor of God.

[Stay tuned for the end of "When We Act Like Doctor Manette" which is coming out next week and will feature the Armor of God!]

Memory Verse of the Week: Psalm 16:7-8

Psalm 16:7-8(ESV)

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
God does not just sit on a cloud in the sky, urging for us to fall. He is our counselor, He tells us what to do and not to do. If we rely on God solely then nothing will be able to shake us. That's one of the many reasons we should praise Him: He instructs us because He loves us. In times of temptation, we need to rely on Him and put His word against that temptation. God never fails.

Music Monday: Still That Girl

I've met a lot of girls who have changed since elementary school. Some for the better... some not. I love this song because it looks back to the past for the right reasons: you can still be the person you used to be. Yes we all break and fall but no matter where we are we are never too far for God to use us. Sometimes we have to go through certain things so God can use that experience to build His kingdom. No matter what you are going through, it's not too much for God.

No post this week!

Hey guys I just want you to know I am not dead this week but I will not be posting all week for personal reasons. Check in next Monday for a new song and keep memorizing psalm 37:4!

What To Do For The Woman Who Does Everything For You

We are at what I feel to be one of the most commercialized holidays of the year and for some reason I am fine with that. When Christmas rolls around I hate how it’s all about Santa Clause and gifts. And Easter isn’t much better with it’s bunny that leaves eggs (think about it: a bunny leaves eggs. That’s wrong.) However with Mother’s day it’s all about mom. And we should thank Mom because she carried us in her belly for nine months then takes care of us until we're 30 (OK, maybe 25). And although I believe “Mother’s Day” should be everyday I also believe we should honor our mothers.

Why? Well I’ll give you two reasons:

1.      God commanded us to

·        Exodus 20:12 (NKJV) “Honor your father and your mother.”

2.      You will be blessed because of it

·        Ephesians 6:1-4 (NKJV) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

·        So as you see we should honor our parents and God also blesses us when we do that. It’s a win win.

That first commandment wasn’t just saying to honor them on one day a year; this is your whole life. However I still think Mother’s Day is important. After all its one of the three days most people go to church no matter what (the others is Christmas and Easter). So what exactly should you do for your mother on Mother’s Day? I will give some ideas of things you can do without reaching into your pocket but still digging into your heart.

1.      Tell your wonderful mom you love them and mean it

·        I know every mother isn’t super cool like mine (love ya, mom!) and isn’t as easy to get along with but I honestly think that the overall performance of the world would improve if daughters and sons would tell their mother they love them. 

2.      Make them breakfast in bed

·        For some strange reason Mother’s Day is on a Sunday and if your church starts at 9:30 like mine, giving your mom breakfast in bed isn’t always easy. It may be better to do this the Saturday before. However it's Sunday (when this post is going out)…so… well… do with this idea what you will

3.      Clean up

·        I know, I know, that’s mom’s job right? Wrong! We could at least clean the house our parents are graciously allowing us to live in.

4.      Give her a card

·        Some people say that hallmark cards are the best but I know from experience that handmade cards feel the best to get because they’re more personal. I'm not downing store bought cards though because this year that's what my siblings and I are doing. 

5.      Do what she wants to do

·        I don’t know about your family but for mine we always go out to eat on birthdays or holidays. Sometimes this is works out great for me like when we get Mexican food. Other times the person wants to go somewhere I think is gross. But you know what? If my mom doesn’t want to go to that new barbecue place I’ve been longing to try, it’s all good. This is her day!

6.      Don’t be selfish

·        This is an everyday thing but especially Mother’s Day. Today is her day. Listen to what she says and don’t get mad if all she wants to do is sleep and not read the aweteous (awesome + righteous= aweteous, my friend thought of that) card you made her right when she gets out of bed.

7.      Say “I love you” again

·        You can never say that enough (and I didn’t want to leave this list on six).

I absolutely love Mother’s Day and I hope these ideas helped you. If you have any more ideas or thoughts on Mother’s day, comment below. In addition to this post I am going to put two great Mothers Day videos below for you to watch with your mom.

[Note: My wonderful Proverbs 31 mother, Mrs. Hope, edits my blog post most of the time but for today it’s in the hands of Grace and Ally. It would be weird if she edited this, then she would expect me to do all of the stuff I listed. JK, I wont be a hypocrite. Maybe I should take off number 3… Never mind. Hopefully there are not too many typos.]

Memory Verse of the Week: Psalm 37:4

Psalm 37:4 (ESV)

Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

I had a conversation with my mom about this verse around a week ago and we both had two very different perspectives but we both agree that this verse could be used the wrong way. Although we said different stuff I believe what we both said was true.

My side: People may abuse this passage because they could say that it's saying God will give you any ting you want, i.e. a brand new car or all of the cloths you want. However I believe that when you delight in the Lord, the desires of your heart will be what He wants and you will want to please Him.

Mom's side: Mom believes that people can take what I said to an extreme and say that you can’t want any material things. But she knows that's not true. God does want to bless us, but He doesn’t want those things to take over your life and have a place above Him.

If you have any input on this verse comment below!

Music Monday: We Dance

Like I've said before, the Christian walk doesn't end when we get saved. Its a life long walk with your Lord and Savior, a dance of sorts. This song talks about the relationship aspect of Christianity. Jesus steadies us and fights for us and dances with us. But the thing with dances like the waltz is that only on person leads. That's how it is for us: Jesus leads and we just follow behind Him.
I absolutely love this new Bethel Music song and I also love their new album You Make Me Brave.
Some of my favorites on the album are Forever by Kari Jobe and A Little Longer by Jenn Johnson & Bethel Music. Check them out because I'm sure you will be hearing their songs on the radio soon!

Get Out the Colored Pens and Prepare

Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’"

 

Studying the bible is super important in the life of a Christian. Its like our food. In the verse above Jesus says that we cannot live without God's word and He's QUOTING GODS WORD!! That's why Matthew 4:4 is one of my favorite verses. He is pointing out clearly that we should memorize the Word. But that in itself can permit a problem. How exactly do you study God's Word?

Well I will let you in on my life and give you ideas of how I study the Bible and maybe you can give me some inspiration too.

First things first: our tools

Of course a Bible. Here is my hardcover (yes it's taped) study Bible (named Bibly Two):

Next I always like to have colored pens (red, blue and black) and sticky notes:

And also I love using tabs to mark things:

(Purple are some of my favorite verses; Orange is verses about salvation; Pink is kind of hard to explain; Green is for things I'm dealing with)

 

Now that we have all of our supplies we can begin reading and studying the Bible. I absolutely hate it when I don't have pens with me when I'm reading because writing is how I learn.

Currently I am going through the book of Acts so I am journaling a lot with that. However first I will explain how I annotate the Bible.

Obviously I am not a neat person. I underline or circle or box sentences that stand out to me then I write notes on the side in the same colored pen so I know what notes go to what verse. If I don't have enough room to write something legibly then I go to...

However if my bible can't contain my note I turn to my trusty dusty journal.

My journal holds so much. Lately I've been using a journaling technique I learned at a girls conference my church had around a month ago. 

This help me think through passages and understand what it says and how its relevant. Writing also helps me remember what I've read and learned.

Some of my post are even old journal entries.

Here are some random things I do in my journal: pictures and list and such.

Just like the prayer post from last week, this is not the only way to study the Bible. You don't have to have a journal or annotate your Bible. I know someone who hates writing in them, it's just not her thing and that's fine!

Post ways you like to study the Bible in the comments below so I can get more ideas!