so, a little lax on the blogging lately? *Awkward* no comment. xD
Anyways,
Continuing on in the myths of Repentance. They are each so beautiful.
Myth four: Reformation is Repentance.
He begins like his: Anyone can turn over a new leaf. It does not require the help of God to sin less of to sin differently. All of us are worse than we need to be, and at anytime it is possible to drop some of our worst habits and to do better than ever before. Because self-improvement, including moral reformation, is at least occasionally practiced by millions of persons with or without religious inclinations, it has been called "pagan repentance."
In the repentant life, this is a scary situation. Often times, when we repent, we think that any change in our lives is of God. As Mr. Roberts just said, it doesn't require Gods help to sin less. When we sin less, we think, "Oh maybe we just REALLY repented and now we know how to Repent." It has been in my experience that for Repentance, there is no 'real' way to Repent. There is only the change of heart. One of my struggles is the definition of a change of heart. Can a change of heart still be a change of heart if you felt it once? Is it not a change of heart if you fail to meet the standards of what you once felt? Those are questions I'm trying to figure out.
But we need to consider carefully what this means for our Repentant life. Because it is true, people improve themselves all the time and it take great self-control, but it doesn't need God. You can change your whole life around and it doesn't need God! For example many people have reformed from smoking. Even if they are smoking addicts, they do turn around. It's a great accomplishment for them, and it takes a lot of self-control, but they didn't need God. You can repent for wrong deeds, like smoking, and totally leave God out of it. That's what we call 'pagan' repentance. So think about it. What IS true repentance? How do we know what true repentance it? Have we been using 'pagan' repentance?
So I encourage you search God tonight, repent. We NEED to ask God to show us TRUE repentance. Because Repentance is BEFORE salvation. How can we have Salvation while we are using 'pagan' repentance?
Hope your day is awesome and may everything you do be for His glory.
~Hannah
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
~Repentance: Myth two and three~
As I said, today we will continue in chapter four, the myths of Repentance. I think this chapter is SO beautiful! Many times, we'll hear 'Repent'. The preachers may tell all about Repentance and what it is, but often times we fail to understand the meaning. I am a culprit of this. I've heard about Repentance for four or five years now, and I still am amazed by it. I don't understand it perfectly, but I do understand it. What better thing to do, then read the book Repentance? Repentance is my calling. And so I urge you to read with care. For many believers don't know the myths of Repentance.
SO myths two and three. Beautiful!
I'll begin with myth three and then go to two. I like myth two better, so I want to spend more time on it. But myth three is important to.
Myth Three: Penance and Repentance are the same.
Most of you reading this, are probably not from a church that practices "penance." In case you are, this is important. But it still has some truth for those who don't practice penance, and that is why I decided not to skip it.
The concept of penance is by no means limited to those who view it as a sacrament. The idea of earning God's favor has a very broad appeal. Thus penance has become a widely practiced religious dogma. Multitudes erroneously believe that in acts of self-castigation and devotion they are repenting.
Penance falls short of repentance in many ways. It tends to focus on the external or outward issue of what the sinner has done rather on what the sinner is. It is frequently aimed toward the ecclesiastical body rather than toward God....
....Penance, at best, is only a theory. It has no biblical foundation.
To summarize these statements is this: Penance is a stumbling point for everyone. We tend to believe that if we do good it will atone for our sin. The church, many times, believes that we can earn God's favor. If we have repenting people, how many people go up to the alter and cry, how much money we can earn through prayer, even through false repentance do we believe we can earn God's favor. HOW FOOLISH! It is like thinking that we can put the ocean into a bottle! If we do not believe in God's grace then we are LOST. Just because we read God's word every day, just because we 'Repent', just because we serve our families, just because were are kind to others, just because we pray, just because we are diligent, just because we tithe, DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING. We can't earn our favor with God. Until we REPENT and realize that penance doesn't exist, our works are nothing. You can live a life where you know the bible inside out, where you pray everyday, where you are the kindest person, where people respect you, BUT we must ask this: How are we different than pharisees? The religious leaders were respected, they knew everything there was to know about God's world, they went to the temple, but Jesus will say to them 'depart from me'. We can't know God without having a relationship with him. And we can't have a relationship with him without true repentance. It IS an urgent matter.
While the practice of godliness may very well include acts of abstinence and self-control, such acts must never be confused with biblical repentance.
Myth two: Self-preservation is Repentance.
How many of you can already relate to this? I'll tell you I can. Definitely at first, I thought that maybe if I repented the 'right way' I might not go to hell. I think we often think that when we first hear of repentance. It is foolish to think that way, and we must quickly adapt the RIGHT view of Repentance. Because then we would look at Repentance as what I just talked about: penance. Repentance is not a work that will save you. IT'S NOT A WORK. We must never think that. IT CAN'T SAVE US. Just because we repent doesn't mean that we're not going to hell.
While it is possible to be moved toward repentance through fear and self-preservation, they are not one and the same, and only infrequently does one lead to the other. It is highly dangerous to confuse either fear or self-protection with Christian repentance.
Well there we have it. It HIGHLY DANGEROUS to confuse or meld the two. Because, of course, everyone wants to escape hell. It we use God just as a pass not to go to hell, we have greatly subjected ourselves to death unless the grace of God intervened. Fear may and often does provoke sudden and earnest changes in people's lives without repentance. He goes on to tell a story of a woman he visited. He got an urgent call to visit a woman in the hospital who was dying. He talked to the woman about faith and repentance, but the woman assured him that she was going to die, but that if God would spare her she would repent. She tried to convince him that she would go to church every week and never miss a Sunday. It turned out that God spared her life. But she got used to being alive and reverted to her old ways. He never saw her in church again. It's a very sad story, but it only proves that she was only repenting for self-preservation. That she didn't want to go to hell. BUT what else is wrong in this story? What's wrong is that she also looked at it as a work. She thought repentance would save her soul. She also thought that going to church would somehow mean something. Does going to church mean anything? Not it your not saved. Because then it's only a work. And that begs the question, who's saved? think about it.
It is not without consequence that neither John the Baptist nor Christ preached, "Repent for the kingdom of hell is at hand." God's purpose in demanding our repentance is not that we might escape the damnation of hell but that we might experience that "change of mind" which characterizes the citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
Exactly, God said, "The kingdom of HEAVEN is at hand." He didn't want you to repent because you thought that you were going to hell. The change of mind is what we need to have.
SO what's this change of mind? How do we know we have the change of mind? Everyone is different. We need to ask God what he wants us to. It's feels so hopeless sometime, because you struggle with questions like: Am I repenting? What can I change? What would God have me do? Should I pray for something different? Should I change?
Well, we must seek God's word. We have to look for God. We have to seek him. We must fall on our faces in shame and cry to him for forgiveness. For if we truly look at it, WE ARE the woman who went back to her sinful ways, WE ARE the man who accused Mr. Roberts of telling a lie, WE ARE SINFUL. Ask God what he wants you to do. He spoke to me and told me what I should do. LET him speak to you. MEDITATE in his WORD if anything. NOT FOR WORKS, but so that you may stumble across the free gift of grace, that you may repent true repentance, and that you may become a TRUE child of God.
I hope your day is awesome and may everything you do be for His glory.
~Hannah
SO myths two and three. Beautiful!
I'll begin with myth three and then go to two. I like myth two better, so I want to spend more time on it. But myth three is important to.
Myth Three: Penance and Repentance are the same.
Most of you reading this, are probably not from a church that practices "penance." In case you are, this is important. But it still has some truth for those who don't practice penance, and that is why I decided not to skip it.
The concept of penance is by no means limited to those who view it as a sacrament. The idea of earning God's favor has a very broad appeal. Thus penance has become a widely practiced religious dogma. Multitudes erroneously believe that in acts of self-castigation and devotion they are repenting.
Penance falls short of repentance in many ways. It tends to focus on the external or outward issue of what the sinner has done rather on what the sinner is. It is frequently aimed toward the ecclesiastical body rather than toward God....
....Penance, at best, is only a theory. It has no biblical foundation.
To summarize these statements is this: Penance is a stumbling point for everyone. We tend to believe that if we do good it will atone for our sin. The church, many times, believes that we can earn God's favor. If we have repenting people, how many people go up to the alter and cry, how much money we can earn through prayer, even through false repentance do we believe we can earn God's favor. HOW FOOLISH! It is like thinking that we can put the ocean into a bottle! If we do not believe in God's grace then we are LOST. Just because we read God's word every day, just because we 'Repent', just because we serve our families, just because were are kind to others, just because we pray, just because we are diligent, just because we tithe, DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING. We can't earn our favor with God. Until we REPENT and realize that penance doesn't exist, our works are nothing. You can live a life where you know the bible inside out, where you pray everyday, where you are the kindest person, where people respect you, BUT we must ask this: How are we different than pharisees? The religious leaders were respected, they knew everything there was to know about God's world, they went to the temple, but Jesus will say to them 'depart from me'. We can't know God without having a relationship with him. And we can't have a relationship with him without true repentance. It IS an urgent matter.
While the practice of godliness may very well include acts of abstinence and self-control, such acts must never be confused with biblical repentance.
Myth two: Self-preservation is Repentance.
How many of you can already relate to this? I'll tell you I can. Definitely at first, I thought that maybe if I repented the 'right way' I might not go to hell. I think we often think that when we first hear of repentance. It is foolish to think that way, and we must quickly adapt the RIGHT view of Repentance. Because then we would look at Repentance as what I just talked about: penance. Repentance is not a work that will save you. IT'S NOT A WORK. We must never think that. IT CAN'T SAVE US. Just because we repent doesn't mean that we're not going to hell.
While it is possible to be moved toward repentance through fear and self-preservation, they are not one and the same, and only infrequently does one lead to the other. It is highly dangerous to confuse either fear or self-protection with Christian repentance.
Well there we have it. It HIGHLY DANGEROUS to confuse or meld the two. Because, of course, everyone wants to escape hell. It we use God just as a pass not to go to hell, we have greatly subjected ourselves to death unless the grace of God intervened. Fear may and often does provoke sudden and earnest changes in people's lives without repentance. He goes on to tell a story of a woman he visited. He got an urgent call to visit a woman in the hospital who was dying. He talked to the woman about faith and repentance, but the woman assured him that she was going to die, but that if God would spare her she would repent. She tried to convince him that she would go to church every week and never miss a Sunday. It turned out that God spared her life. But she got used to being alive and reverted to her old ways. He never saw her in church again. It's a very sad story, but it only proves that she was only repenting for self-preservation. That she didn't want to go to hell. BUT what else is wrong in this story? What's wrong is that she also looked at it as a work. She thought repentance would save her soul. She also thought that going to church would somehow mean something. Does going to church mean anything? Not it your not saved. Because then it's only a work. And that begs the question, who's saved? think about it.
It is not without consequence that neither John the Baptist nor Christ preached, "Repent for the kingdom of hell is at hand." God's purpose in demanding our repentance is not that we might escape the damnation of hell but that we might experience that "change of mind" which characterizes the citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
Exactly, God said, "The kingdom of HEAVEN is at hand." He didn't want you to repent because you thought that you were going to hell. The change of mind is what we need to have.
SO what's this change of mind? How do we know we have the change of mind? Everyone is different. We need to ask God what he wants us to. It's feels so hopeless sometime, because you struggle with questions like: Am I repenting? What can I change? What would God have me do? Should I pray for something different? Should I change?
Well, we must seek God's word. We have to look for God. We have to seek him. We must fall on our faces in shame and cry to him for forgiveness. For if we truly look at it, WE ARE the woman who went back to her sinful ways, WE ARE the man who accused Mr. Roberts of telling a lie, WE ARE SINFUL. Ask God what he wants you to do. He spoke to me and told me what I should do. LET him speak to you. MEDITATE in his WORD if anything. NOT FOR WORKS, but so that you may stumble across the free gift of grace, that you may repent true repentance, and that you may become a TRUE child of God.
I hope your day is awesome and may everything you do be for His glory.
~Hannah
Monday, February 20, 2012
~Repentance: Myths of Repentance~
Today, we're skipping chapter three and going to chapter four. It's really sad, because chapter three is beautiful, but I decided that four is very Beautiful :) I might go back, but for now, we're going to chapter four.
So weird title? Well it sounds funny, because you don't usually get to see the word "Repentance" and the word "Myth" in the same sentence. BUT I am going to explain it.
Please read carefully, because REPENTANCE is the first step and there are many misconceptions. Here are some myths of Repentance.
{Taken from the book: Repentance. By Richard Owen Roberts.}
It is evident that the repentance with which many persons are content is not the repentance that God Himself requires. The apostle Paul made this clear in insisting that the repentant must perform deeds appropriate to repentance. He warned that there is a repentance that leads to death as well as a repentance that leads to eternal life. To stake one's eternal well-being on an error that could be readily avoided is the ultimate in human tragedy. Please do not let this be you.
It begins with a very sincere warning and I think we ought to take this into consideration. The statement is self-explanatory. But I just want to re-quote this, He warned that there is a repentance that leads to death as well as a repentance that leads to life. THIS is a very serious statement. I'll admit, I didn't even know this till I read it. WHAT REPENTANCE LEADS TO DEATH? Well these myths about Repentance might help.
Myth One: Sorrow equals Repentance.
People often think that they have come to repentance because they have been overwhelmed with sorrow for their sins. Others are fearful that possibly they have not repented sufficiently because they see persons around them weeping profusely and they worry, thinking, "I have never wept like that; perhaps I don't know true repentance." We are all in danger of misunderstanding the relationship between sorrow and Repentance.
I don't know about you, but I'm guilty on this point. I've known that there is a wrong kind of repentance. AND I know that tears don't equal repentance. But I was never really sure. There are times where I said just what the worrying people said. "I haven't wept enough, have I repented?" And really I think that's something most people think about in repenting. But there is a separation. Mr. Roberts makes some great points. He tells a story in the next pages or so about a man. It's fascinating actually. While Mr. Roberts was a in church office, a man opened the door (he had met him the previous day and listened to Mr. Roberts teachings) , slammed the door and came and sat by Mr. Roberts. He was weeping and crying and could barely speak. Slowly Mr. Roberts asked him what was the matter and the man told a horrifying story of his immoral life. He was sorry and ashamed he could barely tell the story. Then he asked what he should do. Mr. Roberts said, of course, first Repent, and then go tell your pastor what you just told me. He went to the pastor but it was later confirmed (When Mr.Roberts and the pastor talked) that he hadn't told the pastor the same story. SO, the pastor was worried and asked Mr. Roberts if he thought the man had repented. Mr. Roberts said he hoped so, but he didn't think so. He thought that the man had just been sorry he had been caught by God. And so they prayed to see what would happen. A few weeks later the pastor called Mr. Roberts and asked him if he remembered that same man. Mr. Roberts said "Yes, of course!" And so the Pastor asked him to refresh him memory on the story about the mans life and his confession. Mr. Roberts did exactly that. The Pastor told him he was calling because he had gotten a call from one of the most prominent evangelists in the country rejoicing that he had just added this very same musician to his worship team. The pastor was unsure what do about this and asked Mr. Roberts. Had the man repented? Well, Mr. Roberts said to talk to the evangelist pastor and ask him if the man had told him the same story. And so the Evangelist asked the man about this and the man replied, "Mr. Roberts made all of that up. He was confused, because I told him a story of a different person, not myself." And the story goes on, BUT WAIT A MINUTE.
Did you just read that? THE MAN LIED. And he obviously didn't repent. But he was so overcome by his sin. He WEPT. HE CRIED. BUT HE WASN'T REPENTANT. He was shown his sin by God, but he wasn't REPENTANT. It's actually a rather terrible story. Weeping didn't equal Repentance, it actually equaled deceit and lying. So, we can learn from this.
Repentance isn't Sorrow. IT ISN'T SORROW. It's the truth.
Mr. Roberts asks this: I ask in tender sympathy, have you personally learned to distinguish between the sorrow of the world and the sorrow of God? Have you felt the horrible possibility of your eternal soul being lost because you cling to a myth?
Ponder those questions.
Closing with this:
Let me insist again how urgent it is that we learn to distinguish between sorrow of the world that leads to death and the sorrow that is from God that leads to repentance and eternal life. There is a genuine sorrow that accompanies true repentance, but many who have known flood if tears and racking sobs have never come anywhere near repentance and faith.
There are seven myths in chapter four. To be continued.
Hope your day is awesome, and May everything you do be for His Glory.
~Hannah
So weird title? Well it sounds funny, because you don't usually get to see the word "Repentance" and the word "Myth" in the same sentence. BUT I am going to explain it.
Please read carefully, because REPENTANCE is the first step and there are many misconceptions. Here are some myths of Repentance.
{Taken from the book: Repentance. By Richard Owen Roberts.}
It is evident that the repentance with which many persons are content is not the repentance that God Himself requires. The apostle Paul made this clear in insisting that the repentant must perform deeds appropriate to repentance. He warned that there is a repentance that leads to death as well as a repentance that leads to eternal life. To stake one's eternal well-being on an error that could be readily avoided is the ultimate in human tragedy. Please do not let this be you.
It begins with a very sincere warning and I think we ought to take this into consideration. The statement is self-explanatory. But I just want to re-quote this, He warned that there is a repentance that leads to death as well as a repentance that leads to life. THIS is a very serious statement. I'll admit, I didn't even know this till I read it. WHAT REPENTANCE LEADS TO DEATH? Well these myths about Repentance might help.
Myth One: Sorrow equals Repentance.
People often think that they have come to repentance because they have been overwhelmed with sorrow for their sins. Others are fearful that possibly they have not repented sufficiently because they see persons around them weeping profusely and they worry, thinking, "I have never wept like that; perhaps I don't know true repentance." We are all in danger of misunderstanding the relationship between sorrow and Repentance.
I don't know about you, but I'm guilty on this point. I've known that there is a wrong kind of repentance. AND I know that tears don't equal repentance. But I was never really sure. There are times where I said just what the worrying people said. "I haven't wept enough, have I repented?" And really I think that's something most people think about in repenting. But there is a separation. Mr. Roberts makes some great points. He tells a story in the next pages or so about a man. It's fascinating actually. While Mr. Roberts was a in church office, a man opened the door (he had met him the previous day and listened to Mr. Roberts teachings) , slammed the door and came and sat by Mr. Roberts. He was weeping and crying and could barely speak. Slowly Mr. Roberts asked him what was the matter and the man told a horrifying story of his immoral life. He was sorry and ashamed he could barely tell the story. Then he asked what he should do. Mr. Roberts said, of course, first Repent, and then go tell your pastor what you just told me. He went to the pastor but it was later confirmed (When Mr.Roberts and the pastor talked) that he hadn't told the pastor the same story. SO, the pastor was worried and asked Mr. Roberts if he thought the man had repented. Mr. Roberts said he hoped so, but he didn't think so. He thought that the man had just been sorry he had been caught by God. And so they prayed to see what would happen. A few weeks later the pastor called Mr. Roberts and asked him if he remembered that same man. Mr. Roberts said "Yes, of course!" And so the Pastor asked him to refresh him memory on the story about the mans life and his confession. Mr. Roberts did exactly that. The Pastor told him he was calling because he had gotten a call from one of the most prominent evangelists in the country rejoicing that he had just added this very same musician to his worship team. The pastor was unsure what do about this and asked Mr. Roberts. Had the man repented? Well, Mr. Roberts said to talk to the evangelist pastor and ask him if the man had told him the same story. And so the Evangelist asked the man about this and the man replied, "Mr. Roberts made all of that up. He was confused, because I told him a story of a different person, not myself." And the story goes on, BUT WAIT A MINUTE.
Did you just read that? THE MAN LIED. And he obviously didn't repent. But he was so overcome by his sin. He WEPT. HE CRIED. BUT HE WASN'T REPENTANT. He was shown his sin by God, but he wasn't REPENTANT. It's actually a rather terrible story. Weeping didn't equal Repentance, it actually equaled deceit and lying. So, we can learn from this.
Repentance isn't Sorrow. IT ISN'T SORROW. It's the truth.
Mr. Roberts asks this: I ask in tender sympathy, have you personally learned to distinguish between the sorrow of the world and the sorrow of God? Have you felt the horrible possibility of your eternal soul being lost because you cling to a myth?
Ponder those questions.
Closing with this:
Let me insist again how urgent it is that we learn to distinguish between sorrow of the world that leads to death and the sorrow that is from God that leads to repentance and eternal life. There is a genuine sorrow that accompanies true repentance, but many who have known flood if tears and racking sobs have never come anywhere near repentance and faith.
There are seven myths in chapter four. To be continued.
Hope your day is awesome, and May everything you do be for His Glory.
~Hannah
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
~The LOVE of GOD: 1 Corinthians 13~
Well I'm back! Not as soon as I'd hoped, but let's focus on the now. :D
Anyways, I know I said I was going to do a Repentance or Spiritual Drunkenness post, which I still will, but I think that with today being Valentines day, I would speak on the LOVE of GOD. God's love is such a vast and beautiful thing, and as humans we can't understand it. We're not made to. But we can be thankful. Surely, not thankful enough, but we can try.
I chose the passage of 1 Corinthians 13, because it's the bibles portrayal of LOVE. There are many passages that portray love, because {GOD IS LOVE} YET, I think that this is A WAY to look at it.
Anyways, I know I said I was going to do a Repentance or Spiritual Drunkenness post, which I still will, but I think that with today being Valentines day, I would speak on the LOVE of GOD. God's love is such a vast and beautiful thing, and as humans we can't understand it. We're not made to. But we can be thankful. Surely, not thankful enough, but we can try.
I chose the passage of 1 Corinthians 13, because it's the bibles portrayal of LOVE. There are many passages that portray love, because {GOD IS LOVE} YET, I think that this is A WAY to look at it.
1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
It's really a beautiful passage I think. Mr. Ravenhill talked about this passage to. He brought up GREAT POINTS. Now, I'm going to repeat this passage, but change it. Say...substituting words. Alright? And this makes a great point.
1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have God, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have God, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have God I gain nothing.
4 God is patient, God is kind. He does not envy, he does not boast, he is not proud. 5 He does not dishonor others, he is not self-seeking, he is not easily angered, he keeps no record of wrongs. 6 God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 God never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and God. But the greatest of these is God.
Ever looked at it that way? It really holds true to the verse GOD IS LOVE. Now, we'd never change it that way, for we do not change the bible, but look at it in that way. Now, substitute yourself with that at verse 4. Except but a 'does not, do not' etc. "I am not patient, I am not kind, I am self serving." YOU SEE? Character is SHOWN HERE! And half of the world probably has never heard of this passage, much less studied it. Yet, it's so beautiful. If we could only just see our sin. If we could only see, truly see that GOD IS LOVE.
This passage shows what love is. How many people do we really love? Well, with this kind of love, probably not many. Probably not ANY. I mean if we really took an honest moment to think about this, do we really love people like this? The real question is do we love GOD THIS WAY? If we don't, then we don't love anyone this way. If we can't love God with the love in this passage, than we don't love our family or friends with the love in this passage. It's a hard truth. But on this day that our culture has deemed as the "love day" we think of who we love right? So Who do we love?
Since we have failed to love, God's way, what can we do?
REPENT! REPENT! REPENT! REPENT! REPENT! REPENT! REPENT! REPENT!
How can we show we love God?
REPENT! REPENT! REPENT! REPENT! REPENT! REPENT! REPENT! REPENT!
Yes, the heart of my post is REPENTANCE. REPENT. And if the topic has bored you to death, then REPENT. For REPENTANCE should be proclaimed throughout the world. When you have a heart cry about something that's all people should define you by. IF it were to tell you one thing, and never see you again it would be, "Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
SO, let's us REPENT today, and show our love for God. Let's build our relationship with him and make it deeper and wider. Let him know today that on THIS day YOU TRULY LOVE HIM.
So repent, and be forgiven.
~Hope your day is awesome and may everything YOU do be for HIS Glory!~
----HANNAH------
Saturday, February 11, 2012
~{Random}~
Okay! So every once and awhile you'll find a post like this :) I recently went to a tourney this week, and guess what? I actually took pictures! And SO, I've got some pictures to post. Again, apologies for not posting... it's been busy. xD
This was a random tourney, but it was still awesome :D We've won 3 and lost 1. So it's been awesome :D
And this is what I've been doing xD
Next blog post will follow soon {hopefully} And I'll talk about Repentance or Spiritual Drunkeness... So I can't wait!!
~Hope your day is awesome and may everything you do be for HIS glory~
{hannah}
This was a random tourney, but it was still awesome :D We've won 3 and lost 1. So it's been awesome :D
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| {Me and Anna at Dinner time} |
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| {Me at 7:30am} |
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| {THE FOOD} |
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| {Yes, I take pictures of food.} |
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| {Buffet was awesome} |
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| {My food: Ice cream, Lemonade, Grilled Cheese, Rice+Soy sauce, French Fries, Salad. SO GOOD. And for FREE} |
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| {Waiting to go to the next game.} |
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| {Perfect for non- pop drinkers. } |
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| {Recently they started braiding my hair. I like it :D} |
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| {MY CRAZYY AWESOME TEAM!} |
sdfkkkkkk.jpg) |
| {And yes, while your wondering and thinking I'm totally weird in this picture, this picture is from WACKY WEDNESDAY at Awana. Rest assured, I was the wackiest. My sisters were wacky to, but I topped them. To bad leaders don't get prizes. But yes, It was the wackiest outfit, BUT I loved it} |
Next blog post will follow soon {hopefully} And I'll talk about Repentance or Spiritual Drunkeness... So I can't wait!!
~Hope your day is awesome and may everything you do be for HIS glory~
{hannah}
Friday, February 3, 2012
~Isaiah 43: assurance~
Yesterday night, I read Isaiah 43 for my bible study and I thought that I must post about it! Luckily, it was right at the chapter break, how convenient.
Anyways, really the verses that stuck out to me were very assuring. Sometimes, it's so hard to be assured when our chances seem so little. I mean, we DON'T live the way we should. We SIN everyday of our lives, and so many times we don't ask for forgiveness. We come before God to Repent and we think 'Oh...I have this...and this...ohh, right and that' and then the list goes on and on, and then finally you pray for forgiveness and then repeat the process. But how many sins do we really have? I have looked at a list of sins before at a life action conference and if I had to honestly admit to myself I had to circle over half of that list! I mean some sins we don't think about, or consider less in the big scheme of things. Like complaining? We always complain more than we need to. Self-control? Yes, we maybe we have self control in eating or obeying, etc. But in every area of our lives do we have self control? Rebellion? Do we sometimes rebel without knowing it? The list could continue forever. Seeking Him, an amazing bible study, once had a list that I might post on in the next random post. But we seriously, these are things that will way us down. We SHOULD feel weight of our sins.
Yet, sometimes, we need assurance. And these verses just assured me. But even in assurance, we need Repentance.
Isaiah 43:
v. 1-But now, thus says the Lord, Your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!"
v. 4-Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.
v. 7-Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.
v. 10-You are My witnesses," declares the Lord, "Any My servant whom I have chosen, In order that you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He, Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after me.
Wonderful reassuring verse? Yes! AMEN, to those verses. NOW, listen to these verses. WE HAVE LOST our FIRST love.
v. 22-Yet you have not called on Me, O Jacob; But you have become weary of Me, O Israel.
v. 24-You have bought me no sweet cane with money, Neither have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices; Rather you have burdened Me with your sins, You have wearied Me with your iniquities.
These verses should make our hearts CRY. CRY for his Mercy because WE are SO unworthy. We have wearied the MOST HOLY GOD with our sins! We HAVE BURDENED HIM. We do not call on him. We have forgotten him!! WHO IS MAN, THAT THE GOD OF THE HEAVENS AND EARTH SHOULD REMEMBER US!?!?
V. 25- I, even I, am the one who wipes our your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.
Verse 25, is one of those beautiful verses that after we have wept, will let us weep in smiles. For the GOD of the UNIVERSE, LOVES. Notice, NOT FOR OUR SAKE, has he saved us. NOT FOR OUR SAKE. BUT for HIS sake. Because he LOVES US SO MUCH. We as Children of God can't even comprehend his love for us. Why does God love us? What reasons have we given God to love us?
SO, be encouraged today and THANK God the way you think he would want you to thank him.
~Hope your day is awesome~
{May everything you do be for HIS glory}
{exclusive!}
Well, my life has been very busy lately. School always keeps me busy! But I've been busy preparing for Summit this year. Yes, I'M going to AWANA Summit. YAY! I'm entering the fine arts competition with my song I wrote called: Pateras. It's going to be so much fun. FINALLY we finished writing it on sheet music. YES, it's on sheet music, for the first time ever. I'm OFFICIALLY a piano/songwriter. YES! Now I just have to practice my own song now..
On top of Summit, I've been trying to cram in Trek done before the end of the Awana year.. which isn't till may... but the Trek book is looking big to me at the moment. I have to memorize a page worth of verses per week to finish at the end of the year...SO that's something that is really time consuming.
I'm enjoying coffee lately. Healthy lattes xD
Also, THE SUPERBOWL is coming up! Okay, it isn't that big for non-football fans, but it's big for ME! YAY! The re-match! {GIANTS AND PATRIOTS} And for those who don't know, they played each other a few years ago at the superbowl, and the Giants WON. And btw, <I HATE THE PATRIOTS> I've never like their team, so I'm hoping it's a repeat of the first one. ANDDD... I've always like the mannings. xD While peytons better, Eli's pretty good. ANDDDD...SAM'S COMING OVER. Can't wait! We shall have an AWESOME superbowl.
My family is doing well, in case anyone has been wondering. Donna now works at my aunts store, metro run and walk, and has also applied for a job at Life action. She is planning on going to a road team this next fall, and will be serving in that ministry till the following year. My Dad's ministry is going really well to. Awana lifeline is separating and becoming it's own ministry, still supported by Awana. He got these really cool business cards to. My Mom has been awesome to. She homeschool's us and that's enough said. But she's also been helping with my Grandparents and stuff. She's awesome xD Lia, Sophia, and Isaac are NUTS! They recently enjoy playing outside especially in the warmer weather. Lia and Sophia have also been enjoying Awana. Lia got a discovery Bone this week, and Sophia finished her book and has already started in the next one already earning a patch! They've done amazing and I'm so proud of them. Isaac is excited for his next birthday {in may xD} and hopefully if he wants to, will be joining us in Awana as a sparky in the next coming year. And this leads to Sam. Yes, Sam. Well, Sam is a character, he is SO funny. He sings now, sometimes, if your lucky enough to hear it. He likes the song "ho-ho-ho-hosana, ha-ha-ha-hallelujah, he-he-he-he saved us now I've got the joy of the Lord." He also likes to snap his teeth when's he mad hahahaha. But he talks a lot more, and is getting way better are communicating. And as for me...well basketball is as always. I have tourneys coming up and also a good amount of games. In the spring I'll be on Granger Christian's Soccer team {hopefully} and so I'm really excited about that.
And so, this concludes our family up dates. Haha, kind of long. }
~Hannah
Anyways, really the verses that stuck out to me were very assuring. Sometimes, it's so hard to be assured when our chances seem so little. I mean, we DON'T live the way we should. We SIN everyday of our lives, and so many times we don't ask for forgiveness. We come before God to Repent and we think 'Oh...I have this...and this...ohh, right and that' and then the list goes on and on, and then finally you pray for forgiveness and then repeat the process. But how many sins do we really have? I have looked at a list of sins before at a life action conference and if I had to honestly admit to myself I had to circle over half of that list! I mean some sins we don't think about, or consider less in the big scheme of things. Like complaining? We always complain more than we need to. Self-control? Yes, we maybe we have self control in eating or obeying, etc. But in every area of our lives do we have self control? Rebellion? Do we sometimes rebel without knowing it? The list could continue forever. Seeking Him, an amazing bible study, once had a list that I might post on in the next random post. But we seriously, these are things that will way us down. We SHOULD feel weight of our sins.
Yet, sometimes, we need assurance. And these verses just assured me. But even in assurance, we need Repentance.
Isaiah 43:
v. 1-But now, thus says the Lord, Your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!"
v. 4-Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.
v. 7-Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.
v. 10-You are My witnesses," declares the Lord, "Any My servant whom I have chosen, In order that you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He, Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after me.
Wonderful reassuring verse? Yes! AMEN, to those verses. NOW, listen to these verses. WE HAVE LOST our FIRST love.
v. 22-Yet you have not called on Me, O Jacob; But you have become weary of Me, O Israel.
v. 24-You have bought me no sweet cane with money, Neither have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices; Rather you have burdened Me with your sins, You have wearied Me with your iniquities.
These verses should make our hearts CRY. CRY for his Mercy because WE are SO unworthy. We have wearied the MOST HOLY GOD with our sins! We HAVE BURDENED HIM. We do not call on him. We have forgotten him!! WHO IS MAN, THAT THE GOD OF THE HEAVENS AND EARTH SHOULD REMEMBER US!?!?
V. 25- I, even I, am the one who wipes our your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.
Verse 25, is one of those beautiful verses that after we have wept, will let us weep in smiles. For the GOD of the UNIVERSE, LOVES. Notice, NOT FOR OUR SAKE, has he saved us. NOT FOR OUR SAKE. BUT for HIS sake. Because he LOVES US SO MUCH. We as Children of God can't even comprehend his love for us. Why does God love us? What reasons have we given God to love us?
SO, be encouraged today and THANK God the way you think he would want you to thank him.
~Hope your day is awesome~
{May everything you do be for HIS glory}
{exclusive!}
Well, my life has been very busy lately. School always keeps me busy! But I've been busy preparing for Summit this year. Yes, I'M going to AWANA Summit. YAY! I'm entering the fine arts competition with my song I wrote called: Pateras. It's going to be so much fun. FINALLY we finished writing it on sheet music. YES, it's on sheet music, for the first time ever. I'm OFFICIALLY a piano/songwriter. YES! Now I just have to practice my own song now..
On top of Summit, I've been trying to cram in Trek done before the end of the Awana year.. which isn't till may... but the Trek book is looking big to me at the moment. I have to memorize a page worth of verses per week to finish at the end of the year...SO that's something that is really time consuming.
I'm enjoying coffee lately. Healthy lattes xD
Also, THE SUPERBOWL is coming up! Okay, it isn't that big for non-football fans, but it's big for ME! YAY! The re-match! {GIANTS AND PATRIOTS} And for those who don't know, they played each other a few years ago at the superbowl, and the Giants WON. And btw, <I HATE THE PATRIOTS> I've never like their team, so I'm hoping it's a repeat of the first one. ANDDD... I've always like the mannings. xD While peytons better, Eli's pretty good. ANDDDD...SAM'S COMING OVER. Can't wait! We shall have an AWESOME superbowl.
My family is doing well, in case anyone has been wondering. Donna now works at my aunts store, metro run and walk, and has also applied for a job at Life action. She is planning on going to a road team this next fall, and will be serving in that ministry till the following year. My Dad's ministry is going really well to. Awana lifeline is separating and becoming it's own ministry, still supported by Awana. He got these really cool business cards to. My Mom has been awesome to. She homeschool's us and that's enough said. But she's also been helping with my Grandparents and stuff. She's awesome xD Lia, Sophia, and Isaac are NUTS! They recently enjoy playing outside especially in the warmer weather. Lia and Sophia have also been enjoying Awana. Lia got a discovery Bone this week, and Sophia finished her book and has already started in the next one already earning a patch! They've done amazing and I'm so proud of them. Isaac is excited for his next birthday {in may xD} and hopefully if he wants to, will be joining us in Awana as a sparky in the next coming year. And this leads to Sam. Yes, Sam. Well, Sam is a character, he is SO funny. He sings now, sometimes, if your lucky enough to hear it. He likes the song "ho-ho-ho-hosana, ha-ha-ha-hallelujah, he-he-he-he saved us now I've got the joy of the Lord." He also likes to snap his teeth when's he mad hahahaha. But he talks a lot more, and is getting way better are communicating. And as for me...well basketball is as always. I have tourneys coming up and also a good amount of games. In the spring I'll be on Granger Christian's Soccer team {hopefully} and so I'm really excited about that.
And so, this concludes our family up dates. Haha, kind of long. }
~Hannah
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Repentence: Old Testament {focus five + seven}
Okay! So today we're going to go through Focus' five and seven of the book {finishing chapter two}
:D The reason I didn't mention six, was because five and seven related to the same subject, whereas six had it's own subject. Who knows, by the end of the post I'll probably have subtly summed up Focus Six.
Anyways, TO THE POINT!
Focus Five is called: The abnormality of Impenitence. Well I don't know about you, but I had to look up that one ;) {Luckily I can sum it up for you so you don't have to...or your brilliant, either one} Well let's dissect this title, shall we? Okay so obviously abnormality means abnormal or that the subject is abnormal. And Impenitence? I had to look this one up :), it means Not penitent; unrepentant, or not feeling shame about ones attitudes or actions. Those definitions came from two different areas, but I think they BOTH are good definitions. SO maybe that will give you a understanding of what he talks about next.
There is nothing unreasonable or unwholesome about repentance. To repent before God is to act in keeping with the natural order of things. There is something very abnormal, however, about impenitence. Jeremiah was told, “Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says:
:D The reason I didn't mention six, was because five and seven related to the same subject, whereas six had it's own subject. Who knows, by the end of the post I'll probably have subtly summed up Focus Six.
Anyways, TO THE POINT!
Focus Five is called: The abnormality of Impenitence. Well I don't know about you, but I had to look up that one ;) {Luckily I can sum it up for you so you don't have to...or your brilliant, either one} Well let's dissect this title, shall we? Okay so obviously abnormality means abnormal or that the subject is abnormal. And Impenitence? I had to look this one up :), it means Not penitent; unrepentant, or not feeling shame about ones attitudes or actions. Those definitions came from two different areas, but I think they BOTH are good definitions. SO maybe that will give you a understanding of what he talks about next.
There is nothing unreasonable or unwholesome about repentance. To repent before God is to act in keeping with the natural order of things. There is something very abnormal, however, about impenitence. Jeremiah was told, “Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says:
“‘When people fall down, do they not get up?
When someone turns away, do they not return?
5 Why then have these people turned away?
Why does Jerusalem always turn away?
They cling to deceit;
they refuse to return.
6 I have listened attentively,
but they do not say what is right.
None of them repent of their wickedness,
saying, “What have I done?”
Each pursues their own course
like a horse charging into battle.
7 Even the stork in the sky
knows her appointed seasons,
and the dove, the swift and the thrush
observe the time of their migration.
But my people do not know
the requirements of the LORD.---Jeremiah 8:4-7
When someone turns away, do they not return?
5 Why then have these people turned away?
Why does Jerusalem always turn away?
They cling to deceit;
they refuse to return.
6 I have listened attentively,
but they do not say what is right.
None of them repent of their wickedness,
saying, “What have I done?”
Each pursues their own course
like a horse charging into battle.
7 Even the stork in the sky
knows her appointed seasons,
and the dove, the swift and the thrush
observe the time of their migration.
But my people do not know
the requirements of the LORD.---Jeremiah 8:4-7
First of all, isn't it amazing how, *basically*, our Nation is very similar to Jeremiah's? The people were the same, then, as they are now. Except, we're worse now. Mr. Roberts continues with, In fact, to resist repentance, one must conduce himself in a very unnatural fashion. The human face, when its owner is right with God, is pleasant to behold, but non-repentance requires a hardening of the countenance. Jeremiah 5:3, then says that our faces are as hard as ROCK! That WE have refused correction, that we have not been weakened (humbled). And then section five closes in Ezekiel 33:11, "'As I live!' declares the Lord God, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?"
GOD is calling US. He doesn't want us to be impenitent!!! HE WANTS us TO REPENT. He says it in his word, in his love letter to US! He loves us! Answer HIS calls!
FOCUS Seven is SOMETHING to pay attention to. Is called: Warnings to the Impenitent. This is a very URGENT MATTER. We need to STUDY THIS CAREFULLY. I cannot stress the importance of this. It's SCARY, how he begins: Even God's mercy has a limit. That is the first time I've really payed attention to that statement. Rarely, do you HEAR this. Have you heard it? I recall it vaguely, but never have I really pondered it. God's mercy has a limit? Really? WHAT is that limit? Have I passed it? Next he says: We do not know what that limit is, but in many warnings to the impenitent the edge of the warning is very sharp. David sensed it and gravely said, "God is a righteous judge, and a God who has indignation every day. If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bend His bow and made it ready. He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons; He makes His arrows fiery shafts. (Psalm 1: 11-13.) This is quite a statement! BUT ITS TRUE. We MUST URGE EACH OTHER ON TO REPENTANCE. He gives another example in Isaiah 30: 15-17 and Jeremiah 15:6-7. The true import of Repentance is heightened by a thoughtful consideration of the divinely ordained lot of every sinner. All people are sinners and none have a right to expect mercy, but strangely and wonderfully, God does bestow mercy on those who repent.
I'll close with that. It's so IMPORTANT, Repentance. I wish more people knew of it. If THERE was ONE THING I would say, One MESSAGE I would give, it would be REPENTANCE. Repentance is MY heart cry. You CAN'T have SALVATION without REPENTANCE. Repentance is not a one time thing either, it's a ONGOING PROCESS, and there is surely a section about that in the book. But REALLY, think about it today. When I go places I look at peoples faces. Most likely they've never heard of Repentance, most likely they've ignored our Lord Jesus Christ, Most likely they are hurting. They DON'T know REPENTANCE. It's sad to know that some people will never here of Repentance, or Christ, or of eternal life. But, SOME can know. It's up to us to spread the message in lovingkindess, as Christ did. SO let US repent and be forgiven.
{hope your day is awesome}
[exclusive tomorrow.]
{May everything you do be for His glory.}
~Hannah~~~~~
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