Well, today I was reading Luke Nineteen, and again some verses stuck out to me. I really love the fact that with Luke you can always find something that sticks out.
"But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence." vs.27
This comes from the parable about the Master who gave ten minas to one slave, five to another, and one to the other. He went away and two of the slaves doubled their, but one didn't. Obviously this parable is an example of whats going to happen in the future when we come before God. He will ask us what we did with the gifts he gave us to further his kingdom. We will either have doubled our gifts, therefore furthering his kingdom, or we would have kept them to ourselves. Which one will you be?
Surprisingly, that's not my main point. It has to do with my main point, which is what will happen if you are the slave who kept their gift for themselves and didn't further the kingdom of God. The verse says it all, but I'll point out a few things.
First, notice there is a definition of enemies here. Who are God's enemies? Those who did not want him to reign over them. THIS is a very important VERSE. So pay close attention to it. Why? Because OUR SIN NATURE always points to the words "me or I". We sin because we think we are better than God. And Guess what Guys? OUR SIN NATURE DOESN'T WANT GOD TO REIGN OVER US! Therefore our SIN NATURE makes us ENEMIES of God. THAT should leave everyone speechless. Have we conquered are sin nature? With God, we have the possibility. But any part of us that God DOES NOT reign over in our lives is SINFUL. And answer this: Can we have part of us be enemies with God, and part of us be friends with God. NOOOOO! As Paul would say MAY IT NEVER BE! MAY WE NEVER THINK THAT. Everyone knows that bible says that WE CANNOT, AT ALL, Serve TWO Masters. So where does that leave us today guys? It leaves us LOST. Writing this, I realize a lot more. Getting things out on paper makes you realize more. I will be the first to say that I am an enemy of God. Yes. I am. Why? Because God doesn't control every area of MY life. WHAT ON EARTH CAN I DO? REPENT. Yes. It brings me back to that. Guys, we are enemies of God. WE NEED TO REPENT FOR THIS. Don't wait. Don't wait until God asks you what you did to further his kingdom, how you used the talents he gave and you doubled it. Because if you procrastinate, you'll end up TO LATE. NO. REPENTANCE IS IN THE NOW. WE MUST DO IT NOW. WE HAVE TO BEG FOR GOD BECAUSE WE ARE LOST. We are ALONE. We ARE ENEMIES. I will tell you now, you have two choices. Choice number one: You can try to fight God, you can not want to surrender your control, and the result is eternal death. Choice number two: You can send the white flag of Repentance to God today. Say that your sorry for building up your army of sins, and SURRENDER CONTROL IN YOUR LIFE, and live. Those are your only two choices. Unfortunately we can't do anything else. You can't say you haven't sinned against God. You can't sit in wait for Jesus said, "Repent for the kingdom of God is NEAR" You either SURRENDER and REPENT, or DIE. What will you choose today?
And lastly, a word of encouragement.
Luke 19:10 "For the Son of man came to seek and to save what is lost."
Mark 2:17 "When Jesus heard it, he
saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but
they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance.
Jesus came to SEEK and SAVE the lost. WE the SINNERS are the LOST. Jesus didn't come to save those who stand proud knowing their going to heaven. He came NOT to call the righteous. HE CAME TO CALL THE SINNERS. TO WHAT? REPENTANCE! Jesus is seeking for you to find him THROUGH Repentance. He's coming to find the needy, the helpless, the lost, the contrite, and people who NEED him.
Maybe you've been fighting God today. Maybe you know that it's a waste of effort, but you just don't want to pull the white flag and surrender. Your sin Nature, your pride, doesn't want to give up control. We WERE BORN to think we are in control of ourselves, this happens when we are born into sin. But in reality we are slaves to our sin and in the end we will regret it. I encourage you to KILL your PRIDE today and REPENT. SEND GOD YOUR WHITE FLAG OF SURRENDER, ASK FOR HIS FORGIVENESS, AND SEEK HIM. He knows its the broken who need him.
LET'S NEED HIM TODAY. LET'S BE THE BROKEN. LETS BE THE REPENTANT.
Hope your day is awesome, and may EVERYTHING you do be for HIS Glory!
~Hannah
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
~Personal Devotions Study~
So I was reading devotions again tonight and WOW the gospel of Luke is quite something! (In a good way!) Man, Repentance is prominent and every passage, the need for it is everywhere, and it has to do with everything! Anyways, I wanted to share it with you, because it was beautiful!
Often times when we hear the message of repentance, or we should hear it. When we do hear it, how do we respond? Well, the passage of Luke tells us how to respond! It's awesome how God is so clear :)
In this passage, Jesus is talking about forgiveness. We are all familiar with this passage, the one about forgiving your brother seventy-times-seven. After the apostles heard this message they were amazed. This is the verse, verse 5: "And the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith'." This verse really stuck out to me. THIS IS HOW WE SHOULD RESPOND TO JESUS' TEACHING! The way we need to respond this is 'increase our faith.' Learning these truths, learning things that are challenging, THIS is what we do. WE BEG for JESUS to INCREASE OUR FAITH. This should be your only answer, your one answer, your one goal. When we hear about Repentance, Forgiveness, Grace, or anything else, we must say to Jesus, 'increase our faith.' OUR FAITH CANNOT REMAIN DEAD. WE CANNOT WANT OUR FAITH TO REMAIN DEAD. We must increase it, and we must ask God to increase it. SO today, pray to God, and ask him to Increase your FAITH!
Another way to respond to this was in verse 10. Its a way to respond with a truth attached. "....We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done." What does this verse say? First that we are UNWORTHY SLAVES. THIS ALONE should make us repent and fall back to God. This is how we must respond to God though. The first thing we should do, especially when we have accomplished something, is say 'we are unworthy slaves'. To harsh? NO. TO REPENT you have to start with ground zero. WE ARE UNWORTHY. We don't even deserve to be called slaves. We have to feel contrite about our sins and for that to happen we need to be ground zero all the time. Repentance is humility.
The Second point in this passage can be found in 7-10. But the sentence is enough to know. "we have done only that which we ought to have done." Keep it fresh in your mind all the time. We as Christians only do what we ought to do. What can we personally give to God? What we do everyday, is what we ought to do anyways. And guess what? We don't even do A FOURTH of what we ought to do. NO EXCUSES HERE! Unfortunately with our sin nature we can't be what we were intended to be. We can't be even close. How can we give to God, when we can't even do what we ought to do? We HAVE TO REPENT. It's what its ALL ABOUT! Everything leads there.
Lastly, I just wanted to point out something. It doesn't necessarily have to do with Repentance, but it was an interesting find. We as Christians, know that there is a narrow road that leads to righteousness and a broad road that leads to destruction. We often ask ourselves who is saved? How many? With all this truth, all this sin, all this failure, how can we be saved? Unfortunately I don't have that answer for you. I can tell you now that no one does. But the bible often has clues that we don't see. Well in the passage there is the story about the lepers who sought Jesus, but only one of them gave glory to God. vs. 17-18"And Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine-where are they? Was no one found who turned back to give glory to God, except this foreigner?" Notice the numbers. 1 of 10 came back. These aren't exact statistics, but just think about it. One came back...only one. I fear that today there are only few 'ones'. I believe the statistics have risen...more like 1 in 500. I do not believe that is exaggerating either. Think about it though. Would you be the one to come back? What would make you the one God chose to be the one who would give glory to him? Think about it..
Anyways, I wanted to share that with you. Just those thoughts. We ARE slaves doing only what we ought to do. Today I encourage you, lets go the extra mile! Lets do what we are supposed do, ALONG with whatever else we can do! LET US BE THE ONES WHO TURNED BACK and gave GLORY to GOD. Lets give glory to the MIGHTY COUNCILOR, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE for he deserves it!!!
And I urge you to REPENT. Because in humility and broken hearts we allow God to come in. Why? Because when we are broken, we have the feeling of emptiness. "I've sinned so much. I can't get out of it.. what hope is there?" There is hope in God. When we have that emptiness, we need to ask God to fill it. And as John Piper said, "God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in him." Be satisfied in him in these next days. LET HIM FILL THE VOID THAT SIN LEAVES. You'll find God's peace when you do that. SO REPENT AND BE FORGIVEN. REJOICE FOR THE GIFT OF REPENTANCE AND LIVE YOUR LIFE TO GLORIFY GOD!
Have an awesome day and may everything you do be for his glory!
~Hannah
Often times when we hear the message of repentance, or we should hear it. When we do hear it, how do we respond? Well, the passage of Luke tells us how to respond! It's awesome how God is so clear :)
In this passage, Jesus is talking about forgiveness. We are all familiar with this passage, the one about forgiving your brother seventy-times-seven. After the apostles heard this message they were amazed. This is the verse, verse 5: "And the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith'." This verse really stuck out to me. THIS IS HOW WE SHOULD RESPOND TO JESUS' TEACHING! The way we need to respond this is 'increase our faith.' Learning these truths, learning things that are challenging, THIS is what we do. WE BEG for JESUS to INCREASE OUR FAITH. This should be your only answer, your one answer, your one goal. When we hear about Repentance, Forgiveness, Grace, or anything else, we must say to Jesus, 'increase our faith.' OUR FAITH CANNOT REMAIN DEAD. WE CANNOT WANT OUR FAITH TO REMAIN DEAD. We must increase it, and we must ask God to increase it. SO today, pray to God, and ask him to Increase your FAITH!
Another way to respond to this was in verse 10. Its a way to respond with a truth attached. "....We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done." What does this verse say? First that we are UNWORTHY SLAVES. THIS ALONE should make us repent and fall back to God. This is how we must respond to God though. The first thing we should do, especially when we have accomplished something, is say 'we are unworthy slaves'. To harsh? NO. TO REPENT you have to start with ground zero. WE ARE UNWORTHY. We don't even deserve to be called slaves. We have to feel contrite about our sins and for that to happen we need to be ground zero all the time. Repentance is humility.
The Second point in this passage can be found in 7-10. But the sentence is enough to know. "we have done only that which we ought to have done." Keep it fresh in your mind all the time. We as Christians only do what we ought to do. What can we personally give to God? What we do everyday, is what we ought to do anyways. And guess what? We don't even do A FOURTH of what we ought to do. NO EXCUSES HERE! Unfortunately with our sin nature we can't be what we were intended to be. We can't be even close. How can we give to God, when we can't even do what we ought to do? We HAVE TO REPENT. It's what its ALL ABOUT! Everything leads there.
Lastly, I just wanted to point out something. It doesn't necessarily have to do with Repentance, but it was an interesting find. We as Christians, know that there is a narrow road that leads to righteousness and a broad road that leads to destruction. We often ask ourselves who is saved? How many? With all this truth, all this sin, all this failure, how can we be saved? Unfortunately I don't have that answer for you. I can tell you now that no one does. But the bible often has clues that we don't see. Well in the passage there is the story about the lepers who sought Jesus, but only one of them gave glory to God. vs. 17-18"And Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine-where are they? Was no one found who turned back to give glory to God, except this foreigner?" Notice the numbers. 1 of 10 came back. These aren't exact statistics, but just think about it. One came back...only one. I fear that today there are only few 'ones'. I believe the statistics have risen...more like 1 in 500. I do not believe that is exaggerating either. Think about it though. Would you be the one to come back? What would make you the one God chose to be the one who would give glory to him? Think about it..
Anyways, I wanted to share that with you. Just those thoughts. We ARE slaves doing only what we ought to do. Today I encourage you, lets go the extra mile! Lets do what we are supposed do, ALONG with whatever else we can do! LET US BE THE ONES WHO TURNED BACK and gave GLORY to GOD. Lets give glory to the MIGHTY COUNCILOR, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE for he deserves it!!!
And I urge you to REPENT. Because in humility and broken hearts we allow God to come in. Why? Because when we are broken, we have the feeling of emptiness. "I've sinned so much. I can't get out of it.. what hope is there?" There is hope in God. When we have that emptiness, we need to ask God to fill it. And as John Piper said, "God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in him." Be satisfied in him in these next days. LET HIM FILL THE VOID THAT SIN LEAVES. You'll find God's peace when you do that. SO REPENT AND BE FORGIVEN. REJOICE FOR THE GIFT OF REPENTANCE AND LIVE YOUR LIFE TO GLORIFY GOD!
Have an awesome day and may everything you do be for his glory!
~Hannah
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
~An internet study~
So I blogged again, within like 24 hours of eachother! Don't get your hopes up just yet...I'm usually free on Wednesday nights, hopefully I will continue though. Its nice blogging.
Well I just wanted to quickly share a few verses from my bible study online tonight. I'm at my Grandmas so I forgot my bible. SO i did an online study. Anyways, these verses caught me off guard. From Luke 18! :)
Often times we don't know how to Repent. But Repentance is a key part of our lives that never EVER stops. I was reading these verses and I just was blown away by the examples here. You want to know how to repent? God tells us here.
....He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ vs.13
He would not even look up to heaven he was ashamed. He beat his breast begging for mercy. Is this how we Repent? Do we have the urgent need to be contrite before God? WE NEED TO HAVE THIS PASSION in our REPENTANCE. I'm telling you, this is how we do it. Literally! Never look at a passage and think 'that isn't for today. no one does that today'. The man was chosen for his humble repentant spirit. Will we be?
7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?
This is another example of Repentance. Pay attention this is VERY clear. GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE WILL CRY!OUT!TO!HIM!DAY!AND!NIGHT! Is that us? He meant this literally and since we probably don't do this there IS SOMETHING WRONG. And let me tell you this, it would be most shameful if we realized this truth, and we realized that we can and HAVE to change, WHEN the door was already shut. THE BIBLE CAN'T BE MORE CLEARER! If we aren't repenting DAY AND NIGHT there is something wrong. WE have to fix it. WE have to urge ourselves forward and really think about this. Because let me tell you, it will be a cold, cruel, and very alone world, knowing that you realized what life was about, what life's requirements were, what your sole purpose in living was...when it was to late. Yes. REPENTANCE is a requirement. Its a relationship. Its HUMILITY. That is Repentance. Thats what we need. Thats what could make the difference between eternal life and death.
Lastly, I want to close with this verse.
....However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” vs.7
This should shake us and make us tremble. Why? Guys, that our Heavenly Father would doubt us should leave us humiliated. Its so DEEPLY true. If Jesus came to earth, seeking faith of HIS standard, would he find it? Its a question we can't answer. It's up to you and God to answer that. Would you have the faith of GOD'S STANDARDS? I don't know. I don't have that faith. I want it. I'm desperately trying to get it. WANT it WITH ME. WANT THAT KIND OF FAITH. We can have nothing short of it. And as the question was asked in this passage. "Then who can be saved?"
Ponder it with me. It's worth thinking about. It's more important to think about if you haven't thought about it.
Hope YOUR day is awesome and may everything you do be for his glory! :D
~Hannah
Well I just wanted to quickly share a few verses from my bible study online tonight. I'm at my Grandmas so I forgot my bible. SO i did an online study. Anyways, these verses caught me off guard. From Luke 18! :)
Often times we don't know how to Repent. But Repentance is a key part of our lives that never EVER stops. I was reading these verses and I just was blown away by the examples here. You want to know how to repent? God tells us here.
....He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ vs.13
He would not even look up to heaven he was ashamed. He beat his breast begging for mercy. Is this how we Repent? Do we have the urgent need to be contrite before God? WE NEED TO HAVE THIS PASSION in our REPENTANCE. I'm telling you, this is how we do it. Literally! Never look at a passage and think 'that isn't for today. no one does that today'. The man was chosen for his humble repentant spirit. Will we be?
7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?
This is another example of Repentance. Pay attention this is VERY clear. GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE WILL CRY!OUT!TO!HIM!DAY!AND!NIGHT! Is that us? He meant this literally and since we probably don't do this there IS SOMETHING WRONG. And let me tell you this, it would be most shameful if we realized this truth, and we realized that we can and HAVE to change, WHEN the door was already shut. THE BIBLE CAN'T BE MORE CLEARER! If we aren't repenting DAY AND NIGHT there is something wrong. WE have to fix it. WE have to urge ourselves forward and really think about this. Because let me tell you, it will be a cold, cruel, and very alone world, knowing that you realized what life was about, what life's requirements were, what your sole purpose in living was...when it was to late. Yes. REPENTANCE is a requirement. Its a relationship. Its HUMILITY. That is Repentance. Thats what we need. Thats what could make the difference between eternal life and death.
Lastly, I want to close with this verse.
....However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” vs.7
This should shake us and make us tremble. Why? Guys, that our Heavenly Father would doubt us should leave us humiliated. Its so DEEPLY true. If Jesus came to earth, seeking faith of HIS standard, would he find it? Its a question we can't answer. It's up to you and God to answer that. Would you have the faith of GOD'S STANDARDS? I don't know. I don't have that faith. I want it. I'm desperately trying to get it. WANT it WITH ME. WANT THAT KIND OF FAITH. We can have nothing short of it. And as the question was asked in this passage. "Then who can be saved?"
Ponder it with me. It's worth thinking about. It's more important to think about if you haven't thought about it.
Hope YOUR day is awesome and may everything you do be for his glory! :D
~Hannah
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
~events of late~
Once upon a time there was an awkward silence. It was awkward. Finally someone stopped that silence. Its me. *awkward*
So what on earth to say. Nothing. Guess what? This was a part of the plan. We fail so we pick ourselves back up. Sadly, I haven't been blogging. But guess what? I am now.
Anyways to quit this awkward silence I will talk. Unfortunately, there is so much to say, and not enough time nor energy to relay it. So hopefully in the next days I can get back to my blogging self. Well..where to start. What have I been doing? Lots.
First of all, thanks for the prayers on the house. WE FOUND ONE :) I like it. Its a ranch with ten acres!! {the yay was for the acres not the ranch lol} yes bitter that uh... its a ranch. A NICE ranch, but a ranch all the same. My room WILL BE in the basement. a.k.a. its not made yet. First things we're doing though. SO, i have that to look forward to. And it has an in ground pool plus room for a trampoline. Yes, I'm excited. However mowing the lawn till be CREEPY. So I'm really excited about that, and being able to have a house is awesome. When are we moving? I don't know. The date is hopefully within a week or two so I hope we get ready in time :) haha, but praise the LORD. we.have.a.house.
Secondly, basketball is over. Re-posting these picture <3 It was a wonderful first basketball season. I don't know if I'm going to be able to join them next year, but God-willing I will :) What a fun and memorable season. Love them all!
Writing is going really well for me. NO not the writing class, if thats what you are thinking, my personal novel writing. My story in which I've been ranting about for years to myself, is coming together. Its dramatically changed since when I was eleven, but its finally coming together. My Uncle Michael, who is a really technical writer is REALLY helping me. Like without his help, it wouldn't be the way it is. He's a very as I said technical writer and notices things that I don't. He always ask great questions and really helps with the story. Right now I have an almost done Plot summary and character bios. Doesn't seem like a lot? IT IS! With all of what he's been teaching me about writing, things are more complicated. But he said something to me, that just really has surged me forward, he said, "It's not by mistake that you've been writing novels since you were eight" and THAT was really encouraging. Because he's write, I think I have a gift in writing and I can't wait to see where it goes.
Now for the OTHER writing. well, we'll throw spanish in there to. Its been going well....till now. JUST KIDDING...well not really. You see this week I was given like 30 vocab to memorize and needless to say...there not perfect. SO we'll see how I do tomorrow.
AWANA, wow. Awana. Sophia and Lia are AMAZING. Lia is finishing her book in the next two weeks, which was really an amazing feat, because about half way through she was behind, you know, and she's finally picked it up. I'm really proud of her <3. SOPHIE...sophie is quite the story. For the first 10 weeks of awana she did book one... then she found this power within her (haha) and finished book two in FIVE WEEKS. amazzzzingggg.... and now she has found the strength to pull off one more. its been Five weeks and she should finish next week. I'm so proud of her. Three books in one year has not been accomplished ordinarily, and I am just so proud that she has pulled it together. With a little prodding on my side...I must admit, but methods work! SO SHE IS DONE *clap* *clap* *clap* and...me in Awana? uhhhh..I'm getting my timothy. Enough said...well I actually have to attend a seminar, say a verse or two and THEN i'm getting my timothy. I'll be working through my trek this summer, and then continuing on and on and on.
And I'm DONE FOR NOW! HA! NOW I'M NOT TALKING FOREVER!
TTFN!
Have an awesome day and May everything you do be for HIS glory.
~Hannah
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