Sunday, November 15, 2009

Prayer Requests

This will be a short post. I have a few things I'd like everyone to pray about.
First, my mom isn't feeling well. Second, my dad is now coming down with the bug we had a couple of weeks ago. Third, I have an unspoken.
Oh, and I'm not going to list the names over the internet, but please pray for the people on our church's prayer list as well.

On another note, I began reading "Mere Christianity" by C. S. Lewis tonight. I love this book!

God bless,
Collie

P.S.
I apologize for the short and rather hasty nature of this post.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Philosophy

Romans 1:21-23
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

I'm a philosophical person. Philosophy fascinates me. So I'd like to share my thoughts on this and speak of man's philosophy compared to the wisdom found in the Bible. I've spoken of this before, in my dA journal back before I gave up dA.
God gave man a wonderful thing: a brain. Our brains can solve problems, memorize the movements required to perform an action, give us a built-in "alarm clock", and of course keep our entire body functioning. The brain is an amazing thing, as is everything God has created if you ask me. God gave man what we need to function and live in this world.
What I find odd is that man tries to assume that he can outthink God, that he knows better than the Being that created the entire universe. I've seen people say that they refuse to serve or worship a God that they feel has not followed morals. I've seen people say that we don't need God anymore. While people must choose for themselves, my thoughts in response to such a statement is along the lines of "Okay, if we don't need God let me see you create an entire universe out of nothing in just six days."
I've shared my thoughts on this with my dad about this, and I agree with his response--that Dr. Kent Hovind says it best. I can't give a direct quote of Dr. Hovind's statement because I haven't taken the time to memorize it word for word, but it goes something like this:
Let me ask you if you know everything. The honest answer of course would be no. Let me ask you if you know half of everything. The honest answer to that would be no as well. But, for the sake of argument, let's say that you know half of everything. Is it possible that God exists and is truly in control in the half that you don't know? Think about that one.

Also, more thoughts I've had, and please don't get me wrong:
It has been said by a few people I've known that it doesn't seem logical to trust someone else because anyone can lie to you. That it seems that everyone just needs to think for themselves. So they basically concluded, "Why trust God?"
I'd like to point out that God made us so that He can enjoy us and so that we can enjoy Him. Think about this now. For the sake of argument, if you were able to make a creature that could worship you, would not the worship mean more if the creature worshipped you despite that it didn't seem logical to him to trust you blindly?
Human nature has a desire to trust someone else. Well, in all honesty people in general are just not trust-worthy what with their sin nature and all. However, we can trust God. How do we know? He gives us assurance and let me tell you, I Am's assurance is much more assuring that man's assurance. (If you didn't already know, I Am is one of God's names.) Yes, we do take it by faith. Not everything can be rationalized. While I do very much see the logic in not puting your full trust in anyone, I've found that it's just such a relief to have Someone that you can depend on, Who does not get overwhelmed at all of the the confusion and lies of the world out there. Who really does know what He is doing.

Now, let me say I've never taken a college philosophy course. I'm not old enough for one. And two I don't plan on taking one. But from what I have seen and from what I've been told, the philosophy there is twisted, used to turn people away from God rather than to honestly look at something from all angles. In my opinion, if you're honestly looking at all sides, you'll consider seriously that perhaps there are things out there that man's reason cannot comprehend, that there are principles that our minds--amazing though they are, just cannot fathom.


Ecclesiastes 8:8
There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those who are given to it.

Ecclesiastes 8:1
WHO is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

ETA:
And just for fun, here's a picture I drew last night even though Thanksgiving is still two weeks away:

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Lord, how long?

I've been longing for the Rapture. Especially when I hear/play/sing the last verse of "Sweet Hour of Prayer". This world is just not my home. The more I see of it, the more I want the rapture to just happen. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Oh, I don't sit around moping about the problems of the world--for one, I wouldn't get anything for God done by doing that all the time. I just long to be with Jesus. But while I am here, God has a mission for me, the mission He gives to every true Christian--to lead more people to Him. I could definitely do a better job of that--we all could.

I've been thinking a lot on that lately. I've thought on this in the past, too and posted it here. But it's worth repeating. The best way to do so that I've come up with from thinking, reading the Bible, and asking God for guidance is to stay in God's will. Don't feed the old man in you--feed only the new creature that God gave you when you received Jesus as your Savior. Feeding the old man is encouraging anything in your life that is not something God would want you to see/watch/read/think. We're all guilty of that. And we all come ask God to guide us as to what things in our lives we just need to let go of. I admit, I still haven't made my decision about Star Wars. I like Star Wars, a lot. In fact, I was agonizing over having to give it up. But I also realize that nothing , absolutely nothing, should come between me and God and what He wants in my life. Anyway while I'm still not sure about giving up Star Wars, I can say that I am now willing to let it go if it's God's will.

I'd like to ask that you pray that I will be able to stay in God's will. I'll pray for you, too.



Another thought I had today--the saying that "Happiness comes not from your situation, but what you make of it". Well, I'm afraid that I'm stating the obvious, but today it hit me that it means finding the joy in doing whatever you're doing. For example, taking out the trash--don't take it out thinking "Oh, I hate this chore", think positively. The good things about taking out the trash. I've found that you can even have fun doing that if you put your mind to it.

ETA:
Today, when reading the Bible in family altar, God really spoke to me through 1 Thessalonians 5:2-25:
2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

8But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

11Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

12And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

13And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

15See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

16Rejoice evermore.

17Pray without ceasing.

18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

19Quench not the Spirit.

20Despise not prophesyings.

21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

22Abstain from all appearance of evil.

23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

25Brethren, pray for us.














































































































Monday, November 2, 2009

God wants what is best for us

I'll probably be posting here more often. One reason is because I feel that I don't post enough on this blog and that perhaps if I posted more, it'd be an incentive of sorts to stay in God's will.

Last night I did one of the hardest things I've ever had to do: leave a site I'd grown addicted to. God had been dealing with me about that for a long time. Why? Because deviantART is not exactly an ideal site. I'd rather not go into detail, but it was full of all kinds of things I am to avoid as a Christian. I did a rather good job of avoiding that and sticking to my corner and that of my friends actually, but the temptation was still there. God wanted me to get out of there before I began really giving in. My profile and art gallery is still up, but I will not be going back. It was hard for me. I only succeeded in leaving left because God gave me the grace to do so.
This was a powerful reminder to me that God always knows what is best for us.

Just as He did with me, if you just trust Him God will give you the grace you need to accomplish His will. Not only that, He'll give you encouragement. After puting up my goodbye message on dA last night, I began to wonder if I made the right decision. I prayed about it. I had given a goodbye message on dA and promised to come back today to answer any questions any of my friends had today just so I wouldn't leave them hanging. Three of my friends there encouraged me to do what God wants. God used them to confirm my decision. God is faithful. I pray that I will continue to do His will despite the cost. I pray that He will give you the grace to do the same, my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Until next time, may God bless you.