Friday, April 23, 2010

Spring Happiness

If you have not caught onto my love for flowers, here's your chance.  I LOVE FLOWERS!  I LOVE FLOWERS!  I LOVE FLOWERS!  There, now I'm sure you can sense my feelings on the subject.  Ever since my new camera arrived in the mail a few weeks ago,  I have had fun discovering a whole new world of wonder...tiny flowers.

I took this picture today out in my front yard. When I look at these adorable flowers, I see them proclaiming to the world: "Spring is here!" I see them basking in the warmth of the sunlight shouting to all: "My Creator is the amazing God of the universe!". I see these tiny flowers with enough boldness to make known the happiness of the spring season.  Take time in the busyness of life to observe the magnificence of God displayed in His creation.  Today may we be encouraged to boldly proclaim the greatness of our God to others.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Some of my thoughts...

Just to inform you, this post will be a little out of the ordinary. In the following paragraphs you will read some of my thoughts on a particular topic. I am sharing with you one of my recent assignments on the subject of communicating convictions. Enjoy!

Should a young woman move out of her father's home?

Before I blurt out my thoughts, or jump ahead of myself, I want to lay the foundation and say that each and every family is uniquely designed and put together by God. They have different experiences, different lives, and different convictions. This in no way exempts an individual from the obligation of living under the authority and principals of God's Word.

Our walk with God is the foundation for approaching this question. In everything, God is of most importance. No matter where you live, who your family is, or what religion you believe in, El Elyon is still the most high God and is above all and before all things: Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." His powerful words spoke this world into existence and in the Bible He has outlined a way of life for all men to live by. The Bible is God-inspired: 2 Timothy 3:16 " All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" It is eternal: 1 Peter 1:25 "But The Word of the Lord endureth forever... It is incorruptible: Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away."

To determine the answer to the question, we must consider the daughter's motive. Why does she want to move out? If she wants to move out in order to get away from authority, then she is going against God's command in 1 Peter 5:5 "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." This leads us to ask "Is she humble and submissive in her relationship with her dad?

If she would be going against the wishes and instructions of her parents in moving out of the house, then she should choose her actions wisely and evaluate the consequences. Ephesians 6:1 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this right." The Bible does not specifically tell us that the daughter should always live in her father's house. This being true, I see no wrong in a daughter moving out of her father's house, if she feels God calling her to do so in order to accomplish His best for her life. In the whole process she should strive to submissively seek her parents' consent, carefully check her motive for wanting to move, and cautiously remain under her parents' authority.

Whether a girl is living in her father's house or not, is an issue that should not conflict or hinder anyone's relationship with God, which is of ultimate importance. Instead, a person should seek for their actions to bring glory to Christ's name. With this in focus, one would be able to discern what the right course of action is. In application, we must ask ourselves: Are our actions leaving a godly example for others, and are we seeking to glorify God every step in life?

Saturday, April 3, 2010

He is Alive!










Because He Lives
     By: Bill and Gloria Gather

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.









May each and everyone of you have a blessed Resurrection Sunday, celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. No matter what plans or family get-together you may have on your agenda for today, let us remember and focus on Jesus, the one who is the reason for the celebration... this celebration of hope and joy for those who trust and believe on His name.  
  
  "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 
Corinthians 15:55-58


(Pictures courtesy of farm4.static.flickr.com and www.catholicbishops.ie/)  
Just to clarify: I'm not Catholic, I just like the picture=)