Else I die

Day 27 The Acts ix Saul's Conversion

2011-11-17T11:09:00.003-05:00

for he is a chosen instrument of mine

Sorry for the lack of postings. I've just started working third shift and this is the reason for the delays.

Saul was chosen by God for a special service. God had chosen, long ago, to use Saul to give the gospel to the Gentiles. God has special plans for all of us.

I told my fiancee the other day that I have never chosen what church to God to. The choice has always been made for me. I have either gone with my parents, to my college's church, or the church where my fiancee goes now.

Could I choose to go to a different church? Sure. I had a hard time with this. I had never chosen for myself what church I wanted to attend. Then God worked in my heart to show me something.

When we have no control over a situation, then we know God is in complete control (He is in control of ever situation, we just realize it more during these times). Since I was not the one choosing where I wanted to go, Then God was the one choosing for me.

God places us in places and situations even when we don't realize it. I praise God for every congregation He has brought me to.

Day 26 The Acts ii Pentecost

2011-11-14T16:00:00.003-05:00

And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

When I read the book of the Acts I am amazed at the power of the Holy Spirit. What He did in the apostles' lives and what He did through them.

I want to have this filling of the Holy Spirit! What Christian wouldn't? I believe if we simply ask God for the filling of the Spirit and believe that He will do it, then He will.

We complicate things. In today's times we do not believe these things can happen, that is why we do not see them any more. Believe and you can move mountains.

Day 25 Lk xxiv The Ascension

2011-11-10T12:17:00.003-05:00

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

This is it. This is a sum up of Christianity. Think about the weight of these words. Christ tells us what was accomplished by His death. The repentance and forgiveness of sins.

First thing we see is that Christ opened their minds. Christ has to first open your mind. Then he tells them that He has fulfilled the scriptures. And these people were still shocked that He did what He said he was going to do. He rose on the third day.

And by that He has given us the repentance and forgiveness of sin, but not just to keep to ourselves! It should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations.

Proclaim it!

Day 24 Jn xx The Resurrection

2011-11-08T11:57:00.003-05:00

Peace be with you

A small phrase but it is repeated several times in this passage. Christ was saying to His followers because, well, it was a scary time. They thought for sure that Christ had died! Now here He is walking and talking with them. It is quite an or deal. They were pretty shaken up.

When Christ comes into our lives things get shaken up. Our world view is shattered and reformed for us from the Bible. Even after we have been saved for some times, God will send things our way that will, make ripples, disrupting our peace.

Christ final message, in the book of John, is peace. Don't worry, don't fret, don't get worked up. Peace.

Day 23 Jesus Death

2011-11-08T11:42:00.003-05:00

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" ... When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

The thing that stood out to me was the actions of the guards. Pilot delivers Christ into the hands of his guards. They beat him, put a crown of thorns on His head, put a purple rob on Him, and put a reed in His hand. The solders then kneel and mock Christ.

Think about it, this is Christ, God's son, what they were doing in mockery was some of the greatest blasphemy recorded in scripture, mocking the prince of Heaven. But by the end of they day their world had been turned upside down.

When Christ gave up the ghost the rocks broke open. The veil in the temple ripped (it was old to be sure, but it was also several inches thick). The graves were opened and the dead were brought back to life. The dead even went into town and talked with their families.

Then the head of the solders said, 'Surely this was the Son of God'. I can't imagine what that solder felt like as he rehearsed in his head when he had hit Jesus and mockingly knelt before him. Just an interesting thought.

Day 22 Jn xvii High Priestly Prayer

2011-11-04T13:26:00.003-04:00

glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,

It is all about giving glory to God. God is the controller and driving force behind the whole universe. Whenever we accomplish a task, no matter how small, it was all God's doing. Anything good done through us was done by God.

Even Christ here was saying, 'glorify me so that you, ultimately, will get the glory. When we get a job, clean the house, or just breath, it is all God's doing. Do we praise Him and give Him, His glory?

I know that so much of what I do I attribute to myself, when in fact, it is all God.

Day 21 Jn xv. The True Vine

2011-11-03T10:41:00.003-04:00

for without me ye can do nothing.

Christ was the one who said this. When was the last time you sat down and really thought about what you had the power to do? Think about it?

You are nothing outside of Christ. Human's would like to think they are something, when in reality you are not. You can only be something when you are in Christ and He is in you.

Christians are the worst at this. Cause we think, strip Christ away and I'd still be a pretty good person with fair morals. Wrong, you are a good person with fair morals because if Christ in your life.

We are, and can do, nothing without Christ.

Day 20 Jesus Power over Death

2011-11-01T10:47:00.003-04:00

Jesus wept.

In Bible college guys always joke about preaching from this verse. It is one of the two shortest verses in the Bible, the other being, Rejoice always. When I was in college I had my fair share of poking a little fun at this verse. Then i started thinking how i actually could preach this verse.

We all seem to view Jesus as this Germanic looking, red head, with moosey, teased hair. He walks all around the desert, gliding as he goes, acting like a guru from Jackie Chan. This view is of course wrong.

Jesus was very God and very man. He had the wisdom of God with all the emotions and feelings of a human. This verse is used for jokes but look at its context! Jesus is crying because a good friend of His just died. I've never had a close personal friend die, but I have helped people who have. It is an extremely tough experience.

We worship a Christ that weeps when things happen to us. He knows what it is like to lose a close friend. He sees crowds and is moved with compassion! When you are alone and crying you can be comforted knowing that even Jesus cried when He was on this earth. Christ knows how to comfort us because He has been there before.

p.s. If you want a true view of Christ check out Revelation xix.11-16

Day 19 Jn v Jesus' Authority

2011-10-31T14:27:00.003-04:00

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

People have been searching for eternal life for most of recorded history. Christ is one of few people that claim to offer eternal life. Why are people so prone to steer clear of Jesus Christ?

People have an attitude inside of them. This attitude is bad or good depending on how it is shown forth. It is self-dependency. You hear small children, teenagers, new employees, and old folks all say 'I can do it myself.' For a stubborn child, who really can not do it and keeps trying, it can be sin. For a new married couple that appreciates all the help they are getting, but knows they can not be a charity case forever, it is maturity.

In every area of life, from pouring milk, to learning to drive, to religion man 'can do it himself.' A view point has, I am sad to say, has sneaked into the church. The view of self-sanctification. I like my blog post to be short, so I won't get into the vast amount of details that could be covered but I will say, you can not make yourself holy.

I was raised by great parents who I love, but in the churches we were in, I was taught self-sanctification. Or that, 'you are the one who makes yourself better. The less you sin the less tempted you will be. The less you sin the more holy you become. this is false.

Do we give up trying to live clean holy lives all together? By no means! If you think that it is your actions that are making you more holy, you are dead wrong. You are the one who got you into this sin mess. Christ is the one working in your life to make you more like Him and the Father.

Day 18 Jn iii Ye Must be Born Again

2011-10-28T12:08:00.005-04:00

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Being born again is a very interesting thing. It goes opposite of a 'normal' life. In our earthly life we are born then we die. No questions about it, we are born, then we die. But in the spiritual life things are backwards.

When born into the earthly life you may be a healthy and strong baby, but you are spiritually still born. You are, spiritually speaking, dead in your sins, then you are born. You go from death to life. You are born again. They both follow a pattern, but one upside down from the other.

In your earthly life you (I hate to use tenses)start a mental conception of God's, in eternity. Then you are born in the flesh, then you die. The spiritual life is a mirror image. You are dead to begin with, then you are brought to life, or born.

Have you been born again? http://elseidie.blogspot.com/2011/10/day-15-lk-ii-christs-birth.html

Day 17 Mt v&vi

2011-10-27T12:11:00.006-04:00

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

There is so much in this passage! The passage can very easily be a series about the core teachings of Jesus. A great many things jumped out to me. God laid on my heart this, 'Do not be anxious.'

There was a situation recently where I felt my fiancee was in danger. I rushed as quick as my car would take me! Instead of taking my time, doing to speed limit, and getting there in a good amount of time, I just freaked. I sped, like no bodies business. Thus from speeding I had a spin out, which lost me time in getting there and could have killed me and others. Also I picked up a cop on the way there, who also took my time from getting to her and had every right to arrest me.

All I did in worrying is almost kill myself and get arrested. Then once I got to her apartment and the cop was processing me in the parking lot I am sure this did not make the situation any less stressful for her.

What I'm saying is, God had everything under control. If I had gotten there one minute sooner or later she would still have been ok. Instead of trusting God I almost made a bigger mess. What can we really do in this life if it is not the will of God? Nothing. God is in control of every situation. From your recent break-in to your sick child. God is moving and working in your life through these situations.

Trust God. Believe that He is in control. Give Him the glory.

(I did not get a ticket. Once the officer saw how shook up my fiancee was he let me off with a warning, which is the biggest break I have every heard of!)

Day 16 Lk iv Who Christ is.

2011-10-26T10:44:00.003-04:00

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Christ, using scripture tells us who He really is. He tells us what He came to earth to do. This is an amazing passage. I have got to be honest I have never seen this before.

Christ did all these things, both physically and spiritually. He has healed the blind and given enlightened eyes the the wicked. He has proclaimed good news to the poor and also gives good news to all humans who are poor with out His riches. He set Barabas free and also freed the sinner from their chains.

Search, refresh, renew or find out the excellency of the knowledge of Christ.

Day 15 Lk ii Christs' Birth

2011-10-26T10:27:00.003-04:00

for my eyes have seen your salvation

Christ is the Saviour of the world. I have lived my whole life believing this. I wanted it to be made real to me, and not just something I had heard from birth and would believe because.

I can not tell you the moment in time when I was saved. I do not remember praying a prayer. I don't remember reciting a creed. I really can not say anything about the moment when God saved me.

What I can say is this, I know God has saved me. I believe Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Saviour. I believe when He died, He died for me. I believe He has forgiven me my sins and has made a place for me in heaven.

How do I know this? It is what I believe. It is nothing at ALL what I have done, but all what God has done in me. My eyes have seen the Salvation of the Lord.

How can you know God has saved you? Simple Believe on Him. (questions? pioneerjameswood@yahoo.com)

Day 14 Isaiah's Prophecy liii

2011-10-24T10:02:00.005-04:00

But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. (I really wanted to use a different translation to change it up a bit...but the ESV best expressed the wording here.)

We all know this chapter. I memorized it for Sunday School and memorized it again when I was in choir for 'Messiah'.

This is the zenith of prophecy in the old testament. David did a great deal of prophecy for the Christ, including what Christs' last words would be. The highlight of all the old testament prophecy is summed up here in Is liii.

It was the most powerful trade in the account of history. He was punished, we were forgiven. He was crushed, we were made whole. He was chastised, we were given peace. He was broken, we healed. He bore your depression, worry, and anxiousness. 'Never was something so precious given for something so vial.' -Brian Stocks.

Pray that today God would make the sacrifice of Calvary real to you again.

Day 13 Ezra iii Laying the Foundation

2011-10-21T09:54:00.004-04:00

the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping

Like I said in my last post I have just come through a rough patch in my life. Now I am out of the trouble. Not only out of the trouble but moved on to a whole new chapter of my life.

The last chapter ended with a lot of pain, hurt, distrust, anger, and even hate. When I flipped the page and started the new chapter, it looked a lot like the old chapter. I was still very angry and hurt. I really adopted the DONT TREAD ON ME way of thinking. I was still clinging on to things that did not matter.

God has really been working in my life. He is laying a new foundation. Here in Ezra is the rebuilding of the temple. They have to start from scratch, square one. The foundation. You may be at a new chapter in your life as well. Forget those things that are behind and press towards the mark.

Day 12 Daniel iii Golden Image

2011-10-20T11:04:00.007-04:00

And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?

There are many applications to this passage. Some I've heard are: stand when no one else is, trusting God through any persecution, Christ is with you in the fire.

I wanted so badly to bring some new thing to light here. In the stead I will just write what God has put on my heart. It is not always easy to stand.

There was a time not too long ago that I had to stand my ground on an issue. It was almost like what you'd read in foxe's book of martyrs. I was questioned and asked to renounce what I believed.
Threatened with all sorts of punishments (I make it sound harder than it actually was because I'd like to be vague on the circumstances). I was the least questioned and threatened among my friends.

It was a very tough time. I had just discovered that I had anxiety troubles (medical, not just usual fretting) and I did not have medicine for it. Add on top of that all this pressure to change my belief...I honestly thought I was going to loose my mind (this I will not downplay, but I will not go into details)

Through it all Jesus, whether I felt it or not, was there with me. Looking back I could not feel Jesus with me, but l know for sure He was there.

Christ will be with you in all your temptations.

Feare ye not, stand still, and beholde the saluation of the Lord which he will shew to you this day. For the Egyptians, whome ye haue seene this day, ye shall neuer see them again. The Lorde shall fight for you: therefore hold you your peace. Ex xiv.13 K (Geneva Bible) Verse that got me through.

Day 11 2 Kings xxv Exile of Judah

2011-10-19T11:30:00.004-04:00

So Judah was taken into exile out of its land.

I am at a time in my life where it feels like exile. I have felt more alone and more afraid than right now. Still the feeling of exile is there.

There are times that God has appointed in our lives to be times of exile. Times where we may be cut off from certain people or when we are around people and still feel dreadfully far away.

During these times search yourself. Find what God is teaching you. You may not know for years what is being taught. God does everything for a purpose. I do not believe in a God that plots and plans around what man will do and changes His mind cause He can't control what is going on.

Trust that God is in control and trust that the situation you are in is exactly where He wants you to be.

"Be acquainted, then, with thine own heart: though it be deep, search it; though it be dark, inquire into it; though it give all its distempers other names than what are their due, believe it not." -John Owen (quote from Dr. Joel Burdine)

Day 10 1 Kings xviii Elijah and the Prophets of Baal

2011-10-18T10:24:00.004-04:00

that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God

This story is worth reading today (all the bible is worth reading ya nit pickers [i look forward to your comments]). Elijah goes up against 450 prophets of Baal and totally (and figuratively) burns them!

But, once again, look at the motive in Elijah's prayer. His reason for calling down fire from heaven was so that God's people would believe. He was not worried about getting his pride hurt or looking foolish, Elijah's purpose for this was to show God's power, so that, His people would believe.

Don't pray for your personal success today unless it's directly connected to the glory of God being manifested through successes. -Maggard (thefieldistheworld.wordpress.com)

Day 9 Solomon's Wisdom

2011-10-17T10:25:00.002-04:00

understanding mind to govern your people

When God came to Solomon and asked him for whatever he wanted he asked for wisdom. I am not shocked at the request. I am impressed by the motive behind the request.

Solomon did not ask for riches and fame. He asked for an 'understanding mind'. Solomon asked for this because he wanted to rule God's people in a way that would honour and glorify God. The motive behind his request was to bring God honour and glory.

Solomon was not thinking about what he wanted at this time. His desire was God-ward. Today I would pray that all my prayer-requests would not benefit me, unless it was to help me please God more.

Day8 1 Sam xvii David and Goliath

2011-10-14T11:04:00.002-04:00

For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand.

God used David to win this battle because it gave Him the greatest glory. When we see this little boy going up against this giant we see clearly that David had divine aid. But God could have used any one.

Any one who would have challenged Goliath in the Name of God would have gotten the victory, no doubt. God put it in the heart of David because this gave God the most glory and showed His power.

Never think that your problems are too big for you. God delights in using little things and people to defeat or conquer the big things. The king's hand maid. The little boy's lunch. One cruze of oil. If God has given you a trial larger than yourself, thank Him.

Day 7 Josh i

2011-10-13T11:40:00.005-04:00

Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

It is always good to be reminded that God is with us. This is what I needed today. I am actively looking for a job (drove to two places yesterday and putting in two apps today) but I spend most of my time at my house alone. Lots of time to think and pray. Also have lots of time to dwell on carnal things and fill my mind with things that don't help me.

God always being with me is such a great comfort. I am praying that this thought will be on my mind all day.

Day 6 Ex xx Ten Commandments

2011-10-12T11:20:00.004-04:00

There are two things that I see in this passage that jump out at me and that I did nto see myself but other people have shown to me and I think they are worth looking at now.

The first is in verse 7 in the commandment about taking God's name in vain. The word 'take' here is תשׂא (naw'shaw or here taw'shaw). This word can mean a great many things. My friend Jon Langman did a study and he found that one of the means for that word is to take, like a coat, and wear. Not just to take the name 'God' on our lips but also to take His name on our lives in vain. It is, I think, a matter of both. The greater application is this; calling yourself a Christian and then not living up to it. Taking Christs' name in vain.

The second thing that was pointed out to me was in verse 9. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,. We put a whole lot of emphasis on the 'day of rest'. Not so often do we see that we are also commanded to work the six other days. My friend Ransom Maggard pointed this out. Christians are always taking their Sunday naps, which without we would surely be children of Satan. But they are not too worried about the other half of the command, working the other six days.

I hope to hear some things that God made light up to you. Please leave a comment.

Day 5 Ex iv Moses and the Burning Bush

2011-10-12T10:49:00.003-04:00

This is an interesting part of this chapter. In the chapter our focus is mostly on the dialogue between Moses and God. Then While Moses is on his way back to Egypt he stops and is lodging when God comes to kill his son. His wife then takes a flint and cuts off the boys foreskin and tosses it at Moses' feet. ...that is hard core... It comes as a surprise to me that his son had not been circumcised yet.

I read some commentaries on this, for the passage can be read in many was. It seems that it was the man's job to be doing the snipping. This was Moses' fault that the boy had not been trimmed. So God came to kill (or make very sick) Moses for neglecting his job. This is when his wife steps in.

She cuts off the boys foreskin and throws it at Moses feet
A Bridegroom of Blood
so that it touches his feet (it's in the Hebrew) and calls him a 'bloody husband' or bridegroom.

I pray that God would always give me the strength and courage to do what is right to do. And that God would never have to use my wife in a capacity she was not intended for because of my disobedience.

Day4 Gen xxii Abraham and Isaac

2011-10-12T10:41:00.002-04:00

Here am I

We have all heard this story in sunday school from our teachers and in the pulpit from our pastors many times. God has lighted different things to me at different times. Most times we look at Abraham's faithfulness. That is Abraham's driving force no doubt. I see also his willingness.

I know very well that his willingness would not be possible without his faith. Let's take a look at his willingness though.

Here am I sums up Abraham's whole attitude. Isaac is a picture of Christ here and it is a great picture but I don't think Abraham was any less willing to give his wife, his other son, his servants, or anything. Nothing that God asked for would have been too big. God chose Isaac cause he was the greatest thing that God had given.

We all wish for the faith of Abraham in this story, but I would also be happy with an ounce of the willingness that he showed as well.

Gen xv&xvii

2011-10-07T12:39:00.002-04:00

Gen 15:15 As for yourself, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.

I thought for sure I was going to be reading something about Noah. Instead I find we've skipped to Abram.

Some things I found interesting were his name change. Abram: great father = Abraham: father of multitudes. It was on my foot notes, and while I'm sure some preacher through the years has said this I never picked it up.

Also, the animal choices that God made. It seemed he was choosing the pattern of which animal pleased him. They are the same ones I believe that He told Moses to use.

God makes a promise to Abram in xv.15 that he would live to a good old age. This is also something I had not seen. Not of HUGE importance just something that jumped out at me.

I find it very interesting to study this history of Israel. It always helps you down the road in your study. These are the basics that will aid in the study of the whole bible.

Das Bible

2011-10-06T11:19:00.003-04:00

*I use the King James to preach from. It is a good translation and that is what I will use to preach from in my church. To have a standard text.

For personal study I use, including but not limited to: ESV, NKJV, KJV, K, and JPS. Also for original languages I use: TR, BYZNT, LXX, Vulgate, Masort, Syriac.

This is a personal study and I am using the ESV mainly. So my references will be from it.

Gen iii The Fall

2011-10-06T10:49:00.004-04:00

And he said: 'I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.'

Today's reading was the fall. There are the major things that jump out to me. Eve was not surprised the serpent spake. The first recorded sin in the bible in verse 4. God clothed them in animal skin, a picture of the up coming covenant. And the...say it with me class...protoevangelim!

Things that stood out to me were: The first sin they realized they had committed was being naked. The fruit gave them the knowledge of 'good und evil'. They knew they should not be naked. Hmmm interesting.

Also, they did not know they were naked till both of them had eaten. The fact that adam was never tempted by the snake but only by woman.

When adam and woman ate of the fruit we assume that they learned all the naughty things that they should not do (we know what assuming does). Once they ate the fruit there were able to discern what was evil and good. They did not have sin 101 downloaded into their heads.
Also, not only did they know what was wrong to do but they could now perceive what was good to do. Which is where C. S. Lewis starts his book Mere Christianity. There is a Human Nature in us that knows when evil is committed.
We are dead in our sins, so when we commit sin was don't think twice about it. But it is when sin is committed against us (being lied to, being stolen from, being cheated) That is when we see that there is a bar or standard of good and bad.

Read the passage for yourself. Comment and tell me somethings you saw or things you'd like to add to this post. Above anything, read it, apply it, live it.

Gen i&ii Creation

2011-10-05T13:22:00.004-04:00

*Gen 1:2 Now the earth was unformed and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters.
Gen 1:3 And God said: 'Let there be light.' And there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.
Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
Gen 1:6 And God said: 'Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.'

I do not claim to solve any mysteries here. I am only blogging my ideas and observations.

This first chapter we travel back in time. In fact, we travel back before time. We go back before the beginning. Before reality was real. Before existence existed. Here we 'start' in eternity past. There was two things I see 'being' 'existing' here. God and water.

What about the earth mentioned in verse two? It says that it had no form and it was void, therefore it did not 'be' in eternity past. Why does it seem that water 'was' in eternity past? I can not say. I am making just an observation...I look forward to your comments.

God's first thing to create was Light. But darkness is mentioned in verse two? Darkness there is just a term used for nothing. Actually, less then nothing. There could be no darkness with out light. If light 'was not' then darkness could not be compared to anything, thus rendering it non-existent. When you jump in water you get wet. You become wet because you cease being dry. But what about a fish? It is nothing but wet. Only to a fish, wet is the state of things so it does not realize it is wet, that is all the fish knows. So with out light there was 'no' darkness. Once light was voiced into 'being' then could darkness be divided and made a separate thing.

Then God makes the firmament. This, I think is the start to the universe. Later on in the chapter we see God 'haning' the stars in the firmament/canopy/sky. The stars hang and move in the expanse of the universe. This is the creation of reality. Perspective. Being.

These are a few things I found interesting in these chapters. Comment it up I would love to hear what you think (not in disagreement with my ideas, but a voicing of your ideas)

May we see the awesome power and control of our wonderful creator through this reading.

40 Days Bloggin'

2011-10-05T13:14:00.002-04:00

God has, as of right now, chosen for me to be unemployed. I am actively looking for a job. I try to apply to one or two places a day. So pray with me that God would provide a job, or whatever His will maybe. For the moment, I have a lot of free time. I do work around the house to keep busy, but still, large gaps of down time.

I needed to clear my head, last night, and think. I saw this time that has been given to me as a time to study and reflect. To study God and His word. And to reflect on my relationship with God and my attitude towards others.

There is a 40 day reading schedule in the front of one of my Bibles. I thought I would read through that schedule. As a means of keeping track and actively thinking about the days passage I thought it useful to keep a blog about it.

I start today!

God's Love for Us

2010-11-02T18:53:00.000-04:00

I know I have not written for many weeks. There has beena string of events that have unfolded in God's perfect timing. These events have detered me from my writting but I think I am back in the swing of things.
I think over the past couple of weeks God has spoken to me about my worth. God has been showing me who He is and what I am, but now I am seeing his love for me. Psalm cxiii.5,6 who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

It says here that God humbles Himself to look on us. We must bring into account all the truths about the beings mentioned here.
1. God is absolute Holy; He does not have to look upon us.
2. Man is absolute coruption; he does not deserve to be looked upon.
3. God's love, beyond our understanding, for man compels Him to humble Himself and look upon His lowly creation and care for it.

What a treasure we are in God. On our own we are nothing and the rebel of creation; but in God, we are the most loved and cared for creatures in the Kingdom.

Ps xciv REFUGE!!!

2010-09-25T18:38:00.002-04:00

91
I will say to the LORD, 'My refuge of and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'
We are looking at what God has to say about Himself. And no book contains more of God than the Book fo the Psalms. In the past three-part post we saw God as our perfect creator. Lets move to psalm 91 were God is our perfect refuge.
This whole paspsage is completely about, God, the one to whom we may run to. Verse 2 says He will be our refuge and and fortress. We can view God as this great tower. Unbreakable, inpenitrable, unshakable. A mighty tower that we may run to for protection. At any time (v5) anywhere (vv9,10) from any danger (vv10,13) God will protect us.
How does our God do this? Through the mighty covering of His wings (v4) Like a mother hen covering her brewd with her wings, in the same way our God covers us with His wings. What a place of peace and absolute security! May each of us make God our refuge and habitation.

BOOK REVIEW!!!

2010-09-18T13:48:00.003-04:00

Once a month on the third week of the month I will be doing a book review. Hopefully books that most of you guys haven't read. This months book I'm sure everyone has read but one friend of mine said he would read the blog if I did a book review of this on.

don't waste your life:
The author of this book is the well read and well versed pastor of the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, John Piper.
Being one of his best selling books Don't waste your life is a must read for any Piper fan. The ol' cult classic that we all know and love should be on every pastors shelf and for that matter your shelf. This book is not only a great hit it has also lead to the 'don't waste your life tour' but has been the theme for t-shirts, rap songs, and countless other parafanielia.
The books starts with the testimony of Pastor Piper and his upbringing in Minnisota. He testimony is great to hear, good to think on, but these first two chapters can be somewhat 'dry' and a little hard to get into. But hang on and strap on our safty-belts kidos cause chapter three blows you out of the shallow end and into the Blazing Centre of the Gory of God!
This book makes you take a hard look at your own life and makes you ask the question; Am I wasting my own life? I know it seems every book I pick up is 'life-changing'. But I were to say hat of any book with sure authority, it would be this one. 'May it never be said that I wasted it...'

Psalm cxxxix part III

2010-09-10T15:05:00.000-04:00

vs.15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, inticately woven in the depths of the earth.

The wording in this portion of the chapter is so poetic and beautiful! What a thougth that is brougth here about David's acount of God's forming of us. I will praise they for I am fearfuly and wonderfully made!
God has know you even before the womb (v16) He has seen our unformed substance. How can you see something that is not formed yet? Only God can! It says God reads the book of our members (v16) and He knits us (v13) and weaves us (v15) from this unseen, unformed substance.

When a loved-one is diagnosed with cancer we can rest assured that God knows what He is doing in that situation. When a small baby contracts a terminal desiese we can trust in God that He knows exactly what the problem is and He is in complete comtrol. What a great God!

Psalm cxxxix Part Deux

2010-09-06T15:42:00.003-04:00

vs.8,9 If I take the wings of the morning...even there Your hand shall lead me,

What a great comfort to know that our god is with us everywhere we go. How does He do this? Because He is everywhere at once.

This is called omnipresence, I know, pretty basic stuff for most of us. Augustine explaned it somewhat like this; its not that God is spread thin through out the whole earth, it is that He abundantly dwells in every area of his creation.
We know that the presence of God may be manifested in difernet places but what a great God we serve that is with us up high and down low (v8). Or even day or night (vs11,12). What a great God!

Psalm cxxxix

2010-08-28T12:00:00.000-04:00

vs.4 Even before a word is oon my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether
God knows everything. This isn't a new consept for most of us. This passage here is talking about how much God knows us. He knows because we are His creations and the very work of His hands.
If your hobby was building cars, don't you think you would know the cars you build inside, and out? You would know every nut and bolt of your car. It is the same with God. He knows us cause he created us.
This passage goes a step beyond that. In verse four is talks about how God knows what we are going to say even before we are going to say it. Why? Because he made the brain to have a thought. He made a language to carry that thought to others. And He made the tongue to audibly express, with language, that thought.
What a great God we serve that knows us, knows what we're going through every minet of the day, and guids us in His perfect will. What a great God!

Attributes From the Psalms!

2010-08-28T11:54:00.002-04:00

Hey all my readers (hi ransom) This new series is called Attributes from the Psalms. Basically I'm taking some key passages from the psalms and expound on the attributes found in them. I also will have a book review every month which i think will be cool. I picked some books that I liked and I don't think alot of people have read so i I hope you guys (ransom) will enjoy Else I Die this semester.

Forsake All

2010-07-20T10:35:00.006-04:00

Ya know I've adopted this little saying for this summer. I planed to live it the best I could, but i did know that God would use it to help change me. As much as the things around me distract, my prayer is that I will keep a steady focus on God and what he needs me to do.

Spend little time in front of the tv. Spend little time in pleasure books. Read about God, more important read THE BIBLE!!! Dont just read the bible cause you'll fall behind in your yearly reading schedule, read it so that it will, EVERY DAY, transform your life and ministry.

I never want to be able to claim the words of that old hymn I wish I had given Him more! Lay aside those silly sins, seeing them for more than just a distraction but as a destruction to your walk with God. Brothers, Christ said, 'lay down your nets and follow me'. i pray that we can do that as we follow Christ.

Forsake All

Welsh Hymn

2010-07-16T21:43:00.006-04:00

This is a some what well known welsh hymn. Written by William Williams I found when i translated the words literally they were very powerful.

Welsh
Dyma gariad fel y moroedd,
Tosturiaethau fel y lli:
Twysog Bywyd pur yn marw—
Marw i brynu’n bywyd ni.
Pwy all beidio â chofio amdano?
Pwy all beidio â thraethu’I glod?
Dyma gariad nad â’n angof
Tra fo nefoedd wen yn bod.

English (literal)
Here is love like the ocean
Mercies like the current
The pure Prince of life died
Died to buy us life
Who dares to forget Him?
Who dares not to praise Him?
We will cry for oblivion
While the Lamb is in heaven

English
Here is love vast as the ocean
Loving-kindness as the flood
While the Prince of life a ransom
Shed for us his precious blood
Who His love can not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise
He will never be forgotten
Throughout heaven's eternal days

The Welsh Revival of 1859

2010-07-03T12:43:00.005-04:00

Maybe the last entry on this subject but maybe my favorite.

'Morlais Castle is a place where, on fine Sunday mornings, scores of the worst charaters (from the iron-works) meet to drink and fight... You might imagine what a den of wickedness that place is on Sunday morning.

On a fine Sunday morning in June last, about twenty young lads could be seen wending their way thither, and they reached the polluted spot about half past five. One young lad said to them, that they had come to hold a prayer-meeting, at which idea the drunkards scoffed... A testament was opened and a chapter read; a hymn was sung, and most melodius it was in the breeze of the morning.

By this time all had become quite serious. Not a laugh or a jest passed - nothing was heard but prayer and praise... the beer was thrown away. Many swore emphatically that they would never go to Motlais Castle again for such a purpose... and in less than a month hundreds met on the highest summit of Morlais Castle to worship their creator...the hills and woods would echo the praises of God, and the effect was most thrilling.'

The Welsh Revival: Its origin and development

The Safest Place

2010-07-03T12:06:00.004-04:00

I was doing my daily devotions/private worship. And God brought to me Psalm xci (91). He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will adide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord 'My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.'esv.

This whole chapter is about the shelter and protection of God. He is our 'refuge'. The Hebrew word here is the same word for hope. Which is interesting for psalm xlii (42). But the thing that caught my eye was verse 4 He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust:.

When we are in this spot, under His wings, in His feathers, in the Strong Tower, this is where we are closest to our God. This is where He can speak to us clearly. This is where we feel the fullest of His love and mercy. In my own life I have to abide always in the safety of my God's wings.

Robert Murray McCheyne on John and Christ

2010-06-21T17:57:00.002-04:00

[John] He saw Him in the garden, when He lay upon the ground. He saw Him on the cross, when He hung between earth and heaven. He looked upon Him - many a time he looked upon His heavenly countenance - his eye met His eye.

He heard Him, heard the voice that said, "Let there be light!" He heard the voice like the sound of many waters. He heard all His gracious words - His words concerning God and the way of peace. He heard Him say to a sinner, " Be of good cheer, they sins are forgiven thee."

He handled Him, he put his hands in His, his arms around His, and his head upon His bosom. Perhaps he handled his body when it was taken from the cross, touched the cold clay of Immanuel. O beloved, it is a manifested Christ we declare unto you. It is not the Son in the bosom of the Father; that would never have saved you. It is Jesus manifested in flesh. the son of God living and dying as man in the stead of sinners; Him we declare unto you.

God's Steadfast Love

2010-06-21T17:40:00.004-04:00

I was hurrying to work one early morning and i read Psalm cxxx (130) quickly. My goal was to have great quality time in the Word but not quantity (this rarely if ever works, and i do not recommend it. But at 5 in the morning...) I came across the phrase in verse 7 "O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.". What caught my attention was the term steadfast love. I gave this phrase thought all day, why does God's love have to be steadfast?

I really enjoy watching the Michigan State Spartans play american football. I cheer for them in the big 10 (25) conference. Except when they play the University of Michigan Wolverines. Then I will support the Wolverines above the Spartans. Why? Cause my whole family is Wolverines fans. I love the Wolverines. I have an unmovable, steadfast love for U of M.

What if God's love wasn't steadfast? He might only love us half the time, He might only love us when we are doing good (beating State). Here is the deal about God's love, it's not going anywhere. His mind is stayed on you! He thinketh upon thee! He doesn't love you when you are good, or when He feels like it, His love is steadfast like a rock. I hope we all can thank God for His steadfast love for us!

Excerpts from David Brainerd

2010-06-11T23:56:00.004-04:00

Such fatigues and hardships as these serve to wean me from the earth; and, I trust, will make heaven the sweeter. Formerly, when I was thus exposed to rain, cold, etc.,
I was ready to please myself with the thoughts of enjoying a comfortable house, a warm fire, and other outward comforts; but now these have less place in my heart (through the grace of God), and my eye is more to God for comfort.

Death and Eternity are just before us; a few tossing billows more will waft us into the world of spirits, and we hope, through infinite grace, into endless pleasures, and uninterrupted rest and peace. Let us then 'run, with patience, the race set before us.' (Heb xii.1,2) And, O, that we could depend more upon the living God, and less upon our own wisdom and strength!

A Story From the 1859 Revival

2010-06-09T13:54:00.005-04:00

Many stories came from the 1859 revival of Wales. This being one of the most powerful revivals to hit wales, it has a lot of stories to tell. Spreading from South to North nearly every heart was 'shot with the truth.' This is one of my favorite stories!

Two men were lately returning home from a beer-shop at a very late hour. One of them said to the other, 'When I get into the house to-night my wife will scold me dreadfully.' 'Oh,' said his companion,'I shall have something ten times more intolerable than scolding. My wife is always quiet, but she weeps and speaks to me about my soul; and her words are burning like fire in my conscience.'
Having reached his house, his wife, as he expected, met him at the door, weeping. He retired to his bed immediately and slept, but his pious wife could not sleep. She wrestled with her God for hours on his behalf . About three o'clock in the morning he awoke, and saw her standing at the bed-side, and wetting his face and pillow with her warm tears. 'Margaret,' said he, 'what is the matter with you?' She replied, 'The thought that my dear husband is an enemy to my beloved Saviour, and that he is likely to have his eternal position with damned spirits, almost breaks my heart.' This was too much for him; he rose and knelt by his wife, and prayed for mercy. They are now a happy couple, rejoicing in the hope of dwelling together for ever in heaven.

- The Welsh Revival: Its origin and development

The Splashy Summer Line Up!!!

2010-06-09T13:50:00.002-04:00

All right all four of my faithful followers, here is the summer line up!!!

Monday: A quick word for the week from James Wood!!!

Wednesday: A story from revivals past!!!

Fridays: Random day!!! (this includes quotes, stories, bible readings, devotionals...just about whatever i have)

The Great Contrast of man and God

2010-06-01T11:13:00.003-04:00

Psalms cviii. 12,13

The great contrast of man and God. Not much of a measure up to me. 'Vain is the help of man' very much an understatement. Man can not help you at all!
'Through God we shall do valiantly' Contrast: over statement. Without God we can not even fall on our faces, we can do nothing. But above that is says that we will ... be valiant? What a mighty God we serve that can take some thing so useless and make him valiant.
The great ungulffed contrast of God and man. From verse 12 to verse 13 man is brought up from 'vain help' to 'valiant victor'

- Forsake All

Just Something from Private Worship

2010-05-19T11:26:00.005-04:00

Just a thought from my devotions (private worship for all my Driscol loving friends). I was reading in Psalm lxviii.6 God setteth the solitary (lonely) in families: He bringeth out those which are bound with chains (lit. chains of prosperity: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

There are three break downs in the verse; and three things that our great God does.

1. He setteth the solitary in families: You know many people suffer from depression and loneliness. When you come to God you come into a family. Not just the Father and Son of the Trinity, but you some into the family of the Church. Not just your local church but the Church family all around the world. If you come to God you'll never be out, or away form the family.

2. He bringeth out those which are bound with chains: Now these chains here are talking about the chains of success. Now we know God saves us all from the American dream. What is that dream? A self made life. No man is anything unless he is God-made. No man can make his own success. There are always strings (chains) attached to one's success. Well God frees the lost man free from 'his' chains of success and God gives him His own riches in Glory!

3. But the rebellious dwell in a dry land: We always ask why it seems that the evil move forward and the servants of God are left in poverty! The grass isn't always greener on the other side boys and girls. Member those chains? The evil are completely bound by them. They look like they are successful, but then consider their end. The only way something grows is if it gets proper care. Can you really succeed in a dry place then? Silly explanation but i think the emerging church people get it!

Riches In Glory

2010-03-07T18:00:00.011-05:00

The bible says that '... my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus'. My belt broke last week and I have been using rope for this past week (this includes going to church today with my fancy custom made belt).
And all week I have been thinking 'How am I going to get a new belt? I have no money. I dont want to borrow money for the belt. How am I going to get a new belt?' Then God hits me with an answer. 'I gave you my son, and life here to serve me, don't you think I will give you a belt if I think you need one?'
Sometimes we go through life thinking 'Oh me, what will i do?' You know what? It is at times like these that we need to fall back on the sovereignty of God and trust that the controller of the universe knows what He is doing. He has all the riches in this world and He will supply us according to His riches, not only here, but in glory. And we know those riches far exceed our needs.
Next time you worry about God's provision, just remember what He has provided already.
'I gave you my Son, won't you trust me for a can of tomatoes? I gave you my son, don't you trust me to give you this months rent?' - Pastor Sexton

Throughts from Pink

2010-02-19T04:43:00.004-05:00

I often say my prayers
But do I ever pray?
and do the wishes of my heart
Go with the words I say?
I may as well kneel down
And worship gods of stone
As offer to the living God
A prayer of words alone

There must be no dictating, nor can we 'claim' anything from God. for we are beggars dependent upon His mere mercy. In all our praying we must add, 'Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.'

We are profited from the Scriptures when prayer become a real and deep joy. Merely to 'say our prayers' each morning and evening is an irksome task, a duty to be performed which brings a sigh of relief when it is done. But really to come into the conscious presence of God, to behold the glorious light of His countenance, to commune with Him at the mercy seat, is a foretaste of the eternal bliss awaiting us in heaven.

Westminster of the Week!

2010-01-13T11:25:00.003-05:00

It's back folks!

IV. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, depends not upon the testimony of any man, or Church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.[9]

Why We Go Through What We Go Through

2010-01-13T10:55:00.009-05:00

Are there ever situations where you just throw your head back and say 'Why does this stuff always happen to me?' We find Paul in this situation here in 2 Corinthians i.
Paul is writing to the church here at Corinth and he says in verse 8 that '[I] would not...have you ignorant of our trouble'. He goes on to talk about how he had despaired of life itself. What a situation to be in. But why would God put Paul through something like this? Lets take a look back. i.3. ...and the God of all comfort (4) Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we mat be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Paul here says that comforts those who are afflicted. Well we know that God is the one who sends the affliction. so what is the purpose? Well, when the Lord comforts us we are able to comfort others in that situation with the same comfort that God has given us.
With this God-given peace we are able to show forth God's comfort to the unbeliever, and broken hearted Christian.
So the next time you have a 'why me moment'. Say a quick prayer, and thank God for the peace that He will give you.

What Do I Really Have?

2010-01-12T18:44:00.007-05:00

I was really thinking the other day, what do I really have in this life. I mean really think about it.
I have a car, no it can be taken away. I have money, it can be stolen. I have a girlfriend, this can be taken from you (pretty easy to lose :/). I have clothes, those can be stolen right off your back. I have stocks, can be lost...pets...a house...kids...what do you really have?!?!?
You will always have the Lord. No matter where you go. You will always have peace, in all situations. You will have a home in heaven, when you have no place to put your head on earth.
All you really poses on this earth can be stolen, broken, killed, or rotted with time. Those things you have eternal...those are yours, forever.

To All My Fans

2010-01-06T16:38:00.002-05:00

I am sorry about the lack of blog posts. I have been on Christmas break. Now I am back and in business...but I'll be leaving to study abroad soon. So the posts will be fewer these days. Sorry oh my faithful faithful fans.

How Great is Our God?

2009-12-08T00:00:00.006-05:00

Psa 99:1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble:
he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
2 The LORD is great in Zion;
and he is high above all the people.
3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name;
for it is holy.
4 The king's strength also loveth judgment;
thou dost establish equity,
thou executest judgment
and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt ye the LORD our God,
and worship at his footstool;
for he is holy.
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests,
and Samuel among them that call upon his name;
they called upon the LORD,
and he answered them.
7 He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar:
they kept his testimonies,
and the ordinance that he gave them.
8 Thou answeredst them,
O LORD our God:
thou wast a God that forgavest them,
though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.
9 Exalt the LORD our God,
and worship at his holy hill;
for the LORD our God is holy.

How great is our God? He is so big He can hold this universe in His hand. But He is so small His fullness can dwell in your heart. He is so mighty he controls every rain drop yet He is so gentle He guilds the steps of a baby. He is so Awesome the heavens can not contain Him but He robbed Himself in this flesh. So great that He rules with absolute authority and He speaks to me in the smallest voice. You can't understand Him with your head but you can feel Him with your heart. How great is our God?

In the hand of Satan

2009-12-01T22:55:00.003-05:00

I just happen to be reading through Job and I found something very interesting in chapter ii. In chapter ii we see Satan, once again, coming before the presence of the LORD. And just like in chapter i we see the LORD ask Satan 'Hast thou considered my servant Job?' Satan thought if he could afflict Job's body he could get Job to deny God. So God says to Satan, and this is the verse I would like to focus on, in chapter ii verse 6 'And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.'

If you read this verse you see God giving control of Job's body to Satan 'Behold, he is in thine hand'. God didn't lose control of Job, God permitted Satan to attack Job. Nothing in this universe happens with out the permission and power of the LORD's almighty hand. Where does Satan get's his power? God is solitary in His awesomeness. God is the only self-sustaining being in this universe which he has created. Satan is not a self-sustained being, he is finite and a creation of the creator. Therefore Satan could not have the power to afflict Job unless given by the LORD himself.

Christian, how often is that old accuser knocking at our door? Don't you think he is there for a purpose? If God gave permission for Satan to attack Job, don't you think God has a reason for allowing Satan to come your way? Satan has already been given permission from God and power as well. Remember the words of Paul to the Corinthians '...but [God] will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.' (I Cor. x.13) God would never let something your way unless it was for your good (James i.2,3) and for His Glory!

An Exposition of Pslam CVII

2009-11-22T22:33:00.006-05:00

First we see our distresses(6). This is the first and the most troublesome of the problems. You see distress as a re-occurring theme throughout the whole chapter. Distress seems to go hand-in-hand with all these other things (6, 13, 19, 28) How do we get victory over our distresses? 'Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!' (8)

Second observe victory over darkness(10). Darkness is talking about the sins that hold us down (10) How do we get out from under these sins that hold us captive? 'Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!' (15)

Thirdly we see people and their destructions(20). This comes from a mixture of ignorance and sin (17) How do you keep yourself from the destruction of sin? 'Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!' (21)

Fourthly we have an issue with being down (26). We must keep in mind that all the storms of life that are sent our way are from the LORD (25) How do we get out of the storms of life? 'Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!' (31)

The psalmist here is urging, begging, and imploring us to give praise to the LORD. In scripture the exclamation point is not used very often. But we find here it is used 4 times, in this passage alone! In fact after verse 32 all there is, is praising. The answer to a ton of our problems is to just simply praise the LORD for what He has done in our lives!!!

What the World Needs

2009-11-22T14:39:00.004-05:00

The world does not need hymnals and pianos. The world does not need choirs and robs. The world does not need Sunday School and Goodwill stores. The world does not need Spurgeon and John Piper. The World does not need Baptist and Presbyterians. The World does not need The Convention or the Independents. The world needs Jesus. The world needs to know Jesus loves them. The world needs Jesus.

Lets Talk about Jesus!

2009-11-21T19:52:00.008-05:00

There are two things we don’t do enough. Break into random song and talk about Jesus. Jesus knew the thoughts of every man. This grieved him so much. God can not stand sin. So if Christ knew the every thought of every man don’t you think this would have caused him to be sad? But you know what? Christ was the happiest man that every lived. He counted the cross a joy. We as Christians aught the be the happiest people on the earth. What does the world have to offer? We have so much more to be happy for. Crack a smile and follow Christs’ example of Joy :)
- Thanks to Chris in Greek class two weeks ago for this

GET A GRIP!!!

2009-11-20T19:32:00.000-05:00

GET A GRIP!!! Ever hear that old saying? Someone basically telling you to check back into reality? Someone telling you to get a grip on life? James tells us in chapter iv and verse 14 '...ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is a vapour,' You can't know what tomorrow has for you, its like a vapour. Have you ever tried to grab a cloud or a whisp of smoke? You can't get a handle on it. You can't get a grip on life either. Only God knows what tomorrow holds. Get a tight grip on God, and you will you have a good grip on life.

Westminster of the Week!

2009-11-20T19:28:00.004-05:00

III. God, in His ordinary providence, makes use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them, at His pleasure.

V. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God does oftentimes leave, for a season, His own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and, to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon Himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends.

Why do bad things happen to good people?

2009-11-16T20:39:00.000-05:00

This is an age old question. And one that plagues us all at one time or the other. I hope to look at what the Bible has to say about things.

What is considered good? Job says in chapter ii in the tenth verse “…shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” Good is whatever God wants to do. It says in verse 6 of the same chapter that God says to Satan “Behold, he is in thine hand;” (talking about Job). Can God giving Job over to the Devil really be a good thing? Well with out it…would there be the encouraging book of Job?

What is considered bad? In Romans chapter iii and verse 12 “…There is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Any man that has not come to the repentance of his sin and put his God-given faith in Christ is not good in any way shape or form. But I do good things. With out faith from God any works you do are no good. Can an unsaved individual really do anything good then?

Westminster of the Week!

2009-11-16T07:45:00.000-05:00

Of the Head of the Church:
VI. There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can the Pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalts himself, in the Church, against Christ and all that is called God.
- XXV

Mind Set

2009-11-13T13:21:00.000-05:00

I don't care where I go
I don't care what I do
I don't care who I am with
I don't care when I die
Why?
...fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
- Ecc. xii.13

John Knox: Just a Good Thought!

2009-11-12T21:36:00.000-05:00

Let no day slip or want some comfort received from the mouth of God. Open your ears, and he will speak even pleasant things to your heart. Close not your eyes, but diligently let them behold what portion of substance is left to you within your Father’s testament. Let your tongues learn to praise the gracious goodness of him, whose mere mercy has called you from darkness to life.

Westminster of the Week!

2009-11-11T11:28:00.000-05:00

Selections from Chapter XXI: Worship of God

...The light of nature shows that there is a God, who has lordship and sovereignty over all, is good, and does good unto all, and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might.

...Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious worship, is by God required of all men: and, that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son, by the help of His Spirit, according to His will, with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love and perseverance; and, if vocal, in a known tongue.

...God is to be worshipped everywhere, in spirit and truth;[29] as, in private families daily, and in secret, each one by himself;[32] so, more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly or wilfully to be neglected, or forsaken, when God, by His Word or providence, calls thereunto.

Spurgeon on Missions:

2009-11-09T12:50:00.000-05:00

'...but I will only say, that, in comparison with Paul, we are less than nothing, and vanity; little, insignificant, Lilliputian creatures, who can hardly be seen in comparison with those gigantic men of old.'

Wierd name!

2009-11-06T13:12:00.000-05:00

God has called me the the country of Scotland. One of the Reformers that I look up to the most is John Knox. Not just because of his reform of the the entire religious mindset of an entire European country, but because of his devotion to God and the poeople of Scotland.

- In the jails and prisons, as well as at the stake, God's devoted children suffered beyond description. The whole land was a scene of desolation. Many were burned alive for their faith and devotion to the Protestant religion. The great heart of John Knox was deeply moved. Night and day he cried at God to save Scotland.
At one time Knox was so greatly burdened for Scotland that he retired for secret prayer, but was soon discovered by some of his friends, by his groans. They heard him groan out, "Give me Scotland, else I die!" Then after a few moments they heard him repeat these same words. "Give me Scotland, else I die!" They heard him breathe out the longings of his soul until he found relief. God gave him Scotland. -

Westminster of the Week!

2009-11-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

III. In the unity of the Godhead there be three Persons of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son. - Westminster Conffesions chp. ii

Old: does this blog fart dust?

2009-11-04T22:47:00.000-05:00

- This should and shall remain a blog for my thoughts on the Bible and what it has to say, not what I have to say about it. Now I know what you are thinking...old?...why old? There is nothing cool nor excitting about anything old.

This is very very true. I don't like the term 'Old Time...' Why James? I'm gald you asked class. Cause God is new everyday. His mercies were new this morning for you. And that song in your mouth...it's new. And the creature you are...it's a new one.

But I think all together we need to get back to the theology and thinking of the 'Old Timers' if you will. What faith did our for-fathers have. What drive to serve God and live out and out for Him. I think we have def missed something. I want to get back to their way of thinking and most importantly their view of the the Almighty Creator.

So if you like: Tozer, Knox, Luther, Calvin, (and the list shal grow) you will like this blog...I hope. -

Else I die

Day 27 The Acts ix Saul's Conversion

Day 26 The Acts ii Pentecost

Day 25 Lk xxiv The Ascension

Day 24 Jn xx The Resurrection

Day 23 Jesus Death

Day 22 Jn xvii High Priestly Prayer

Day 21 Jn xv. The True Vine

Day 20 Jesus Power over Death

Day 19 Jn v Jesus' Authority

Day 18 Jn iii Ye Must be Born Again

Day 17 Mt v&vi

Day 16 Lk iv Who Christ is.

Day 15 Lk ii Christs' Birth

Day 14 Isaiah's Prophecy liii

Day 13 Ezra iii Laying the Foundation

Day 12 Daniel iii Golden Image

Day 11 2 Kings xxv Exile of Judah

Day 10 1 Kings xviii Elijah and the Prophets of Baal

Day 9 Solomon's Wisdom

Day8 1 Sam xvii David and Goliath

Day 7 Josh i

Day 6 Ex xx Ten Commandments

Day 5 Ex iv Moses and the Burning Bush

Day4 Gen xxii Abraham and Isaac

Gen xv&xvii

Das Bible

Gen iii The Fall

Gen i&ii Creation

40 Days Bloggin'

God's Love for Us

Ps xciv REFUGE!!!

BOOK REVIEW!!!

Psalm cxxxix part III

Psalm cxxxix Part Deux

Psalm cxxxix

Attributes From the Psalms!

Forsake All

Welsh Hymn

The Welsh Revival of 1859

The Safest Place

Robert Murray McCheyne on John and Christ

God's Steadfast Love

More Stories from the 1859 Revival

Excerpts from David Brainerd

A Story From the 1859 Revival

The Splashy Summer Line Up!!!

The Great Contrast of man and God

Just Something from Private Worship

Riches In Glory

Throughts from Pink

Westminster of the Week!

Why We Go Through What We Go Through

What Do I Really Have?

To All My Fans

How Great is Our God?

In the hand of Satan

An Exposition of Pslam CVII

What the World Needs

Lets Talk about Jesus!

GET A GRIP!!!

Westminster of the Week!

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Westminster of the Week!

Mind Set

John Knox: Just a Good Thought!

Westminster of the Week!

Spurgeon on Missions:

Wierd name!

Westminster of the Week!

Old: does this blog fart dust?