Watermelon

I really like watermelon. But where are the big watermelons with seeds? All they have in the stores now are seedless melons. It is rather nice to eat watermelon without seeds when you are at a indoor party. But summer does not seem like summer without seed spitting contests. It is not just the seeds that I miss but the flavor also. I miss really good, juicy, flavorful watermelon.

Taking Our Mission Seriously Part 2

Mark 16:15, Luke 14:23, Mark 8:35, Philippians 1:27, 1 Corinthians 3:9, Ecclesiastes 4:9

The Story Of Four Friends And The Paralyzed Man (Luke 5:17-26)

1. They Had Concern For A Friend (Romans 15:2, 1 Cor. 10:24, Col. 4:3)

Things to pray for when praying for unbelievers
-Pray for God to soften your heart-to care about the lost.
-Pray for a chance to invite them to church.
-Pray God will soften and prepare their heart.
-Pray for an opportunity to share what God has done for you.

2. They Believed Jesus Would Save Their Friend (Luke 5:20, Hebrews 7:25, Mark 10:27, Romans 1:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

3. They Brought Their Friend To Jesus (Matthew 9:2, Col. 4:5, Luke 14:23)

4. They Didn't Let Difficulties Discourage Them (Galatians 6:9, 2 Peter 3:9)

5. They Dared To Do Something Different (Luke 5:19, Hebrews 10:24, Colossians 4:5)

6. They Worked Together To Get The Job Done (Luke 5:19)

7. They Were Willing To Pay The Price (1 Cor. 9:12, Ephesians 2:19b-22, Romans 1:9)

Sunburns

Well it is the beginning of summer. People are getting their first sunburns of the year. This bothers me. Why don't people put sunscreen on? I know one girl who is in agony because of a really bad sunburn. Both of my grandfathers have had skin cancer. My uncle died of a skin cancer that spread through his body. Sunscreen is cheap compared to cancer treatments. Why don't people put sunscreen on? I know that cancer runs in my family so I have to be extra careful. I slather myself with sunscreen and only wear shorts on the hottest days. I don't wear sleeveless tops either. I don't expect people to go as far as I do. I just wish they would put sunscreen on. And if you chose to get sunburned don't complain to me.

Studying Through Romans Part 11

3:9-20 "What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know." "There is no fear of God before their eyes." Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law' rather, through the law we become conscious of sin."

We are all sinners. (Romans 3:23) This has recently hit me very hard. I am a worthless sinner. There is no way that I can become righteous in this world. It is the law that showed me that I am a sinner that cannot keep the law. There is no hope for me. I am condemned to hell.

3:21-26 "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood. He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished- He did it to demonstrate His justice at the present time, so as to be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."

But because of Christ's finished work on the cross I am saved from being damned to hell. I receive a righteousness from God that comes through my faith in Jesus. This righteousness makes me pure in God's sight.

3:27-31 "Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law."

There is only one God and one circumcision and one faith.

Therefore we are condemned by the law. And are justified by grace through faith in Christ and made righteous. But is the law to be forgotten and despised because it condemned us? No, it is to be obeyed.

Studying Through Romans Part 10

3:1-2 "What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God."

What value is there in being a christian? We have been entrusted with God's word. It is our duty to proclaim it and to live according to it.

3:3-4 "What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge."

It is an amazing concept to fathom that God's faithfullness is always there no matter what we believe, say or do. God is faithful whether I have faith or not.

3:5-8 "But if our unrighteousness brings out God's righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing His wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? Someone might argue, "If my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?" Why not say-as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say-"Let us do evil that good may result"? Their condemnation is deserved."

Many people think that the ends justify the means. Is that true? Is it right to kill one human to save another? Is it right to sin in order that God's righteousness may be revealed?

Taking Our Mission Seriously Part 1

Jeremiah 1:5, John 17:17, 20-23, Mark 16:15, Luke 14:23, 2 Peter 3:9, Acts 17:5-7, Mark 8:35

A. I Must Abandon All Distractions (Luke 9:62)

Top Four Distractions (Hebrews 12:1)
1. Focusing On Money
2. Focusing On Past Mistakes
3. Focusing On What Others Think
4. Focusing On Our Plans (Psalm 119:37)

B. I Must Adopt God's Purposes (Romans 6:13, Acts 20:24, 2 Corinthians 5:18, 20)

C. I Must Anticipate God's Help (Matthew 6:33, Jeremiah 1:7-8, 2 Corinthians 16:9, Mark 10:29-30, Isaiah 6:8)

Camp Good News 2007

Camp Good News was fun! I had six girls in my cabin. We all had a good time at camp together. Everyday we had devotions in our cabin. We went to chapel, missions, Bible, crafts, hiking, pool, and games on the field. We had the best camp food in the world.

My heart goes out to the kids. Some of them have divorced or deceased parents. Some of them have a parent who is living with a person who they are not married to. These kids have so many aches and pains. They have bad examples. I want to cry when I think of what these kids are going through. I wish that I could be with them all the time. I want to help them even though I don't know how.

Dangerous Exits Part 3

The Exit Of Deception (1 Cor. 2:12, Romans 12:2, 2 Samuel 11:1-5)

1. Shift My Thinking From Self-centered To Others-centered (1 Cor 14:20, Phil 2:4)

2. Shift My Thinking From Earthly To Eternal (Colossians 3:1, 2, 4, 2 Cor. 4:18, 1 Cor. 7:31)

3. Shift My Thinking From Temptation To Trust (James 1:13-15)

4. Shift My Thinking From Enjoyment To Escape (1 Cor. 10:13b, Genesis 3:6, John 8:44, 1 Peter 5:8)

5. Shift My Thinking From My Way To God's Way (Proverbs 4:23; 7:1-5; 16:18; 28:26, Obadiah 1:3, Matthew 7:13-14)

The Princess And The Kiss

Last week I spotted a book in the living room. "The Princess and the Kiss" by Jennie Bishop. It is a childrens book written in fairy tale style. I think it is a good book to explain purity to kids who are really young. The story is about a princess who is given a special present from God, a kiss. Her parents keep that present until she is a young woman. Then they give the kiss to her with a warning to be wise and only give it to the man she will marry. Many men come and promise all sorts of things to her if she would marry them. But she realizes that these men would not appreciate or value her kiss. Finally a young man who has saved his kiss comes and they get married and exchange their kisses. It is a real sweet story.

Studying Through Romans Part 9

2:25-29 "Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God."

Well, circumcision is a weird topic for a woman to talk about, but I cannot skip it. If I just skip over the parts of the Bible that are uncomfortable to talk about, then I would be studying a very small Bible indeed. But I don't think the main point is about circumcision. I think that the main point is it is not the physical outward signs that make you a Christ follower, but it is the heart. If a non-christian got baptised it would not make him a christian. In the same way if a christian was not baptised he would still be saved. The outward act of baptism is a sign of the inward change.

Looking Forward To Camp

Next week I am going to Camp Good News. I am really excited. I love being a counselor. This is my fifth year working at Camp Good News. I enjoy camp and being a role model for the kids. It is amazing how the kids look up to the counselors and admire them. The other staff members are amazing people. I am blessed to be part of such a team.

Top 10 Newsboys Songs

#1 "Presence" I long for God's presence. I long for the day when I will be in His physical presence. I will be complete on that day.

#2 "Rescue" God certainly has rescued me.

#3 "Beautiful Sound" I love to lift my voice to the Lord in a beautiful song.

#4 "Million Pieces" ("Kissing Your Cares Goodbye") This song was on the CD that I first listened to. It is still my favorite song from "Thrive".

#5 "I Am Free" (Live) Sometimes I don't appreciate my freedom and often I don't exercise my freedom as a christian. But I ask that the Lord will help me to live freely.

#6 "Blessed Be Your Name" This is a really beautiful song about praising God in the good times and the bad. I remember the things that God has given to me and taken away and the things that I still have.

#7 "I'm Not Ashamed" This is something that I am working on. I get annoyed at myself for being afraid to speak out and tell the world that I am a Christ follower.

#8 "Devotion" This is really pretty and worshipful.

#9 "Love Liberty Disco" I like the sound of this song.

#10 "Breakfast" The first time that I heard this song was a few years ago at one of their concerts. It was immediately one of my favorites.

Dangerous Exits Part 2

The Exit Of Discouragement (2 Corinthians 8:11, Hebrews 12:1-2)

1) Find Strength In Other's Faith (Romans 15:4, Hebrews 12:1a, Genesis 12, 22; Daniel 3, 6; Hebrews 11)

2) Put Off What Trips Me Up (Hebrews 12:1b, 2 Timothy 2:3-4)
A) Let Go Of Ungodly Attitudes And Actions
B) Let Go Of Unneccessary Activities

3) Determine To Persevere To The End (Hebrews 12:1c, 1 Cor. 15:58, 2 Cor. 11:23-28, Philipians 4:13, Acts 1:8, 1 Cor. 10:13)

4) Stay Focused On Jesus (Hebrews 12:2a, 2 Corinthians 5:7, 2 Corinthians 4:18)

5) Keep The Right Perspective (Heb 12:1-2, Phil. 3:14, 2 Cor. 4:17, John 6:1-15; 25-59; 60-69)

Imaginations

The other day one of my younger brothers asked what did we do before karate. (We have been evolved in karate for the past seven years.) My mother replied that we were busy having babies and taking care of them. She said we stayed at home and found things to do. It made me think about what I used to do when I was younger. I remember playing outside for hours with Matthew and Isaac. We would play indians and hunt with bows and arrows. I would make a fort and gather stones and sticks for a pretend fire. When our grandpa gave us a big bag of pecans from his tree we would crack the nuts with rocks and eat them. Sometimes we would be soldiers and march around with our toy guns that daddy made for us. Other times we would be woodsmen and hunters. We would explore and play for hours each day.

Some days we would stay inside. Matthew and I would read for hours. Isaac and I would play house and make grand forts in the playroom. We would pile chairs and toy boxes and stuff in a corner with towels as the roof. We would bake cookies and brownies in the kitchen. We would sometimes play hotel and restaurant.

We had really amazing imaginations back then. Sometimes when I play with my younger cousins now I wish that I still had that imagination.