I babysit for adorable kids down the street named Zack and Ben. Yesterday, their mom told that that morning, Ben (who is 3) had gotten angry with her for not letting him go on an airplane ride. Ben’s mom had explained to him that you needed money and a ticket but Ben was determined that his mother was just being cruel. He did not know that his mother was keeping him from something that he really wanted only in his best interests.
How many times do I do the same thing? The whispered prayer, “Thy will be done,” is in constant use but rarely meant. Of course I want God’s will done! Arrogantly, I demand that he best thing for me will always be the plan I concoct. God always gives the best, right?! My human mind cannot grasp what God is doing in me and through me in this situation.
Am I just demanding an airplane ride?
9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!~ Matthew 7:11
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Easter
The birds sang sweetly, as if they knew some wonderful secret. Mary wished they would be quiet. They were on their way to Jesus’ tomb and they all knew the reason—Mary had to say goodbye. Everyone tried to convince her that Jesus was gone but she couldn’t come to grips with the reality of it. As they trudged along, Mary tried to ponder other things: the weather, what she would do this afternoon, anything. It was useless. The image of Jesus, her beloved Jesus, on the cross was ingrained in her head.
They had walked through the garden and come to the place where He was buried. Startled by the image ahead, she sprinted to the site of the grave. Everything was the same, except for the bolder had been if front. It was rolled aside. Careless of her own well-being, Mary ran to the site. Careful examination of the tomb raised her suspicions. Had someone stolen the body? How could anyone move the behemoth of a stone? Suddenly, without notice, two brilliant figures appeared. As if to answer her thoughts, they proclaimed, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' "
Jesus’ words came back to the woman. Mary’s first thought was that she had to tell the others.
Mary knelt in the garden sobbing. Peter and John had rushed to the ancient graveyard on hearing the news—leaving her in the dust. She had gotten there as soon as they were leaving. Yet she couldn’t draw herself from the tomb to go depart with them.
Deciding she had to leave, Mary bent over to take in one more glance of the site that had caused such confusion. As she did, she saw the two angels. They asked her,
"Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
Jesus said to her, "Mary."
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
NOTE: The bottom conversation between Jesus and Mary is taken straight from John 20:13-16.
The reason why I chose this section of the Bible to write about is because I think that too often, our salvation becomes a monotonous thing. We hear about it so often that we loose our awe of it.
Also, I appreciate Mary Magdalene's complete devotion to Jesus. She so devoted to Jesus that Him saying her name was a completely unique and personal experience.
If you have any feedback, please comment!
They had walked through the garden and come to the place where He was buried. Startled by the image ahead, she sprinted to the site of the grave. Everything was the same, except for the bolder had been if front. It was rolled aside. Careless of her own well-being, Mary ran to the site. Careful examination of the tomb raised her suspicions. Had someone stolen the body? How could anyone move the behemoth of a stone? Suddenly, without notice, two brilliant figures appeared. As if to answer her thoughts, they proclaimed, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' "
Jesus’ words came back to the woman. Mary’s first thought was that she had to tell the others.
Mary knelt in the garden sobbing. Peter and John had rushed to the ancient graveyard on hearing the news—leaving her in the dust. She had gotten there as soon as they were leaving. Yet she couldn’t draw herself from the tomb to go depart with them.
Deciding she had to leave, Mary bent over to take in one more glance of the site that had caused such confusion. As she did, she saw the two angels. They asked her,
"Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
Jesus said to her, "Mary."
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
NOTE: The bottom conversation between Jesus and Mary is taken straight from John 20:13-16.
The reason why I chose this section of the Bible to write about is because I think that too often, our salvation becomes a monotonous thing. We hear about it so often that we loose our awe of it.
Also, I appreciate Mary Magdalene's complete devotion to Jesus. She so devoted to Jesus that Him saying her name was a completely unique and personal experience.
If you have any feedback, please comment!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Arrest
Startled from their slumber, the disciples dreamily looked around. Peter say things in pieces. There was Jesus, standing above them with lights coming from behind Him. Peter could just barely make out the figures, spare one. Judas. The former disciple walked up to Jesus and kissed Him, not in respect, but with scorn that emanated from his face. As Judas steeped back, Jesus replied in response to the betrayel, "Friend, what do you want?" A lone soldier voiced, "Jesus of Nazareth." Without repose, the master answered, not with formal garb, simply the truth. He said, "I am he." Trembling as if invisible waves had slammed them to the ground, they made no move. Again, the teacher repeated, "What is it you want?" A singular soldier whispered shakily, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus responded. "I told you I am he..."
Peter heard no more than this. The scene of betrayal and arrest had been unfolding, almost as if in a dream, until he saw the soldiers advancing toward Jesus. Drawing his sword madly, he charged toward the first person he saw. Anger misguided his weapon. His sword swung madly and hit a man's head. Everyone froze. Calmly Jesus walked toward the man and picked up his ear. As if this was normal, he placed it in it's proper place and walked away with his patient in shock. Then the Messiah turned toward Peter. "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"
Peter heard no more than this. The scene of betrayal and arrest had been unfolding, almost as if in a dream, until he saw the soldiers advancing toward Jesus. Drawing his sword madly, he charged toward the first person he saw. Anger misguided his weapon. His sword swung madly and hit a man's head. Everyone froze. Calmly Jesus walked toward the man and picked up his ear. As if this was normal, he placed it in it's proper place and walked away with his patient in shock. Then the Messiah turned toward Peter. "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Palm Sunday
He sat on the donkey listening to the roars of the crowds up ahead. As they approached, the streets were overwhelming. One man spotted him and shouted, "Jesus is here!" The formally hectic crowd became pure insanity. As Jesus entered the market place, women waved palm branches and men surrendered their coats to the road. The Saviour cut though the crowd on the donkey looking at each individual. One woman in particular caught his glance. She was not rich, famous, or brilliant-just a women. But Jesus saw through her. Joyful tears ran down her face, not for show, but of the overflow of the heart. It was her long awaited Saviour. God was on earth. Suddenly, a shout came from the center of the chaos. "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" Jesus looked around. With unsettled dust flying around, he looked at his followers. Sincere worship was on each of their faces. He knew what was ahead and that some would betray Him. He knew what the consequences would be. The 12 looked at him, longing for an answer. He faced the Pharisees and firmly said, "I tell you if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." The religious leaders shrank away, each trying to blend into the crowd.
NOTE: This is purely fiction. Not meant to be historically accurate, just to portray the mood of the day.
NOTE: This is purely fiction. Not meant to be historically accurate, just to portray the mood of the day.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Worldview
I just finished a book called Darwin on Trial. The author, Philip E. Johnson, systematically goes through and picks apart not only the science of evolution but also the mindset of it. He states in Chapter 5 that, “Conceivably there are ways for the Darwinists to conform their theory to these baffling proofs- if we assume a priori that the theory is true.” When you have an assumption that something is true, you can make almost any theory fit the facts.
My writing teacher made a comment last semester that stuck with me. She first asked us which phrase would indicate opinion, “I think” or “It is…” The majority of us answered that the first was an opinion while the second stated a fact. Quite bluntly she replied, “Wrong. Both are an opinion. No matter what way you phrase something, it is still an opinion.”
“Facts” are constantly being thrown at us-homosexuality is a natural behavior, abortion is a women’s right, your beliefs are ok to compromise once in a while. We rarely step back and analyze who is speaking. In the Darwinist’s case you find that because they made the assumption that evolution happened, they are selective about the evidence they choose to acknowledge. If something doesn’t fit the theory, it is simply discarded as unuseful to the cause.
This plays an interesting roll in our lives. Here’s how:
1. Examine others. Are they selecting facts to fit their worldview? If so, what worldview? (Not that is acceptable to skew facts anyway.)
2. Examine yourself. The world’s view on things is constantly being spewed at us through the media and schools. It is impossible to shield yourself from hearing them but you can catch yourself from believing them. I often will catch myself saying something that is completely unbiblical yet I have never questioned its truth.
Hope this isn’t complete rambling.
Danni =)
My writing teacher made a comment last semester that stuck with me. She first asked us which phrase would indicate opinion, “I think” or “It is…” The majority of us answered that the first was an opinion while the second stated a fact. Quite bluntly she replied, “Wrong. Both are an opinion. No matter what way you phrase something, it is still an opinion.”
“Facts” are constantly being thrown at us-homosexuality is a natural behavior, abortion is a women’s right, your beliefs are ok to compromise once in a while. We rarely step back and analyze who is speaking. In the Darwinist’s case you find that because they made the assumption that evolution happened, they are selective about the evidence they choose to acknowledge. If something doesn’t fit the theory, it is simply discarded as unuseful to the cause.
This plays an interesting roll in our lives. Here’s how:
1. Examine others. Are they selecting facts to fit their worldview? If so, what worldview? (Not that is acceptable to skew facts anyway.)
2. Examine yourself. The world’s view on things is constantly being spewed at us through the media and schools. It is impossible to shield yourself from hearing them but you can catch yourself from believing them. I often will catch myself saying something that is completely unbiblical yet I have never questioned its truth.
Hope this isn’t complete rambling.
Danni =)
Sunday, February 22, 2009
School
Ok, so it's the weekend and guess what I'm doing...school! This happens every weekend. While all my friends are hanging out or going to the movies I sit around trying to keep up with the endless treadmill of homework. I know that this qualifies in the "hard things" category, but still it can get just a bit discouraging. Yet though this, as He does with most things, God has been teaching me stuff.
1. He has appointed this job, for me to do, at this time. Algebra doesn't seem like a noteworthy task, yet when seen from God's eyes is a completely different landscape. He told me to do it. It takes a personal aspect when you see it this way.
2. I need to do it with all my heart. I have been blessed by being homeschooled and having the freedom to get an education. The Bible says in Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Whether I am finishing my homework or cleaning the bathrooms, I should be doing for God. That should completely change my aspect on things.
Now I am off to do homework. =P
1. He has appointed this job, for me to do, at this time. Algebra doesn't seem like a noteworthy task, yet when seen from God's eyes is a completely different landscape. He told me to do it. It takes a personal aspect when you see it this way.
2. I need to do it with all my heart. I have been blessed by being homeschooled and having the freedom to get an education. The Bible says in Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Whether I am finishing my homework or cleaning the bathrooms, I should be doing for God. That should completely change my aspect on things.
Now I am off to do homework. =P
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Our economy
President Obama’s remarks on Monday night sounded much like Chicken Little. He insisted that the answer to our current crises is to pass the bailout bill without delay or further discussion. Yet our government has failed to convince the majority of Americans that this is the magic potion to our problems. So what should our government do? Listen. Surprisingly, the people they represent have an opinion. If the response is an overwhelming go-ahead, so be it. If it is otherwise, maybe they should stop and reconsider before mindlessly rushing ahead. Either way, the American people may want a voice in what is going to be done with a large amount of their money.
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