Sunday, July 28, 2013

Praise to God for a Living Hope

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!


In His great mercy He has given us new birth...


into a living hope


through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,


and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade––



kept in heaven for you,


who through faith are shielded…


by God's power…


until the coming of the salvation…


that is ready to be revealed in the last time.


1 Peter 1:3-5

Praise the Lord!

He is wonderful and greatly to be praised

Olivia



Sunday, July 21, 2013

Longing for the Lord?


This week, I've been feeling a longing to spend a few days with Jesus.  Have you ever felt that?  He is my Father, my Savior, my Everything. . .how can I, as His daughter, continually become distracted and not take time to just talk to Him?  It's a really sad thing for me, because I know that He needs to be my priority.  Now, I'm feeling the loss and the longing to just be with Him.

With my EMT class starting on Wednesday, I've had a lot of homework to do beforehand, and have kind of gotten wrapped up in it all.  There is so much to learn in the medical field.  So many things to remember.  But where is the Lord?  It's not like I'm studying in seminary, where the Lord is the focus.  I'm called to a field that needs Jesus.  People that need help in their immediate needs. To a place of high stress levels, where your skills are put to the test.  To a field that focuses on the physical and not the spiritual.  Right now, I'm not an EMT yet.  I haven't even started school.  Why on earth is it hard to find time to spend with my Father?  My wonderful, beautiful, Father?  It should be easy.  But it's not.  

It's amazing how you can get so wrapped up in what your doing and trying to learn, and forget to put your focus on Him.  But how can you forget our Lord? It must not really be forgetfulness, it must be more like negligence.

Neg.li.gence: noun
Failure to take proper care in doing something

Doesn't this single word describe it so well?  

It really is negligence on our part.  For it is our duty to spend time with the Lord, and draw close to Him.  He is there the whole time, just waiting for us to share our thoughts and listen to His voice.  Isn't that wonderful?  Our Lord loves to talk to us, if we would only use our time wisely and spend it with Him!

On Friday night, I had the blessing of going over to a good friends' house, and it was SO refreshing to just talk about Jesus!  That is pretty much all we talked about the entire time.  We talked about what the Lord has done, the things we have learned, and just about how awesome He is!  Because He IS amazing!  I would encourage each of you, to talk to someone and share the wonders of our God because He is worthy to be praised.  It will bring a joy to your spirit, and I'm sure it makes Jesus happy too!

I will definitely be making more of an effort this week, to spend lots of time with Him.  He is the One we are living for.  He is the One who created us.  He is the One who loves us unconditionally.  He is our Heavenly Father.  What could be a better way to worship Him, then to spend a few minutes, or even hours, with Him alone?  Sit at His feet, and adore our Father. 

He is wonderful and greatly to be praised

Olivia

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Biblical insights - part 3


Alright!  Here we go for chapter 3 in the beautiful book of James.

There are a few things that stood out to me in this chapter, starting in verse 7. . .

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:7-8)

Actually the day before I read this, someone had mentioned this verse while we were talking about the people that have bears as pets.  We were questioning how could someone train a bear to become your friend.  Andy said, "the Bible talks about how men train ALL creatures, but no one can tame the tongue.  So of course you can train a bear!" I never thought of it that way!

It's so wild, that our own tongue is referred to as an animal. . .and that no one can tame it.  You think a bear or lion is wild?  Think about how much worse the piece of fat in your mouth is! (sorry for the description : )  That is why we have to be so carful with what we say.  The Bible mentions multiple times, to watch what you say and do. . .because actions can actually speak louder than words.  You know, it's good to hold you tongue from saying something bad, but your actions could say the same thing even louder.  So I suppose your tongue and your actions go together hand in hand.  Beware what you talk about with your family and friends!

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. My brothers, this should not be. (vs. 9-10)

The next thing that is mentioned in this chapter is about wisdom again. . .

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. (vs. 13-15)

Do you think you are wise?  If you are, it should be shown by the way you live and the things you do in the humility that comes from wisdom.  Note that word humility.  Humility and wisdom go together.  It's not about being prideful about how wise you are.  You need to be humbled before God, about the blessing of wisdom that He has gifted you with. . .and can be difficult.  Because our sinful human nature is to boast about our wisdom!  But that is wrong.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. (vs. 17-18)

Amen, and praise the Lord!

He is wonderful and greatly to be praised

Olivia

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Biblical insights - part 2


We will continue through the book of James chapter 2. . .

In James 2, it starts talking about how wrong favoritism is.  This is something I'm sure we've all done at some point of our lives.  I know that I have.

My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2:1-4)

In these verses, it is using the example of showing special attention to the rich man, and not really caring about the poor man, thus showing favoritism.  But I think if you flip the story, and show special attention to the poor man and not care about the rich man, it is the same thing. . .both of them being wrong.  We need to show love to both of them, which can be really hard.

Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? (vs. 5)

Later on in the chapter, it talks about the way you should speak and act:

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! (vs. 12-13)

So that means we need to show mercy to everyone, for mercy triumphs over judgment!

I think this next part is really interesting, and has caused a lot of confusion to some (including me).

What good is it, my brothers if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (vs. 14-17)

I have always been stumped with this part of the chapter, because of what I have been taught.  You know that it's not by works that you are saved, but through faith in Jesus Christ.  We are not justified by works, but through faith.  To me, works and deeds, were the same. . .and maybe they are.  I know that other religions believe that you need to do deeds and works as well, in order to 'earn' your salvation.  So I always thought that 'works' and 'deeds'  were in essence, bad.  But when I read this on Tuesday, it started making sense to me.  The example in verses 15-16 clears up the confusion:

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you all; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

You can't just have faith that something is going to happen. . .sometimes you have to take action.  Although that could start another argument, with the fact that you're kind of saying you have to 'help God make something happen', and not having faith that He can do it by Himself.  But I think there is a balance, and it depends on the situation, to determine what you can do.  Because sometimes, you really just can't do anything, and that is a time that God uses, to have you rely on Him and Him alone.

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. (vs. 26)

He is wonderful and greatly to be praised

Olivia

Biblical insights


I have been reading through the book of James over the past couple days, and I wanted to share some things that I'm learning.  It is amazing, some of the things that stick out to us. . .and you just have to believe it is God-inspired!

In James chapter 1, it talks about trials and the blessings of persevering.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)

It also mentions wisdom, and how we should ask our Father for it whenever we need it.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. BUT when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6)

So that would mean we can't just ask for wisdom, we need to believe and not doubt that God will give it generously to us.  He has it, we just need to ask for it with faith.

In the later verses, it talks about anger, the Word, and religion.

Anger:

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (vs. 19-20)

The Word:

Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (vs. 22)

Religion:

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: 
to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (vs. 27)

I had no idea that the bible talks about what God accepts as religion!  He even describes what that looks like.  To me, that is encouraging to know that religion is important to the Lord. . .that He put a verse in there just for me : )

Until next time. . .

He is wonderful and greatly to be praised

Olivia

Monday, July 8, 2013

Our newest family member!

What has feet like a jackrabbit, eats cat food for fun, has a nose like a possum, and is a bandit?
(Hopefully you guessed right!)


This guy.  He scuffled the entire plate of cat food while we were watching, in a matter of 10 minutes.  Bandit, decided to be part of our family on Thursday night around 11 in the evening.

In case you don't know what this is, it's a raccoon : )

He is wonderful and greatly to be praised

Olivia

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Heroes

My prayers go out to the brave firefighters who lost their lives in the front lines of the Arizona fire.  They did all that they were trained to do.  What more could you ask?  Now everyone is questioning whether or not they should have been pulled out earlier. . .but what can you do now?



This is the only surviver of the one hotshot team that perished.  Firefighter Brendan McDonough, only 21 years old.  Such a young man, with such a brave heart.  Please be praying for him as he deals with the shock of loosing 19 of his team members.


May the Lord comfort these families with the comfort only the Lord can give.  May He give them a peace, knowing that He has a plan for everything.  May He guide them to Himself, the one who loves them with an everlasting love.  

 I'm sure our dear Father is just as grieved as the families are. . .He is even interceding for them!  What a comfort it is to know that our heavenly Father is praying specifically for each individual family, during this tragic time.  He knows and understands what they are going through.  He is with them, even when they don't see it.  

Please pray for these dear families.

He is wonderful and greatly to be praised.

Olivia

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Welcome!

Hello everyone!  I have a couple of friends that have encouraged me to start a blog, so here I go : )  I hope to be faithful in posting random things that are going on in my life, and hope that you will laugh, be blessed, and think about the greatness of the Lord!  
He is wonderful and greatly to be praised.

Olivia