Where have I been for two weeks??!?! Well, college began again and life is busier than ever! I am excited to see God challenging me and teaching me amongst it all : ) I have been reading in Mark, Isaiah and Proverbs this week. I am pleasantly surprised to be learning so much from books that I have visited most recently to this undertaking. Proverbs has such level headed, simple truths in it that put you back in perspective. I needed that.
God is back to reminding me about child like faith again. I think that is a nice, heavenly way of saying stop being so serious and just trust me. Let me love you and let my love shine through you. Thanks God! I have been so consumed with school and everything that comes with ministry starting back up for the fall. God and reading my Bible have been getting put on the end of plans and the back burner of my evenings. I am ready to get back on track and put Christ first. I am so much happier when I am in Word.
God has been revealing a lot in these scriptures to me about listening and hearing God. Which is wonderful since that is the topic of small group next week! Thanks Lord! I always appreciate killing two birds with one stone.
This well known verse was exactly what I needed to hear this week, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
LOVED this and do not recall ever reading it,
"1 My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
3 and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul."
Be good. Love well. Allow God to use you.
Have a blessed and relaxing labor day weekend my friends!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Holding accountable
So I am still being a slow poke about getting through Mark due to homework and readjusting to school life. SO tired. I will update you soon on what the Lord is revealing to me.
Update: my friend's father's eye was FINE! Praise the Lord!
Update: my friend's father's eye was FINE! Praise the Lord!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Mark 2-4
Hello everyone!
Well I typed this blog once and accidently closed it! haha Nothing like a little mistake to make you laugh! I have had the desire to quit Mark and mix up my reading to a different book. But! I have decided to complete Mark before adding variety. I think some repition is good sometimes, especially when reading so much material. It's like watching a great movie twice in one day. There are so many new things to notice the second time around!
Mark Dos
Read this passage from www.biblegateway.com NIV:
"8Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, 11"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
I like reading about how Jesus knew in His spirit and how He acts on it. The way Jesus communicates with bold love is so beautiful and I always learn so much from the way He speaks to people.
Mark tres
"Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.
5He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus."
The way the Lord was feeling makes me think of times where I probably made Him distressed. I am so thankful that He is teaching me ways to distress Him a lot less! The Lord must have to deal with so much all of the time. However, amidst the foolishness we choose, He still loves us, teaches us and leads us to repentance! Praise the Lord!
"16These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); 18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him."
Sometimes when I read parts of Scripture where the Lord re-names people, I wonder if when I get to Heaven if the Lord will call me by a new name. I think that would be kind of neat for Him to say, "Hello Kristina! I love you and want to call you____!" :)
Jesus is so insightful and unified. I love this in Scripture when He says,
"32A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you." 33"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked.
34Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."
Mark Cuatro
Jesus thinks ahead! I really enjoyed reading that SO many people came to Jesus to hear Him speak that He stood in boat to preach :) Probably no wobbling!
"1Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge."
Isn't it wonderful when our faith grows and we look back and see that it has grown well beyond what we even realized? It takes me back to when I was a complacent Christian. I am so thankful that I can look back on so much growth, even after a week, God is able to show me some small or large lessons He taught me.
The Parable of the Growing Seed
"26He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."
Have a blessed week!
Well I typed this blog once and accidently closed it! haha Nothing like a little mistake to make you laugh! I have had the desire to quit Mark and mix up my reading to a different book. But! I have decided to complete Mark before adding variety. I think some repition is good sometimes, especially when reading so much material. It's like watching a great movie twice in one day. There are so many new things to notice the second time around!
Mark Dos
Read this passage from www.biblegateway.com NIV:
"8Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, 11"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
I like reading about how Jesus knew in His spirit and how He acts on it. The way Jesus communicates with bold love is so beautiful and I always learn so much from the way He speaks to people.
Mark tres
"Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.
5He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus."
The way the Lord was feeling makes me think of times where I probably made Him distressed. I am so thankful that He is teaching me ways to distress Him a lot less! The Lord must have to deal with so much all of the time. However, amidst the foolishness we choose, He still loves us, teaches us and leads us to repentance! Praise the Lord!
"16These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); 18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him."
Sometimes when I read parts of Scripture where the Lord re-names people, I wonder if when I get to Heaven if the Lord will call me by a new name. I think that would be kind of neat for Him to say, "Hello Kristina! I love you and want to call you____!" :)
Jesus is so insightful and unified. I love this in Scripture when He says,
"32A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you." 33"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked.
34Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."
Mark Cuatro
Jesus thinks ahead! I really enjoyed reading that SO many people came to Jesus to hear Him speak that He stood in boat to preach :) Probably no wobbling!
"1Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge."
Isn't it wonderful when our faith grows and we look back and see that it has grown well beyond what we even realized? It takes me back to when I was a complacent Christian. I am so thankful that I can look back on so much growth, even after a week, God is able to show me some small or large lessons He taught me.
The Parable of the Growing Seed
"26He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."
Have a blessed week!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Power to Drive out Demons
First of all, beginning Mark and trying to get new things from synoptic gospels is not easy. However, the slightly different wording always helps me to get a new perspective. In Mark 1 I was totally excited to read about the Lord just speaking to demons and them leaving people. Read the Scripture below, it is so awesome!
23Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil[e] spirit cried out, 24"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"
25"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33The whole town gathered at the door, 34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
The Lord is powerful! Don't you know that the same power that drives out demons and conquered the grave lives in you, as a believer? It is so wonderful! Claim it and live it, because you've got it!
Have a blessed and encouraging week! Walk in the power of the Lord!
23Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil[e] spirit cried out, 24"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"
25"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33The whole town gathered at the door, 34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
The Lord is powerful! Don't you know that the same power that drives out demons and conquered the grave lives in you, as a believer? It is so wonderful! Claim it and live it, because you've got it!
Have a blessed and encouraging week! Walk in the power of the Lord!
The last 24 hours
Greeting friends!
The last 24 hours have been nothing short of spiritually, mentally and physically exhausting. I was stressed and let it get the best of me and it made my reading get pushed to the side and half done, my mind was troubled and I was crying and tired. It was miserable. Today was a great morning to give to the Lord. It was all concerning school funding issues, but praise the Lord, it is all settled and resolved thanks to His grace and love! Thank you Lord!!! I learned so much from the experience. It was very humbling to say the least.
Tonight I am finishing Matthew since I was supposed to complete it last night. I really wanted to highlight the end where Jesus says that Judas will betray Him and the response He gives to Judas and His disciples is really amazing. The trust in the Father is absolutely breathtaking.
His patience in Matthew 26:24-28. The mockery He endored is hard to read.
64"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66What do you think?"
"He is worthy of death," they answered.
67Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"
So what did I learn from these lines of Scripture? I learned that we always seek the Father and the will of the Father. It was very fitting for me to read this today after such a day as yesterday. The Father has the master plan and it can get rough but we must give our lives to Him to be able to endore.
Random side note: Please pray for my throat. It has been acting really crazy the last few days. Dry and hard to talk. Also, for my best friend's dad. He needs healing in his eye. Thank you! Please leave prayer requests in my comments section. I would love to pray for you!
The last 24 hours have been nothing short of spiritually, mentally and physically exhausting. I was stressed and let it get the best of me and it made my reading get pushed to the side and half done, my mind was troubled and I was crying and tired. It was miserable. Today was a great morning to give to the Lord. It was all concerning school funding issues, but praise the Lord, it is all settled and resolved thanks to His grace and love! Thank you Lord!!! I learned so much from the experience. It was very humbling to say the least.
Tonight I am finishing Matthew since I was supposed to complete it last night. I really wanted to highlight the end where Jesus says that Judas will betray Him and the response He gives to Judas and His disciples is really amazing. The trust in the Father is absolutely breathtaking.
His patience in Matthew 26:24-28. The mockery He endored is hard to read.
64"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66What do you think?"
"He is worthy of death," they answered.
67Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"
So what did I learn from these lines of Scripture? I learned that we always seek the Father and the will of the Father. It was very fitting for me to read this today after such a day as yesterday. The Father has the master plan and it can get rough but we must give our lives to Him to be able to endore.
Random side note: Please pray for my throat. It has been acting really crazy the last few days. Dry and hard to talk. Also, for my best friend's dad. He needs healing in his eye. Thank you! Please leave prayer requests in my comments section. I would love to pray for you!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
baby post
Bula!
So some of you may be wondering why I only outlined and talked about ONE little verse in ALL of Matthew. However, it is my favorite, so I figured it needed some limelight of its own. I am getting SO much more from Matthew than I had thought. I admittedly began in the book of Daniel just so that it would be a while until Matthew! haha I feel like I have read Matthew a million times, but as the Lord says, the Word of God is LIVING! So every time I read it, I get something new! Praise God for a fresh perspective!
I am getting so much from Matthew and encourage you to read it this week for some solid, great truths.
In Matthew 24 it was cool to read that even the ANGELS do not know when the rapture is to come! Not even JESUS! That is the best kept secret in the entire world! It is good to read about how when the 'end times' come, two men will be in a field and one will go but the other will stay. It says to keep away from temptation because the day He returns we do not want to be caught in foolishness. It was a great encouragement to continue to pursue God and not the desires of my heart/flesh that are so easy to do. I feel like God is really meeting me and helping me through how I speak to people and pray for people. It has been really wonderful to see the fruits of Him speaking through me and not my words of offence or confusion shining through.
36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father.
So some of you may be wondering why I only outlined and talked about ONE little verse in ALL of Matthew. However, it is my favorite, so I figured it needed some limelight of its own. I am getting SO much more from Matthew than I had thought. I admittedly began in the book of Daniel just so that it would be a while until Matthew! haha I feel like I have read Matthew a million times, but as the Lord says, the Word of God is LIVING! So every time I read it, I get something new! Praise God for a fresh perspective!
I am getting so much from Matthew and encourage you to read it this week for some solid, great truths.
In Matthew 24 it was cool to read that even the ANGELS do not know when the rapture is to come! Not even JESUS! That is the best kept secret in the entire world! It is good to read about how when the 'end times' come, two men will be in a field and one will go but the other will stay. It says to keep away from temptation because the day He returns we do not want to be caught in foolishness. It was a great encouragement to continue to pursue God and not the desires of my heart/flesh that are so easy to do. I feel like God is really meeting me and helping me through how I speak to people and pray for people. It has been really wonderful to see the fruits of Him speaking through me and not my words of offence or confusion shining through.
36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Matthew
Evenin'!
Matthew
My personal favorite part in Matthew is when John the Baptist comes onto the scene in Matthew 3. Besides Jesus Christ, I would want to meet John the Baptist (you know those questions: if you could have dinner with someone alive or dead who would it be?) I really like the authority in which he walks and how He so strongly relies on God.
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11"I baptize you with[b] water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
The Baptism of Jesus
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
15Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
Matthew
My personal favorite part in Matthew is when John the Baptist comes onto the scene in Matthew 3. Besides Jesus Christ, I would want to meet John the Baptist (you know those questions: if you could have dinner with someone alive or dead who would it be?) I really like the authority in which he walks and how He so strongly relies on God.
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11"I baptize you with[b] water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
The Baptism of Jesus
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
15Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
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