Hey Y'all! Sorry I've not posted the study in a few days, I have just been so busy! Well, today we are doing part twenty-two! Cool! Also, I am going to try something new today, I am going to write my questions in bold, and make them sound like someone is asking me the questions, I think it will be fun! Tell me how y'all like it! Remember to thank God for the freedom we have in this country to study His word, and ask Him to give us an understanding of what we are reading and studying.
3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
This is a very strange set of verses. "Itching ears?" "Turned unto fables?" "Heap to themselves?" Let's see what we can learn!
Okay, verse three sounds like the beginning part of chapter three. Remember when we studied that? Remember, said that "perilous times" will come? This verse starts out by saying, "For the time will come..." Do you think this verse will have anything to do with the beginning of chapter three??? Let's see!
Paul writes, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine..." So, it is talking about the same thing! It says that, "For the time will come when they..." Hold on! Wait a minute! Who is "they?" "They" is referring to all non-believers. How did you know that? Well, would the body of believers endure sound doctrine or not? They would, wouldn't they? So, if "they" will not endure sound doctrine, then "they" must not be believers. Who says that there will be any believers then? The Bible! God says that Judgment day will come when all of His elect have believed. Sorry, I don't remember where that is.
Getting back to the subject, Paul says that, "the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine." What does that mean? It means that they will not endure hearing the truth! They will not listen to the truth. What will they listen to? "...but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." They will listen to themselves, "...their own lusts." And, also, they will get and listen to teachers who will teach them what they like to hear, what is comfortable to hear and pleasant. How did you figure that out, about the teachers? I read it in a different version, and read about it in one of Barclay's commentaries. In the other version it says, "...but , because they have ears which have to be continually titillated with novelties, they will bury themselves under a mound of teachers, whose teaching suits their own lusts..." What does "titillated" mean? I hyperlinked it, so it should go to the dictionary.com page defining it. =)
One important thing that is not very clear, and I just noticed, is that Paul is not talking about teachers that teach stuff like reading, math, and science; he is talking about religious teachings.
What is the "itching ears" thing? Well, I think that having "itching ears" probably means that they are "itching" (really wanting) to hear. They want to know something, they want to believe in and/or worship a god or something that they make into a god. Everyone has a god of some sort. What about Atheists? I don't believe in Atheists. What!? Have you ever heard of the book by Ray Comfort titled, "God Doesn't believe in Atheists, proof the Atheist doesn't exist?" Well, I'm going to be reading it sometime soon, and well, I think he is (going to be*) right. Everyone has a god, it could be your stomach, chocolate, books, a certain person, etc. If y'all want me to get into this, tell me, and I'll do it; I need to stop because I'm about to start ranting on something I was not going to talk about here. :P
Next, Paul writes, "And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." What does that mean? Let's take it one part at a time, the first part says that they will "turn away their ears from the truth." That is the long way of saying that they won't listen to the truth. Just like verse three, they will not listen to the truth. Why does Paul emphasize this? Great question!** I just wish I had the answer, I am not sure, but I think it may be because he wants us to pray for them, for they will go to hell, not a good place. We do not know who God's elect are, so we must minister to everyone. I also think that Paul might have said it so that the Christians in the last days will know what to expect, and they will see the signs told about in the Bible and know that Jesus is about to return.
The second part says, "...and shall be turned unto fables." The first time I read it, I read it as, "...and shall be turned into fables." Doesn't make sense, right? Well, what does it mean? Basically, it means that they will listen to things that are not true, they will listen to stories made by people, instead of fact or true history (i.e. Greek myths, Mormonism, Buddism, etc).
I have to go! I hope y'all are having a great week, and that you learned something new in this, or at least had a good laugh. God bless!
In Him,
Buttercup :D
*After I read the book. LOL :P
**Hahaha! Y'all had better be laughing! That was great! LOL.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
GUIDANCE
I just got this email forward, and it was too good not to share!
_____________________________
Dancing With God
When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right..
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i".
"God, "u" and "i" dance."
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead..
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
and mercies are upon you on this day and every day.
May you abide in God, as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
and to guide you through each season of your life.
This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached.
If God has done anything for you in your life,
please share this message with someone else.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards;
so let's continue to pray for one another.
And I Hope You Dance Through 2009!
_____________________________
Dancing With God
When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right..
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i".
"God, "u" and "i" dance."
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead..
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
and mercies are upon you on this day and every day.
May you abide in God, as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
and to guide you through each season of your life.
This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached.
If God has done anything for you in your life,
please share this message with someone else.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards;
so let's continue to pray for one another.
And I Hope You Dance Through 2009!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
2nd Timothy Study, part 21
Hey Y'all! Well, I am going to have more time for this today...so let's see how much we can do. :D Remember to pray before we start today. Oh, btw, remember the last study??? We did verse one, and it told us that Paul was charging Timothy on something, but we didn't know what it was...
2. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Okay, to be honest, the first time I read this today I was so completely lost. And, well, to tell the whole truth, I still am very lost and confused, especially on verse two...so, hopefully, by the end of this I will know what Paul is talking about!
In verse two Paul gives Timothy a list of things he must do, the things that he charges him to do, of which God and the Lord Jesus Christ are witnesses.
The next one is quite confusing. "Be instant in season, out of season?" What in the world does that mean??? Well, I was really stumped, so I just let someone explain it for me.* The version he uses in his commentary, I don't know which it is, says it as, "be urgent in season and out of season." The Christian leader must be two things (in this area of teaching). The first is that he must be urgent, he must be instant, he must do it with a passion and do it with a great urgency! For we know not when Christ is coming.
The second is, that he must do it persistently, at every opportunity he gets, every time God opens a door, almost constantly. I say almost, because even preachers and teachers must eat and sleep for their bodies to function, and that is caring for God's temple.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19, King James Version)
Back to the subject, the next thing that a Christian leader must do is, "convict" or "reprove." To convict or reprove someone, is to tell them, and maybe other people, that what they did that was wrong. To "convict" someone, you are stating that they were wrong; does that sound hard to do? It does if you think about it! To go up to a Christian brother or sister, and tell them that they did something wrong is hard. Especially if it is someone older than you. But, does the Bible say to yell it as loud as you can in their face? No!
We must come to them personally, and with gentleness and kindness and respect, tell them what they did that was wrong. For it will be profitable unto them. We must build each other up, not tear each other down! Here are some great verses that back up my point.
The next thing that Paul says a Christian leader should do is, "rebuke." What does it mean to "rebuke" someone? Well, we've talked about this before too, so you should remember! If you don't, or you didn't read that one, then you can read it here. Since we've done it before, I am just going to let y'all go back and read it yourselves! Muhahaha!**
Now y'all, this is my favorite!!! "Exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." Why is this my favorite? Because the other ones are, well, harder for me, and not near as enjoyable! To exhort someone means to "to urge, advise, or caution earnestly; admonish urgently...to give urgent advice, recommendations, or warnings...encourage, spur, press." Here are some great verses from the New Testament part of the Bible that kinda defines exhort, and gives us some examples of the early church doing it.
Sadly, that is a good place to stop. I honestly didn't know that there would be so much meat in this verse! So, tomorrow we will, hopefully, be able to do verses three through five, at least three and four; depending on how much time I have. But, I shouldn't be saying that, God should come first in our lives, for goodness sake, He created us! We should schedule everything around our time with God, but that is hard in the world today, especially the U.S. I hope y'all are liking this! God bless!
In Him,
Buttercup :D
*Barclay. :P
**My weird computer laugh! Muhahahaha! LOL
2. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Okay, to be honest, the first time I read this today I was so completely lost. And, well, to tell the whole truth, I still am very lost and confused, especially on verse two...so, hopefully, by the end of this I will know what Paul is talking about!
In verse two Paul gives Timothy a list of things he must do, the things that he charges him to do, of which God and the Lord Jesus Christ are witnesses.
- Preach the word
- be instant in season, out of season
- reprove
- rebuke
- exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine
The next one is quite confusing. "Be instant in season, out of season?" What in the world does that mean??? Well, I was really stumped, so I just let someone explain it for me.* The version he uses in his commentary, I don't know which it is, says it as, "be urgent in season and out of season." The Christian leader must be two things (in this area of teaching). The first is that he must be urgent, he must be instant, he must do it with a passion and do it with a great urgency! For we know not when Christ is coming.
The second is, that he must do it persistently, at every opportunity he gets, every time God opens a door, almost constantly. I say almost, because even preachers and teachers must eat and sleep for their bodies to function, and that is caring for God's temple.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19, King James Version)
Back to the subject, the next thing that a Christian leader must do is, "convict" or "reprove." To convict or reprove someone, is to tell them, and maybe other people, that what they did that was wrong. To "convict" someone, you are stating that they were wrong; does that sound hard to do? It does if you think about it! To go up to a Christian brother or sister, and tell them that they did something wrong is hard. Especially if it is someone older than you. But, does the Bible say to yell it as loud as you can in their face? No!
We must come to them personally, and with gentleness and kindness and respect, tell them what they did that was wrong. For it will be profitable unto them. We must build each other up, not tear each other down! Here are some great verses that back up my point.
- Job 6:25
How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
Job 6:24-26 (in Context) Job 6 (Whole Chapter) - Psalm 141:5
Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
Psalm 141:4-6 (in Context) Psalm 141 (Whole Chapter) - Proverbs 9:8
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Proverbs 9:7-9 (in Context) Proverbs 9 (Whole Chapter) - Proverbs 19:25
Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
Proverbs 19:24-26 (in Context) Proverbs 19 (Whole Chapter) - Proverbs 25:12
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Proverbs 25:11-13 (in Context) Proverbs 25 (Whole Chapter)
The next thing that Paul says a Christian leader should do is, "rebuke." What does it mean to "rebuke" someone? Well, we've talked about this before too, so you should remember! If you don't, or you didn't read that one, then you can read it here. Since we've done it before, I am just going to let y'all go back and read it yourselves! Muhahaha!**
Now y'all, this is my favorite!!! "Exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." Why is this my favorite? Because the other ones are, well, harder for me, and not near as enjoyable! To exhort someone means to "to urge, advise, or caution earnestly; admonish urgently...to give urgent advice, recommendations, or warnings...encourage, spur, press." Here are some great verses from the New Testament part of the Bible that kinda defines exhort, and gives us some examples of the early church doing it.
- Luke 3:18
And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
Luke 3:17-19 (in Context) Luke 3 (Whole Chapter) - Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Acts 14:21-23 (in Context) Acts 14 (Whole Chapter) - Acts 27:22
And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.
Acts 27:21-23 (in Context) Acts 27 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
1 Thessalonians 5:13-15 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 5 (Whole Chapter) - Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-26 (in Context) Hebrews 10 (Whole Chapter) - Hebrews 3:13
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:12-14 (in Context) Hebrews 3 (Whole Chapter)
Sadly, that is a good place to stop. I honestly didn't know that there would be so much meat in this verse! So, tomorrow we will, hopefully, be able to do verses three through five, at least three and four; depending on how much time I have. But, I shouldn't be saying that, God should come first in our lives, for goodness sake, He created us! We should schedule everything around our time with God, but that is hard in the world today, especially the U.S. I hope y'all are liking this! God bless!
In Him,
Buttercup :D
*Barclay. :P
**My weird computer laugh! Muhahahaha! LOL
Creation Face the Facts, #3
Here are some more facts, y'all! Only one more set to go after this. I hope y'all are enjoying reading these awesome quotes and facts, they are very true! God Bless!
14: “Radiometric dating methods have given erroneous dates such as a date of millions of years for lava flows that occurred in the past few hundred years.” -Terry Mortenson
15: “If radiometric dating doesn’t work on rocks the ages of which we know, how can we trust it to work on rocks of unknown age?” -Dan Lietha
16: "I see no reason for believing that one accident should be able to give me a correct account of all the other accidents. It’s like expecting that the accidental shape taken by the splash when you upset a milk jug should give you a correct account of how the jug was made and why it was up." -C.S. Lewis
17: "Further, Darwinian explanations for such things are often too supple: Natural selection makes humans self-centered and aggressive— except when it makes them altruistic and peaceable. Or natural selection produces virile men who eagerly spread their seed—except when it prefers men who are faithful protectors and providers. When
an explanation is so supple that it can explain any behavior, it is difficult to test it experimentally, much less use it as a catalyst for scientific discovery." -Philip Skell
18: “There are scores of fake fossils out there, and they have cast a dark shadow over the whole field. When you go to these fossil shows, it’s difficult to tell which ones are fakes and which ones are not.” - Lee Strobel
19: "Palaeoanthropologists seem to make up for a lack of fossils with an excess of fury, and this must now be the only science in which it is still possible to become famous just by having an opinion. As one cynic says, in human palaeontology [the study of fossils] the consensus depends on who shouts loudest." -J.S. Jones
20: “No half-man, half-ape fossils have been found. The fossils fall into three categories: hoaxes, ape fossils, or man fossils.” -Jonathan Parks
21: “The earth, based on biblical genealogies, is about 6000 years old. According the text in Genesis 2 and 11, from Adam to Abraham was approximately 2000 years. Most scholars, Christian or not, would agree that Abraham lived about 2000 B.C. (about 4000 years ago). Therefore, 2000 + 4000 = 6000 years.” -Info from “The New Answers Book 2” by Ken Ham
22: “History promotes a young earth belief. The Anglo Saxons’ history shows that there was 5,200 years from creation to Christ. The Nennins history shows that there were 5,228 years from creation to Christ. The Irish’s history shows 4000 years from creation to Christ. The Mayan’s history shows 3113 years from creation to Christ.” -Info from “The New Answers Book 2” by Ken Ham
14: “Radiometric dating methods have given erroneous dates such as a date of millions of years for lava flows that occurred in the past few hundred years.” -Terry Mortenson
15: “If radiometric dating doesn’t work on rocks the ages of which we know, how can we trust it to work on rocks of unknown age?” -Dan Lietha
16: "I see no reason for believing that one accident should be able to give me a correct account of all the other accidents. It’s like expecting that the accidental shape taken by the splash when you upset a milk jug should give you a correct account of how the jug was made and why it was up." -C.S. Lewis
17: "Further, Darwinian explanations for such things are often too supple: Natural selection makes humans self-centered and aggressive— except when it makes them altruistic and peaceable. Or natural selection produces virile men who eagerly spread their seed—except when it prefers men who are faithful protectors and providers. When
an explanation is so supple that it can explain any behavior, it is difficult to test it experimentally, much less use it as a catalyst for scientific discovery." -Philip Skell
18: “There are scores of fake fossils out there, and they have cast a dark shadow over the whole field. When you go to these fossil shows, it’s difficult to tell which ones are fakes and which ones are not.” - Lee Strobel
19: "Palaeoanthropologists seem to make up for a lack of fossils with an excess of fury, and this must now be the only science in which it is still possible to become famous just by having an opinion. As one cynic says, in human palaeontology [the study of fossils] the consensus depends on who shouts loudest." -J.S. Jones
20: “No half-man, half-ape fossils have been found. The fossils fall into three categories: hoaxes, ape fossils, or man fossils.” -Jonathan Parks
21: “The earth, based on biblical genealogies, is about 6000 years old. According the text in Genesis 2 and 11, from Adam to Abraham was approximately 2000 years. Most scholars, Christian or not, would agree that Abraham lived about 2000 B.C. (about 4000 years ago). Therefore, 2000 + 4000 = 6000 years.” -Info from “The New Answers Book 2” by Ken Ham
22: “History promotes a young earth belief. The Anglo Saxons’ history shows that there was 5,200 years from creation to Christ. The Nennins history shows that there were 5,228 years from creation to Christ. The Irish’s history shows 4000 years from creation to Christ. The Mayan’s history shows 3113 years from creation to Christ.” -Info from “The New Answers Book 2” by Ken Ham
Tim Hawkins Videos, get ready!
Get ready to cry y'all! I laughed soooooo hard! It has been a long time since I saw a movie clip that equalled this! LOL.
Before you watch this one, you have to listen to Jesus Take the Wheel, by Carrie Underwood. Here.
Cletus Take the Reel
Chick-Fil-A
I'll post more later! How'd y'all like them??? Hilarious, right!?
Before you watch this one, you have to listen to Jesus Take the Wheel, by Carrie Underwood. Here.
Cletus Take the Reel
Chick-Fil-A
I'll post more later! How'd y'all like them??? Hilarious, right!?
Monday, August 24, 2009
2nd Timothy Study, Part 20
Wow! Already on part 20?!?! Cool! Okay Y'all, we've only got chapter four left; so, I am starting to think about what I'm doing next. Any ideas? Please tell me! Sorry, I haven't done the study in a few days, I've been out of town. Btw, I have volleyball tonight, so I will probably only have time for one verse. Remember to pray before we start our study today. :D
1. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
In verse one, Paul charges Timothy. What does that mean? Well, to charge someone means to order them to do something. Paul orders Timothy to do something. Next he says that he does it before God and the Lord Jesus Christ. To charge someone to do something is one thing. To charge someone to do something with a witness or two is another. To charge someone to do something with Almighty God and His son Jesus Christ as witnesses, is really another thing!
Why would Paul charge Timothy, with God as a witness? Why would it matter? I think that, when someone does something that they know is right and true, they want a witness, so that others also know that he has told the truth. When Paul charged Timothy, he wanted Timothy to know that what he said was true, so, he had God and Christ Jesus as witnesses. Obviously, God is a witness of everything, but, answer truthfully, are we always thinking about that? If we did, we probably wouldn't do anything wrong on purpose!
In the second half of this verse, Paul tells us what God and the Lord Jesus will do. He says that they will "...judge the quick and the dead..." What does it mean to be quick? The first thing that came to my mind was a runner, they are fast at running, they are quick moving. But that's probably not what he's talking about here. In another version, instead of quick, it says "living." Now that makes more sense! But why would someone translate it as "quick?" Well, I honestly don't know. The only thing I can think of (this is amusing) is, living people move, dead people don't. Which one is quicker? The living obviously! :P I don't know. What are your thoughts on this?
So, God will judge the living and the dead. He won't just judge the people who are still living, or the people that have died, he will judge both, together.
The next part is the "when." When will the living/quick and the dead be judged. Paul says, "...at his appearing and his kingdom." Once the work on earth is done, once all of God's elect are saved, then the judgment will come. "...at his appearing and his kingdom." Aren't you excited!? Don't you want that day to come?! For us Christians who are still alive on earth, this will be a glorious day! We will finally get to see our Savior and God, face to face! That will be the day that we will enter heaven for the first and only time, we will get to stay there for all eternity!
Well, this is a very happy place to stop for today, even though I am leaving y'all at a bit of a cliff hanger. :P Tomorrow we will see what Paul charged Timothy to do.....
In Him,
Buttercup <3
1. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
In verse one, Paul charges Timothy. What does that mean? Well, to charge someone means to order them to do something. Paul orders Timothy to do something. Next he says that he does it before God and the Lord Jesus Christ. To charge someone to do something is one thing. To charge someone to do something with a witness or two is another. To charge someone to do something with Almighty God and His son Jesus Christ as witnesses, is really another thing!
Why would Paul charge Timothy, with God as a witness? Why would it matter? I think that, when someone does something that they know is right and true, they want a witness, so that others also know that he has told the truth. When Paul charged Timothy, he wanted Timothy to know that what he said was true, so, he had God and Christ Jesus as witnesses. Obviously, God is a witness of everything, but, answer truthfully, are we always thinking about that? If we did, we probably wouldn't do anything wrong on purpose!
In the second half of this verse, Paul tells us what God and the Lord Jesus will do. He says that they will "...judge the quick and the dead..." What does it mean to be quick? The first thing that came to my mind was a runner, they are fast at running, they are quick moving. But that's probably not what he's talking about here. In another version, instead of quick, it says "living." Now that makes more sense! But why would someone translate it as "quick?" Well, I honestly don't know. The only thing I can think of (this is amusing) is, living people move, dead people don't. Which one is quicker? The living obviously! :P I don't know. What are your thoughts on this?
So, God will judge the living and the dead. He won't just judge the people who are still living, or the people that have died, he will judge both, together.
The next part is the "when." When will the living/quick and the dead be judged. Paul says, "...at his appearing and his kingdom." Once the work on earth is done, once all of God's elect are saved, then the judgment will come. "...at his appearing and his kingdom." Aren't you excited!? Don't you want that day to come?! For us Christians who are still alive on earth, this will be a glorious day! We will finally get to see our Savior and God, face to face! That will be the day that we will enter heaven for the first and only time, we will get to stay there for all eternity!
Well, this is a very happy place to stop for today, even though I am leaving y'all at a bit of a cliff hanger. :P Tomorrow we will see what Paul charged Timothy to do.....
In Him,
Buttercup <3
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
2nd Timothy study, recap for chapter three
Hey Y'all! Once again it's hump day! Hope y'all are having a good one! Remember to pray before we start our recap today! :)
1. First, we learned about how, in the last days, people will be horrible. Paul gives us a list of what people will be, and do, in those days. Verses one-five (parts one and two), through six and seven.
2. Paul used Jannes and Jambres as example of people who "resist the truth," and have "corrupt minds." Jannes and Jambres were two of Pharaoh's magicians who were there when Moses was trying to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Verses eight and nine.
3. He lists the things that Timothy knows about him. Verses ten and eleven.
4. He tells about his persecutions and affliction. And lists three cities where he was persecuted. But he makes quite clear that it was not him who got himself out of it, but God. He gives God all of the credit. Verse eleven.
5. He also says on the subject of persecution, that every Christian will be persecuted. No exceptions. Verse twelve.
6. The bad people, will get worse and worse, and will deceive themselves and others. Verse thirteen.
7. Paul tells Timothy to continue doing what he knows is right. Verse fourteen.
8. He says that Timothy grew up learning about the Bible, and the things in it. And what it says teaches us about salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Verse fifteen.
9. He makes quite clear that even though men wrote the Bible, God inspired it. Verse sixteen.
10. He also lists what the Bible is profitable for. Verse sixteen.
11. Lastly he says what he said before in chapter two verse twenty one, "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Verse seventeen.
What are your thoughts on this chapter? Personally, I really enjoyed it!
God bless!
In Him,
Buttercup :)
1. First, we learned about how, in the last days, people will be horrible. Paul gives us a list of what people will be, and do, in those days. Verses one-five (parts one and two), through six and seven.
2. Paul used Jannes and Jambres as example of people who "resist the truth," and have "corrupt minds." Jannes and Jambres were two of Pharaoh's magicians who were there when Moses was trying to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Verses eight and nine.
3. He lists the things that Timothy knows about him. Verses ten and eleven.
4. He tells about his persecutions and affliction. And lists three cities where he was persecuted. But he makes quite clear that it was not him who got himself out of it, but God. He gives God all of the credit. Verse eleven.
5. He also says on the subject of persecution, that every Christian will be persecuted. No exceptions. Verse twelve.
6. The bad people, will get worse and worse, and will deceive themselves and others. Verse thirteen.
7. Paul tells Timothy to continue doing what he knows is right. Verse fourteen.
8. He says that Timothy grew up learning about the Bible, and the things in it. And what it says teaches us about salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Verse fifteen.
9. He makes quite clear that even though men wrote the Bible, God inspired it. Verse sixteen.
10. He also lists what the Bible is profitable for. Verse sixteen.
11. Lastly he says what he said before in chapter two verse twenty one, "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Verse seventeen.
What are your thoughts on this chapter? Personally, I really enjoyed it!
God bless!
In Him,
Buttercup :)
The Creation
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures, great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings;
The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.
The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;
The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden-
He made them every one.
The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water
We gather every day,-
He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well!
By Cecil Frances Alexander
All creatures, great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings;
The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.
The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;
The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden-
He made them every one.
The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water
We gather every day,-
He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well!
By Cecil Frances Alexander
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
2nd Timothy study, Part 19
Hi Folks! If y'all haven't noticed I've been trying to say something different every day, and it's getting a bit difficult. Hehehe. :P Remember to pray before we start studying. :D Oh, btw, we are finishing chapter three today!
14. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Okay. This is a big chunk of very important verses. So, we might not get through today, lets see. :)
In verse fourteen, Paul writes, "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of..." He tells Timothy to keep doing the things he has been taught. Does Paul mean that Timothy should obey everything he hears? No! He says to keep doing what he has been taught, more specifically, what Paul has taught him. But it doesn't say Paul. I know. I said that because I know that Paul taught Timothy lots of very important things, and obviously, when you teach someone something you believe is right, you want them to do the same, and teach others what is right.
The key is, that Paul tells Timothy not only to continue in what he's learned, but also what he has been assured of. When you are assured of something, it means that you believe it is true, you fully believe that it is not false. Paul tells Timothy, and us, to believe. He tells us to keep doing the things that we have learned from others and believe is right.
Paul writes in verse fifteen that, "from a child thou (Timothy) hast known the holy scriptures." What does that mean? That Timothy was born already knowing about the Bible? No. It does not say "from birth," it says "from a child." So, when he was young Timothy was taught about the Bible, and Jesus, and God. Why would I say "about...Jesus, and God?" I know it says "holy scriptures," but, what does that include? Well, what does the Bible tell us about? Lots of things, but most importantly, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit! So, when the verse says that "from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures," he means the whole thing.
One thing that is kinda hidden in the verse is the word, "known." Y'all are probably saying, "what? That wasn't hidden!" Yes it was, and I am going to reveal my thought on what this word is there for. :D Paul says that Timothy has known the holy scriptures from childhood. What is the difference between knowing something, and learning something? Or, in other words, what is the difference between knowing something is true and someone teaching you something that is true? Big difference, right?! Paul says that Timothy knew the holy scriptures since childhood, he grew up believing the truth, he knew for a fact that what he believed was the truth. How? Remember verse fourteen? "...which thou hast learned and hast been assured of."
The next part of this verse says what is able to do, it says, "which are (the holy scriptures) able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." What does that mean? Well, I think it means that when we read and study the scriptures, it will teach us, it will make us wise unto salvation. We will find out how to receive salvation. It says that it will make us "wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." We must have faith in Jesus Christ. We must put our full trust in Him.
Verse sixteen is another verse I have known for a long time, but never studied, or really thought about. The first part says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." He didn't write it. Men wrote it, over 44 of them. But who made us? Who knows our every thought? God! He inspired men to write the Bible, he put the words in their hands! Isn't that amazing when you think about it?!
Next it says what is it profitable for, I am going to make another list. :)
Next is "reproof." Reproof is one of those words that is not commonly used in modern English, but it should be. It basically means to rebuke. To rebuke someone you would be telling them what they did that was wrong, and correcting them. The Bible rebukes us. It tells us that we are horrible sinners, and it tells us how we can be saved from eternal punishment. It also tells us what we do specifically that is wrong. The Ten Commandments, for example, tell us ten things that people do all the time! God rebukes us through His word.
The third one is "correction," which goes with reproof. The Bible not only tells us what is wrong, but it tells us what we can do to make it right. It tells us how God forgives our sins, but we must come to Him and trust Him.
The last one is, "instruction in righteousness." God's Word teaches and instructs us in what is good, profitable, and righteous.
The last verse says, "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Remember verse 21 of chapter two? About the vessels of honour and dishonour? Remember, it said that once a man purge himself from bad things (things God hates) then he will be ready/prepared for every good work. This is the same thing. Once we commit our lives to God, and trust Him completely, then we will be able to undertake whatever He has planned for us to do, "...all good works."
Hey! Great we got it all done! I hope y'all liked the study today, and learned or saw something new in the process. :) God bless!
In Him,
Buttercup :)
14. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Okay. This is a big chunk of very important verses. So, we might not get through today, lets see. :)
In verse fourteen, Paul writes, "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of..." He tells Timothy to keep doing the things he has been taught. Does Paul mean that Timothy should obey everything he hears? No! He says to keep doing what he has been taught, more specifically, what Paul has taught him. But it doesn't say Paul. I know. I said that because I know that Paul taught Timothy lots of very important things, and obviously, when you teach someone something you believe is right, you want them to do the same, and teach others what is right.
The key is, that Paul tells Timothy not only to continue in what he's learned, but also what he has been assured of. When you are assured of something, it means that you believe it is true, you fully believe that it is not false. Paul tells Timothy, and us, to believe. He tells us to keep doing the things that we have learned from others and believe is right.
Paul writes in verse fifteen that, "from a child thou (Timothy) hast known the holy scriptures." What does that mean? That Timothy was born already knowing about the Bible? No. It does not say "from birth," it says "from a child." So, when he was young Timothy was taught about the Bible, and Jesus, and God. Why would I say "about...Jesus, and God?" I know it says "holy scriptures," but, what does that include? Well, what does the Bible tell us about? Lots of things, but most importantly, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit! So, when the verse says that "from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures," he means the whole thing.
One thing that is kinda hidden in the verse is the word, "known." Y'all are probably saying, "what? That wasn't hidden!" Yes it was, and I am going to reveal my thought on what this word is there for. :D Paul says that Timothy has known the holy scriptures from childhood. What is the difference between knowing something, and learning something? Or, in other words, what is the difference between knowing something is true and someone teaching you something that is true? Big difference, right?! Paul says that Timothy knew the holy scriptures since childhood, he grew up believing the truth, he knew for a fact that what he believed was the truth. How? Remember verse fourteen? "...which thou hast learned and hast been assured of."
The next part of this verse says what is able to do, it says, "which are (the holy scriptures) able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." What does that mean? Well, I think it means that when we read and study the scriptures, it will teach us, it will make us wise unto salvation. We will find out how to receive salvation. It says that it will make us "wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." We must have faith in Jesus Christ. We must put our full trust in Him.
Verse sixteen is another verse I have known for a long time, but never studied, or really thought about. The first part says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." He didn't write it. Men wrote it, over 44 of them. But who made us? Who knows our every thought? God! He inspired men to write the Bible, he put the words in their hands! Isn't that amazing when you think about it?!
Next it says what is it profitable for, I am going to make another list. :)
- doctrine
- reproof
- correction
- instruction in righteousness
Next is "reproof." Reproof is one of those words that is not commonly used in modern English, but it should be. It basically means to rebuke. To rebuke someone you would be telling them what they did that was wrong, and correcting them. The Bible rebukes us. It tells us that we are horrible sinners, and it tells us how we can be saved from eternal punishment. It also tells us what we do specifically that is wrong. The Ten Commandments, for example, tell us ten things that people do all the time! God rebukes us through His word.
The third one is "correction," which goes with reproof. The Bible not only tells us what is wrong, but it tells us what we can do to make it right. It tells us how God forgives our sins, but we must come to Him and trust Him.
The last one is, "instruction in righteousness." God's Word teaches and instructs us in what is good, profitable, and righteous.
The last verse says, "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Remember verse 21 of chapter two? About the vessels of honour and dishonour? Remember, it said that once a man purge himself from bad things (things God hates) then he will be ready/prepared for every good work. This is the same thing. Once we commit our lives to God, and trust Him completely, then we will be able to undertake whatever He has planned for us to do, "...all good works."
Hey! Great we got it all done! I hope y'all liked the study today, and learned or saw something new in the process. :) God bless!
In Him,
Buttercup :)
Monday, August 17, 2009
2nd Timothy study, part 18
Hi Y'all! Sorry I haven't been posting. I hope y'all's week is going off to a good start! Remember to pray before we start studying today.
We are going to go on with verses 10-13, since I came to an abrupt stop last time. :)
10. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11. Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
The first thing we are going to look at today is where. Where Paul was persecuted and afflicted. Verse eleven says, these things "which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra." Three places Paul writes about that he was persecuted at. I really didn't know where these cities were until just a second ago (literally!). I googled "map of cities in Asia Minor," and the second one down was this. I don't know anything about this site except for that it has a great map of Asia Minor with all of these three cities clearly shown. Now, one thing that I just saw on it, is that there are two cities named "Antioch." I don't know which Paul is referring to, but I think that it is probably the more northerly one because it is closer to Iconium and Lystra.
What happened at these three cities? Well, it is clear that Paul was not wanted there, for they persecuted him. Were these the only cities in which he was persecuted? I don't think so. He was persecuted in Rome, and probably other cities. Then why does he mention these three??? I don't know. Maybe those were the most hostile to him, or maybe those were his first or last to visit, or maybe he just picked three cities where he remembers the persecution most, or it might just be that he just picked three random cities he was persecuted in. I don't know.
What does Paul write next? He says, "what persecutions I endured; but out of them all the Lord delivered me." I personally, think that is a very important part. Paul does not give himself credit, or say that it was pure chance. No. He gives all of the credit and glory to God. That is what we all should do! For example, when we run a race and win a prize, we should say that "God made my legs, my heart, my brain, and all of me! All glory to Him!" Not the creature, but the Creator. God loved Paul, and delivered him out of prison/bondage. He saved his life even when he was stoned three times! What an amazing God we serve! We should, and must, give Him the glory.
In verse twelve, he says something that he has said many times before in this chapter. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." If we love God, and obey, and honour Him, and trust Him, then we will be persecuted. It may be great, or it may be small. But Paul makes it clear that every Christian will be persecuted. He is not telling us this to scare us, but to get us ready, to trust God with everything. To put our lives in His mighty hands.
Verse thirteen is kinda confusing the first time you read it. I have read it many times, and still it sounds a tad weird. "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." What are seducers? I didn't know until I looked it up. Dictionary.com defines it as, "to lead astray, as from duty...corrupt." So, Paul writes about evil men and people who lead others astray and/or corrupt them.
What does he say about them? He says that they will "wax worse and worse." What?!? Wax?! What does he mean by wax? Well, I know of the kind of wax that's in your ear and something like candle wax. But he is not talking about either. Dictionary.com defines wax in a bunch of ways, but I finally found something that fit! "to increase in extent, quantity, intensity, power, etc....to grow or become." So, these people will become worse and worse, their worseness (that's probably not a word :P) will grow.
Next it says that they won't only get worse and worse, but that they will deceive other people, and themselves. They will lead themselves and others astray.
Well, that's all for now. I've gotta go! I would love to hear what y'all think of this, and really, the Bible study so far as a whole. Tomorrow (I should have time) we'll finish chapter three! God bless! ~Buttercup~
We are going to go on with verses 10-13, since I came to an abrupt stop last time. :)
10. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11. Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
The first thing we are going to look at today is where. Where Paul was persecuted and afflicted. Verse eleven says, these things "which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra." Three places Paul writes about that he was persecuted at. I really didn't know where these cities were until just a second ago (literally!). I googled "map of cities in Asia Minor," and the second one down was this. I don't know anything about this site except for that it has a great map of Asia Minor with all of these three cities clearly shown. Now, one thing that I just saw on it, is that there are two cities named "Antioch." I don't know which Paul is referring to, but I think that it is probably the more northerly one because it is closer to Iconium and Lystra.
What happened at these three cities? Well, it is clear that Paul was not wanted there, for they persecuted him. Were these the only cities in which he was persecuted? I don't think so. He was persecuted in Rome, and probably other cities. Then why does he mention these three??? I don't know. Maybe those were the most hostile to him, or maybe those were his first or last to visit, or maybe he just picked three cities where he remembers the persecution most, or it might just be that he just picked three random cities he was persecuted in. I don't know.
What does Paul write next? He says, "what persecutions I endured; but out of them all the Lord delivered me." I personally, think that is a very important part. Paul does not give himself credit, or say that it was pure chance. No. He gives all of the credit and glory to God. That is what we all should do! For example, when we run a race and win a prize, we should say that "God made my legs, my heart, my brain, and all of me! All glory to Him!" Not the creature, but the Creator. God loved Paul, and delivered him out of prison/bondage. He saved his life even when he was stoned three times! What an amazing God we serve! We should, and must, give Him the glory.
In verse twelve, he says something that he has said many times before in this chapter. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." If we love God, and obey, and honour Him, and trust Him, then we will be persecuted. It may be great, or it may be small. But Paul makes it clear that every Christian will be persecuted. He is not telling us this to scare us, but to get us ready, to trust God with everything. To put our lives in His mighty hands.
Verse thirteen is kinda confusing the first time you read it. I have read it many times, and still it sounds a tad weird. "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." What are seducers? I didn't know until I looked it up. Dictionary.com defines it as, "to lead astray, as from duty...corrupt." So, Paul writes about evil men and people who lead others astray and/or corrupt them.
What does he say about them? He says that they will "wax worse and worse." What?!? Wax?! What does he mean by wax? Well, I know of the kind of wax that's in your ear and something like candle wax. But he is not talking about either. Dictionary.com defines wax in a bunch of ways, but I finally found something that fit! "to increase in extent, quantity, intensity, power, etc....to grow or become." So, these people will become worse and worse, their worseness (that's probably not a word :P) will grow.
Next it says that they won't only get worse and worse, but that they will deceive other people, and themselves. They will lead themselves and others astray.
Well, that's all for now. I've gotta go! I would love to hear what y'all think of this, and really, the Bible study so far as a whole. Tomorrow (I should have time) we'll finish chapter three! God bless! ~Buttercup~
Friday, August 14, 2009
Creation Face the Facts, #2
Hi Y'all! Here are the next seven Creation Facts! God bless!
8: “Noah’s flood would produce exactly the kind of geological record that we see today worldwide: thousands of feet of sediments clearly deposited by water and later hardened into rock and containing billions of fossils.” -Dr. Terry Mortenson
9: “If the flood is responsible for most of the rock layers and fossils, then those rocks and fossils cannot represent the history of the earth over millions of years, as evolutionists claim.” -Dr. Terry Mortenson
10: “The idea of millions of years ago was come up with only 200 years ago” -Dr. Terry Mortenson
11: Red blood cells have been found in the fossilized bone of a T-rex. Hemoglobin (a primary substance in red blood cells) is very fragile, and could not last for 65 million years. Therefore, dinosaurs must be younger than 65 million years. –Jonathan Parks
12: “When all the problems in radiometric dating are taken into account, a scientist can interpret the result of the carbon dating within a biblical timeframe, but these results still cannot PROVE the age of once living things.” -Dan Lietha
13: “Amounts of 14C and 12C in the atmosphere haven’t been constant throughout history (ex: Noah’s flood would have lowered the total amount of available carbon by burying lots of animals and plants). Therefore, something that lives (and died) when the proportion of 14C was less than normal would appear to have dies more years ago than it
actually did.” -Dan Lietha
14: “Radiometric dating methods have given erroneous dates such as a date of millions of years for lava flows that occurred in the past few hundred years.” -Terry Mortenson
8: “Noah’s flood would produce exactly the kind of geological record that we see today worldwide: thousands of feet of sediments clearly deposited by water and later hardened into rock and containing billions of fossils.” -Dr. Terry Mortenson
9: “If the flood is responsible for most of the rock layers and fossils, then those rocks and fossils cannot represent the history of the earth over millions of years, as evolutionists claim.” -Dr. Terry Mortenson
10: “The idea of millions of years ago was come up with only 200 years ago” -Dr. Terry Mortenson
11: Red blood cells have been found in the fossilized bone of a T-rex. Hemoglobin (a primary substance in red blood cells) is very fragile, and could not last for 65 million years. Therefore, dinosaurs must be younger than 65 million years. –Jonathan Parks
12: “When all the problems in radiometric dating are taken into account, a scientist can interpret the result of the carbon dating within a biblical timeframe, but these results still cannot PROVE the age of once living things.” -Dan Lietha
13: “Amounts of 14C and 12C in the atmosphere haven’t been constant throughout history (ex: Noah’s flood would have lowered the total amount of available carbon by burying lots of animals and plants). Therefore, something that lives (and died) when the proportion of 14C was less than normal would appear to have dies more years ago than it
actually did.” -Dan Lietha
14: “Radiometric dating methods have given erroneous dates such as a date of millions of years for lava flows that occurred in the past few hundred years.” -Terry Mortenson
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Two more great songs
These are both really incredible songs, especially if you listen to the lyrics and then really think about what it says. Let it sink in. Stop and think about what these songs say. I should have both on my Playlist, so go down to the bottom and listen to them too!
Indescribable, Chris Tomlin
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God!
My Desire, Jeremy Camp
Indescribable, Chris Tomlin
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God!
My Desire, Jeremy Camp
You want to be real, you want to be empty inside
You want to be someone laying down your pride
You want to be someone someday
Then lay it all down before the king
You want to be whole, you want to have purpose inside
You want to have virtue and purify your mind
You want to be set free today
Then lay it all down before the king
This is my desire, this is my return
This is my desire to be used by you
You want to be real, you want to be empty inside
And I know my heart is to feel you near
And I know my life
It's to do your will
It's to do your will
All my life I have seen
Where you've take me
Beyond all I have hoped
And there's more left unseen
There's not much I can do to repay all you've done
So I give my hands to use
Oh, Lord! This, this is my desire! This is my desire!!! I want to worship you!!! I love you Lord!!!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
This next semester, gettin' busy
Hi y'all. I just wanted to ask y'all to pray for me, I am going to be very busy this semester. I'm starting Volleyball tomorrow!!! YEAH!!!! That is going to be three days a week. And I am going to go to three homeschool co-ops this semester, and of course, AWANA. I just want to make sure I spend time with my Heavenly Father daily, both in prayer and in study. I am getting up at 6:00am to do my Bible reading and school work, but with one of the co-ops in the morning, that is going to be more difficult. Also, volleyball practice and the other two co-ops interfere with the time I usually spend on the 2nd Timothy study in the afternoons, so I might not be able to do that every day. Please just pray for me, I know for a fact that I will learn later that I am over exagerating this, but I am starting to feel overwhelmed. Please, please pray for me. God bless you all! I hope you all have a great week! In Him, Buttercup :)
2nd Timothy study, Part 17
Wow! Part 17 already! I hope y'all are havin' a good hump day! lol. You know, the middle of the week. :P Remember to pray!
10. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11. Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
In these verses Paul is telling us and Timothy the "duties and qualities of an apostle." (Barclay commentary). Like before, I am going to make a list and go from there. :D
The first thing that Paul writes is that "thou hast fully known my..." Or, "You have been my disciple in my..." So, I think, that Paul is saying that not only has he done these things, but Timothy has done/tried to do these things in copying Paul, in mirroring what he is doing. Timothy is his disciple or student. He looks up to Paul like a father. He copies what he does because he wants to be like him.
Here are the things that Paul tells Timothy that he has "fully known" of him.
Next is, "manner of life" or "training." Everyone has a different way of living, you know what I mean. No one mirrors another person exactly, no matter how hard they try, you can't. We are all different. We all have different wants, and beliefs. Paul taught Timothy what he believed, just like the first one we talked about. But Timothy also watched Paul, I think. I think that Timothy wanted to be like Paul. Who wouldn't? He was a great apostle of Christ! Paul also taught Timothy to be a teacher, a trainer. He trained him so that he could train others to be Christian leaders.
The next one is, "Purpose." Most everyone have a purpose in life, right? Everyone, at one time or another, finds out what they think they want to do for their career. For Christians, they finally see what God has called them to be and do with the life that He has given them! It is so peaceful to know what you are going to be "when you grow up." Even though you can't see around every corner, you have a glimpse of what your future could hold. Paul had a purpose. He knew that God called him to be an apostle, and to teach others about Jesus Christ. He knew (as we will see later) that he would be persecuted, but he knew that God was in control, all we have to do is rest on Him. Easy to say, right? But, is it easy to do?
The fourth one is "faith." This is a very important one. One must have faith in God, one must put his full trust in God. And why not? God has never lied, never broken any promises, knows everything, and made you! So, if you could put your trust in one thing/person alone, what would it be? Mine would be God. He never fails to do anything! He is the most exact, perfect, true, faithful, loving, just, etc. that anyone could ever be and beyond! Amazing! Paul had faith in God, he trusted Him completely with his life. Even in the face of persecution, Paul did not deny God, he knew the truth, and he was not going to deny it. Timothy wanted faith like that, I think. He wanted to trust God as much as Paul did. I do too! But it is hard to simply say, "I put everything in your hands."
The next one is, "longsuffering" or "endurance." Paul endured many, many hardships. He endured very cruel persecutions. He also tried to teach Timothy to do that as well, he wanted him not to give up or deny God when difficulties came. He tells us to "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power," which is the beginning of the Full Armor of God found in Ephesians 6:10-20. A Christian must endure hard things for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Next is, "charity" or "love." A Christian must have love for three different groups. The first is God. A Christian must love God so much that he is willing to die for Him. That takes an amazing amount of love and devotion. The second one is love for other Christians. We must love and care for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must love each other so much that we are willing to spend our time helping other believers in times of difficulty. The third one is love toward non-believers, which can also count as our enemies in some circumstances. We must love them so much that we empathize with them, and try to lead them to Christ.
The seventh one is, "patience." A Christian must, must, must be patient! We can't fly into tempers, and think that things will happen all at once. God has His own timing, and we must trust God that He knows what is best. We must be patient with all people, not just other Christians. When ministering to someone, we don't know if we are planting a seed, watering it, weeding it, or what. We might not even know if they became a Christian until we get to heaven! We must have a great amount of patience.
The next one is, "persecutions." Paul is such a great example of a Christian dealing with persecutions. Remember when Paul and Silas were put into prison together? What did they do? They sang! They worshiped God Almighty! They didn't sit around and sulk because they were in jail, they thanked God! They saw how wonderfully forgiving God is not to have them killed instead of put into prison! A Christian will be persecuted; all will. It doesn't matter where you live, what you wear, eat, sleep, and think. Every Christian will be persecuted in some way or another. But we must not deny God, no matter how difficult it gets, God loves us very much, and will help us through, if we trust Him.
Next is, "afflictions." Things that people suffer because of another. The Israelites were "afflicted" by Pharaoh because he made them slaves. We as Christians will be afflicted. Paul was stoned a bunch of times. Three I think. And yet he was still faithful to God, and did not deny Him who sits on the Throne of Heaven.
I'm sorry y'all, we are having company tonight, so I have to go. I will complete these verses tomorrow if I have the time. God bless!
In Him,
Buttercup <3
10. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11. Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
In these verses Paul is telling us and Timothy the "duties and qualities of an apostle." (Barclay commentary). Like before, I am going to make a list and go from there. :D
The first thing that Paul writes is that "thou hast fully known my..." Or, "You have been my disciple in my..." So, I think, that Paul is saying that not only has he done these things, but Timothy has done/tried to do these things in copying Paul, in mirroring what he is doing. Timothy is his disciple or student. He looks up to Paul like a father. He copies what he does because he wants to be like him.
Here are the things that Paul tells Timothy that he has "fully known" of him.
- doctrine
- manner of life
- purpose
- faith
- longsuffering
- charity (or love)
- patience
- persecutions
- afflictions
Next is, "manner of life" or "training." Everyone has a different way of living, you know what I mean. No one mirrors another person exactly, no matter how hard they try, you can't. We are all different. We all have different wants, and beliefs. Paul taught Timothy what he believed, just like the first one we talked about. But Timothy also watched Paul, I think. I think that Timothy wanted to be like Paul. Who wouldn't? He was a great apostle of Christ! Paul also taught Timothy to be a teacher, a trainer. He trained him so that he could train others to be Christian leaders.
The next one is, "Purpose." Most everyone have a purpose in life, right? Everyone, at one time or another, finds out what they think they want to do for their career. For Christians, they finally see what God has called them to be and do with the life that He has given them! It is so peaceful to know what you are going to be "when you grow up." Even though you can't see around every corner, you have a glimpse of what your future could hold. Paul had a purpose. He knew that God called him to be an apostle, and to teach others about Jesus Christ. He knew (as we will see later) that he would be persecuted, but he knew that God was in control, all we have to do is rest on Him. Easy to say, right? But, is it easy to do?
The fourth one is "faith." This is a very important one. One must have faith in God, one must put his full trust in God. And why not? God has never lied, never broken any promises, knows everything, and made you! So, if you could put your trust in one thing/person alone, what would it be? Mine would be God. He never fails to do anything! He is the most exact, perfect, true, faithful, loving, just, etc. that anyone could ever be and beyond! Amazing! Paul had faith in God, he trusted Him completely with his life. Even in the face of persecution, Paul did not deny God, he knew the truth, and he was not going to deny it. Timothy wanted faith like that, I think. He wanted to trust God as much as Paul did. I do too! But it is hard to simply say, "I put everything in your hands."
The next one is, "longsuffering" or "endurance." Paul endured many, many hardships. He endured very cruel persecutions. He also tried to teach Timothy to do that as well, he wanted him not to give up or deny God when difficulties came. He tells us to "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power," which is the beginning of the Full Armor of God found in Ephesians 6:10-20. A Christian must endure hard things for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Next is, "charity" or "love." A Christian must have love for three different groups. The first is God. A Christian must love God so much that he is willing to die for Him. That takes an amazing amount of love and devotion. The second one is love for other Christians. We must love and care for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must love each other so much that we are willing to spend our time helping other believers in times of difficulty. The third one is love toward non-believers, which can also count as our enemies in some circumstances. We must love them so much that we empathize with them, and try to lead them to Christ.
The seventh one is, "patience." A Christian must, must, must be patient! We can't fly into tempers, and think that things will happen all at once. God has His own timing, and we must trust God that He knows what is best. We must be patient with all people, not just other Christians. When ministering to someone, we don't know if we are planting a seed, watering it, weeding it, or what. We might not even know if they became a Christian until we get to heaven! We must have a great amount of patience.
The next one is, "persecutions." Paul is such a great example of a Christian dealing with persecutions. Remember when Paul and Silas were put into prison together? What did they do? They sang! They worshiped God Almighty! They didn't sit around and sulk because they were in jail, they thanked God! They saw how wonderfully forgiving God is not to have them killed instead of put into prison! A Christian will be persecuted; all will. It doesn't matter where you live, what you wear, eat, sleep, and think. Every Christian will be persecuted in some way or another. But we must not deny God, no matter how difficult it gets, God loves us very much, and will help us through, if we trust Him.
Next is, "afflictions." Things that people suffer because of another. The Israelites were "afflicted" by Pharaoh because he made them slaves. We as Christians will be afflicted. Paul was stoned a bunch of times. Three I think. And yet he was still faithful to God, and did not deny Him who sits on the Throne of Heaven.
I'm sorry y'all, we are having company tonight, so I have to go. I will complete these verses tomorrow if I have the time. God bless!
In Him,
Buttercup <3
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
My favorite quote from the movie, Faith Like Potatoes
"Miracles take difficulty. Big miracles take impossibility." Angus Bucham.
This is a really cool movie! We just got finished watching it. It is based on a true story. And is rated PG, because of one pretty nasty scene, a tractor accident. But, I would still recommend seeing it. :)
This is a really cool movie! We just got finished watching it. It is based on a true story. And is rated PG, because of one pretty nasty scene, a tractor accident. But, I would still recommend seeing it. :)
2nd Timothy study, Part 16
Hi everyone! I hope y'all are having a good day so far! Remember to pray before we start today!
These verses are kind of depressing, yet true, just to warn you.
6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
This is a, um, odd subject, and one that I really don't want to get into here. Anyways, I am going to do it the same as all of the others, just not as in depth, just because I don't know much about it.
Verse six is split up by first saying who it is talking about, "For of this sort are they..." Of what sort? The sort talked about in the first five verses of this chapter! Remember how horrible these people are described as?! That is the sort of people Paul is talking about.
Next he says what they do, he says that they "creep into houses." Who creeps into houses? A burglar is all I can think of! But I am not sure if he means it the way it sounds. I think that Paul means that they don't "creep into houses," but that they creep into the family or household or a certain person's life.
Why would they creep into houses/lives/households/families? The next part says it, to "lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts." What in the world does that mean? And why does he purposely say "women?" Because women believe things easier, and are attracted by "silly" things more than men.
What is clear about the women? That they are "laden with sins." They have already sinned greatly, and now they are an easy target for these people to lead away and take captive.
Paul says that these people "lead captive.....with divers lusts." Now, divers in this verse, is not referring to a person who scuba dives. Divers means "several; various; sundry." So, they are lead away by lots of things that are wanted or pursued or desired.
Now, what does verse seven say about them? It says, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth," or "ready to listen to any teacher but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth." These women are very easily taught, they are ever learning and ready to listen to any teacher. Did you hear that? "Any." They will listen to any teacher! But yet, they are not, and never able, to come to the knowledge of the truth. What is the knowledge of the truth? The belief that God is the one and only Creator and the one and only God. That is the truth.
Verse eight tells us of two people that stood against Moses, they were his enemies. Jammes and Jambres. Who were these two men? Well, (thank God for cross referencing notes!) my Bible cross referenced to Exodus 7:11-12. Let's read and find out! It says, "Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods." What?! Why would it cross reference to this? I think that Paul knew the name of two of the magicians! For, he writes that they resist the truth and they have corrupt minds. Also that they were enemies of Moses. This fits perfectly!
The end of that verse says, "reprobate concerning the faith." What does that mean? Dictionary.com defined it as: "a depraved, unprincipled, or wicked person." So, they are "unprincipled" concerning the faith. The faith Paul is speaking of is faith in God. I think that he means that, although they are very learned, they don't believe in God, they are enemies of God and His people, as is clear in Exodus.
Last verse for today is verse nine. It tells us more of these two non-believing, enemies of Moses. It says that they will not, "proceed...farther: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was." I don't completely understand this verse, but what I grasp from it is that these two men will not be able to deceive people anymore, and their false faith will be made known. Which, it was, they died like all other human beings (with the exception of Elijah, for he was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot!), and now we know, through the Bible, that they had a false faith, that they didn't have faith in God.
What Barclay writes about these two people is quite interesting. Take a look.
"A whole collection of stories gathered round their names. They were said to be the two servants who accompanied Balaam when he was disobedient to God (Numbers 22:22); they were said to have been part of the great mixed multitude who accompanied the children of Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 12:38); some said that they perished at the crossing of the Red Sea; other stories said that it was Jannes and Jambres who were behind the making of the golden calf and that they perished among those who were killed for that sin (Exodus 32:28); still other stories said that in the end they became proselytes to Judaism. Amidst all the stories one fact stands out-Jannes and Jambres became legendary figures typifying all those who opposed the purposes of God and the work of His true leaders."
That's all for now. God bless y'all today!
In Him,
Buttercup :)
These verses are kind of depressing, yet true, just to warn you.
6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
This is a, um, odd subject, and one that I really don't want to get into here. Anyways, I am going to do it the same as all of the others, just not as in depth, just because I don't know much about it.
Verse six is split up by first saying who it is talking about, "For of this sort are they..." Of what sort? The sort talked about in the first five verses of this chapter! Remember how horrible these people are described as?! That is the sort of people Paul is talking about.
Next he says what they do, he says that they "creep into houses." Who creeps into houses? A burglar is all I can think of! But I am not sure if he means it the way it sounds. I think that Paul means that they don't "creep into houses," but that they creep into the family or household or a certain person's life.
Why would they creep into houses/lives/households/families? The next part says it, to "lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts." What in the world does that mean? And why does he purposely say "women?" Because women believe things easier, and are attracted by "silly" things more than men.
What is clear about the women? That they are "laden with sins." They have already sinned greatly, and now they are an easy target for these people to lead away and take captive.
Paul says that these people "lead captive.....with divers lusts." Now, divers in this verse, is not referring to a person who scuba dives. Divers means "several; various; sundry." So, they are lead away by lots of things that are wanted or pursued or desired.
Now, what does verse seven say about them? It says, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth," or "ready to listen to any teacher but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth." These women are very easily taught, they are ever learning and ready to listen to any teacher. Did you hear that? "Any." They will listen to any teacher! But yet, they are not, and never able, to come to the knowledge of the truth. What is the knowledge of the truth? The belief that God is the one and only Creator and the one and only God. That is the truth.
Verse eight tells us of two people that stood against Moses, they were his enemies. Jammes and Jambres. Who were these two men? Well, (thank God for cross referencing notes!) my Bible cross referenced to Exodus 7:11-12. Let's read and find out! It says, "Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods." What?! Why would it cross reference to this? I think that Paul knew the name of two of the magicians! For, he writes that they resist the truth and they have corrupt minds. Also that they were enemies of Moses. This fits perfectly!
The end of that verse says, "reprobate concerning the faith." What does that mean? Dictionary.com defined it as: "a depraved, unprincipled, or wicked person." So, they are "unprincipled" concerning the faith. The faith Paul is speaking of is faith in God. I think that he means that, although they are very learned, they don't believe in God, they are enemies of God and His people, as is clear in Exodus.
Last verse for today is verse nine. It tells us more of these two non-believing, enemies of Moses. It says that they will not, "proceed...farther: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was." I don't completely understand this verse, but what I grasp from it is that these two men will not be able to deceive people anymore, and their false faith will be made known. Which, it was, they died like all other human beings (with the exception of Elijah, for he was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot!), and now we know, through the Bible, that they had a false faith, that they didn't have faith in God.
What Barclay writes about these two people is quite interesting. Take a look.
"A whole collection of stories gathered round their names. They were said to be the two servants who accompanied Balaam when he was disobedient to God (Numbers 22:22); they were said to have been part of the great mixed multitude who accompanied the children of Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 12:38); some said that they perished at the crossing of the Red Sea; other stories said that it was Jannes and Jambres who were behind the making of the golden calf and that they perished among those who were killed for that sin (Exodus 32:28); still other stories said that in the end they became proselytes to Judaism. Amidst all the stories one fact stands out-Jannes and Jambres became legendary figures typifying all those who opposed the purposes of God and the work of His true leaders."
That's all for now. God bless y'all today!
In Him,
Buttercup :)
Problems with my blog???
Hi y'all. I was just about to start part 16 on the 2nd Timothy study, when I checked my traffic map. I thought, "wow, lots of people are getting on my blog, but why, why are they not commenting or voting on the poll, or anything to show that they are visiting? Why???"
I know that I may sound self-centered there, but it is hard to keep on posting when almost no people are reading. I know I have some faithful followers, and I thank y'all very much, you give me the push and encouragement I need to keep on posting.
But, why are most people not staying? Why are they leaving so soon? And maybe not coming back? What is wrong with my blog? It just clicked. It just clicked!
I am a Creationist. I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I believe that He saved me from eternity in Hell. I believe that He created me. I openly and boldly admit my faith and beliefs on here. That is why! Most people do not believe in what I believe, most people believe in Evolution or some other random lie. Yes folks, it a lie. Creation by God is the only correct answer for the world.
I know I might lose some followers and readers from this, but I don't care (well kind of), God gave me the opportunity to start a blog, and, praise God, I am not going to deny Him on it. I am not going to use His blessings for useless and maybe harmful things. No. I refuse. I believe in God, I believe in Jesus Christ who is my Savior, I believe that God made the earth in six days, I believe. If you don't believe this, I'm sorry, hopefully, you will recognize Christ as your Savior before you die, so that I will meet you in Paradise.
I praise God for allowing me to have this opportunity to tell others about Him. Thank you for reading my blog. I pray for each and every one of you, that you are in the faith, and that you will profit from my writing. God bless!
In His arms,
Buttercup
Btw, I do love comments! lol. Sorry, I couldn't resist!
I know that I may sound self-centered there, but it is hard to keep on posting when almost no people are reading. I know I have some faithful followers, and I thank y'all very much, you give me the push and encouragement I need to keep on posting.
But, why are most people not staying? Why are they leaving so soon? And maybe not coming back? What is wrong with my blog? It just clicked. It just clicked!
I am a Creationist. I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I believe that He saved me from eternity in Hell. I believe that He created me. I openly and boldly admit my faith and beliefs on here. That is why! Most people do not believe in what I believe, most people believe in Evolution or some other random lie. Yes folks, it a lie. Creation by God is the only correct answer for the world.
I know I might lose some followers and readers from this, but I don't care (well kind of), God gave me the opportunity to start a blog, and, praise God, I am not going to deny Him on it. I am not going to use His blessings for useless and maybe harmful things. No. I refuse. I believe in God, I believe in Jesus Christ who is my Savior, I believe that God made the earth in six days, I believe. If you don't believe this, I'm sorry, hopefully, you will recognize Christ as your Savior before you die, so that I will meet you in Paradise.
I praise God for allowing me to have this opportunity to tell others about Him. Thank you for reading my blog. I pray for each and every one of you, that you are in the faith, and that you will profit from my writing. God bless!
In His arms,
Buttercup
Btw, I do love comments! lol. Sorry, I couldn't resist!
Monday, August 10, 2009
2nd Timothy study, recap for chapter two
Howdy Y'all! Well, this recap post is a bit late, sorry about that. Y'all need to remind me next time! lol. Remember to ask God for His guidance before you start studying today!
Chapter two consisted of parts 6-13. Like the first recap, I am going to list the different things we talked about.
1. Paul told Timothy to remember what he taught him, so that he can teach others. Verse 2.
2. He tells him to be a good soldier of God, and endure hardships, so that he may please God, who chose him. Verse 3.
3. No soldier entangles himself in things of this world, so should we also as soldiers of God. Verse 4.
4. The example of a man in a game. If he heeds the rules then he might win a crown, if not, then he will lose. Verse 5.
5. The example of a husbandman/farmer. He who works, shall reap first. Verse 6.
6. Paul tells us to remember that Jesus was of the seed of David, and was raised from the dead. Verse 8.
7. Paul says that he suffers like a criminal, and is bound, but the Word of God is not, and cannot be bound. Verse 9.
8. Paul writes that he endures all of his sufferings for the elect's sakes, that they may also have salvation. Verse 10.
9. He compares what we do/did/will do, to what Jesus did/is doing. "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." Verses 11-13.
10. Do not speak words to no profit, only what should/needs to be spoken and/or heard. Verse 14.
11. He tells us to study so that we don't need to be ashamed, and we can rightly divide the word of truth. Verse 15.
12. Paul tells us about two men who are leading others astray with false teachings. Verses 16-18.
13. He tells us that the foundation of God still and always will, stand sure. And that God already knows all of the people that are His. Verse 19.
14. The example of the vessels of gold, silver, wood, and earth; in the great house. Some vessels made to honour and some to dishonour. Verses 20-21.
15. Lastly, he tells us how a Christian leader should act, what he should do, and not do. Verses 22-26.
Once again, I really hope they are all linked correctly! =) I hope y'all are having a good week so far! In Him, Buttercup :)
Chapter two consisted of parts 6-13. Like the first recap, I am going to list the different things we talked about.
1. Paul told Timothy to remember what he taught him, so that he can teach others. Verse 2.
2. He tells him to be a good soldier of God, and endure hardships, so that he may please God, who chose him. Verse 3.
3. No soldier entangles himself in things of this world, so should we also as soldiers of God. Verse 4.
4. The example of a man in a game. If he heeds the rules then he might win a crown, if not, then he will lose. Verse 5.
5. The example of a husbandman/farmer. He who works, shall reap first. Verse 6.
6. Paul tells us to remember that Jesus was of the seed of David, and was raised from the dead. Verse 8.
7. Paul says that he suffers like a criminal, and is bound, but the Word of God is not, and cannot be bound. Verse 9.
8. Paul writes that he endures all of his sufferings for the elect's sakes, that they may also have salvation. Verse 10.
9. He compares what we do/did/will do, to what Jesus did/is doing. "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." Verses 11-13.
10. Do not speak words to no profit, only what should/needs to be spoken and/or heard. Verse 14.
11. He tells us to study so that we don't need to be ashamed, and we can rightly divide the word of truth. Verse 15.
12. Paul tells us about two men who are leading others astray with false teachings. Verses 16-18.
13. He tells us that the foundation of God still and always will, stand sure. And that God already knows all of the people that are His. Verse 19.
14. The example of the vessels of gold, silver, wood, and earth; in the great house. Some vessels made to honour and some to dishonour. Verses 20-21.
15. Lastly, he tells us how a Christian leader should act, what he should do, and not do. Verses 22-26.
Once again, I really hope they are all linked correctly! =) I hope y'all are having a good week so far! In Him, Buttercup :)
Feedjit Map
Hey y'all! I just wanted to tell y'all about this cool blog/site traffic feed map thing. I found one on one of my friends blogs, ClubChea. And put a map on my blog (scroll down the side to see it). It shows where my recent visitors have been from, obviously one would be me. :P Go check it out!
Friday, August 7, 2009
2nd Timothy study, part 15
Hello! I hope y'all are looking forward to the weekend. I sure am! Remember to pray!
Today I am doing part b. If you know what I mean. I am doing the same verses as yesterday, but not. I am really doing verses 3b-5, but they are all talking about the same thing as yesterday, they are in the same group. If you want to see yesterday's post, click here.
1. This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontienent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5. Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
And here are the different characteristics that we are talking about.
Next is, "despisers of those that are good." The ungodly people of that age will despise us Christians. Just like right now in most countries! Christians will be hated and despised.
The next one is, "traitors." What is a traitor? Someone who betrays someone or some group of people. Traitors are people that say they are loyal to a certain person/group of people/country, and then go against them.
"Heady." What does that mean? Well, in my mind it is basically, an "all about me" attitude. For example, when they get a nice comment/get praised for something, it goes to their 'head' and they think they are great or mighty or beautiful.
The next one is, "highminded." What could that mean? Dictionary.com defines it as, "having or showing high, exalted principles or feelings." So, I think, that it means that the people will think of themselves as " I am the greatest" or "I am the highest" or "I am the most important," etc.
The eighteenth one is, "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." This one is clear. It says that people will love their things more than they love God. You know what that is?! It is stuff worship! If something is so important to you, that you spend lots of time with it, and/or your time thinking about it, then you're worshipping it! I worship God. I read my Bible and pray, before I do anything else. Now, we are all human, and we all make mistakes, I haven't always done that (read and pray first). To tell y'all the truth, I've only done it off and on throughout about a year. This is a very, very important thing! If you love money or cars or notebooks or tin cans* or anything else more than you love God, that means that that thing is first in your life, and God is further down on your list of priorities. That is when you either get convicted or someone comes up to you and says, "You need to get your priorities straight!"
In verse five, Paul writes, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." So, the people will still act kinda godly, they might go to church, they might own a Bible, etc. But Paul says that they will have a "form of godliness," they won't be godly, they will be like actors on a stage; they are not that person, they are pretending that they are that person, almost like deceiving others and themselves.
"But denying the power thereof." What does that mean? It means that even though they will look like godly people, they will deny the power of God. They will not truly believe, they will deny Him.
The last part of the verse says, "from such turn away." THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! Paul warns us that we must turn away from such things, if we don't we very well might be deceived, and we might be lost. We must have self-control and turn away from such things.
Well, that's it for now. Later this weekend, maybe tomorrow or tonight, I am going to post the recap for chapter two, I forgot to do that. Whoops! God bless y'all! I hope y'all have a great weekend! ~Buttercup~
*I know that was cheesy, but I couldn't think of another example! LOL.
Today I am doing part b. If you know what I mean. I am doing the same verses as yesterday, but not. I am really doing verses 3b-5, but they are all talking about the same thing as yesterday, they are in the same group. If you want to see yesterday's post, click here.
1. This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontienent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5. Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
And here are the different characteristics that we are talking about.
- Lovers of their own selves
- covetous
- boasters
- proud
- blasphemers
- disobedient to parents
- unthankful
- unholy
- without natural affection
- trucebreakers
- false accusers
- incontinent
- fierce
- despisers of those that are good
- traitors
- heady
- highminded
- lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God
- having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof
Next is, "despisers of those that are good." The ungodly people of that age will despise us Christians. Just like right now in most countries! Christians will be hated and despised.
The next one is, "traitors." What is a traitor? Someone who betrays someone or some group of people. Traitors are people that say they are loyal to a certain person/group of people/country, and then go against them.
"Heady." What does that mean? Well, in my mind it is basically, an "all about me" attitude. For example, when they get a nice comment/get praised for something, it goes to their 'head' and they think they are great or mighty or beautiful.
The next one is, "highminded." What could that mean? Dictionary.com defines it as, "having or showing high, exalted principles or feelings." So, I think, that it means that the people will think of themselves as " I am the greatest" or "I am the highest" or "I am the most important," etc.
The eighteenth one is, "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." This one is clear. It says that people will love their things more than they love God. You know what that is?! It is stuff worship! If something is so important to you, that you spend lots of time with it, and/or your time thinking about it, then you're worshipping it! I worship God. I read my Bible and pray, before I do anything else. Now, we are all human, and we all make mistakes, I haven't always done that (read and pray first). To tell y'all the truth, I've only done it off and on throughout about a year. This is a very, very important thing! If you love money or cars or notebooks or tin cans* or anything else more than you love God, that means that that thing is first in your life, and God is further down on your list of priorities. That is when you either get convicted or someone comes up to you and says, "You need to get your priorities straight!"
In verse five, Paul writes, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." So, the people will still act kinda godly, they might go to church, they might own a Bible, etc. But Paul says that they will have a "form of godliness," they won't be godly, they will be like actors on a stage; they are not that person, they are pretending that they are that person, almost like deceiving others and themselves.
"But denying the power thereof." What does that mean? It means that even though they will look like godly people, they will deny the power of God. They will not truly believe, they will deny Him.
The last part of the verse says, "from such turn away." THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! Paul warns us that we must turn away from such things, if we don't we very well might be deceived, and we might be lost. We must have self-control and turn away from such things.
Well, that's it for now. Later this weekend, maybe tomorrow or tonight, I am going to post the recap for chapter two, I forgot to do that. Whoops! God bless y'all! I hope y'all have a great weekend! ~Buttercup~
*I know that was cheesy, but I couldn't think of another example! LOL.
Creation Face the Facts
Hi Y'all! Well, all week I have forgotten to post Face the Facts, Creation facts. Remember when I posted the Abortion Face the Facts in March? Well, this is the same thing but Creation facts. As last time, I will be posting them once a week. Enjoy! God bless!
1: “Genesis is the foundation of the rest of the Bible, therefore if a person were to believe in creation as described in Genesis they would be more apt to believe the rest of the Bible.” -Ken Ham
2: “Facts exist in the present, and our interpretations are an attempt to connect the past to the present. The evolutionists must assume everything about the past, while biblical creationists have the Bible as a “time machine” that can provide valuable insights into the past” -Roger Patterson
3: “Faith is believing in something that cannot be seen or fully explained. Faith in God is logical and defensible. Evidence all over the world points to an all-powerful God. Faith in God is not a blind faith that goes against real science. Believing that information can arise from disorder by chance is blind faith since it contradicts real science.” -Ken Ham
4: “Design is not something that happens by chance. Design shows intelligence, and intelligence requires a source. That source as explained in the Bible is God.” -Ken Ham
5: “Many people have difficulty in accepting a Creator God because if this Creator God did create all things, then all things, including man, would have to obey the rules He places on them. Believing that
man arose by chance alleviates this responsibility and man can rule his own life.” -Ken Ham
6: “It is not true to say that there is different evidence for creation and evolution. Everyone has the same evidence – it is just interpreted in different ways. -Roger Patterson
7: “If you start with biblical assumptions about a supernatural creation, about a global flood at the time of Noah and you look at those same facts you will actually see things that the evolutionist
miss and that will guides you in your interpretation and you will see that the fossils and rock actually confirm what the bible says about earth history.” -Dr. Terry Mortenson
1: “Genesis is the foundation of the rest of the Bible, therefore if a person were to believe in creation as described in Genesis they would be more apt to believe the rest of the Bible.” -Ken Ham
2: “Facts exist in the present, and our interpretations are an attempt to connect the past to the present. The evolutionists must assume everything about the past, while biblical creationists have the Bible as a “time machine” that can provide valuable insights into the past” -Roger Patterson
3: “Faith is believing in something that cannot be seen or fully explained. Faith in God is logical and defensible. Evidence all over the world points to an all-powerful God. Faith in God is not a blind faith that goes against real science. Believing that information can arise from disorder by chance is blind faith since it contradicts real science.” -Ken Ham
4: “Design is not something that happens by chance. Design shows intelligence, and intelligence requires a source. That source as explained in the Bible is God.” -Ken Ham
5: “Many people have difficulty in accepting a Creator God because if this Creator God did create all things, then all things, including man, would have to obey the rules He places on them. Believing that
man arose by chance alleviates this responsibility and man can rule his own life.” -Ken Ham
6: “It is not true to say that there is different evidence for creation and evolution. Everyone has the same evidence – it is just interpreted in different ways. -Roger Patterson
7: “If you start with biblical assumptions about a supernatural creation, about a global flood at the time of Noah and you look at those same facts you will actually see things that the evolutionist
miss and that will guides you in your interpretation and you will see that the fossils and rock actually confirm what the bible says about earth history.” -Dr. Terry Mortenson
Thursday, August 6, 2009
2nd Timothy study, Part 14
Hi everyone! How are y'all doin'? Sorry, Texan moment! Oh yeah, I have been baking cookies!!!! MMMM!!! Sorry, yet another moment! LOL. Remember to pray today! Also, we are starting chapter three today!
1. This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontienent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5. Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
I took a big chunk again today because they are all speaking of the same event. Actually, verses two, three, and four are all just speaking of what men will be!
In verse one Paul tells us what will come in the last days. He writes, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." Or, in the other version, "You must know this-that in the last days difficult times will set in." Paul says that we "must know this." I think he should have put an exclamation point at the end of that first part. We must know this! What do you do if someone says, "you must know this!" You listen, right? Unless it is one of your crazy younger siblings playing a trick on you. :P So, Paul is trying to get our attention, he says that we should hear what he is about to say.
Next he says the important thing that he wants us to know, "that in the last days perilous times shall come." Wouldn't you want to know if a hurricane were heading straight for your house? I would! I would want to be warned long before it hit so I could be ready! That is what Paul is trying to do, he warns us that perilous or difficult times are on their way. When? "In the last days." The last days of what? The world. When Jesus comes back. He says that in the last days of the world before Jesus Christ comes back, the times will be difficult/perilous.
Barclay wrote a good deal on this verse, I would encourage y'all to read it.*
In the next three verses Paul lists all of the things that people will be, I am going to list them just like in part 13.
The first one says that men will be "lovers of themselves." That's no good! People who love themselves care not for others, or God. It's all about them. The world revolves around them. It's so annoying! They love themselves so much, that they have to have everything they want, when they want it, if they don't get what they want, they blame others. It is all rather disgusting if you think about it.
The next one is, "covetous." Wanting what someone else has. That is definitely self-centered. There was a king in the Bible named Ahab. His wife (Jezebel) was the nastiest woman who ever lived, in my opinion. And they saw an vineyard that they really liked, so they killed the man who owned it, and stole it from his wife. So sad. They coveted that vineyard, they wanted what someone else had, so they had the owner murdered so they could get what they wanted. Yuk! You can read the story in 1st Kings 21.
Next is "boasters." What does it mean to boast? To tell someone/some people what you did that was great. For example, you designed a gorgeous building, an then you told everyone how wonderful and beautiful your building is. That, is boasting.
Number four says that men will be "proud." They will be prideful. They will think of themselves greater than anyone else. Pride is dangerous, very dangerous. A verse in the Bible, that I can't think of right now, is "pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18
The next one is, "blasphemers." What does it mean to blaspheme? It means that you are insulting someone. In the Bible we usually think of blasphemers as people who insult God, but in the Greek, it can also be used to describe someone who insults another human.**
"Disobedient to parents." Today, we don't think an awful much of when someone disobeys their parents, because kids are doing it all the time. In the time of the Bible, disobeying your parents was almost like a crime! Hitting one of your parents was accounted as murder!
Next is, "unthankful." This is a clear one. For, if one is unthankful, then we know that they are not thankful for what they have, they do not care about who gave it/what it is. Someone that is unthankful is often spoiled, in my opinion.
Number eight is, "unholy." And in the other version it is, "Regardless even of the ultimate decencies of life." What does this mean? I am not to sure. I think, when it says, "ultimate decencies of life," it means obvious things that are wrong or indecent. Such as, things I don't want to get into here. Y'all know what I'm talking about, things that are clearly not decent for one/both/or a group of people. It says that people will do these things "regardless even of the ultimate decencies of life." They will do it no matter what.
The next one is, "without natural affection," or "without human affection." Both make perfect sense. It says that people will not love each other or care about each other. They will be totally self-centered.
Next is, "trucebreakers." What does it mean to be a truce breaker? Well, I looked it up on Ask.com, and (this is hilarious) the first thing that popped up was, "2nd Timothy 3:3!" LOL. I have never had a scripture pop up first (or at all) on a search! That was weird! Anyways, a truce is "an agreement or treaty...a temporary respite, as from trouble or pain." So, a truce breaker, is someone who breaks/doesn't remain faithful to a certain agreement/treaty/etc. A truce breaker cannot be trusted.
The next one is, "false accusers." Yipes! This is one that we have all heard of. Someone who accuses someone falsely just to get them in trouble. I have been falsely accused, it is not good. It is hard sometimes to see who the false accuser is because they tell really good lies to make people believe something or other.
Number twelve is, "incontinent." The first time I looked at it, it looked like "incontent," but it's not. "Incontinent" means, "lacking in moderation or self-control...unceasing or unrestrained." So, someone who is "incontinent" also means someone who is self-centered, someone who thinks only of themselves. Ahhh! A ton of these go straight back to self-centeredness! It is incredible how selfish the people of that time will be! Think for a second, are these the last days???
Well, I thought I would get through them all today, but this is getting really long and we are only halfway through. So, I will do the other half tomorrow. :) God bless! Buttercup <3
*The letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon; pages 182-183
**I didn't know about that before I read about it in the commentary. :P
1. This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontienent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5. Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
I took a big chunk again today because they are all speaking of the same event. Actually, verses two, three, and four are all just speaking of what men will be!
In verse one Paul tells us what will come in the last days. He writes, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." Or, in the other version, "You must know this-that in the last days difficult times will set in." Paul says that we "must know this." I think he should have put an exclamation point at the end of that first part. We must know this! What do you do if someone says, "you must know this!" You listen, right? Unless it is one of your crazy younger siblings playing a trick on you. :P So, Paul is trying to get our attention, he says that we should hear what he is about to say.
Next he says the important thing that he wants us to know, "that in the last days perilous times shall come." Wouldn't you want to know if a hurricane were heading straight for your house? I would! I would want to be warned long before it hit so I could be ready! That is what Paul is trying to do, he warns us that perilous or difficult times are on their way. When? "In the last days." The last days of what? The world. When Jesus comes back. He says that in the last days of the world before Jesus Christ comes back, the times will be difficult/perilous.
Barclay wrote a good deal on this verse, I would encourage y'all to read it.*
In the next three verses Paul lists all of the things that people will be, I am going to list them just like in part 13.
- Lovers of their own selves
- covetous
- boasters
- proud
- blasphemers
- disobedient to parents
- unthankful
- unholy
- without natural affection
- trucebreakers
- false accusers
- incontinent
- fierce
- despisers of those that are good
- traitors
- heady
- highminded
- lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God
- having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof
The first one says that men will be "lovers of themselves." That's no good! People who love themselves care not for others, or God. It's all about them. The world revolves around them. It's so annoying! They love themselves so much, that they have to have everything they want, when they want it, if they don't get what they want, they blame others. It is all rather disgusting if you think about it.
The next one is, "covetous." Wanting what someone else has. That is definitely self-centered. There was a king in the Bible named Ahab. His wife (Jezebel) was the nastiest woman who ever lived, in my opinion. And they saw an vineyard that they really liked, so they killed the man who owned it, and stole it from his wife. So sad. They coveted that vineyard, they wanted what someone else had, so they had the owner murdered so they could get what they wanted. Yuk! You can read the story in 1st Kings 21.
Next is "boasters." What does it mean to boast? To tell someone/some people what you did that was great. For example, you designed a gorgeous building, an then you told everyone how wonderful and beautiful your building is. That, is boasting.
Number four says that men will be "proud." They will be prideful. They will think of themselves greater than anyone else. Pride is dangerous, very dangerous. A verse in the Bible, that I can't think of right now, is "pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18
The next one is, "blasphemers." What does it mean to blaspheme? It means that you are insulting someone. In the Bible we usually think of blasphemers as people who insult God, but in the Greek, it can also be used to describe someone who insults another human.**
"Disobedient to parents." Today, we don't think an awful much of when someone disobeys their parents, because kids are doing it all the time. In the time of the Bible, disobeying your parents was almost like a crime! Hitting one of your parents was accounted as murder!
Next is, "unthankful." This is a clear one. For, if one is unthankful, then we know that they are not thankful for what they have, they do not care about who gave it/what it is. Someone that is unthankful is often spoiled, in my opinion.
Number eight is, "unholy." And in the other version it is, "Regardless even of the ultimate decencies of life." What does this mean? I am not to sure. I think, when it says, "ultimate decencies of life," it means obvious things that are wrong or indecent. Such as, things I don't want to get into here. Y'all know what I'm talking about, things that are clearly not decent for one/both/or a group of people. It says that people will do these things "regardless even of the ultimate decencies of life." They will do it no matter what.
The next one is, "without natural affection," or "without human affection." Both make perfect sense. It says that people will not love each other or care about each other. They will be totally self-centered.
Next is, "trucebreakers." What does it mean to be a truce breaker? Well, I looked it up on Ask.com, and (this is hilarious) the first thing that popped up was, "2nd Timothy 3:3!" LOL. I have never had a scripture pop up first (or at all) on a search! That was weird! Anyways, a truce is "an agreement or treaty...a temporary respite, as from trouble or pain." So, a truce breaker, is someone who breaks/doesn't remain faithful to a certain agreement/treaty/etc. A truce breaker cannot be trusted.
The next one is, "false accusers." Yipes! This is one that we have all heard of. Someone who accuses someone falsely just to get them in trouble. I have been falsely accused, it is not good. It is hard sometimes to see who the false accuser is because they tell really good lies to make people believe something or other.
Number twelve is, "incontinent." The first time I looked at it, it looked like "incontent," but it's not. "Incontinent" means, "lacking in moderation or self-control...unceasing or unrestrained." So, someone who is "incontinent" also means someone who is self-centered, someone who thinks only of themselves. Ahhh! A ton of these go straight back to self-centeredness! It is incredible how selfish the people of that time will be! Think for a second, are these the last days???
Well, I thought I would get through them all today, but this is getting really long and we are only halfway through. So, I will do the other half tomorrow. :) God bless! Buttercup <3
*The letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon; pages 182-183
**I didn't know about that before I read about it in the commentary. :P
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
2nd Timothy study, part 13
This is the last day of chapter two, already! I am doing a big chunk of verses this time because they are all talking about the same thing. Remember to pray!
22. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
24. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
In these verses Paul is instructing Timothy, and us, what a Christian leader is supposed to do/how to act. So, instead of breaking them up verse by verse, I am going to list all of the things that a Christian leader should be, and then talk about each one.
The second one is, "follow righteousness." What does it mean to follow righteousness? In my mind it means to live for God, not taking a wrong path, sticking to what you are supposed to do (i.e. righteous things), pray, trust God always, etc.
Number three is, "faith." Faith in God, trusting in God unconditionally.
Next is, "charity" or "love." What does that mean? I think that Paul means two things in this one. Not for us to only love God, but to also love everyone else around us. To "seek...the highest good of our fellow man."*
The next one is, follow "peace." What does that mean? I think that it means not to get into worthless arguments, to have "peace" with all, but especially those of the church.
At the end of the first verse it says, "with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." So, after it says to flee youthful lusts, follow righteousness, faith, charity, and peace; it says to do it with other Christians! Paul clearly says that we are not alone! We are doing these hard things with other Christians!
The fifth one is, "but foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes," or "Have nothing to do with foolish and stupid arguments, for you know that they only breed quarrels. So, the Christian leader, must not get into arguments that are useless/foolish/stupid/unlearned, for they are harmful, they "breed quarrels" they ask for a fight. Just like my Mom tells the younger kids who are arguing, "you're asking for a fight," or "you're asking for trouble."
The next one is kind of confusing, it says that he "must not strive." Strive for what? Well, in the other version it says that he "must not ask for a fight." Just like the last one! A Christian leader must be self-controlled.
Number six says, "but be gentle unto all men." A Christian leader must not only not ask for a fight, but be gentle to all men. What does all men mean? All men! Even your enemies. He must be gentle unto all.
Next is, "apt to teach." The Christian leader must be able to not only understand the word of God, but also to teach it to others.
The seventh is, "patient." He must be patient. Have you ever taught someone something hard, like, how to read? It takes time, doesn't it? Well, when a Christian leader is teaching people about God, and what He says, and about Jesus Christ; then he must be patient, because they might not get it on the first time. Also, he must be patient in the way that, he might get ridiculed or teased, or even beat up or thrown in prison; but he must be patient. John Bunyan is a good example of this, I am going to write a book review on here sometime, about the book that we read about him.** He was is prison for over a decade, and yet, he never denied Christ, and he wrote a book for every year of his life.
The last one is, "in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth." So, in gentleness/meekness/kindness a Christian leader must instruct those who oppose him. I like what Barclay says about this part, "He must discipline his opponents in gentleness; his hand like the hand of a surgeon, unerring to find the diseased spot, yet never for a moment causing unnecessary pain. He must love men, not batter them, into submission to the truth."
Lastly, Paul says, "if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." What does that mean? It means that, we don't know who God has chosen, so we must teach all, we must spread the love of Christ all over the place! Why? Because God might give them repentance if they acknowledge the truth, and they get out of the trap of the devil.
Well, thanks for reading! Tomorrow we shall start chapter three! We are halfway through 2nd Timothy. God bless! ~Buttercup~
*Commentary by William Barclay, The letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
**The Pilgrim Who Made Progress, I will post about that book soon!
22. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
24. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
In these verses Paul is instructing Timothy, and us, what a Christian leader is supposed to do/how to act. So, instead of breaking them up verse by verse, I am going to list all of the things that a Christian leader should be, and then talk about each one.
- Flee from youthful lusts
- follow righteousness
- faith
- charity
- peace
- avoid foolish and unlearned questions
- do not strive
- be gentle
- apt to teach
- patient
- in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves
The second one is, "follow righteousness." What does it mean to follow righteousness? In my mind it means to live for God, not taking a wrong path, sticking to what you are supposed to do (i.e. righteous things), pray, trust God always, etc.
Number three is, "faith." Faith in God, trusting in God unconditionally.
Next is, "charity" or "love." What does that mean? I think that Paul means two things in this one. Not for us to only love God, but to also love everyone else around us. To "seek...the highest good of our fellow man."*
The next one is, follow "peace." What does that mean? I think that it means not to get into worthless arguments, to have "peace" with all, but especially those of the church.
At the end of the first verse it says, "with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." So, after it says to flee youthful lusts, follow righteousness, faith, charity, and peace; it says to do it with other Christians! Paul clearly says that we are not alone! We are doing these hard things with other Christians!
The fifth one is, "but foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes," or "Have nothing to do with foolish and stupid arguments, for you know that they only breed quarrels. So, the Christian leader, must not get into arguments that are useless/foolish/stupid/unlearned, for they are harmful, they "breed quarrels" they ask for a fight. Just like my Mom tells the younger kids who are arguing, "you're asking for a fight," or "you're asking for trouble."
The next one is kind of confusing, it says that he "must not strive." Strive for what? Well, in the other version it says that he "must not ask for a fight." Just like the last one! A Christian leader must be self-controlled.
Number six says, "but be gentle unto all men." A Christian leader must not only not ask for a fight, but be gentle to all men. What does all men mean? All men! Even your enemies. He must be gentle unto all.
Next is, "apt to teach." The Christian leader must be able to not only understand the word of God, but also to teach it to others.
The seventh is, "patient." He must be patient. Have you ever taught someone something hard, like, how to read? It takes time, doesn't it? Well, when a Christian leader is teaching people about God, and what He says, and about Jesus Christ; then he must be patient, because they might not get it on the first time. Also, he must be patient in the way that, he might get ridiculed or teased, or even beat up or thrown in prison; but he must be patient. John Bunyan is a good example of this, I am going to write a book review on here sometime, about the book that we read about him.** He was is prison for over a decade, and yet, he never denied Christ, and he wrote a book for every year of his life.
The last one is, "in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth." So, in gentleness/meekness/kindness a Christian leader must instruct those who oppose him. I like what Barclay says about this part, "He must discipline his opponents in gentleness; his hand like the hand of a surgeon, unerring to find the diseased spot, yet never for a moment causing unnecessary pain. He must love men, not batter them, into submission to the truth."
Lastly, Paul says, "if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." What does that mean? It means that, we don't know who God has chosen, so we must teach all, we must spread the love of Christ all over the place! Why? Because God might give them repentance if they acknowledge the truth, and they get out of the trap of the devil.
Well, thanks for reading! Tomorrow we shall start chapter three! We are halfway through 2nd Timothy. God bless! ~Buttercup~
*Commentary by William Barclay, The letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
**The Pilgrim Who Made Progress, I will post about that book soon!
Monday, August 3, 2009
2nd Timothy study, Part 12
Hi y'all! Hope y'all are have a great week so far! 'member to pray!
19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
In verse nineteen, Paul writes to Timothy about the foundation of God. What does he mean by the "foundation of God?" We must first ask, what kind of foundation? What kinds of foundations are there? Well, the foundation of, for example, a house, library, store, etc. (I always thought of this kind of foundation when I read this). "...and we also say that King's College, Cambridge, is a foundation of Henry the Sixth."* So, there are two kinds of "foundations," which is Paul referring to? "Greek used the word themelios in the same two ways; and the foundation of God here means the Church, the association which he has founded."*
Now that we know that Paul is talking about the foundation/association of God, which is the Church; what is he trying to teach us? He says, "nevertheless," the three-in-one word. "Nevertheless" what? "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure," or "But the firm foundation of God stands fast." So we know that, unlike all other foundations/associations, God's stands sure, or fast. It will not move or change.
Next he says that God's foundation, not only stays put, but that it does "with this inscription," or "having this seal." So, it is like an envelope, it is sealed, and has an inscription. If something is sealed, what do you know about it? Well, you know that the sender wanted to keep it safe, and that it is important. Remember when people each had a certain seal. It was like their signature. They did that to show that a certain letter was from them, when they couldn't write their names. People used to believe that learning things like writing, math, and reading were useless. So, they just had their seal. Each seal had a different picture on it, so that people would know who it was that sent the note, or signed the paper.
God's foundation has a seal. What is it? Actually He has two seals/inscriptions. The first one says, "The Lord knoweth them that are his." Remember in verses ten and four, when they mentioned "the elects," and "him who hath chosen him?" This verse is talking about the same thing, "The Lord knoweth them that are his," he already knows who was going to chose what, nothing is new or surprising to God. Since I've already covered this, but if y'all want to review on that, just click the verse numbers. :) They should be hyper-linked right.
The second one is, "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." What does that mean? Every one that says the name of Christ Jesus is supposed to depart from iniquity. What does it mean to say the name of Christ, to confess? I think that it means to believe in Christ, to have become a Christian.
He writes that "every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." What does it mean to depart from iniquity? Well, iniquity is a word not used much anymore, in the other version instead of iniquity, it uses unrighteousness. So, as a Christian we are supposed to depart from unrighteousness/iniquity. What are some examples of unrighteous doings? Well, since unrighteous/iniquity means, wickedness, unfair, unjust, etc. some examples of unrighteousness would be, stealing, cheating, adultery, using God's name in vain, etc. For more, just look at the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20.
The next two verses talk about a great house with vessels of honour and of dishonour. Verse twenty says, "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour and some to dishonour." Why would Paul say "a great house?" Why "great?" Because poorer people usually don't have vessels of gold and silver, they only have vessels of a cheaper substance.
What is Paul talking about here? He uses the example of vessels of different substances to represent different people. Some people are smart, quick, great, etc. Some people are unlearned, slow, good, etc. But does that matter? Does it matter who someone is on the outside? No. God loves us all. In Paul's example there are great, beautiful vessels in the house, and there are good, but not as beautiful vessels in the same house. Some are used for more important things than others.
Why does Paul tell us this? He is using this as an example of the Church. Some people are more noticed because they have more important jobs than others in the Church. Who do you think of first when you think of the people at your Church? The pastor or the person in the sound booth? See what I mean? But the point that Paul is trying to make, is that all of the vessels are needed, they are all important to the organization of the house. Even so with the Church. The people of the Church each have a specific job that they do to get everything done as a group.
Another good verse that goes with this is Romans 9:21, it says, "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" God took people from every nation to make His nation of people, to make His Church.
Verse twenty-one says, "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." So, once we "depart" or "purge" ourselves from "unrighteousness" or "iniquity," then we will be "vessels unto honour, sanctified," and ready for the master (God) to use us. Wow! Do y'all understand what that means? It means that once we believe in Jesus Christ, and depart/stop doing unrighteous things through the power of the Holy Spirit, that God will use us in His plan! He can send us out to tell others about Him! He can send us to serve and minister to the sick and needy, and the people who have never heard His name; in His name we will serve! We will be a part of His master plan!
He also says that we will be "prepared unto every good work." We will be ready to do what He instructs us to do. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10. He will not give us an impossible task, He will give us something He knows we are capable of. It might seem impossible in our eyes, but nothing is impossible in His. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me!" Philippians 4:13.
Yay! I ended on a happier note! I'm so happy! When I first started this afternoon, I had not thought of this before, I never thought of why Paul was talking about vessels of honour and vessels of dishonour. This has been something new to me, and it has really helped me understand. God bless! ~Buttercup~
*William Barclay, in, The letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
In verse nineteen, Paul writes to Timothy about the foundation of God. What does he mean by the "foundation of God?" We must first ask, what kind of foundation? What kinds of foundations are there? Well, the foundation of, for example, a house, library, store, etc. (I always thought of this kind of foundation when I read this). "...and we also say that King's College, Cambridge, is a foundation of Henry the Sixth."* So, there are two kinds of "foundations," which is Paul referring to? "Greek used the word themelios in the same two ways; and the foundation of God here means the Church, the association which he has founded."*
Now that we know that Paul is talking about the foundation/association of God, which is the Church; what is he trying to teach us? He says, "nevertheless," the three-in-one word. "Nevertheless" what? "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure," or "But the firm foundation of God stands fast." So we know that, unlike all other foundations/associations, God's stands sure, or fast. It will not move or change.
Next he says that God's foundation, not only stays put, but that it does "with this inscription," or "having this seal." So, it is like an envelope, it is sealed, and has an inscription. If something is sealed, what do you know about it? Well, you know that the sender wanted to keep it safe, and that it is important. Remember when people each had a certain seal. It was like their signature. They did that to show that a certain letter was from them, when they couldn't write their names. People used to believe that learning things like writing, math, and reading were useless. So, they just had their seal. Each seal had a different picture on it, so that people would know who it was that sent the note, or signed the paper.
God's foundation has a seal. What is it? Actually He has two seals/inscriptions. The first one says, "The Lord knoweth them that are his." Remember in verses ten and four, when they mentioned "the elects," and "him who hath chosen him?" This verse is talking about the same thing, "The Lord knoweth them that are his," he already knows who was going to chose what, nothing is new or surprising to God. Since I've already covered this, but if y'all want to review on that, just click the verse numbers. :) They should be hyper-linked right.
The second one is, "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." What does that mean? Every one that says the name of Christ Jesus is supposed to depart from iniquity. What does it mean to say the name of Christ, to confess? I think that it means to believe in Christ, to have become a Christian.
He writes that "every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." What does it mean to depart from iniquity? Well, iniquity is a word not used much anymore, in the other version instead of iniquity, it uses unrighteousness. So, as a Christian we are supposed to depart from unrighteousness/iniquity. What are some examples of unrighteous doings? Well, since unrighteous/iniquity means, wickedness, unfair, unjust, etc. some examples of unrighteousness would be, stealing, cheating, adultery, using God's name in vain, etc. For more, just look at the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20.
The next two verses talk about a great house with vessels of honour and of dishonour. Verse twenty says, "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour and some to dishonour." Why would Paul say "a great house?" Why "great?" Because poorer people usually don't have vessels of gold and silver, they only have vessels of a cheaper substance.
What is Paul talking about here? He uses the example of vessels of different substances to represent different people. Some people are smart, quick, great, etc. Some people are unlearned, slow, good, etc. But does that matter? Does it matter who someone is on the outside? No. God loves us all. In Paul's example there are great, beautiful vessels in the house, and there are good, but not as beautiful vessels in the same house. Some are used for more important things than others.
Why does Paul tell us this? He is using this as an example of the Church. Some people are more noticed because they have more important jobs than others in the Church. Who do you think of first when you think of the people at your Church? The pastor or the person in the sound booth? See what I mean? But the point that Paul is trying to make, is that all of the vessels are needed, they are all important to the organization of the house. Even so with the Church. The people of the Church each have a specific job that they do to get everything done as a group.
Another good verse that goes with this is Romans 9:21, it says, "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" God took people from every nation to make His nation of people, to make His Church.
Verse twenty-one says, "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." So, once we "depart" or "purge" ourselves from "unrighteousness" or "iniquity," then we will be "vessels unto honour, sanctified," and ready for the master (God) to use us. Wow! Do y'all understand what that means? It means that once we believe in Jesus Christ, and depart/stop doing unrighteous things through the power of the Holy Spirit, that God will use us in His plan! He can send us out to tell others about Him! He can send us to serve and minister to the sick and needy, and the people who have never heard His name; in His name we will serve! We will be a part of His master plan!
He also says that we will be "prepared unto every good work." We will be ready to do what He instructs us to do. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10. He will not give us an impossible task, He will give us something He knows we are capable of. It might seem impossible in our eyes, but nothing is impossible in His. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me!" Philippians 4:13.
Yay! I ended on a happier note! I'm so happy! When I first started this afternoon, I had not thought of this before, I never thought of why Paul was talking about vessels of honour and vessels of dishonour. This has been something new to me, and it has really helped me understand. God bless! ~Buttercup~
*William Barclay, in, The letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
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