How I Live by Faith

Note: this was originally written for my AWANA book, like my earlier post.

As a Christian, I am constantly faced with choices and temptations, but through faith in Christ, I have the strength to battle them.

I am still a young, learning, still growing Christian, so I am just now learning how to live by faith. In my life, living by faith includes trusting God to do what is best fro me, even when I think differently - this is a big one, it's kind of like how Peter probably felt, stepping out of the boat and onto the water, believing that God can make that water firm beneath my feet, even when I cannot. It is knowing that when i jump out of the window, even though I can't see Him, Christ is just below me, ready to catch me. It also includes trusting God to do what is best in other people's lives, even when I don't agree. I know that He will do what is best because I know that He knows everything that will happen in the future.

When it comes to making choices and facing temptations, I have to remember that faith takes two people - the trusted and the trusting. I can't just pray and hope that I do the right thing, I have to listen for an answer. Sometimes God helps me through scripture, sometimes through another believer, and sometimes He just tells me. I believe that if I am doing the will of God and relying on Him, that I will never lack an answer.

I once saw a magnet that said, "Faith is not believing that God can, it's know that He will." I think this is so true in my own life, if I simply believe that God can, I am not putting all my faith and trust in Him, but if I know that He will, then I am putting my entire being into His arms, those arms that I know will never, ever fail.

I am not claiming to be perfect, not by any means, I just know what I need to do - let Christ hold all of me - and I'm learning how to do it - lifting my feet off of the ground.

In Christ alone,

Buttercup

Wishing you all...

...a very happy Valentine's day!

On this day, I encourage you to not only think of all those who love you and who you love, but also, who loves you way more than anyone else ever could! Jesus Christ!

No greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13

He loved us so much that He died for us. He loved YOU so much that He died for YOU.

True love is an emotion that can't stay contained. True love proves itself through actions. Follow Christ's example: This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. - John 15:12

In Christ alone,

Buttercup

Peer Pressure - good or bad?

Most of the time when you hear about peer pressure, you get this overwhelming feeling that something bad happened. Am I right? For most any age group, this is true. From the time that you are old enough to care what other people your age are doing, until you are too old to care.

Peers - "Friends, those in your same age group, those who influence you."*

Bad peer pressure -

Pressure coming from peers who influence you in a bad way. For example, peers who dress in a way that is immodest, and they tease and pressure you because you dress modestly. That sort of peer pressure influences you to do something that you believe is wrong. People who do that want to do one of two things, 1. lead you astray, 2. make you feel bad because you are different. When you give in to bad peer pressure, you might do, say, and/or think things that you would not have otherwise.

Good peer pressure -

Pressure coming from peers who influence you in a good way. For example, peers who read the Bible and pray daily, they encourage you to do the same because they know that it will help you grow as a believer and grow closer to God. That sort of peer pressure influences you to do something that is right. People who do that want to do one of two things, depending on your situation, 1. they want to lead you to Christ so that you will find your Savior and be saved from eternity in hell, 2. they want to help you learn and grow in Christ.

The number one way to receive good peer pressure and to avoid bad is to choose your friends wisely, choose friends who will influence you in good ways not bad. Also, you personally need to be alert, if you think that someone will try to influence you to do something bad, get away! It would be much better for you to avoid bad influence, then to try to stand against it.

"...be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!" Ephesians 6:10.

In Christ alone,

Buttercup

*definition take from On The Rock, an AWANA ministries book.

Do Evolution and Human Beings contradict?

Believe it or not, this typed section below equals a written page. Doesn't look like it does it? lol.

I originally wrote this for my Journey book (in an AWANA club), but I liked it, so I wanted to share it. The topic is "why humans have souls and spirits, how we got them, and why we are superior to plants and animals." But I titled it "Do Evolution and Human Beings contradict" because if you believe that evolution is true, then you must believe that we evolved from animals, and therefore that we are nothing but animals. But if you realize that we are eternal beings, then you see that it contradicts the theory of evolution. Hope that makes sense. :) And I hope you like it.

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God created all nature, the water, the land, the sky, the trees, the plants, the grass; God created all animals, birds, sea creatures, land animals, insects; then God created man. Human beings are different from nature and animals in many ways, but the most important is that we were created in the image of God. "And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." (Genesis 1:26a) By creating us like unto Himself, God separated us from all the rest of His creation. Then He said "...and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." (Genesis 1:26b) Giving us dominion over all of His creation was God's way of saying that we are special, we are greater than the rest of His creation.

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breathe of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7) Being created in the image of God doesn't mean that we look like Him, it means that we have some (but not all) of the same attributes He does. Such as the ability to perceive beauty, understand emotions, and to tell right from wrong. But more importantly, we are eternal, unlike the animals, we will live forever. When animals and plants die, they cease to exist, but when a human being dies, he or she will go to heaven or hell depending on what choice they made during their life here on earth.

Don't you worry!

Luke 12:22-32

And He said unto His disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to say in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

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I read this today in my Bible reading, and although I've read it many times before (not always in Luke), it comforts me. Jesus says that we shouldn't worry about having clothes to wear, or food to eat, for He will provide for all our needs. He may not provide for all our wants but He will provide for all our needs. He talks about the ravens, how they do not store any food, yet they are fed year-round. He talks of the lilies of the field, flowers, how they don't work to make clothes, but they are clothed even greater than King Solomon. He talks of the grass, which lives for a little while, but then is burned, and yet while it is still alive, it is clothed beautifully.

So, Jesus said, don't worry about what you will eat or wear or anything at all! You are so much greater than the ravens, the lilies, and the grass! If God took care of such little things as those, He can take care of you. But the most important thing in this passage is the instruction that Jesus gives: "Seek ye the kingdom of God", dig into God's word, pray, and listen to what God is telling you; and then "all these things shall be added unto you". God will provide; trust in Him, follow Him, love Him, worship Him. And don't you worry!

In Christ alone,

Buttercup